Boycotting America? These holiday destinations look just like the US

Telegraph

05-04-2025

Since Trump took office in January, a growing number of tourists are turning their backs on the US. According to a March poll by market researcher Leger, 36 per cent of Canadians have cancelled trips they had been planning to take to the country.
And a clutch of European nations, including Germany, Denmark and Finland, have updated their travel advice for LGBT+ holidaymakers and warned of potential issues at the border.
For some, travelling to the country feels increasingly conflicting, and analysts are predicting a 5.5 per cent drop in tourists. This means that many will be looking for an alternative to the US. Here are a few suggestions.
Swap the Grand Canyon for... the Colca Canyon
With its wide horizons and deep ravines, the Colca Canyon in Peru has all the natural splendour of the Grand Canyon – with far fewer crowds. While the American wonder is undeniably astounding, it is often teeming with visitors (and helicopters, and camera flashes).
Furthermore, cuts to the National Parks Service budget could have a negative impact on the overall experience. So consider the alternative, which is renowned for its majestic vistas, and relative calm.
The Andean vegetation that lines the valley might not be a total match for the Arizona equivalent, but its potential for energising hikes, and condor-spotting, makes it a similarly spectacular option.
Swap New York for... Hong Kong
For the buzz – and lofty skyline – of New York, try Hong Kong instead. Its streets are a heady, if slightly more humid, facsimile of the Big Apple, with the shopping and business districts to match.
And you don't have to head to the Catskills for an easy escape in nature, as Hong Kong is surrounded by mist-covered mountains – the Peak Tram is an easy way to ascend them. Or take a boat trip around the harbour, where the city's international outlook is reflected in bright lights.
Swap the theme parks of Florida for... Japan
If theme parks are a non-negotiable, try Japan instead of Florida. Or, more specifically, swap your usual tour of the Magic Kingdom and Epcot for Tokyo DisneySea, which has all the thrills of the American originals but is a continent away.
The nautical theme means it isn't a straight copy, either; activities centre around a (real) harbour, and the rides have a distinctly watery feel about them. If yours is a family of thrill-seekers, head to the Japanese capital for a hair-raising holiday.
Swap Alaska for... Canada
A fairly straightforward trade, and one the Canadians will probably be grateful for. Plenty of cruise routes take passengers to Juneau, the capital of Alaska, for its icy remoteness.
That same natural landscape – rendered by glaciers and snowfall – can be found just over the border in Canada. Wildlife, ski slopes and remarkable train journeys abound, too.
Swap Arizona for... Spain
Fancy yourself as a cowboy? Ditch the dude ranches of Arizona and head to Tabernas in Spain. It's a dead ringer for the deserts of Arizona, a fact that has lured numerous film-makers (Lawrence of Arabia, Cleopatra and Conan the Barbarian were all shot here).
The Andalusian landscape is the only desert in Europe, making it a geographical quirk, and children will adore visiting the MiniHollywood Oasys Theme Park, which fully leans into the region's cinematic legacy.
Swap Tennessee for... Senegal
Stick with us on this one. For a blues-drenched getaway, a trip to Memphis or New Orleans is usually on the bucket list. Newly-opened Elvis-themed attractions, alongside music-filled Bourbon Street, attract waves of tourists.
That same atmosphere can be found in Senegal, at the St Louis Jazz Festival. It's here that the continent's best musicians gather for a weekend of concerts and events – an ocean away from the Deep South.
Swap Route 66 for... the Great Ocean Road
Route 66 is undeniably one of the world's best road trips. But so too is the Great Ocean Road in Australia, which snakes along the south-eastern coast.
Swap diners for beach bars, dingy motels for sea-view hotels and wide-open plains for, as the name suggests, endless views of the ocean. Stop along the way to join a whale-watching expedition – groups leave Apollo Bay regularly.
Swap the Smithsonian for... The Grand Egyptian Museum
The long-awaited (and much-delayed) Grand Egyptian Museum has finally opened. It's a fitting final resting place for some 22 pharaohs and their artefacts, which include dazzling jewellery and remarkable funerary caskets.
All of this is housed within a vast exhibition space – tall enough for a 36ft statue of Ramses II to preside over – and grand enough to rival the sweeping colonnades of any Smithsonian institution.
Swap Malibu for... Nazaré
Surfers need not abandon the waves if they usually head to California. Closer to home, the impressive swells at Nazaré, in Portugal, offer a heart-stopping equivalent. In fact, the waves around the Atlantic outpost are so notorious that all but the most experienced should attempt to ride them.
For spectators, though, this is an unbeatable place to watch people tackle the surf. Otherwise, the town itself is home to quiet cafés and bars, plus charming places to stay – an antidote to the brash Malibu lifestyle.
Swap Hawaii for... Turks and Caicos
Overtourism has hampered Hawaii, which is vulnerable to water shortages, in recent years. So now might be the time to consider alternatives.
Try Turks and Caicos, with its crystalline waters and remarkable scuba diving opportunities. Hotels include Pine Cay, a luxurious enclave occupying its own private island.