Going ‘Dupe’ – How Copying Your Favorite Influencer’s Trip Can Save You Big in 2023
Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - The Art of Duplication
In the age of social media, influencer travel has never been more popular. Gorgeous feeds full of dreamy destinations, luxury hotels, and bucket list experiences tempt us all. But replicating these over-the-top trips can seem out of reach, especially for the average traveler on a budget. This is where the art of duplication comes in.
Duplicating, or copying, select elements from an influencer's lavish vacation can be an incredibly savvy way to craft your own affordable getaway. You get to handpick the most appealing parts that speak to you, without breaking the bank on the rest. It's all about prioritizing the key details and then getting creative with the rest.
For example, say your favorite jet-setting influencer just stayed at a fabulous overwater bungalow in Bora Bora that would run you $1000/night. Instead, do your research and find a more budget-friendly overwater option elsewhere in French Polynesia for $250/night. You still get the Insta-worthy experience without the shocking price tag.
Or maybe an influencer raves about a dreamy boutique hotel in Paris. See if you can find cheaper lodging in the same charming neighborhood, and visit the influencer's hotel just for drinks or breakfast to capture some photos. Small tweaks like this go a long way.
When it comes to experiences, duplicate just one or two of the influencer's key activities or restaurants. Say they did a helicopter tour, visited a famous hidden beach, and ate at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Do the beach and the helicopter ride if those appeal most, and find an amazing (but affordable) local eatery instead of the pricey Michelin option.
What else is in this post?
- Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - The Art of Duplication
- Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Picking the Right Influencer to Duplicate
- Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Research Flights, Hotels, and Itineraries Thoroughly
- Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Make Adjustments Based on Your Budget
- Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Consider Traveling During the Off-Season
- Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Use Points and Miles to Your Advantage
- Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Splurge Only on One or Two Key Experiences
- Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Capture Epic Photos Without Breaking the Bank
Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Picking the Right Influencer to Duplicate
When it comes to travel influencers, there are endless feeds to peruse for travel inspo these days. But not all influencers are created equal when it comes to picking the perfect one to emulate on your next vacation. Choosing thoughtfully here is key to crafting a trip that genuinely aligns with your personal travel style and budget.
The most important factors to look for are authenticity, quality over quantity, and specificity. Some influencers may receive free trips or stays in exchange for glowing reviews. This isn't necessarily bad, but it helps to follow influencers who are transparent when posts are sponsored and also share genuine feedback on places they personally paid for. These honest reviews hold more weight when deciding what experiences are worth investing in yourself.
It's also smart to pick influencers who thoughtfully highlight just one or two noteworthy experiences per destination rather than jam-packing each trip with nonstop activities. This indicates they've handpicked what mattered most. Maybe it was an incredible local restaurant, a can't-miss viewpoint, or a meaningful cultural tour. Follow their lead, skipping quantity for quality.
Travel niche matters too - if stunning architecture and design excite you, find influencers who geek out over this versus generic tropical beach landscapes. If learning local history is your thing, choose influencers who thoughtfully share destination backstories. Specificity like this ensures the experiences you duplicate will excite you too.
Lastly, read reviews and do extra research before committing to copycat any hotel stays, tours, or restaurants. An influencer's dreamy photos don't always capture reality. Investigate beyond the Instagram facade to determine if their featured businesses align with your standards.
Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Research Flights, Hotels, and Itineraries Thoroughly
Once you've picked the perfect influencer as your travel muse, it's time to dive into the research to start crafting your budget-friendly duplicate trip. Meticulous research is mandatory before booking anything influenced by someone else's journey.
Flights specifically require careful investigation, as an influencer's sponsored business class ticket or convenient nonstop likely differs wildly from the budget options you'll need to seek out. Sift through flight deals using Google Flights or Mighty Travel's Premium search to find routes matching your dates and budget. Set up fare alerts if needed and consider nearby airports to maximize options.
Don't assume the influencer's luxury stays are attainable either. Do your homework to find suitable lodging alternatives that capture the overall vibe without the shocking nightly rates. For beachside locales, seek out less touristy towns with hidden gem hotels or vacation rentals at a fraction of the cost. In cities, choose cheaper but charming neighborhoods and boutique hotels with personality over five-star chains. Leverage user reviews on Booking.com and TripAdvisor to validate quality beyond the pretty influencer photos.
When it comes to duplicating an itinerary, thoughtfully evaluate each experience highlighted to determine your top priorities. Maybe it's a certain type of tour, restaurant scene, or adrenaline-pumping adventure. Focus your time and budget around just one or two influencer activities that genuinely speak to you versus jam-packing your trip. Quality over quantity is key for crafting a personalized trip that avoids becoming an expensive copycat.
Vetting every influencer-inspired element through careful research allows you to handpick the pieces that matter most and get creative adapting the rest. You'll uncover cheaper flights, hidden hotel gems, and personalized local experiences tailored to your individual travel dreams versus just blindly following someone else's footsteps. Meticulous research transforms duplication from thoughtless emulation into a catalyst for crafting your own unforgettable adventure within any budget.
Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Make Adjustments Based on Your Budget
The cornerstone of successfully duplicating an influencer's dream trip lies in making thoughtful adjustments based on your personal budget. Their sponsored first class flights and 5-star luxury likely requires major downscaling, but this process allows you to get creative while still being inspired by their content. The key is identifying what factors genuinely excite you in that influencer's travels and finding affordable ways to incorporate those elements.
For Anjali, an architecture lover with a $1500 budget, her favorite influencer's recent iconic European city hop appealed greatly, but needed budget tweaks. While the influencer stayed at luxurious design-centric hotels Anjali couldn’t afford, Anjali prioritized duplicating theinfluencer’s thoughtful walking tours of historic neighborhoods and visits to landmark buildings.
Anjali got to work finding cheaper lodging options in the same districts, like swapping the influencer’s 5-star Prague stay for an Airbnb apartment rental steps from the iconic Charles Bridge. Though sacrificing hotel amenities, she’d retain the charm of staying amidst the striking gothic architecture she adored.
The influencer’s helicopter tour of coastal Croatia was skipped, but Anjali devised her own self-guided driving route to capture that same breathtaking scenery for a fraction of the cost. Her budget limitations required creativity, but she duplicated the meaningful architecture and sightseeing content from that influencer’s journey in affordable ways.
Marcus, a wildlife lover with $2000 for an African safari, took a similar approach. His favorite influencer's luxurious lodge stay was far beyond his budget, but researching reviews helped Marcus find an intimate tented camp in the same spectacular game reserve for 40% less. Though passing on the lodge’s infinity pool and spa, Marcus was thrilled to still experience early morning and sunset safari drives spotting exotic wildlife just like his influencer muse.
Foodie Sasha's Mexico beach getaway on a $1200 budget couldn't include her influencer's ultra-luxe dining, but Sasha found incredible street food options and family-run taco joints to experience local flavor at a price she could afford. She even splurged on one beachfront cocktail from the influencer's minimalist oceanside resort - capturing the dreamy backdrop for a perfect Insta shot without paying for a room.
Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Consider Traveling During the Off-Season
One brilliant strategy for maximizing your budget when planning an influencer-inspired trip is to consider traveling during the destination's off-season. Avoiding expensive high season rates can make luxe stays and exclusive experiences much more attainable. For wildlife aficionado Marcus, an off-season Serengeti safari helped lower costs while still providing epic animal encounters.
October's reduced visitor numbers allowed Marcus to book 40% discounts on his tented camp compared to peak summer rates. The stunning scenery was untouched, but with far fewer jeeps crowding sightings thanks to the shoulder season timing. Marcus relished having front row views of a lion's kill that would have been blocked by numerous vehicles during peak summer crowds.
The savings allowed Marcus to plan additional game drives and book a memorable hot air balloon ride over the expansive landscape that would have busted his budget in high season. For architecture enthusiast Anjali, traveling Europe in late fall meant fewer tourists jostling for views of iconic landmarks. Anjali's early morning strolls past Prague's gothic spires were blissfully peaceful this time of year, allowing vivid reflection shots of the striking Charles Bridge devoid of crowds.
Off-season savings gave Anjali budget breathing room to splurge on a private architecture-focused walking tour in Barcelona, avoiding distracting crowds that would have diluted this dream experience in summer. Had Anjali mimicked her influencer's busy August trip dates, these meaningful moments immersed in her travel passions would have been compromised.
Sasha's off-season Baja California trip meant temperate weather devoid of summer's oppressive heat and humidity that can deter outdoor adventures. With cooler November temperatures, Sasha could comfortably embark on a coastal kayaking excursion amongst the rugged sea cliffs her influencer had shared on a similar summer paddle. Had Sasha forfeited savings to duplicate pricier summer travel dates, she'd have sacrificed this iconic experience to avoid the heat.
Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Use Points and Miles to Your Advantage
Strategically leveraging points and miles is a game-changer when duplicating an influencer's aspirational getaway on a budget. Their comped first class flights and 5-star hotel suites likely came courtesy of points, but you can similarly tap into miles and loyalty programs to craft luxury experiences and aspirational stays at a fraction of the cash price.
Getting creative, flexible, and opportunistic with points and airline/hotel status can transform what is attainable for your influencer-inspired trip. For Sasha, 60,000 Southwest points covered her flights to Mexico almost entirely, leaving ample budget for phenomenal local food experiences. With Chase Ultimate Rewards points, she transferred to Hyatt and scored two free nights at a high-end beachside resort also featured by her influencer.
Anjali plotted her European architecture quest over the fall shoulder season when point redemption rates dropped lower. She booked Lufthansa business class flights across the Atlantic for just 68,000 United MileagePlus miles, an astonishing value. Saving hundreds on airfare meant more budget flexibility for walking tours and visits to landmark buildings she adored.
Both leveraged their Chase Sapphire Reserve's annual $300 travel credit and priority pass airport lounge access to elevate their international trips with first class touches without the shocking price tags. Like their influencers, airport lounge access enhanced their travels with free meals, comfy seating, and even spa treatments before flights.
Wildlife lover Marcus tapped into Amex Membership Rewards points earned from his Platinum card to book 60% off a dream safari lodge in Kenya during the off-season. And he arrogated United MileagePlus miles to grab an inexpensive one-way flight home in premium economy at the trip’s end, allowing him to comfortably edit photos from this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Splurge Only on One or Two Key Experiences
The cornerstone of crafting an affordable influencer-inspired vacation is being highly selective with where you splurge. Funneling your budget towards only one or two bucket list experiences handpicked from their journey allows you to mimic the parts that matter most to you.
Anjali, our architecture-obsessed budget traveler, made the most of her $1500 European trip budget by splurging solely on two remarkable walking tours. In Barcelona, she booked a private modernist architecture tour of Gaudi’s masterpieces rather than settling for a crowded group bus tour. This move cost $150 but meant personalized insight from a design expert and unobstructed photos of Gaudi's striking facades and interiors.
Next in Prague, Anjali splurged on an after-hours tour of St Vitus Cathedral. For $120, she relished having exclusive evening access to appreciate the soaring Gothic arches and stained glass of this architectural icon. She'd skip Prague Castle in the morning with the crowds to allocate her budget here instead.
Both tours aligned perfectly with Anjali’s unique passion for design. By singling these out as her sole extravagances, she mimicked the meaningful architecture immersion of her influencer idol in an affordable way. The rest of her lodging and dining was creatively crafted to keep costs low without sacrificing charm.
Safari enthusiast Marcus also pinpointed one exceptional wildlife experience for his big budget splurge: a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti. Opting out of multiple jeep safaris allowed him to allocate $350 to float silently over the epic landscape and spot magnificent animals from above. The bucket list views and photo ops were unmatched.
Foodie Sasha chose one ultra-luxe resort beachside dinner as her sole indulgence in Mexico. For $100, she dined on gourmet Baja seafood and sippedexquisite mezcal cocktails as the sun set over the Pacific, capturing Instagram magic without paying for a room. She otherwise opted for cheap, authentic taco joints.
Going 'Dupe' - How Copying Your Favorite Influencer's Trip Can Save You Big in 2023 - Capture Epic Photos Without Breaking the Bank
In the Instagram age, epic travel photos are the holy grail. Pose at some epic landmark or in a Insta-worthy Airbnb bathtub and the likes and comments will rain down. But for the budget traveler, capturing these envy-inducing shots often requires more creativity than cash.
The good news is that stunning, sharable travel photography need not cost an arm and a leg. With resourcefulness and imagination, you can mimic those influencer photo ops you crave without demolishing your daily expenses budget. It just takes a little planning.
Reflect on what backdrops and perspectives really grab your attention from influencers’ feeds. Note what excites your own inner photographer. Do you love playful action shots that capture a place’s energy and culture? Are sweeping scenic vistas and city skylines your obsession? Or maybe graphic architectural details and patternsmove you most. Zero in on your photography passions first.
Next, brainstorm how to capture these types of shots affordably. If iconic landmarks are your thing, consider catching golden hour light from a public park rather than paying for an observatory’s glitzy viewing terrace. For artsy alleyways and street scenes, wander colorful neighborhoods instead of booking a private photo tour.
Evaluate if booking just one bucket list photography experience is worthwhile rather than trying to do them all. For Marcus on safari, a hot air balloon float for aerial wildlife shots made sense as a singular splurge. But passing on multiple private jeep tours in favor of self-driving kept costs reasonable without sacrificing epic animal encounters.
Researching free lookout points is another affordable option if vistas inspire you. Anjali in Prague ascended the mirror maze tower of Petrin Hill to take in sweeping city views reaching Prague Castle. At nearly 400 meters up, the panorama rivaled costly observation decks while only costing her bus fare.
Getting up early is an easy route to empty sites. Sasha captured the dramatic Castillo San Felipe del Morro citadel in old San Juan defiantly alone against pastel dawn skies thanks to her 6am wake up call. Beating crowds meant no distracting people in her photos too.
If you’ve got a DSLR or mirrorless camera, don’t be afraid to enhance shots afterwards too. A bit of brightness/contrast adjustment, cropping for composition, and slight filtration can elevate photos without expensive editing software. Apps like Snapseed and Adobe Lightroom Mobile offer powerful free options perfect for optimizing travel shots on the go.