8 Budget-Friendly Alternatives to Glitzy Destinations (2 of 5)

7. Instead of Dubai, UAE, visit Muscat, Oman

Dubai is your place if you’re drawn to luxury mall culture and $1,000/night hotel rooms, but for a more authentic Gulf experience, Muscat makes far more sense. It features grand mosques, traditional markets (souqs), beaches that are far more quiet, the exact same opportunities to ride a dune buggy across the desert, and you forgo the glitz in favor of true cultural depth.

6. Instead of Cape Town, South Africa, visit Lisbon, Portugal

There’s no question that Cape Town has plenty to offer, especially in terms of its spectacular landscapes, most notably Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. But what if we told you there’s a European capital that matches Cape Town in terms of coastal beauty at a fraction of the cost? Lisbon, Portugal, is where you ought to go instead. It’s one of the safest cities in the world, features historic neighborhoods, and its restaurants offer fresh seafood, bifana (pork sandwiches), salted cod, and exquisite local wines.