Celebrity travel often requires a big bank account. Famous people fly on private jets, stay in glamorous resorts, buy luxury goods, etc. But there are plenty of celebrity vacation spots that are relatively affordable — even if we can't match their exact accommodations or designer dress codes. Sure, a trip to the Italian coast or the beaches of Greece may not be within budget, but a lot of the US travel that celebrities do is within reach. Even some of the overseas locations are doable — especially if we go in the offseason.
We may not get to travel to these 16 places in a private plane, but we can still enjoy the local culture, cuisine, and sights just like celebs do.
More from CafeMom: 8 Family Vacation Ideas That Are Seriously Fun for All Ages
Balmoral Castle, Scotland
Balmoral is a frequent countryside getaway for the royal family, but it's not just a private residence anymore. After taking over as reigning monarch, King Charles opened Balmoral to visitors starting in 2024, according to Town and Country. Right now it's open until August 11, and general admission tickets cost $22.25.
Illinois
Sure, a tropical getaway can be fun, but the Midwest has a ton of beautiful lakes worth exploring in the summertime. Kristin Cavallari, who used to live in Barrington, a suburb of Chicago, took her family there to spend Fourth of July a few summers ago, according to People magazine. The kids got to play on the sandy beaches of the local lake, and it wasn't super crowded like an island beach would be. Don't sleep on places like Illinois for a vacation.
The Oregon Trail
If the kids are going through their Little House on the Prairie phase, they may enjoy an Oregon Trail-themed vacation. A few years ago, Jill Duggar took her family on an Oregon Trail road trip, and it seemed like a blast. Families can plan to drive a larger portion of the trail or just see the end of it for $17 at the visitor center in Oregon, according to Historic Oregon City.
More from CafeMom: 6 Tricks to Road Travel With a Newborn
Mexico
Several destinations in Mexico are hubs for celebrities, to the point where the cities' tourism websites boast about it. In Cabo San Lucas, people have spotted the Biebers, Nick Jonas, Jessica Simpson, and more. Over in Cancun, the Garza Blanca resort has hosted Simone Biles, Ashanti, and others.
Although the resorts that the celebrities stay in can be a little on the pricey side, even the hottest cities have regular budget hotels for families to experience a Mexican beach getaway.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Wyoming is the least populated state, according to USA Today, but it's become a go-to celebrity vacation spot. Per Architectural Digest, the Kardashians visited Jackson Hole during season 17 of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, where they rode horses and just generally enjoyed the beautiful outdoors.
Regular people can enjoy Jackson Hole, too. The mountains allow for gorgeous hiking, and there's a beautiful lake. It makes for a wonderful camping location if that's something the family loves to do.
Disney Theme Parks
Disney vacations are accessible to everyday people as well as celebs. As CafeMom has reported, some stars who love Disneyland in California include Chrissy Teigen, Kourtney Kardashian, and Vanessa Hudgens. As for Disney World in Florida, CafeMom reported that Kelly Clarkson, the Jonas Brothers, and others have been seen in the park. For anyone who has a trip to Disney coming up, keep an eye out for A-listers.
Deer Valley, Utah
A lot of celebrities like to ski in Deer Valley, such as Kourtney Kardashian, according to Elle, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow, Taylor Swift, and Miranda Lambert, per Fox News. Winter ski lift tickets cost about $189. But for anyone visiting Deer Valley in the warmer months, a scenic trip on the lift costs around $35. It's gorgeous in any season.
The Berkshires, Massachusetts
The Berkshires were glamorous enough for the Real Housewives of New York City to visit during multiple seasons, per E! News. But it's not too expensive for us to enjoy the scenic Massachusetts region also. Some of the smaller inns are pretty affordable and boast a quaint country experience.
Aspen, Colorado
Another favorite ski spot for celebrities is Aspen in Colorado. According to Page Six, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Kate Hudson, and other A-listers were seen in the area over the holidays last year. A Christmastime trip would likely be a little more expensive because that's a peak time; according to ski-lifts.com, from January to March it's cheaper to hit Colorado slopes.
Hilton Head, South Carolina
People usually think of Charleston when it comes to a South Carolina vacation spot, but the beach in Hilton Head is super nice to visit as well. Michael Jordan once owned a home in the area, per The State, and Bill Murray has been spotted there, according to WJCL. It's a popular beach and golf spot — perfect for a relaxing vacation. And there are chain and budget hotels in the area to keep the trip affordable.
Sedona, Arizona
The beautiful red rock canyons of Sedona make it a popular retreat for celebrities who love nature activities such as hiking and hanging out by the local creek. According to The Arizona Republic, stars such as Kendall Jenner, Kristen Bell, and Lily Collins have enjoyed the area.
Instead of staying in a super fancy resort, families can choose a campground or smaller hotel that fit their budget.
The Hamptons, New York
Celebrities regularly descend upon New York's beaches in The Hamptons during the summer. Fortunately, Long Island is a big place and there are a lot of inexpensive places to stay outside of The Hamptons proper. That provides the same access to the cute shops and public beaches but at a lower price.
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is known for its golf courses and hot springs, which always bring the celebs out to visit. Kris Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian are among the stars who have homes in the area, per the California tourism website. But even though it can be a getaway for the stars, there are plenty of moderately priced hotels to book as well.
Big Sur, California
The California coastline is perfect for hiking and camping with its beach access and stunning cliffside views. Taylor Swift took a Big Sur road trip with Karlie Kloss when they were still besties, according to Vogue, and Jon Hamm got married there, per KION 46 News.
Whistler, British Columbia
For a Hallmark movie-worthy holiday, check out Whistler in British Columbia, Canada. The skiing will be a little on the pricy side — it's world-renowned with even King Charles, Prince William, and Price Harry once visiting for a ski holiday, per Pique Newsmagazine. But doing general winter sightseeing while staying in a vacation rental or visiting during the offseason will help lower costs.
South Beach, Miami
According to Miami Living, celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Kate Hudson, and Cameron Diaz have spent time in Miami. It has great weather, amazing beaches, and fantastic culture. Fortunately, plenty of chain or budget hotels exist that allow regular people to access the benefits of a Miami vacation.
