Summer travel is supposed to be the ultimate reset. But if you aren’t paying attention to the hard data, your dream vacation can quickly turn into an expensive logistical nightmare.
At Travel Off Path, our team of editors and writers constantly monitors the gap between the heavily edited Instagram dream and the sweltering, crowded summer reality. Right now, several major global destinations are buckling under the weight of their own popularity. We are seeing historic 2026 water emergencies, aggressive new caps on tourists, and massive short-term rental bans specifically designed to keep you away.
We hate massive crowds just as much as you do. We just want a vibey, stress-free vacation where we don’t have to fight for a restaurant reservation or worry about our accommodation getting canceled at the last minute.
The goal for 2026 is simple: travel smarter, not harder. Based on live, on-the-ground data, here are the seven destinations you should avoid this summer, and exactly where you should go instead. Stay tuned for a quiz at the end to match you with the perfect alternative destination.
1. Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
The 2026 Reality: The battle over Bar Harbor has finally reached its boiling point. Following intense federal court hearings in early 2026, the coastal Maine town is now strictly enforcing a daily cap of just 1,000 cruise ship passengers. To put that in perspective, a single modern mega-ship holds over 4,000 people. This severe restriction means major cruise lines are being forced to dramatically alter their New England summer itineraries. If you are booked on a large ship scheduled to visit Bar Harbor this summer, expect severe logistical friction, last-minute port cancellations, or heavy restrictions on who actually gets to disembark.
The Smart Alternative: Camden, Maine. Located just a few hours down the rugged coastline, Camden delivers the exact same quintessential New England charm, incredible sailing culture, and fantastic lobster shacks without the bitter legal battles and paralyzing cruise ship traffic.
2. Juneau, Alaska, USA
The 2026 Reality: Alaska is a bucket-list summer trip for millions of Americans, but the state’s capital has officially drawn a line in the sand. Starting this year, Juneau is enforcing a strict daily cap of 16,000 cruise visitors (dropping to 12,000 on Saturdays). With over 1.6 million passengers expected to sail to Alaska this season, these new daily limits are causing a massive bottleneck. Ships are being forced to reroute, and the days when ships are allowed to dock will feature a highly concentrated, stressful rush of tourists trying to cram into local excursions before the daily timer runs out.
The Smart Alternative: Ketchikan, Alaska. Thanks to the Juneau caps, Ketchikan is absorbing the diverted traffic, but its newer, spread-out port facilities at Ward Cove handle the volume much better. You still get the dramatic Alaskan wilderness, incredible indigenous history, and phenomenal wildlife viewing with far less localized congestion.
3. Monterey County, California, USA
The 2026 Reality: A classic California Highway 1 road trip is a summer staple, but finding a place to sleep just became incredibly difficult. In January 2026, Monterey County supervisors voted to enact a strict ordinance banning short-term rentals in unincorporated residential areas. If you were planning to book a quiet, coastal Airbnb near Big Sur or Carmel Valley this summer, your options just vanished. The remaining legal hotels in the commercial zones are operating at absolute maximum capacity, with prices skyrocketing to match the sudden lack of inventory.
The Smart Alternative: San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California. Just down the coast, SLO offers a highly welcoming, laid-back Central Coast vibe. It features incredible wine country, stunning beaches like Morro Bay, and a stable, easily accessible accommodation market.
4. Maui, Hawaii, USA
The 2026 Reality: The Hawaiian accommodation market is in absolute turmoil this year. The aggressive enforcement of Maui’s highly controversial Bill 9 is officially phasing out thousands of apartment-zoned short-term rentals, with major licensing expiration dates hitting right now in early 2026. Massive numbers of Airbnbs and Vrbos that American tourists historically relied on are shutting down or locked in fierce legal disputes. Booking an independent rental on Maui this summer is a massive gamble, and you do not want to find out your reservation was canceled a week before your flight.
The Smart Alternative: The Big Island, Hawaii. It offers vastly more space, incredible volcanic national parks, black sand beaches, and a much more stable short-term rental market for your summer getaway.
5. Mount Fuji, Japan
The 2026 Reality: Scaling Japan’s most famous peak has always been a bucket-list item, but 2026 is the year authorities finally locked the gates. Starting this summer, the hyper-popular Yoshida Trail is strictly capped at just 2,000 climbers per day. Furthermore, climbers must now pay a mandatory ¥4,000 fee and book a non-refundable, name-bound QR permit months in advance. To stop overnight “bullet climbing,” the trailheads are entirely closed between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. If you do not have a pre-booked permit, your mountain dreams are over.
The Smart Alternative: The Japanese Alps (Kamikochi). This stunning alpine valley offers world-class hiking, pristine rivers, and dramatic mountain peaks. It delivers the serene Japanese wilderness experience without the extreme ticketing stress and massive crowds of Fuji.
6. Reggio Calabria, Italy
The 2026 Reality: Southern Italy is facing an existential environmental crisis. In early 2026, the Italian government had to fast-track €5 million in emergency funds to the Reggio Calabria metropolitan area just to mitigate a disastrous, ongoing water shortage. Following a severe state of emergency declaration, the aging, leaky infrastructure is failing, forcing widespread water rationing. You do not want to spend your Italian summer getaway worrying if your hotel will have running water for a shower after a long day in the Mediterranean heat.
The Smart Alternative: Piran, Slovenia. Sitting right on the Adriatic Sea, Piran offers the same stunning Venetian architecture, incredible seafood, and crystal-clear swimming waters as the Italian coast, but with highly stable infrastructure and a fraction of the tourists.
7. Athens, Greece
The 2026 Reality: The Greek capital is a historical marvel, but visiting this summer will drain your wallet faster than ever. Greece recently implemented a new “Climate Resilience” fee on all hotels and short-term rentals to combat the environmental strain of mass tourism. Furthermore, a brand new Sustainable Tourism Fee of up to €20 per person is now hitting cruise passengers at major ports. Combine these new 2026 taxes with severe heatwaves and dropping water levels at nearby Lake Marathon, and Athens is an exhausting summer choice.
The Smart Alternative: The Albanian Riviera. Just up the Ionian coast, towns like Ksamil and Saranda offer the same ancient ruins, incredible Mediterranean food, and stunning turquoise beaches at a fraction of the cost, without the new Greek resilience taxes.
Be sure to check the latest travel advisories and entry requirements for your summer 2026 destination.
We know skipping the big names feels counterintuitive, but ignoring the reality of local crises, new taxes, and heavy caps is the fastest way to ruin your trip. Stick to the alternatives, keep your money in your pocket, and actually enjoy the relaxing summer you deserve.
