As romance travel season kicks off, TRAVELSAVERS Canada advisors are sharing affordable and less-visited destination options for couples looking for a budget-friendly escape. As typically frequented locales may experience high traffic during peak romance season, destination dupes offer less-mainstream alternatives for travellers.

For Valentine’s Day, wedding season and summer honeymoons, TRAVELSAVERS suggests the following fresh – and cheaper and less-crowded – alternatives.

Dupes for the perfect proposal:

• While Paris is known as the “City of Love,” it often comes with a hefty price tag. With small town-charm and quaint villages to explore, Montreal offers a timeless backdrop for those seeking the perfect alternative to Paris. With beautiful architecture and cobblestone roads, Montreal feels like stepping into a European portal, offering beautiful scenery for a proposal trip.
– Tracey Sinclair, Owner, Ultimate Destination Weddings

• For those yearning to travel to the Amalfi Coast in Italy, Portugal offers a gorgeous alternative. With all-inclusive beach resorts and charming city locations to explore, Portugal is a great destination for couples looking for the best of both worlds on their romantic escape. It also sees less tourist traffic, offering a more intimate travel experience.
– Shalene A. Dudley, Lead Travel Concierge, Latitude Concierge Travels

Dupes for a destination wedding:

• While St. Lucia is a highly sought-after wedding destination with its volcanic beaches, cliffs and waterfalls, the Samaná Peninsula in the Dominican Republic is an equally beautiful, more affordable option. Set in a lush natural environment of rainforests and coconut plantations, the Samaná Peninsula boasts stunning beaches and iconic waterfalls. Often described as the “jewel of the Caribbean,” it’s a prime spot for an unforgettable destination wedding.
– John Zeus Tokatlidis, Director of Marketing, Total Advantage Travel & Tours

• Dreaming of Hawaii for a destination wedding? Why not consider Costa Rica? The central American country features a beautiful mountain landscape and stunning beaches with both white sand and darker sand options – a perfect backdrop for a wedding. Couples and their wedding party can stay at one of the many all-inclusive resorts or even rent a private villa on the hillside overlooking the beach.
– Tracey Sinclair, Owner, Ultimate Destination Weddings

Dupes for a magical honeymoon:

• Got your eye on Tahiti or the Maldives? Jamaica is a beautiful alternative. Similar to the more expensive Maldives, Jamaica offers water bungalows and a similar laid-back vibe for those looking to relax and enjoy the sun. Further, Jamaica offers various tours for adventure-driven couples, from trekking through Dunn’s River Falls to sailing to Floyd’s Pelican Bar, a bar in the middle of the ocean.
– Preety Jaswal, Director & Founder, Preety Weddings & Travel

• While Santorini gets a lot of attention as a honeymoon destination, Milos Island captures the same romantic essence without the higher prices and tourist crowds. Milos boasts pristine natural beauty with some of the best beaches in Greece, charming towns, and excellent travel activities. In fact, the ancient capital, Plaka, high on a hill with a 13th-century Venetian fort, makes for a breathtaking sunset view that can rival Santorini’s.
– John Zeus Tokatlidis