Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Sick of overcrowding or just tired of the beaten track? Check out these destination dupes instead. The area of Alentejo is the most important olive-growing region in Portugal. Getty Images Try Portugal’s Alentejo wine region instead of the Douro Valley “The Douro Valley (in the north of Portugal) is well known for both its wine vintages and scenery, but the Alentejo (in the center of Portugal) is less visited,” says Suzanne McGrory, Product Manager for Portugal at Audley Travel .
“It’s a dry, dusty land filled with sun-baked vineyards, forests and wheat fields, occasionally punctuated by a small village of whitewashed houses or a walled medieval town. Évora , the walled provincial capital, is a good base for exploring the region, as well as a destination in its own right. The well-preserved city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Moorish alleyways, intact medieval walls, Roman ruins and a gothic cathedral.
The city is also a cultural hub, with a lively student population and exceptional restaurants focused around the local cuisine.” View from the Lighthouse, Koh Rong Sanloem, Cambodia getty Try Cambodia’s Koh Rong Island instead of Phuket in Thailand “Love Phuket as we do (and despite there still being a few better kept secrets on how to avoid the crowds!), there is no avoiding the fact that the footfall is high in peak season,” says Nick Pulley, Founder and Managing Director of Selective Asia , a besp.
