52 Shocking Travel Destinations That Failed to Impress Even the Most Eager Tourists
Ever wondered if a postcard-perfect vacation could turn into a scene straight out of a thriller? Imagine being in Egypt, admired for its majestic pyramids and camels, only to find yourself dodging more than just tourist traps—like, say, negotiating with locals who mistake you for camel currency! It’s a wild world out there beyond the glossy Instagram snaps and Hollywood movie magic. From the gritty reality behind glittery destinations to tales of hustle, disappointment, and the odd stinky street, let’s dive into the raw, unfiltered truths about some of the world’s most hyped spots—and why sometimes, you might just want to think twice before packing your bags. Buckle up; it’s going to be a bumpy ride! LEARN MORE.
Egypt. Was threatened with knife by a local man. Also being a blonde pale woman… Too many harrasing dudes who wanted to trade me for camels.
Probably the Hollywood walk of fame. I’ve been a couple times and it always feels disappointing. It’s just super grimey and tourist trappy. If you’re a big movie fan there’s much better places to visit in the Hollywood area.
Dubai
1 week was enough to do all interesting things
otherwise there’s nothing to do, it’s just an unwalkable city (apart from the beach and the “old” part of the city).
Add social media to the mix, and suddenly your feed is filled with stunning shots of travelers sipping lattes in Paris or taking perfect beach selfies in Bali. These snapshots show us the glamorous side of things 24/7. You start dreaming of booking a ticket right away. But is it always that magical?
Antelope Canyon in Arizona, USA. Tickets are crazy expensive and you get herded through like sheep. There isn’t even time to take your own photos, the guide takes your camera/phone from you and snaps the classic photos. If you pay extra you can get a few minutes to take your own pictures at the ‘perfect’ time of day.
Tours are literally timed to the minute and can be disorienting. With dust falling on your head from above and being kicked up from the ground by other tourists, it’s hard to breathe. Just all around unpleasant.
I understand it has received the hug of death from tourists worldwide and therefore needs to be heavily regulated. I get it, and I’m glad for the income it provides to the native population nearby. But it was not worth the time, trouble, and money IMO. I have fab photos but no pride in them.
I recommend The Wave instead. It’s also heavily regulated but the permitted crowd size is small and the long hike puts a lot of people off.
We’re often sold the polished version of travel experiences while the reality often involves missed trains and sunburns. Behind the curtain of glamour are destinations that simply don’t live up to the hype. It’s not always a postcard come to life. Sometimes, it’s just an expensive letdown in disguise.
Disney World. We did it up, spent a s*****ad of money and stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a week. We visited all the parks and at the end of the week went home with a lot of regrets. First off, the ads for the Animal Kingdom lodge are nothing but lies. You will be nowhere near the animals and most of them stay as far away as possible. The rides across all the parks are pretty terrible, with a few exceptions. The crowds are insane. Everything is so expensive and just flat out not worth it. Don’t even get me started on the character dining experiences. Universal Studios is much better if you like rides.
Naples, Italy is horrible. The whole place is dirty and sketchy. And the residents there are openly hostile to anyone not from Naples, including other Italians. Avoid Naples and go to a burn unit at a VA hospital. You’ll have a much better time by comparison.
As a new zealander i got two: hobbiton and the longest place name in the world.
hobbiton is pretty much paying 120 bucks a head to look at some grass then go to a lotr themed pub, i get it if youre a lotr megafan visiting nz but for me it was just so underwhelming for the cost
the longest place name in the world
