5 destinations to replace your United States trip in 2026
13 min read
In 2026, as tourism to the United States falls sharply, more and more French travellers are looking for somewhere else to go. Canada, Norway, Iceland, Crete, New Zealand: five concrete alternatives that replace every kind of American experience, with budgets, ideal seasons and first-hand feedback.
Updated: 23 April 2026
If you're reading this, it's because a question is nagging at you. Perhaps you'd planned a stay in New York, a road trip out west, or a getaway to Hawaii. And now you're hesitating. The political climate, the tighter border checks, the mixed accounts your friends bring back from over there, the dollar exchange rate… plenty of signals telling you to think again.
The numbers confirm that hesitation: international tourism to the United States fell at a historic rate in 2025-2026, an unusual phenomenon among the world's great destinations. No moral judgement here, just an observation. And, above all, an opportunity: the chance to rediscover that the world is vast, and that for every kind of American experience, there's an alternative elsewhere, often closer, sometimes more exotic.
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Travelling differently isn't giving up on a dream; it's going in search of another one.
In this guide, I'm sharing five destinations that each match a different face of the United States. Canada to replace the urban pulse of New York. Norway for the arctic wonder we used to chase in Alaska. Iceland for the geological landscapes of the American West. Crete for the beaches of Hawaii or Florida. And New Zealand for the great West Coast road trip. Five concrete alternatives, tested, documented, bookable right now.
011. Canada, to replace your New York trip
It's the most obvious alternative, and no accident I'm putting it first. A direct flight from Paris, the same continent, a comparable time difference, and above all: an urban energy that gives Manhattan nothing to envy.
Why Canada is the most natural alternative
I lived in New York for several years, and I've spent a lot of time in Montreal. I can tell you: the culture shock is much smaller than people assume. Third-wave coffee shops, summer rooftops, museums, the food scene, neighbourhoods that each carry their own identity. It's all there.
Direct flight from Paris, around 7 hours, same as New York
eTA easy to obtain online, without the biometric queues that now await travellers to the United States
French-speaking Quebec: a linguistic comfort, especially if you're travelling with children or with parents who aren't at ease in English
Canadian dollar more favourable than the US dollar for a European budget
No border friction — just as the United States is tightening its own
Montreal or Quebec City: which to choose
If you were after the raw energy of New York, head for Montreal. The Plateau, Mile End, the Old Port, Saint-Henri… the city has its neighbourhoods, its contrasts, its nights. I've written a full guide on 24 hours in my life in Montreal that will give you a feel for the rhythm.
If you had Boston or Philadelphia in mind — the historic character, the quiet walks — head to Quebec City instead. The ramparts, the lower town, the Château Frontenac… it feels like Northern Europe, and that's exactly what makes it charming.
When to go and what it costs
Indian summer, from mid-September to mid-October, is the best window. The colours are spectacular, prices are reasonable, and the crowds haven't arrived yet. It's the exact equivalent of fall in New England, only more accessible.
Winter, from December to February, has its own charm too: outdoor skating rinks, sugar shacks, poutine after a day in the snow. Budget-wise, expect something comparable to a New York stay, sometimes 15 to 20% lower depending on the season.
For where to sleep, I have a soft spot for my luxury flat at Tour des Canadiens 3 right in the centre of Montreal: the perfect base to tap into the city's energy.
022. Norway, to replace Alaska and the arctic wonder
Alaska is an 11-hour flight from Paris, with a near-mandatory stopover in Seattle or Los Angeles. Northern Norway is a direct 4-hour flight, and to my eye the landscapes hold their own. The fjords, the wildlife, the northern lights, mountains plunging straight into the sea: it's all there, at a density few places in the world can match.
Lofoten and Tromsø: the far north without the Seattle detour
Tromsø is the arctic capital par excellence. It's sometimes called "the Paris of the North" for its rich cultural life. It's the ideal gateway for chasing the northern lights, heading out on a dog sled, watching whales or bathing in the midnight sun, depending on the season. I've put together a complete Tromsø guide that covers every angle.
The Lofoten Islands, a few hours' drive or a short flight from Tromsø, are another world. Fishing villages of red-painted houses, beaches with turquoise water that feels impossible at these latitudes, spectacular hikes. Here are my 25 things to do in the Lofoten Islands to give you a sense of the place.
A road trip more spectacular than Alaska
The Norwegian scenic routes — Senja, Andøya, Lofoten — pack into a few hundred kilometres what Alaska spreads over thousands. You go from a fjord to a snowy summit, from a deserted beach to a fishing village, without a dull moment behind the wheel.
Northern lights from October to March, with a high probability near Tromsø
Whale safari in winter, when orcas and humpbacks follow the herring shoals
Husky sledding, reindeer, snowmobiling in an authentic arctic setting
Hurtigruten cruises along the coast, a one-of-a-kind sea journey
An honest budget and the new tourist tax
Let's be blunt: Norway is expensive. A simple restaurant meal sits around €25-30, a coffee at €5, a beer at €10. On that front, Alaska isn't much cheaper, but the difference shows in transport. No long transatlantic flight with a stopover, no €300-a-day camper hire.
For timing, two windows: late September to March for the northern lights, June to August for the midnight sun. The weather conditions in Tromsø are worth studying before you book, because how you dress makes all the difference up there.
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033. Iceland, to replace the national parks of the American West
Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Monument Valley… they're wonders, I won't deny it. But if you're after a jaw-dropping geological density — geysers, active volcanoes, natural hot springs, glaciers and canyons, all on a territory you can cover in ten days — Iceland is unmatched.
Yellowstone without Yellowstone
Iceland packs into its small area what the American West spreads across seven states. The geysers at Geysir echo Old Faithful. Its hot springs rival those of Mammoth. The canyons of Fjaðrárgljúfur or the Landmannalaugar region hold up against any Utah landscape. And all this without having to cover 500 km between sites.
The Blue Lagoon, touristy as it may be, remains an experience with no equivalent in America. Wilder natural springs like Hvammsvík or Hrunalaug offer a more secluded, more intimate version of the thermal experience.
The ultimate Route 66-style road trip, Nordic edition
Route 1 circles the whole island over 1,332 km. In 10 to 12 days, you see it all: the Snæfellsnes peninsula to the west, the northern fjords, the diamond region in the east, the south coast with its legendary waterfalls — Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Gullfoss — and the black sand beaches near Vík.
A loop road trip: no backtracking, you never pass through the same place twice
Iceland, like Norway, isn't a cheap destination. Allow €150-200 per day per person for a comfort budget (flights excluded). But compared with a Yellowstone trip in high season, once you add the car hire, paid park entries and the distances covered, the gap narrows sharply.
The best time depends on your goal: May to September for the full Ring Road and the midnight sun, October to March for the northern lights and the wintery mood. The article on when to go to maximise your chances of seeing the aurora will give you the right windows.
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Hawaii is an 18-hour flight from Paris, with two stopovers, an 11-hour time difference and a flight budget easily above €1,500 in high season. Crete is a 3-hour direct flight, a 1-hour time difference, and tickets at €150 in shoulder season. For beaches that, objectively, have nothing to envy the Pacific.
Beaches that rival Waikiki
I'll be honest with you: I wasn't expecting this before I set foot on Elafonisi. Pink sand, a transparent lagoon, water at 26°C in the height of summer. Or Balos, the turquoise lagoon you reach by boat or along a rough track. Or Falassarna, a vast beach facing the sunsets of the west coast. Or Preveli with its palm grove that could pass for a Polynesian film set.
This is the argument the United States simply can't match: 4,000 years of history. The Palace of Knossos, cradle of the Minoan civilisation. Hilltop villages like Argyroupoli or Loutro. Monasteries like Moni Arkadiou or Chrysoskalitissa. A cuisine that breathes sunshine, olive oil and mountain herbs.
The cities themselves are worth the detour. Heraklion, a lively, historic capital. Chania, its Venetian harbour and cobbled lanes. Each one deserves a proper stay, not just a visit.
Budget and logistics: the clincher
Crete is also perfect for a road trip. The island is 260 km from east to west, and hiring a car is essential if you want to take in all its diversity. My complete guide to hiring a car in Crete covers every pitfall to avoid.
For the best period, I have a dedicated guide to Crete in summer and another on September, which to my mind is the best month: temperatures still summery, the crowds already gone, prices dropping back.
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For the big picture, the complete Crete guide brings together everything you need to know before you go.
055. New Zealand, to replace the West Coast road trip
I'm saving the most distant for last, because it's also the most daring. Yes, it's far. Yes, the flight is expensive. But if you'd planned a three-week Los Angeles–San Francisco–Yosemite–Vegas–Grand Canyon road trip, and you're dropping it: New Zealand offers a concentrated equivalent, more intense, and without any of the current political or security drawbacks.
The most spectacular country for a road trip
On an area the size of California, you have fjords worthy of Norway, Caribbean-grade beaches, active volcanoes, glaciers, primeval forests, vineyards, and wildlife unique in the world. All at a density of experience that means you never feel like you're wasting time on the road.
There's a particular light, late in the afternoon in Fiordland, when the sun drops between two granite walls and the dark water of the fjord suddenly turns gold. You can try all you like to explain rationally why New Zealand is beautiful; in that moment, all you can do is fall silent.
The real issue: the long-haul
I won't lie to you. The Paris-Auckland flight is 24 hours of travel with a stop in Dubai, Singapore or Hong Kong. The ticket runs around €1,300 to €1,800 in economy. That's why this destination only really makes sense if you're going for 3 weeks minimum, ideally 4.
Once on the ground, though, costs are reasonable: a hire car from €40 a day, motel accommodation at €80-120, decent meals at €20-25. The distances you cover locally don't burn through your budget the way an American road trip would.
The best period for a New Zealand road trip runs from November to April, the Southern Hemisphere summer. December-January being the local high season (school holidays), I'd lean towards February-March or November for a good weather-quietness compromise.
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06Travel differently, without guilt and without sacrifice
There you have it. Five destinations, five concrete alternatives for 2026. It's not a call to boycott, and it's no judgement on travellers who choose to keep their US plans. Everyone does their own sums, weighs their desires, their budget, their convictions.
What I wanted to share with you is simply this obvious point we sometimes forget: the United States holds a disproportionate place in the French travel imagination, and for every kind of American experience there's a counterpart somewhere else, often closer, sometimes more exotic, almost always cheaper.
And the United States isn't going anywhere. We can head back in two years, in five years, once the context has shifted. In the meantime, the world is wide.
And you — which of these five destinations pulls you most? Maybe you've already shifted your 2026 travel project to one of them? Or perhaps you're holding a different course, equally legitimate. The comments are open, and the Âme Bohème newsletter will be with you each week for your next explorations.
The world is wide. You just have to look elsewhere.
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5 alternatives to the United States in 2026 — Âme Bohème | Âme Bohème
