US alternatives to a Europe trip, priced all-in
Want a Europe-style trip without the passport? We pair 9 European trips with a US stand-in. From Los Angeles, the US side is cheaper in 3 of the 9; what it usually saves is flight time, not money.
. Flight fares and all totals are estimates, not live pricing.
US alternatives to Europe at a glance (from Los Angeles)
| If you want… | Try in the US | US all-in | Europe all-in | US cheaper from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal (Lisbon) | San Francisco | ≈ $4,070$2,895–$5,240 | ≈ $4,090$2,929–$5,246 | 0 of 8 cities |
| Portugal (Lisbon) | Hawaii (Maui) | ≈ $6,670$4,918–$8,426 | ≈ $4,090$2,929–$5,246 | 0 of 8 cities |
| Barcelona | New Orleans | ≈ $4,040$2,849–$5,238 | ≈ $4,870$3,595–$6,140 | 7 of 8 cities |
| Hungary (Budapest) | Boston | ≈ $5,210$3,940–$6,470 | ≈ $4,270$3,246–$5,289 | 0 of 8 cities |
| Poland (Kraków) | Washington, D.C. | ≈ $4,340$3,148–$5,528 | ≈ $3,280$2,404–$4,165 | 0 of 8 cities |
| London | New York City | ≈ $5,250$3,834–$6,662 | ≈ $5,970$4,313–$7,617 | 8 of 8 cities |
| Iceland (Reykjavík) | Alaska (Anchorage) | ≈ $5,930$4,134–$7,724 | ≈ $6,770$5,000–$8,546 | 5 of 8 cities |
| St. Anton (Austrian Alps) | Aspen Snowmass | ≈ $10,210$7,540–$12,880 | ≈ $7,270$5,435–$9,100 | 0 of 8 cities |
| Bansko (Bulgaria) | Park City (Utah) | ≈ $9,080$6,000–$12,150 | ≈ $4,260$3,210–$5,310 | 0 of 8 cities |
Honest answer first: in most of these pairings the US stand-in costs as much as the European original or more. Where the US side wins from at least one city: New Orleans (cheaper than Barcelona from 7 of 8 cities), New York City (cheaper than London from 8 of 8 cities), Anchorage (cheaper than Reykjavík from 5 of 8 cities). What it reliably saves is time and paperwork.
The pairings, one by one
Lisbon → San Francisco
Hills, trams, a big red bridge and fog: the two cities even look alike. Which week costs less? Best for in San Francisco: Short flight, wine country day trips. In Lisbon: History, food, European charm. From Los Angeles: San Francisco ≈ $4,070 vs Lisbon ≈ $4,090, roughly even. Flights: ~1.5 hr nonstop vs ~11 hr nonstop, or 13+ hr with a stop. The San Francisco total includes the flight; our route note: many LA travelers drive ~6 hr instead. San Francisco vs. Lisbon: full breakdown.
Lisbon → Maui
Is Hawaii really cheaper than Europe? Once you add up the hotel bill, maybe not. Best for in Maui: Beaches, snorkeling, short travel day. In Lisbon: Food, walkable history, stretching a budget. From Los Angeles: Maui ≈ $6,670 vs Lisbon ≈ $4,090, Lisbon about $2,600 cheaper. Flights: ~6 hr nonstop vs ~11 hr nonstop, or 13+ hr with a stop. Maui vs. Lisbon: full breakdown.
Barcelona → New Orleans
Music, food and late nights: the Big Easy or Catalonia's capital? Best for in New Orleans: Live music, Creole food, quick flight. In Barcelona: Architecture, beach + city, tapas. From Los Angeles: New Orleans ≈ $4,040 vs Barcelona ≈ $4,870, New Orleans about $800 cheaper. Flights: ~3.5–4 hr nonstop vs ~11.5 hr nonstop, or 13+ hr with a stop. New Orleans vs. Barcelona: full breakdown.
Budapest → Boston
History, river views and old-world architecture: New England or Central Europe? Best for in Boston: American history, seafood, no passport. In Budapest: Thermal baths, architecture, value dining. From Los Angeles: Boston ≈ $5,210 vs Budapest ≈ $4,270, Budapest about $950 cheaper. Flights: ~5.5 hr nonstop vs ~13–16 hr with 1 stop. Boston vs. Budapest: full breakdown.
Kraków → Washington, D.C.
Monuments and museums vs. a medieval old town: which history week is the better deal? Best for in Washington, D.C.: Free museums, monuments, no passport. In Kraków: Medieval old town, history, low daily costs. From Los Angeles: Washington, D.C. ≈ $4,340 vs Kraków ≈ $3,280, Kraków about $1,050 cheaper. Flights: ~5 hr nonstop vs ~14–16 hr with 1 stop. Washington, D.C. vs. Kraków: full breakdown.
London → New York City
Big-city week vs. big-city week: what does crossing the Atlantic actually add? Best for in New York City: Broadway, food, a short flight. In London: Free museums, history, day trips. From Los Angeles: New York City ≈ $5,250 vs London ≈ $5,970, New York City about $700 cheaper. Flights: ~5.5 hr nonstop vs ~10.5 hr nonstop. New York City vs. London: full breakdown.
Reykjavík → Anchorage
Glaciers, big landscapes and long summer days, at home or across the Atlantic. Best for in Anchorage: Wildlife, glacier cruises, no passport. In Reykjavík: Ring Road scenery, hot springs, compact road trip. From Los Angeles: Anchorage ≈ $5,930 vs Reykjavík ≈ $6,770, Anchorage about $850 cheaper. Flights: ~5.5–6 hr nonstop vs ~11–14 hr with 1 stop. Alaska vs. Iceland: full breakdown.
St. Anton → Aspen
Iconic Colorado skiing or the Austrian Alps: is Europe really the expensive option? Best for in Aspen: Short trip, big-name resort, no passport. In St. Anton: Huge linked ski area, après-ski, lower lift prices. From Los Angeles: Aspen ≈ $10,210 vs St. Anton ≈ $7,270, St. Anton about $2,950 cheaper. Flights: ~2.5 hr nonstop or 1 stop vs ~11 hr nonstop to Zürich or 1 stop, then ~2.5–3 hr by train. Aspen vs. St. Anton: full breakdown.
Bansko → Park City
America's largest ski resort or Bulgaria's budget Alps: the biggest ski saving on the site. Best for in Park City: Big terrain, 40 min from the airport, Epic Pass. In Bansko: Low lift and lodging prices, lively ski town. From Los Angeles: Park City ≈ $9,080 vs Bansko ≈ $4,260, Bansko about $4,800 cheaper. Flights: ~2 hr nonstop to SLC, then ~40 min drive vs ~14–17 hr with 1 stop to Sofia, then ~2.5 hr transfer. Park City vs. Bansko: full breakdown.
Photos: San Francisco: Craig Howell from San Carlos, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Lisbon: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons · Photo credits
When the US version makes sense
- Short trips. With 7 nights, a long travel day each way costs real vacation time, and every European option above involves a transatlantic flight.
- No passport yet. None of the US trips needs one; every European one does.
- The gap is small from your city. Check the "US cheaper from" column and the city table on each comparison page; where the totals are within a few hundred dollars, convenience can decide it.
Book this trip: Anchorage or Reykjavík (from Los Angeles)
Flight searches start in Los Angeles (LAX) for a 7-night trip for 2 adults. Partner prices are live and may differ from our estimates.
Alaska (Anchorage)
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Frequently asked questions
What is a good US alternative to a Europe trip?
It depends on what you want from Europe. Our pairings: San Francisco for Lisbon's hills and trams, New Orleans for Barcelona's food and late nights, Boston for Budapest's history, Washington, D.C. for Kraków, New York City for London, Alaska for Iceland's landscapes, and Aspen or Park City for Alpine skiing. From Los Angeles, the US side with the biggest saving over its European pair is Anchorage (vs Reykjavík).
Is a US vacation cheaper than going to Europe?
Not usually, in our data. Flying from Los Angeles, the US side is cheaper in 3 of these 9 pairings. The US alternative mainly saves time (shorter flights) and paperwork (no passport) rather than money.
Which US trip is the cheapest Europe alternative?
From Los Angeles, New Orleans is the cheapest of the US sides at about $4,040 for 2 adults and 7 nights with flights; its European pairing, Barcelona, is about $4,870.
Do I need a passport for these US trips?
No. None of the US destinations on this page needs a passport for US citizens (you need a REAL ID or passport to fly). The European ones need a passport; for Schengen countries: Passport required. Check whether the EU's ETIAS travel authorization is in effect before you go.
How much shorter are the flights?
From Los Angeles: San Francisco ~1.5 hr nonstop vs Lisbon ~11 hr nonstop, or 13+ hr with a stop; Maui ~6 hr nonstop vs Lisbon ~11 hr nonstop, or 13+ hr with a stop; New Orleans ~3.5–4 hr nonstop vs Barcelona ~11.5 hr nonstop, or 13+ hr with a stop; Boston ~5.5 hr nonstop vs Budapest ~13–16 hr with 1 stop; Washington, D.C. ~5 hr nonstop vs Kraków ~14–16 hr with 1 stop; New York City ~5.5 hr nonstop vs London ~10.5 hr nonstop.
How we priced this
Every total is 7 nights for 2 adults: round-trip economy flights for both travelers, one mid-range room, and daily food, local transport and activities for two (plus lift tickets and rentals on ski trips). Flight ranges per route come from published typical fares or, where marked "Aviasales cached", from cached fare data refreshed automatically; lodging and daily costs are the same figures used on each comparison page, where every source is listed. These are sample estimates, not live prices. Read the full methodology.