As overtourism reaches its peak, more people than ever are keen to avoid tourist traps and “most-Instagrammed” places in favour of quieter, more authentic holiday experiences.
A recent survey by online booking site Expedia found that one in three travellers had booked a destination dupe, proving that less-crowded options are increasingly luring travellers off well-trodden paths.
Here Amanda picks the best alternatives, including where she is going with her family this summer.
Swap Cornwall for Northumberland
It can't be denied that Cornwall's breathtaking beaches, cute cottages, fancy restaurants and surf schools have an enduring appeal to families, but the traffic jams on narrow country lanes and over-priced hotels during peak summer months? Less so. Which is why I'll be travelling north this summer to often over-looked Northumberland, home of magnificent coastal castles (parts of the Harry Potter movies were filmed at Alnwick Castle!), puffins, seals, Hadrian's Wall, the Kielder Observatory, remote Farne Islands and enough windswept coastal paths to keep even the most active family happy.
Stay at luxe River View Lodge in Allen Valleys, which sleeps four and comes with forest views, wood-burning stove and a glass-fronted balcony with sunken hot tub - the perfect place to enjoy the sunset while the kids roam the woodland below.
Five nights at River View Lodge from 17 August costs from £2,156 with Cottages in Northumberland.
Swap Crete for Evia
Crete, Greece's largest island, might have glorious golden beaches, mountains and coastal towns to explore, but come summer time, when temperatures soar and thousands of tourists jet into Chania and Heraklion daily, there's no denying it can become overcrowded. Head instead to unspoilt Evia, Greece's second largest, lesser-known island separated from the mainland by a slither of Aegean Sea.
You've still got the vineyards, archaeological sites, picturesque coast and sunshine, but less of the mass tourism. Stay at Gregolimano, ClubMed's all-inclusive resort for active families, which lies on a secluded stretch of beach backed by pine forests and includes a kids' club, watersports, Mediterranean food and Greek amphitheatre for entertainment beneath the stars.
Seven nights in July from £2,148pp, all-inclusive and including flights with Club Med.
Swap Mallorca for Menorca
Locals were so concerned about overtourism on the Balearic island of Mallorca last year they took to the streets to protest. Fast-forward to summer 2026 and those in the know are quietly booking holidays to Menorca, Mallorca's under-the-radar, unsung neighbour. A UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1993 with a scenic landscape, boutique hotels and secret beaches, it certainly gives Mallorca a run for its money in the looks department, but the slower pace of life also makes it appealing to families.
Book two-bedroom Mermaid Cottage, a whitewashed villa with jaw-dropping sea views, airy open-plan lounge and kitchen, spacious outside terrace for meals by the pool al fresco and a stroll from shops, restaurants and beaches.
Seven nights from £1,517pp, based on a family of four sharing, and including flights departing 1 August with CV Villas.
Swap the Algarve for the Azores
The Algarve is one of the most popular family destinations in Europe, with parents lured by safe sandy beaches, luxe villas and resorts that welcome children with open arms. The downside? Come July and August prices rise along with the mercury and restaurants and beaches are packed. If you crave a piece of Portugal without the crowds, fly a little further west to the remote Azores archipelago - nine lush islands that lie between Europe and North America in the Atlantic Ocean.
Children will love the freedom and natural beauty, including white sand beaches - Formosa is the most dazzling - plus dolphin-spotting excursions and dips in vast rock pools. Make your base a two-bedroom apartment at the Antillia Hotel in the historical centre of Ponta Delgada on São Miguel, where kids can enjoy the playroom and pool while you hit the Jacuzzi.
From £1,553pp including flights, accommodation and transfers, with Sunvil.
Swap Costa Rica for Panama
Costa Rica is world-famous for its pristine nature, biodiversity, volcanoes, unspoilt beaches and eco lodges, but its less-visited Central American neighbour, Panama, is blessed with just as many awe-inspiring adventures that will have older kids and teens enthralled. Book a Panama Nature Explorer trip with Rainbow Tours and every day will be a school day (in the best possible way), from hiking through volcanic landscapes and cloud forests in El Valle de Anton to spotting monkeys, sloths and opossums in the canopy of Soberania National Park just outside Panama City.
Fourteen-night Panama Nature Explorer from £4,495pp including flights, accommodation and transfers with Rainbow Tours.
Swap the Maldives for the Seychelles
The Maldives is now one of Britain's most-searched holiday destinations, but there's a less glitzy, more nature-led alternative in the Indian Ocean that has still got the wow factor, plus white-sand beaches and family-friendly five-stars. The paradise islands of the Seychelles are more focused on preserving the environment than boosting tourism and, while they're a bucket-list break for adults, Constance Lemuria resort on Praslin island is all about families. There's Anse Georgette Beach (which has been voted best in the world), an on-site turtle sanctuary to visit and a brilliant kid-friendly bracelet barter system, where little ones can exchange bracelets for smoothies, pancakes and ice cream, plus an outstanding Kids' Club (4-11 years) with playhouses, arts and crafts and pizza-making.
Seven nights from £14,110 per family (two adults, two children) in a Senior Suite with half-board, flights and ferry transfers, with Beachcomber Tours.
Swap Thailand for Vietnam
One of the most popular long-haul destinations for Brits, Thailand has so much to offer in terms of culture, beautiful beaches and delicious food, however holiday hot spots like this inevitably attract big crowds - 32.9 million tourists in 2025. This summer switch Thailand for Vietnam, an Asian country with an equally enchanting shoreline, mouth-watering restaurant scene and sensational cities where ancient temples stand next to gleaming skyscrapers.
From the bustling alleys of Old Quarter Hanoi to Tai Chi lessons by Hoan Kiem Lake, exploring the coastline together aboard a traditional junk and hanging out in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Turquoise Holidays' tour includes a stay at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay and is the stuff of family holiday dreams.
Twelve-day A Cultural Family Discovery Tour from £16,825 for a family of four including flights, accommodation and transfers with Turquoise Holidays.
By Amanda Statham, Editor of 101 Family Holidays.
