5 Expensive Vacation Destinations That Will Be Cheaper in 2025

Does 2024 already have you dreaming of jetting away in 2025? Join the club! Many are looking to escape the hustle and bustle to somewhere luxe and exotic, but don’t want to pay a fortune to do so.

GOBankingRates spoke with international (and domestic) travel gurus and got the skinny on the hot travel locales for 2025 – especially the ones that are going to see a price reduction in the new year.

Here are five expensive vacation destinations that will likely be cheaper in 2025.

If you’ve been eyeing those Instagram-worthy shots of the Balkans, 2025 might be your year. Jess Rodley, bookings director at Andorra Escapes, has the lowdown.

“The Balkans, particularly Albania, are shaping up to be quite a budget-friendly spot for 2025,” Rodley shared. “Tirana, the capital, is super friendly and safe, plus it’s super cheap. You can wander around, check out the colorful buildings and dive into some amazing local food without breaking the bank.”

Rodley says if you’re feeling adventurous, you can head out to Gjirokaster or Berat for a real treat. “These UNESCO-listed towns are known for their beautiful Ottoman-era architecture, cobblestone streets and friendly locals,” she added.

Pro tip: “April to October is the best time to visit those spots for a more relaxed vibe,” Rodley said.

Portugal has been a budget traveler’s dream for years, but it’s about to get even better. Nick Burgess, editor in chief at Trip Trend Setters, explained why.

“Portugal has historically been a popular lower-cost European destination due to its overall lower cost of living and scenic destinations like Lisbon and Madeira,” Burgess said. “However, Portugal was one of [the] key nations that was hit hardest by the 2024 event known as ‘Swiftflation.'”

What’s “Swiftflation,” you ask? It refers to popstar Taylor Swift’s 2024 concert tour. Her shows made prices go through the roof everywhere she performed, including Portugal. It caused even the more affordable European destinations to shoot up in cost, and put off plenty of travelers who didn’t have that kind of cash to spend.

“The country will be eager to regain their foothold in the tourism market, likely leading to limiting of tourist taxes, like on hotels and restaurants,” Burgess shared.

Rodley added another insider tip: “We recently spent 10 days on the island of São Miguel in the Azores and found it to be very reasonably priced. Our flight and hotel, including a breakfast buffet, cost around $2,000 for two people.”

Expect to see even lower prices in 2025 when you head to this European gem.

If you’ve always wanted to say “Hola!” to Spain but were scared off by Barcelona prices, 2025 might be your chance. Rodley has some advice. “Valencia is your best bet in Spain,” she said. “It’s got all the culture and charm of Barcelona but without the crazy tourist prices.

“And if you’re looking for the beach? The beautiful seaside town of Cullera is just a short drive from Valencia,” she continued. “Spending one to two days in Cullera and then taking a mini road trip to Andalucia is a great way to see regions like Granada and Seville. They’re breathtaking and also pretty affordable.”

In fact, Rodley said she’d skip Barcelona altogether and just split time between Andalucia and Valencia.

Budget-conscious travelers, take note: “Cadiz and Granada are college-student friendly, so they are cheap, too. September and October are the most affordable and less-crowded months.”

Ooh la la! The City of Light might be a bit more affordable in 2025. Michelle Osborn, owner and travel consultant at Outta Here Travels, explained why.

“Paris has seen a significant surge in tourism this year due to the 2024 Olympics and even ‘Swifties’ traveling to Europe for lower ticket pricing than found in the U.S. for Taylor Swift’s popular concert tour,” Osborn said. “Historically, after such major international events, the mass influx of tourists will decrease, which often results in the lowering of prices as demand decreases back to a more normal level once again.”

Scott Lieberman, founder of TouchdownMoney.com — and who used to run a travel website — agreed. “Paris is always expensive, but the city just hosted the Olympics. That always drives prices up, and that traffic will be gone in 2025. You still won’t have a cheap time in Paris, but things should be a little easier than summer 2024,” he said.

Who says you need to leave the country for a great deal? Osborn has some surprising news about the Sunshine State.

“Given ongoing concerns about international travel costs and flight delays, many travelers are beginning to opt for domestic travel in 2025,” Osborn explained. “I think New Orleans and Tampa, Florida, may actually see lower pricing. Tampa is another popular cruise port that has experienced a decrease in tourism due to both economic conditions and natural disasters in the last few years.”

Lieberman added some exciting news for budget airline fans: “When low-cost airlines add routes, prices fall,” he said. “Breeze and JetBlue both announced new routes to Florida that will operate in 2025, as JetBlue will fly to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and West Palm Beach from Long Island and Breeze will fly to Fort Myers from Burlington, Vermont, and Long Island, as well as from Scranton to Tampa.”