Best-value travel destinations for 2026

As popular tourist destinations become more expensive, new alternatives are emerging! In consultation with tourism experts, we suggest some of the best destinations to travel to in 2026 - similar to traditional resorts, writes Iris Lifshitz-Klieger in an article published in the Israeli magazine Ynet News.

According to experts, there are places comparable to popular tourist spots where visitors can enjoy a similar experience but at a much lower cost, CE Report quotes ATA.

The year 2026 could be the year for smarter travel choices—less focus on classic destinations and more interest in alternatives that offer a comparable experience at a significantly lower price.

After a period during which Israelis flocked to well-known destinations—mainly due to uncertainty—a wider range of flights, thanks to growing competition among airlines, is reopening the map to new and undiscovered locations.

These destinations offer exotic European-style vacations on an affordable budget.

Instead of Budapest – choose Tirana, Albania:
Tirana may be less known, but it offers a stunning blend of a modern European city, trendy cafes, low prices, and easy access to nature and nearby beaches.

Between July 12 and 15, accommodation at Hotel Albanopolis starts from $499 per person.

Eshet Tours also offers a vacation package including four nights in Albania in July at a four-star hotel for $492 per person.

Additionally, Eshet Tours offers a five-night package in Tirana from July 23 to 28, covering flights and accommodation at the four-star Hotel Boutique Arbnor, including breakfast, starting from $490 per person.

The Israeli magazine suggested several new destinations considered the best to travel to in 2026, which could replace traditional popular resorts:

• Instead of Budapest – Tirana, Albania

• Instead of Prague – Bucharest, Romania

• Instead of Mykonos – Batumi, Georgia

• Instead of Berlin – Warsaw, Poland

• Instead of Budapest or Rome – Sofia, Bulgaria

• Instead of Thailand – Sri Lanka

• Instead of Amsterdam – Slovakia or Slovenia

• Instead of Rome or Thessaloniki – Baku, Azerbaijan

What does the tourism industry say?
TAL Aviation, a leading airline and travel company, told Ynet News that a new trend has emerged ahead of the summer of 2026: tourists are increasingly seeking new alternatives to traditional summer destinations, mainly driven by the high cost of living and rising prices at popular spots.

According to the company, a growing number of Israelis are choosing destinations that offer a similar experience to well-known tourist spots but at a significantly lower price.

Tali Noy, Vice President of Strategy and Marketing at Issta, said:

“In today’s era, families are looking for unique experiences beyond traditional destinations like Greece and Cyprus. We see increasing demand for summer trips to countries such as Albania, Uzbekistan, Romania, Lithuania, and Montenegro. This trend reflects a desire for authentic vacations that combine nature, culture, and history, along with reasonable prices.”

Shirly Cohen Urkabi, Vice President at Eshet Tours, said the destinations expected to be popular next year include Greece, the Balkans, Montenegro, Albania, Bulgaria, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Morocco, and the Caucasus: Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Georgia, along with the Far East.

Photo: Argouillat/ Shutterstock