Some of the world’s most popular destinations are no longer just crowded—they’re expensive, and it feels like it hits points-and-miles travelers first. Award prices have crept up, hotel availability has tightened, and “good value” redemptions can be harder to find than they used to be.

The upside? Many of the experiences travelers want—beaches, food scenes, culture, and scenery—exist elsewhere. And often you’ll find better award availability and lower cash rates.

Here’s where travelers are getting priced out—and where points and miles stretch further instead.

 

Amalfi Coast? Turkey Offers Similar Scenery Minus the Premium

 

 

Points Highlight: Hilton in Bodrum

Bodrum stands out for offering several Hilton-affiliated hotels, giving travelers flexibility to use points for coastal stays that often cost far more in comparable Mediterranean destinations.

• Best use of points: DoubleTree by Hilton Bodrum Isil Club All-Inclusive Resort
• Price range: Starting at 52,000 Hilton Honors points per night 

Why the Amalfi Coast is getting tough:

The Amalfi Coast has become one of Europe’s least forgiving destinations for value-minded travelers. Hotels routinely charge luxury-level prices regardless of category, and transportation costs pile up quickly; even shoulder-season trips feel priced for peak demand. Crowds and congestion are now baked into the experience.

For points-and-miles travelers, the math can be tough. Award availability is limited, redemption prices are high, and flexibility disappears once peak season begins.

Why Turkey works instead:

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast delivers many of the same draws—dramatic cliffs, turquoise water, historic towns, and exceptional food—at a fraction of the cost. Places like Bodrum, Kaş, and Fethiye offer boat trips, walkable centers, and relaxed coastal energy without the Amalfi markup.

Cash hotel prices are dramatically lower, especially at boutique properties. Flights to Turkey are often easier to book with miles than nonstop routes into southern Italy. Plus, daily costs remain affordable once you arrive.

 

As Croatia Gets More Expensive, Albania Remains a Budget-Friendly Option

 

 

Points Highlight: Flights to Albania

Cash accommodations in Albania remain incredibly affordable, making it a strong destination to save points for flights instead, especially when booking into nearby European hubs and continuing on with short regional connections.  

• Best use of points: American Airlines AAdvantage miles in economy class
• Price range: 22,500 to 30,000 miles (and the taxes and fees are relatively low)

Why Croatia is getting tough:

Croatia’s evolution from hidden gem to European staple has pushed prices steadily upward. Along the Dalmatian Coast, peak-season pricing dominates, ferry routes fill early, and hotel inventory remains limited. Award redemptions often cost more than they’re worth.

Even outside Dubrovnik, summer crowds strain infrastructure.

Why Albania works instead:

Albania offers many of the same elements that first put Croatia on the map: clear Adriatic water, preserved old towns, and a relaxed Mediterranean pace. Cities like Berat and Gjirokastër deliver UNESCO-listed history without cruise congestion or inflated pricing.

 

Costa Rica Is No Longer Cheap—Why You Should Consider El Salvador Instead

 

Points Highlight: Economy Flights to El Salvador

El Salvador’s proximity to the U.S. makes it an especially strong candidate for cheap economy award flights, allowing travelers to use fewer points to cover airfare and keep overall trip costs low.

• Best use of points: Avianca Lifemiles
• Price range: Starting around 9,000 miles one way

Why Costa Rica is getting tough:

Costa Rica still markets itself as an accessible eco-adventure destination, but prices now rival far more developed markets. Resort rates are high, transportation costs add up quickly, and award availability is limited at the most popular airports—especially for families needing multiple seats.

Why El Salvador works instead:

El Salvador has undergone one of the most dramatic tourism turnarounds in Central America. Safety conditions have improved significantly in recent years, and beach towns like El Tunco and El Zonte now attract surfers, families, and long-term travelers alike.

From a value standpoint, El Salvador excels. Cash prices are low, distances are short, and flights are often easier to book with miles than on Costa Rica’s busiest routes. It offers nature, beaches, and culture without resort-driven pricing.

 

Looking Beyond Paris? Lyon Offers France for Less

 

 

Points Highlight: Hotels in Lyon

Lyon tends to offer better award availability and lower redemption rates than Paris, particularly at midrange hotels, making it easier to use points for centrally located stays.

• Best use of points: InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu
• Price range: Starts at 66,000 IHG One Rewards per night

Why Paris is getting tough:

Paris remains iconic, but demand keeps hotel prices elevated and award availability tight. Central locations often require top-tier redemptions, limiting how much value points can realistically deliver.

Why Lyon works instead:

Lyon offers walkable neighborhoods, historic architecture, and one of France’s strongest food scenes at noticeably lower prices. Cash hotel rates are more forgiving, and award pricing tends to deliver better value. Flights into Paris paired with a short train ride often save both cash and miles.

 

Southern Europe Too Expensive? Argentina Might Be the Better Bet

 

 

Points Highlight: Flights to Argentina

Long-haul flights to Argentina can be a strong use of points, particularly outside peak summer travel periods, while cash prices on the ground often remain reasonable once you arrive.

• Best use of points: Asiana Airlines Asiana Club (partner award chart)
• Price range: Business class starting at 70,000 miles round-trip

Why Southern Europe is getting tough:

Trips to Italy, Spain, and southern France have become increasingly difficult to book at reasonable prices. Hotel rates stay elevated well beyond peak season, award availability is tight, and even midrange stays often feel overpriced. Crowds only compound the issue.

Why Argentina works instead:

Argentina offers many of the same elements travelers love about Southern Europe—walkable cities, café culture, late dinners, wine regions, and deep regional identity—often at a dramatically lower overall cost.

From a points perspective, long-haul flights to Argentina are frequently easier to book with miles than peak summer routes into Europe. Once on the ground, cash stretches far further. Buenos Aires delivers European-style architecture and neighborhood energy, while regions like Mendoza rival European wine destinations at a fraction of the cost.

 

As Japan Gets More Expensive, Vietnam Offers Solid Value for Travelers

 

 

Points Highlight:

Long-haul flights to Vietnam can be one of the most expensive parts of the trip, making airfare a strong use of points—especially when booking economy seats on international routes where cash fares add up quickly.

• Best use of points: Atmos Rewards
• Price range: Business class starting at 85,000 miles one way (although finding award availability can be tricky)

Why Japan is getting tough:

Japan’s popularity has surged, pushing hotel prices higher and tightening award availability—especially in Tokyo and Kyoto. Peak seasons now require early booking or premium pricing.

Why Vietnam works instead:

Vietnam delivers cultural depth, food, and scenery at a far lower cost. Cities like Hanoi and Hoi An offer walkable old towns and rich culinary traditions, while destinations like Ha Long Bay provide natural drama without Japan-level pricing.

Hotels remain excellent values in cash, and flights within Southeast Asia are often easy to book with miles.

 

Looking for a Cheaper Safari? Namibia Offers a Different Kind of African Adventure

 

 

Points Highlight: Flights to Namibia

Namibia can be an expensive destination once you factor in transportation and activities, which makes using points for hotel stays—especially in the capital—a practical way to keep overall costs in check.

• Best use of points: Hilton Windhoek
• Price range: Starting at 35,000 Hilton Honors points per night

Why East Africa safaris are getting tough:

Safaris in Kenya and Tanzania have become aspirational—and expensive. Lodge pricing is high, park fees add up quickly and points rarely offset the biggest costs.

Why Namibia works instead:

Namibia offers a different kind of safari experience—one centered on dramatic landscapes, desert wildlife, and wide-open space. Costs are often more manageable, self-drive options exist, and crowds are far thinner.

Flights to southern Africa are frequently easier to book with miles than travelers expect, making Namibia a standout value for Africa-bound travelers.

 

Looking Beyond the Obvious Choice

After traveling to several of these destinations myself—on both sides of the comparison—the pattern is hard to miss. The places that dominate headlines and bucket lists aren’t always the ones delivering the best trips anymore, especially when prices and award availability keep climbing.

That doesn’t mean those destinations have lost their appeal. It means travelers who stay flexible—about where they go and how they get there—often end up with better experiences. Using points for long-haul flights, paying cash when it still goes far, and being willing to look beyond the most obvious choice can make travel feel rewarding again rather than restrictive.

Sometimes the smartest trip isn’t the one everyone else is booking. It’s the one where your points actually work, your budget stretches further, and the experience feels genuinely memorable.

Which of these alternatives would you consider?

I’ve found that looking beyond the obvious choice often leads to experiences that exceed my expectations—especially in places that aren’t getting the same level of hype. Trying something different can feel risky, but those trips have often been the most rewarding. 

 

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