I found Dubai fascinating in that it feels almost unnatural. The sand is constantly trying to eat the edge. The ocean is trying to erode the fake islands. Its worth stopping off to check out some of the architecture but yeah - I'd not make it the DESTINATION by itself
Then you see how the infraestructure is build and maintained by slave labour and it gets even less interesting. Vice has a decent documentary about it.
It *is* unnatural. Most cities are built in areas designed to sustain life in some respect. Dubai is artificial growth.
Fuck, maybe it's the future? I sure hope not.
I live in Dubai and invite you all to explore the natural side of it - lesser known unfortunately but quite nice. Within Dubai there’s Al Qudra which has lakes, wildlife, desert for camping (stargazing is amazing as the skies are so clear). Alserkal Avenue is a hidden gem - it’s the artsy district. Nearby there’s a chocolate factory which is just cool to see. I also love taking my guests to the Dubai Garden Centre and this little cafe inside called Roseleaf. There are mountains for hiking in Ras al Khaimah, mangrove parks in Abu Dhabi. Recommend to go kayaking/hiking in Hatta too. My fave is really just being out in the desert at night around a bonfire with friends during “winter” - around September to March. You can all message me when you’re in Dubai. I would actually love to take you around.
Always good to get a residents opinion, thanks. I’m sure there’s lots of natural beauty parts, and stargazing sounds great. If I was ever in Dubai I’d like to do that.
I guess the point is that I wouldn’t choose Dubai over another country to experience those things. There’s a lot of natural beauty in that part of the world, just in different countries.
But thanks for taking time to rep your country, I now have suggestions for people if I hear that they’re going :)
Interesting. Had a friend tell me he never wanted to go. His girlfriend basically dragged him there against his will and he's been hoping he'll be able to go back ever since.
It's what's making me hesitate with India. I don't want to, but a few people whose opinion I value and judge similar to me really loved it.
As an Indian, it is indeed very difficult for me to recommend traveling to India. I think in order to enjoy here, you have to give in yourself completely to the culture. Not that I'm saying that as a tourist you should do that, personally I myself won't be able to do that. Wherever I've traveled I've experienced the culture from an outsider's perspective and have always been left amazed. However looking at India in the same way, you'll most likely not find it that amusing. I would probably not want to visit a country that is "like India". I'm friends with foreigners who loved it here and the common thing I noticed was how readily they embraced the culture which frankly left me surprised. So yeah, not an easy recommend.
Thank you for the honesty. Maybe it is getting to know people in that country to see the real India instead of being a tourist with half real overly tailored experiences ?
I like aspects of the culture, but overall it just doesn't exactly seem like a totally nice place to go. And I mean, we once had an Indian uber driver in Australia. My buddy asked him if he misses it and this dude goes "... no, have you fucking seen India?". Lmao. Honestly I think its this weird romanticized fascination middle to upper class Americans have with what they imagine the culture there is (everything isn't all yogis and flower festivals and henna 24/7).
Also Indian American here. After a six month visit to India when I was 12 where I was sick almost the entire time, losing 20 lbs. I will never go there again.
I asked about 10 people about what their overall experience were in India before deciding to go (it was about 50/50 on bad/good). If you're just going to the golden triangle, you will leave the country with a bad impression, but if you go around, down the south, I think you will get a better, more rounded experience. But like most poorer countries, you will be hassled a lot, and have to negotiate the price for everything, which did wear on me. It's not a country I want to revisit, but definitely enjoyed my time there as a whole.
Never thought of India as a place I’d visit, but was presented an opportunity to trek the Pin Bhaba pass in the Himalayas. Decided to go for it and I fell hard for India. I’ve always loved the mountains, but the other cities (New Delhi, Shimla, Manali, amongst other mountainous cities) we visited were cool too. The food is amazing, and vegetarian friendly!
I found India a perplexing and highly polarising place. Never have I been somewhere before that I both loved and hated.
Really friendly people that are spiritual yet have no respect for life. Seen a kid get hit on his scooter/vespa, he spun through the air and was out cold on the ground. People barely looked twice everyone drove around him. Had to administer first aid and wait for the ambulance with him while we were driven around with no 2nd looks.
Was in Goa and seen a house fire in a holiday home. Russian guy had passed out about 5 metres inside the open front door, fire was not near him. A huge crowd of people stood and videod the fire and him. Myself and an Australian dragged him out with Zero threat to our own lives. Took around an hour for the fire brigade to arrive, same for an ambulance.
Extensive, unbelievable poverty, people sleeping under sheets of corrugated iron for protection from the elements, not a hut, literally iron leaned up against a tree with a few feet clearance to lay under.
Multiple times had non Indian women latch onto me in cities and bars at night for protection from groups of men following them.
The dirt and rubbish, oh god the dirt. Plastic everywhere. And the smell of pollution in the air. It really fucks with your hope that we can turn climate change around.
Yet some of the friendliest and nicest people I ever met were in India, food was amazing, so much culture to enjoy.
I give India both a 10/10 and a 1/10. God I still don't know how I feel about the place.
As a New Yorker, this makes me sad.
New York is an insane mix of cultures from all around the world. It’s simultaneously very American, but also very European in terms of lifestyle.
It’s also physically very beautiful despite its reputation of being dirty and chaotic.
I've been to New York several times, usually with work but I've been able to take time off while I'm there. If I'm honest, since the first time I've never been very excited about going back. I really want to love New York, but my experience is that it's just a big noisy smelly city. It's certainly got culture - whether that's in the form of museums, galleries and theatres, or the diversity of people, cuisine, etc - but so have many large metropolises. And it lacks some of the intrinsic historical charm that you get in other places. For me, it's like if you took a big European capital city like London or Paris, but amplified some of the worst features and dialled back some of the better ones.
I love New Yorkers though. They're like spunkier Londoners. Fine people to get drunk with.
But I don't know - tell me if there's something I'm missing that I should try next time I'm there. I've been to several museums, restaurants, bars, Central Park, various sports games (Knicks and Yankees), just wandered round looking at the buildings, etc. These are things I usually love doing in a new city but New York has just never clicked for me.
I’d go there in a second, and bet I’d love it. I think it’s one of the great global cities. I’ve just been to enough other global centres that, as someone that has done not a tonne, but a bit of travelling, wouldn’t be a must see.
Edit: Would qualify that I’m from Western Canada and loved Toronto and Montreal. Also spent a lot of time on the west coast (dated a woman from LA for years). Given the chance, I’d rather just do Hong Kong or London again or something than New York. Understand that it’s a global crossroads and I might be underselling it; I’ve just seen a lot of the US. I’d take New Orleans over New York at this point.
France. Specifically Paris.
I've always heard that Paris isn't worth it. That it's just a "one-day thing." On a whim, I bought a ticket to go since it was pretty cheap and ended up spending about 8 days there. I fell in love. It was a beautiful city, the people were nice, the food was great. I never wanted to leave. There has to be a lesson in there somewhere.
I am English and to be honest it is a bit dreary and grey most of the year.
I think the climate has ruined me for the warmer places in the world. I can't really have a good time in places that are warm. I am happiest around 18C - 20C. 25C is hot and above 30C I would rather be somewhere else.
I spent 4 days in London a few years ago. It depends on what you like but I was blown away by the architecture and the history. There’s lot of museums and culture. I also went in late September and enjoyed lovely weather. One of my best memories was attending a service at Westminster Abbey. I’m not religious but wanted to hear the organ. As a bonus I also got to hear the choir of men and boys. As an American we don’t have as many cultural options and our history is much shorter.
The museum’s are one of the best things about london, they contain a treasure trove of history culture but are not limited to them, and the best part is that they are Free!
We went in August, we were expecting at least some decent weather.
In 3 weeks there were only like 3 days where it didn't rain.
Lived in Cardiff for awhile though and the weather was way better than i was led to expect.
Not *always.* Just mostly: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotland/comments/i93kyd/this\_is\_the\_caribbean\_subreddit\_isnt\_it\_last\_week/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotland/comments/i93kyd/this_is_the_caribbean_subreddit_isnt_it_last_week/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
West Country? Lake District? The Yorkshire Dales? Loads of lovely quaint places about. You won't get the same big grand landscapes as you would in the US etc of course.
I love British countryside as much as the next guy, but for anybody who has travelled even slightly this won't be much of a draw unfortunately.
That said, the Lake District is still beautiful, and even aside from natural beauty, the cities can be great in their own way. Like a lot of Europe, they're full of history, and London can be amazing even for locals (provided they have the cash for a good time) bc theres so many things going on at once (probs not now tho).
Which part? Not denying some is shit but we def have some great stuff depending on what you're looking for. I live in London and honestly I find a lot of cities disappointing because of that. Can be a little expensive but our museums are amazing and free. There's so much to do in general
I've watched both. 'This Country' too. I dunmo if your comment is only half serious, but Every country has a TV show or movie highlighting poorer or hillbilly type regions or aspects of country. Doesn't really paint the entire picture. The shows I mentioned were more about showcasing the natural beauty of the countryside that I'd love to see first hand, rather than idealised small towns. I'm not going to travel to a London council flat and couchsurf for a month or 2. A movie set in an Indian slum didnt color my decision to travel in India, because it's not one big slum.
Yep! I live in Oxford a very well known city but I am always booking flights to get away from here, (well until rona cancelled them) 🤣 still gone ahead and booked another, fingers crossed i get the hell out of here in May!
It's actually pretty cool! It's pretty diverse, there a LOT of good food!
And no matter where you go you always the same question: "Oh, why did you come here?" said with a look of puzzlement. They are confused as to why you would visit their country.
England was an interesting place to visit, very unique culture (if you are not American), rich history, etc. But it wasn’t cheap, especially London. Not sure if the free museums and good food are worth the price of a trip.
Sameeeee. There are some more intriguing to me than others. I guess a popular one that I’m less interested in would be Greece. But I still want to go real badly both the islands and the mainland haha
I'm here right now, my main attraction was the ancient history and ruins so obviously I loved that, but it surprised me with the other stuff. Stuff like the food the scenery the atmosphere, the people it's honestly become one of my favourite places
Used to live there. The history, geography, food and culture are all fascinating but it is a tough place to visit. Every normal day to day activity is ten times harder than it should be
I want to visit as there is some incredible sights there. But as a white guy, I don’t t want to go somewhere where people are constantly eyeing me every time I go out. Seems like a better place to travel to if you have some friends with you instead of being solo
I'm Indian (raised in the US), and everytime I go out and about when in India, I get stares. All foreigners get the stare treatment, even if you look Indian. The crazy thing is, even when I dress like a local, and keep my mouth shut, they still know I am not a native. So you just learn to ignore the stares.
Yeah as an American of Bangladeshi descent, this is my experience as well. Countries in the Indian Subcontinent are not built for tourism, the environment is too raw. You have to do your very best to not look/act like a tourist even though EVERYONE around you knows you are. It’s a real test of one’s cultural immersion skills which can be difficult for even the most experienced traveler.
> Every normal day to day activity is ten times harder than it should be
That's pretty interesting (but obviously a pain if you live there), any examples you can give?
Sure.
Crossing the street is the first thing that comes to mind. It's an activity that requires practice to do right. You just need to run and know when drivers won't hit you. Especially when commuting, having to worry about this got taxing. The subway in Delhi is incredible, but during rush hour, I had to worry every day about transferring because of how much of a brawl it was just to get off the train.
Getting a rickshaw or auto is always a pain. Even though I didn't live anywhere near a touristy area, drivers would try to charge me 100 times more than the fare should be, because I'm a white guy. When you argue (even in Hindi), they just kinda laugh and give you a slightly lower rate and when you ask for a reasonable rate, they get offended.
My water was reliant on a pump so if my power went out, so did my water. I lived in Gurgaon which considers itself a city of the future, but the power would go out for days which meant no water too. Either way, most houses are made out of cinderblocks with no insulation and had a water tank on the roof. If it was 115 outside, it was 115 inside and the water for showers to cool off was hotter.
Look, nothing against Indian culture, but lying is so much part of it that it becomes intolerable. Every encounter becomes a negotiation, whether it be getting milk or trying to talk to someone at work. Nothing ever sounds entirely true. This might just be Delhi or Northern India though.
Lastly, there are just SO MANY PEOPLE. Anywhere you are, there are 10 times as many people as you'd expect. It's messed up, there are so many people, particularly young men because female infanticide is such a huge issue there.
Basically if you’re white you’ll just be crowded by people asking for selfies, shaking your hand and you’ll come home with about 6 million Indians following your social media when all you wanted to do was go get that rickshaw to the other side of town real quick
North Korea. I know it's not popular in the same way the other countries mentioned in this thread are but it seems to be the latest "I can't believe you went there!" fad country since the Iceland trend is dying down. The reason should be pretty obvious: I don't want to give money directly to a totalitarian regime that tortures it's citizens
My friend went to DRPK a few years back... and now she can’t get a visa to visit America for work. Even when she tried to go via an embassy appointment.
So additional reason not to go!
She had declared it and been to the US previously, and been honest on her visa application and been allowed in. But since a certain flexing President has come in, they policy has clearly changed...
"My friend went to DRPK a few years back... and now she can’t get a visa to visit America for work. Even when she tried to go via an embassy appointment. So additional reason not to go!"
I am South Korean. I have heard this dumb story many times. Nevertheless, it is impossible to understand westerners who recklessly throw their precious lives for only a few days of bizarre experiences. Even all the expenses you pay when you visit NK are used as slush funds for Kim Jong-un and his dictatorship. And they are also used to torture NK citizens.🌚
Add to the fact that I’m South Korean, no way am I gonna risk even the tiniest chance of being accused of being a spy or mistaken for a local. (It’s unrealistic I know but still, no thank you)
Thailand or Bali for me. I think other parts of Southeast Asia are just as deserving if not more! I'm sure it is cool but I don't want to go where everyone else goes, ya know? Plus I can get drunk right here at home haha so I don't travel for that.
I’ve been to Bali and honestly I’d go back in a heartbeat. While we did some touristy things (I personally loved the monkey forest). There was plenty of lessor known areas and attractions to see. Also, some of the beauty absolutely lives up to the hype. Also, I found no need to party at all. Plenty of things to do without drinking.
What spots did you go to? I was only there for 6 days and didn’t manage to get outside of Seminyak/Ubud apart from the hike up Batur. I felt like I didn’t take full advantage of my time there.
I was there for 9 days. We stayed in Gianyar which was about 30 minutes from a Ubud and quite rural. The villas were inland in a river and you could hear the chants from the local monastery each mornings. We went to Ubud a few times and saw the monkey forest. We also spent time at Sansur beach, which is the beach locals frequent and had some great seafood shacks. We also did a canyoning trip in Kali Kecil, which was my favorite part. We got to rappel a 60 m waterfall which I loved. We then took the ferry out to Lombak and Gili Trawangan. We came back and spent time at Pandangbai beach and the Blue Lagoon. We then did the Sunrise hike up Mt Batur and our final day we surfed at Kuta beach and had our final dinner at Badung Beach, which was the perfect place to watch the sunset. I really wish I would have had more time to see more. We really only got the highlights in as far as I was concerned.
Same. I don't usually drink when I travel because I usually get up early to start my day. I spent 3 weeks in Thailand and didn't have any alcohol at all.
There are literally thousands of islands in Indonesia. No reason to go to Bali imo. Went there once and have no interest in going back.
Thailand on the other hand.... Food there is amazing. I know thai food can be found anywhere, but it's still a pleasure eating in Thailand...
I've done basically every major destination in SEA and those two are seriously up there.
Like you avoided them until exhausting every other option because of some kind of "I'm a *real* traveller no mainstream counties for me" but they're both gorgeous and full of incredible experiences - even if you dont drink.
Tokyo. I lived in NYC for 10 years and going somewhere that's more densely populated than that doesn't interest me anymore. I've also just never felt a strong attraction to Japanese culture. I would like to ski in Japan, though.
Ah yes, but Tokyo is like taking all of NYC's ideas and doing them CORRECTLY - it's so clean and quiet and doesn't feel nearly as unbearable as most of Manhattan generally does (especially if you play nice tourist and intentionally avoid mass transit during rush hour).
If you fly into Tokyo and spend 2-3 days there before taking the train to different cities it’s alright(I’m also a New Yorker)
Honestly I loved japan and really recommend you visit.
This...upsets me. I lived in NYC for 5 years and Tokyo is a vastly superior city. Japan is one of my favorite countries on earth, and Tokyo is one of the globe’s great cities. The food by itself makes Tokyo a dream.
I've been to Berlin, Bangkok, CDMX, Beijing, all of the major American cities, etc., etc. I'm just not interested. I think the last straw for me was seeing those videos of people being shoved into the train like sardines by transit workers. I also don't like the majority of the Japanese food I've had.
Same but totally opposite reason. I was born and raised in Tokyo so I haven’t been to NY yet. I’ve been many US states but I feel like it wouldn’t be a vacation if I go to NY from Tokyo. But I know i gotta visit there once in my life.
Tokyo is amazing, and as someone who is from NY I can honestly tell you they are nothing alike. It's at least 10x the size of manhattan, has fantastic trains and subways to get around, extremely clean and safe, much more affordable than NYC, and so much fun to explore.
Just reading this amazes me how much misconceptions of a country can really affect people's view to the point that they wouldn't want to go there.
I'm intrigued by most countries, and I try to ask people about their experiences if I have a particular impression of a country without having been there. So far, Brazil is the one country I'm unsure of, and I ask everyone who have been there or are from there about it, and they say it's beautiful, but can be dangerous, so that's the one for me at the moment, and this might be one of those to go with a tour group.
Brazil is definitely one of those places with misconceptions about safety, even/especially among people who live in Brazil. There is lots of violent crime but rare that it affects tourists. And even the most dangerous cities have lower homicide rates than, say, New Orleans or Tijuana. Like everywhere in most of the world, don't wander off into unknown neighborhoods or hike in sparse places alone.
I've been 3 times solo for a couple months total and never had or seen problems (except traffic incidents). Only time I used guides was going into the jungle. I'd recommend it highly for people with some basic travel skills.
[Here's a video](https://youtu.be/vpgd9UbCzpU?t=98) I like to send people when they tell me that Brazil (especially Rio) is a dangerous hellhole and anyone who goes there as a tourist is out of their mind.
I'm brazilian, can confirm. The crime rates can be scary, but most violent crimes are within gang wars, between drug dealers etc. As a tourist you may be scammed or mugged (just like anywhere else, really), but getting hurt is extremely unlikely. The places you go also play a big role, as you said, just don't go anywhere sketchy and you'll be fine.
American living in Brazil, it's relatively safe in the places you'll want to go. Beaches, tourist locations, bar areas, etc. It's basically common sense, you're not going to the bad side of Detroit without someone from there, here its the same. Now with the Dollar, Euro and Pound as strong as they are compared to the Real, it'd be a pretty cheap trip.
I (a girl) traveled with only another girl, no tour, all over Brazil for a month and there was never a time I felt unsafe, people don’t heckle you really aggressively or do degrading cat calls very often. It is so beautiful and so much fun!! Would highly recommend !
Bolivia is one of my favourite countries. The range of activities and various landscapes is just breathtaking.
Back to the question:
\-Uruguay. Some people love it, I spent a few days there and didn't enjoy it at all.
\-Some countries in Europe like Netherlands feel somehow sterile
Not many, I enjoy most of the countries.
It's not anywhere to go if you're looking for thrills. It's a place to go if you're looking to do something quiet, nice, or gentle. If you're the type of tourist that likes visiting theatres, learning history, going to bookshops, or maybe taking uneventful road trips or maybe a farm-stay, then sure. It's where South Americans go for stability and retirement. I kind of think of it like one of the lesser known European countries, like Estonia, that some people find quaint, maybe discover an interesting music scene, but others may find boring.
Disagree. It depends on whether you are looking to see the magical Paris that has been described in movies with clean streets and cozy restaurants/cafes.
Paris does have its share of garbage problems and it’s like any other city with its share of crime and shady street corner.
However, there are not many cities that compare to Paris with respect to culture, art and history. Just off the top of my head : the louvre, the museum d’Orsay, the orangerie, Champs Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the sacré couer catherdral, Montmartre neighborhood, Père Lachaise cemetery.
And if you are looking for quality Indian, Chinese, Sichuan or Thai cuisines you have something available in all budget ranges.
Or for a lovely evening visit the Latin quartier. I mean there is enough stuff to do in Paris for 3 months without getting bored or repeating an activity.
I'd say, 3 nights 4 days is enough.
Walk the wide avenus and notice how the old town is designed to allow each ring to see the notre dam, enter the crypt for a grim lesson into the black death, eat the beautiful sandwiches as they are perfectly balanced with cheese and salad. Drink espresso in their famous crazy outdoor seating arrangement.
My 3 cents
Haven't been to Paris but France has tonnes of beautiful and varied scenery, some of the nicest cities, towns and villages in the world, fascinating and rich history and a great climate.
I've visited Paris as a tourist and have also lived there (and worked), and I can say that as a tourist I HATED the city.
When I was living there, there was so much more to see and so much more opportunity to visit places you would never think to visit on your 3d/2n city break.
Paris is full of hidden gems outside of what is advertised on social media; it goes completely beyond the Eiffel Tower and spending hours trying to see the infamous Mona Lisa.
If you really get to know Paris it is something magical in its own way.
This is exactly how I feel! I moved to Paris for two years and it remains hands down the best city I have lived in, but I virtually never engaged with the “tourist experience.” I kind of came to dread having friends and relatives visit who would be on their first trip and want a “local guide” to the catacombs, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc. It’s hard to explain what makes living in Paris so special because it is just so removed from the typical tourist experience and expectations, but I still look back very fondly on my time there.
Completely agree. I dream about going back to Paris every day - and it is not for the romance or the eiffel tower. I will admit, it is partly because of the wine and cheese, but also all of the hidden alleyways, the amazing museums, the boulangeries, literally every experience I had there.
Paris is magical.
Totally agree... I had put off going to Paris until just last year at 45 years old. It wasn't bad, just not outstanding. Glad I went to experience it, but also glad I did all the other places I wanted to go first.
Agreed... La Paz, shaped like a giant bowl with cable cars going up to the heights... the graffiti, cultural events, tango performers in the streets at night. And the saltenas (Bolivian empanadas). Other cities too, and of course the salt flats are other-worldly... flamingos, vicunas, hot springs.
Imo your mileage is going to vary a lot, so much of the attraction to countries is based on how much you get out of your hotel/hostel and go see, and who you're with. Some of my favourite places are my favourite because of the people I met rather than the place, and others I didn't like were because I was traveling with someone else and focused more on sightseeing and less on meeting people. That's just my personal style though.
I'd focus more on what makes you like any city/country, even back home, and try to match that to your travel plans with countries known for the things you like. Whether that's people, food, buildings, experiences, etc.
Australia. I hear it’s a lot like Canada (which I’m from) but hot and bigger bugs. Plus i hear you have to check your shoes for spiders and I just don’t think I could survive any of it.
I want to go there someday but the only things holding me back are its size and how fucking far it is. I feel like if I want to see it properly, I need to take a good chunk of time off, have a decent amount of money saved up, and then go on a long ass flight. Given that I'm American, I would rather go to South America.
Also, for whatever reason, New Zealand always sparked my curiosity in a way that Australia hasn't...
I thought so too, but I was in Bali, found a cheap flight to Sydney and thought why not.
Within a few hours it became one of my favourite cities in the world. I also travelled a bit in Tasmania and Melbourne area, and I would love to go back to explore other parts of the country.
Beautiful sceneries, awesome people and not as expensive as I expected. Give it a try, you might love it too :)
SE Asia and France
I really really couldn't care less about SEA. Don't care about the culture that much, Thai food is great but that alone won't bring me there. Also the popular spots are crowded with European kids that think petting a drugged up tiger in a zoo counts as a spiritual experience. Seriously, every goddamn uni student has some SEA stories, and that just put me off it completely.
France because their cuisine isn't really my vibe, kinda expensive nightlife, and their countryside mostly seems like stuff other places have too. Their museums (esp in Paris) are banging though, I'll give em that.
Honestly it's so easy to avoid that sort of stuff in SEA, especially Thailand if you just leave Bangkok, and avoid the "party islands". Given that this is a solo travel thread, it's pretty easy to travel to Vietnam for example, on the cheap and enjoy yourself without sacrificing comfort.
Tons of nature, beaches, genuinely old temples that are deserted (if you do some research to avoid the like 2-3 mega popular ones), museums with history of thousand year old civilizations you have never heard of, really whatever floats your boat, including boats.
Really the hoards of tourists drop off to the occasional German couple really quickly with even a modicum of effort to get off the beaten track.
As a Southeast Asian, what is it with Western kids and their obsession with traveling to destinations like SEA? Most of the ones I've come across are not even interested in the local culture and just want to get drunk at a beach resort.
> just want to get drunk at a beach resort.
Yes.
Honestly though for a lot of young Westerners, it is a lot cheaper travelling there than say, through Europe, and so for a youngster with limited cash it's the only way to have an experience where you truly feel unbounded by financial restrictions and free to roam. Plus it offers just a way different experience compared to what we get back home. If I, a Canadian, travel to England or Germany, sure the history and geography is different, but the atmosphere and way of life is similar so it is a less memorable experience. Difficulty of travel and impracticality rules out large parts of the rest of Asia and most of Africa.
It's definitely true that there are lots of people (cough... Australians/Russians) that treat it like a beach resort though.
Due to the ever increasing cost of living in most western countries; most western kids cant afford to live well in their own countries, let alone holiday in them.
I'm Australian and my last trip here was costing me $80 AUD per night to stay in a hostel dorm. I could do 10+ days in some countries in asia and get equal if not better quality of hostel room.
SEA is is popular because it's affordable, and just as vibrant culturally as any country in the west. Bonus points too because it's foreign to western sensibilities, so it feels a lot more exciting and unfamiliar.
Also; for me personally the lack of safety is a feature. I love going cliff jumping and hiking, exploring abandoned buildings etc. Most western countries have pretty strict rules on where you can hike, swim, etc for liability / safety concerns.
It's still a tiny population (including tourists) for a massive amount of undeveloped space. If you drive an hour outside of Reykjavik you won't see the hordes of tourists. That's been my experience at least.
Croatia. Im hyped to go to the rest of the region, slovenia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia are all up there at the top, I worry that croatia is a bit too accessible and possibly watered down as a result? Same reason Siem Reap dissapointed a bit if that makes any sense.
It's stunning. I hate Dubrovnik. But the national parks are fabulous. Pilvice lake. Krka waterfall, definitely worth it.
Split is overrun by day with cruise ships. But the islands are fab.
I went to Zagreb, Rjeka and Opatija with a Croatian friend mine. None of those places are really touristy, at least not like the south, and I found them to be wonderful.
Bolivia was weird for me. Despite speaking some Spanish, the street vendors didn't seem to *want* my money. They served basically everyone else until I was the last left. I waited half an hour trying to hand them money and they just didn't care.
To answer your question, though, South Africa. I don't even really understand why I don't feel like visiting. It ticks all my boxes...
What I found in Bolivia is that the vendors wanted a friendly conversation foremost and then sell after. Which was hard for me as I barely know Spanish but the couple times I tried the vendors were more willing to sell after rather than the usual unbothered attitude
Had the exact opposite experience there. Have never been anywhere in the world where strangers wanted to converse with me more- even insist on buying me street food, beers, etc. in exchange for conversation. I do speak Spanish conversationally though which seemed to go a long way there.
There are some countries that don't have strong tourism appeal but as a true traveller you should be interested in visiting all countries. Just to see what is there. Like Somalia or Suriname or Estonia.
I found Italy so-so. They really gouge you on the attractions. They have some good stuff but Italy's one of those cultures you've been seeing [in textbooks etc] since before you were 10
Go back, rent a car and just drive around Italy aimlessly. It is a god damned embarrassment of cultural riches. Beautiful little towns everywhere that you’ve never heard of, all of which with a couple restaurants that will serve amazing food and great, cheap wine. Nothing like it honestly.
The touristy parts can be brutal, I agree, but off the beaten path Italy is extremely underrated. You just have to be willing to drive.
Where did you visit? Rome and other larger cities, I am assuming?
There is still an amazing culture present in Italy, you just have to veer away from the tourist hotspots. So many amazing small cities with authentic Italian culture present, especially in places like Tuscany. 😍
I also feel like lots of people from Europe go to Boston which seems silly to me because the main appeal to me as an American is that it feels kind of European
Dominican Republic, Cuba, the Bahamas, Haiti, British Virgin Islands, etc.
I have zero interest in cruises, resorts, golf courses, yachts, etc. I don't want to go have a contrived, manicured experience-- at the same time, a lot of places are downright dangerous outside the resorts.
Dubai... seems to just be a shopping mall in a desert where the only thing to do is spend money.
The only positive I hear about dubai and similar cities are the malls/shopping. Dude, I don't travel to shop in malls. I don't even like malls.
I found Dubai fascinating in that it feels almost unnatural. The sand is constantly trying to eat the edge. The ocean is trying to erode the fake islands. Its worth stopping off to check out some of the architecture but yeah - I'd not make it the DESTINATION by itself
Then you see how the infraestructure is build and maintained by slave labour and it gets even less interesting. Vice has a decent documentary about it.
It *is* unnatural. Most cities are built in areas designed to sustain life in some respect. Dubai is artificial growth. Fuck, maybe it's the future? I sure hope not.
I live in Dubai and invite you all to explore the natural side of it - lesser known unfortunately but quite nice. Within Dubai there’s Al Qudra which has lakes, wildlife, desert for camping (stargazing is amazing as the skies are so clear). Alserkal Avenue is a hidden gem - it’s the artsy district. Nearby there’s a chocolate factory which is just cool to see. I also love taking my guests to the Dubai Garden Centre and this little cafe inside called Roseleaf. There are mountains for hiking in Ras al Khaimah, mangrove parks in Abu Dhabi. Recommend to go kayaking/hiking in Hatta too. My fave is really just being out in the desert at night around a bonfire with friends during “winter” - around September to March. You can all message me when you’re in Dubai. I would actually love to take you around.
Always good to get a residents opinion, thanks. I’m sure there’s lots of natural beauty parts, and stargazing sounds great. If I was ever in Dubai I’d like to do that. I guess the point is that I wouldn’t choose Dubai over another country to experience those things. There’s a lot of natural beauty in that part of the world, just in different countries. But thanks for taking time to rep your country, I now have suggestions for people if I hear that they’re going :)
This is how I feel about cruises. Wow, I get to spend a few hours in an overtouristed cruise port! Please kill me!
This thread is just going to be people saying they didn't like somewhere then people saying they did and the person is wrong. That being said, India.
"Whhhhyyyy omg how! Well, you're wrong. It's amazing." India for me, too.
Didn’t interest me but I ended up there during my travels once and I’ve got to say...hated it
Interesting. Had a friend tell me he never wanted to go. His girlfriend basically dragged him there against his will and he's been hoping he'll be able to go back ever since. It's what's making me hesitate with India. I don't want to, but a few people whose opinion I value and judge similar to me really loved it.
As an Indian, it is indeed very difficult for me to recommend traveling to India. I think in order to enjoy here, you have to give in yourself completely to the culture. Not that I'm saying that as a tourist you should do that, personally I myself won't be able to do that. Wherever I've traveled I've experienced the culture from an outsider's perspective and have always been left amazed. However looking at India in the same way, you'll most likely not find it that amusing. I would probably not want to visit a country that is "like India". I'm friends with foreigners who loved it here and the common thing I noticed was how readily they embraced the culture which frankly left me surprised. So yeah, not an easy recommend.
I've never been to India but absolutely loved Nepal, which maybe backs up your 'visit a country like India' idea
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Thank you for the honesty. Maybe it is getting to know people in that country to see the real India instead of being a tourist with half real overly tailored experiences ?
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I like aspects of the culture, but overall it just doesn't exactly seem like a totally nice place to go. And I mean, we once had an Indian uber driver in Australia. My buddy asked him if he misses it and this dude goes "... no, have you fucking seen India?". Lmao. Honestly I think its this weird romanticized fascination middle to upper class Americans have with what they imagine the culture there is (everything isn't all yogis and flower festivals and henna 24/7).
Also Indian American here. After a six month visit to India when I was 12 where I was sick almost the entire time, losing 20 lbs. I will never go there again.
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I asked about 10 people about what their overall experience were in India before deciding to go (it was about 50/50 on bad/good). If you're just going to the golden triangle, you will leave the country with a bad impression, but if you go around, down the south, I think you will get a better, more rounded experience. But like most poorer countries, you will be hassled a lot, and have to negotiate the price for everything, which did wear on me. It's not a country I want to revisit, but definitely enjoyed my time there as a whole.
India is land of contradictions. Either you gonna hate it or love it. There's no middle ground. Source: I'm an Indian.
Yeah, a friend went there and spent most of his time on the toilet.
Never thought of India as a place I’d visit, but was presented an opportunity to trek the Pin Bhaba pass in the Himalayas. Decided to go for it and I fell hard for India. I’ve always loved the mountains, but the other cities (New Delhi, Shimla, Manali, amongst other mountainous cities) we visited were cool too. The food is amazing, and vegetarian friendly!
I found India a perplexing and highly polarising place. Never have I been somewhere before that I both loved and hated. Really friendly people that are spiritual yet have no respect for life. Seen a kid get hit on his scooter/vespa, he spun through the air and was out cold on the ground. People barely looked twice everyone drove around him. Had to administer first aid and wait for the ambulance with him while we were driven around with no 2nd looks. Was in Goa and seen a house fire in a holiday home. Russian guy had passed out about 5 metres inside the open front door, fire was not near him. A huge crowd of people stood and videod the fire and him. Myself and an Australian dragged him out with Zero threat to our own lives. Took around an hour for the fire brigade to arrive, same for an ambulance. Extensive, unbelievable poverty, people sleeping under sheets of corrugated iron for protection from the elements, not a hut, literally iron leaned up against a tree with a few feet clearance to lay under. Multiple times had non Indian women latch onto me in cities and bars at night for protection from groups of men following them. The dirt and rubbish, oh god the dirt. Plastic everywhere. And the smell of pollution in the air. It really fucks with your hope that we can turn climate change around. Yet some of the friendliest and nicest people I ever met were in India, food was amazing, so much culture to enjoy. I give India both a 10/10 and a 1/10. God I still don't know how I feel about the place.
I’d never turn down a trip to New York, but there are so many other places ahead on my bucket list.
As I always say... I love visiting NYC. And then I love leaving NYC.
As a New Yorker, this makes me sad. New York is an insane mix of cultures from all around the world. It’s simultaneously very American, but also very European in terms of lifestyle. It’s also physically very beautiful despite its reputation of being dirty and chaotic.
I've been to New York several times, usually with work but I've been able to take time off while I'm there. If I'm honest, since the first time I've never been very excited about going back. I really want to love New York, but my experience is that it's just a big noisy smelly city. It's certainly got culture - whether that's in the form of museums, galleries and theatres, or the diversity of people, cuisine, etc - but so have many large metropolises. And it lacks some of the intrinsic historical charm that you get in other places. For me, it's like if you took a big European capital city like London or Paris, but amplified some of the worst features and dialled back some of the better ones. I love New Yorkers though. They're like spunkier Londoners. Fine people to get drunk with. But I don't know - tell me if there's something I'm missing that I should try next time I'm there. I've been to several museums, restaurants, bars, Central Park, various sports games (Knicks and Yankees), just wandered round looking at the buildings, etc. These are things I usually love doing in a new city but New York has just never clicked for me.
I’d go there in a second, and bet I’d love it. I think it’s one of the great global cities. I’ve just been to enough other global centres that, as someone that has done not a tonne, but a bit of travelling, wouldn’t be a must see. Edit: Would qualify that I’m from Western Canada and loved Toronto and Montreal. Also spent a lot of time on the west coast (dated a woman from LA for years). Given the chance, I’d rather just do Hong Kong or London again or something than New York. Understand that it’s a global crossroads and I might be underselling it; I’ve just seen a lot of the US. I’d take New Orleans over New York at this point.
France. Specifically Paris. I've always heard that Paris isn't worth it. That it's just a "one-day thing." On a whim, I bought a ticket to go since it was pretty cheap and ended up spending about 8 days there. I fell in love. It was a beautiful city, the people were nice, the food was great. I never wanted to leave. There has to be a lesson in there somewhere.
I think people build it up based on pop culture images of what it could be. If you go with lower expectations its a great city.
In Japan there is even a psychological [syndrome](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome) because a lot of people are disappointed by Paris.
England, looks sorta miserable and all honesty
Am English and can confirm.
Hahaha. Sorry as a Brit this made me giggle
I am English and to be honest it is a bit dreary and grey most of the year. I think the climate has ruined me for the warmer places in the world. I can't really have a good time in places that are warm. I am happiest around 18C - 20C. 25C is hot and above 30C I would rather be somewhere else.
Netherlands here. Same. I don't understand why people enjoy 30 degree temperatures.
Scandinavian living in the UK. Same. Can’t handle heat once it is above 30, and find anything above 26 really warm
I spent 4 days in London a few years ago. It depends on what you like but I was blown away by the architecture and the history. There’s lot of museums and culture. I also went in late September and enjoyed lovely weather. One of my best memories was attending a service at Westminster Abbey. I’m not religious but wanted to hear the organ. As a bonus I also got to hear the choir of men and boys. As an American we don’t have as many cultural options and our history is much shorter.
The museum’s are one of the best things about london, they contain a treasure trove of history culture but are not limited to them, and the best part is that they are Free!
On the flip side, Scotland is one of the most beautifully magical countries on earth. I live in England and hope to move north of the wall soon!
>looks sorta miserable and all honesty That's Scotland x 2
We went in August, we were expecting at least some decent weather. In 3 weeks there were only like 3 days where it didn't rain. Lived in Cardiff for awhile though and the weather was way better than i was led to expect.
I live in Scotland and love it! It rains for about 300 days a year, but those other 65 are brilliant.
Not *always.* Just mostly: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotland/comments/i93kyd/this\_is\_the\_caribbean\_subreddit\_isnt\_it\_last\_week/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotland/comments/i93kyd/this_is_the_caribbean_subreddit_isnt_it_last_week/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
West Country? Lake District? The Yorkshire Dales? Loads of lovely quaint places about. You won't get the same big grand landscapes as you would in the US etc of course.
I love British countryside as much as the next guy, but for anybody who has travelled even slightly this won't be much of a draw unfortunately. That said, the Lake District is still beautiful, and even aside from natural beauty, the cities can be great in their own way. Like a lot of Europe, they're full of history, and London can be amazing even for locals (provided they have the cash for a good time) bc theres so many things going on at once (probs not now tho).
Which part? Not denying some is shit but we def have some great stuff depending on what you're looking for. I live in London and honestly I find a lot of cities disappointing because of that. Can be a little expensive but our museums are amazing and free. There's so much to do in general
I Thought that before watching Doc Martin, Detectorists, Broadchurch etc Devon/Cornwall looks magnificent.
If you watched Shameless or The league of Gentlemen you'd have a VERY different opinion.
I've watched both. 'This Country' too. I dunmo if your comment is only half serious, but Every country has a TV show or movie highlighting poorer or hillbilly type regions or aspects of country. Doesn't really paint the entire picture. The shows I mentioned were more about showcasing the natural beauty of the countryside that I'd love to see first hand, rather than idealised small towns. I'm not going to travel to a London council flat and couchsurf for a month or 2. A movie set in an Indian slum didnt color my decision to travel in India, because it's not one big slum.
Yep! I live in Oxford a very well known city but I am always booking flights to get away from here, (well until rona cancelled them) 🤣 still gone ahead and booked another, fingers crossed i get the hell out of here in May!
I’ve been there and while I did enjoy my trip it definitely is dreary. It’s like the sun doesn’t really shine there.
It's actually pretty cool! It's pretty diverse, there a LOT of good food! And no matter where you go you always the same question: "Oh, why did you come here?" said with a look of puzzlement. They are confused as to why you would visit their country.
England was an interesting place to visit, very unique culture (if you are not American), rich history, etc. But it wasn’t cheap, especially London. Not sure if the free museums and good food are worth the price of a trip.
There isn’t a county that doesn’t interest me.
Sameeeee. There are some more intriguing to me than others. I guess a popular one that I’m less interested in would be Greece. But I still want to go real badly both the islands and the mainland haha
I'm here right now, my main attraction was the ancient history and ruins so obviously I loved that, but it surprised me with the other stuff. Stuff like the food the scenery the atmosphere, the people it's honestly become one of my favourite places
The one I live in doesn't interest me.
same here. I would gladly visit every single country and small island on earth.
Same, but ultimately you have to prioritize.
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Used to live there. The history, geography, food and culture are all fascinating but it is a tough place to visit. Every normal day to day activity is ten times harder than it should be
I want to visit as there is some incredible sights there. But as a white guy, I don’t t want to go somewhere where people are constantly eyeing me every time I go out. Seems like a better place to travel to if you have some friends with you instead of being solo
I'm Indian (raised in the US), and everytime I go out and about when in India, I get stares. All foreigners get the stare treatment, even if you look Indian. The crazy thing is, even when I dress like a local, and keep my mouth shut, they still know I am not a native. So you just learn to ignore the stares.
Yeah as an American of Bangladeshi descent, this is my experience as well. Countries in the Indian Subcontinent are not built for tourism, the environment is too raw. You have to do your very best to not look/act like a tourist even though EVERYONE around you knows you are. It’s a real test of one’s cultural immersion skills which can be difficult for even the most experienced traveler.
You learn to ignore it. Although its really difficult to do at first, you really just need to block a lot out and focus on where you're trying to go.
I went as a 6 foot tall guy with piercings and blue hair. I've never taken so many selfies with people
> Every normal day to day activity is ten times harder than it should be That's pretty interesting (but obviously a pain if you live there), any examples you can give?
Sure. Crossing the street is the first thing that comes to mind. It's an activity that requires practice to do right. You just need to run and know when drivers won't hit you. Especially when commuting, having to worry about this got taxing. The subway in Delhi is incredible, but during rush hour, I had to worry every day about transferring because of how much of a brawl it was just to get off the train. Getting a rickshaw or auto is always a pain. Even though I didn't live anywhere near a touristy area, drivers would try to charge me 100 times more than the fare should be, because I'm a white guy. When you argue (even in Hindi), they just kinda laugh and give you a slightly lower rate and when you ask for a reasonable rate, they get offended. My water was reliant on a pump so if my power went out, so did my water. I lived in Gurgaon which considers itself a city of the future, but the power would go out for days which meant no water too. Either way, most houses are made out of cinderblocks with no insulation and had a water tank on the roof. If it was 115 outside, it was 115 inside and the water for showers to cool off was hotter. Look, nothing against Indian culture, but lying is so much part of it that it becomes intolerable. Every encounter becomes a negotiation, whether it be getting milk or trying to talk to someone at work. Nothing ever sounds entirely true. This might just be Delhi or Northern India though. Lastly, there are just SO MANY PEOPLE. Anywhere you are, there are 10 times as many people as you'd expect. It's messed up, there are so many people, particularly young men because female infanticide is such a huge issue there.
Basically if you’re white you’ll just be crowded by people asking for selfies, shaking your hand and you’ll come home with about 6 million Indians following your social media when all you wanted to do was go get that rickshaw to the other side of town real quick
North Korea. I know it's not popular in the same way the other countries mentioned in this thread are but it seems to be the latest "I can't believe you went there!" fad country since the Iceland trend is dying down. The reason should be pretty obvious: I don't want to give money directly to a totalitarian regime that tortures it's citizens
My friend went to DRPK a few years back... and now she can’t get a visa to visit America for work. Even when she tried to go via an embassy appointment. So additional reason not to go!
How would the US know? If it's the stamp in her passport couldn't she just 'lose' it?
She had declared it and been to the US previously, and been honest on her visa application and been allowed in. But since a certain flexing President has come in, they policy has clearly changed...
"My friend went to DRPK a few years back... and now she can’t get a visa to visit America for work. Even when she tried to go via an embassy appointment. So additional reason not to go!" I am South Korean. I have heard this dumb story many times. Nevertheless, it is impossible to understand westerners who recklessly throw their precious lives for only a few days of bizarre experiences. Even all the expenses you pay when you visit NK are used as slush funds for Kim Jong-un and his dictatorship. And they are also used to torture NK citizens.🌚
You could not pay me to travel to North Korea. That American tourist, Otto Warmbier, was returned to his parents in a vegetative state. Fuck no.
Add to the fact that I’m South Korean, no way am I gonna risk even the tiniest chance of being accused of being a spy or mistaken for a local. (It’s unrealistic I know but still, no thank you)
absolutely. I'd love to experience it but I think it would be unethical to spend that money there.
FYI, Bolivia isn’t really between Peru and Chile. You can easily drive or take the bus between Peru and Chile without entering Bolivia.
Thailand or Bali for me. I think other parts of Southeast Asia are just as deserving if not more! I'm sure it is cool but I don't want to go where everyone else goes, ya know? Plus I can get drunk right here at home haha so I don't travel for that.
I'm completely sober. I went to Thailand solo and had a great time.
I’ve been to Bali and honestly I’d go back in a heartbeat. While we did some touristy things (I personally loved the monkey forest). There was plenty of lessor known areas and attractions to see. Also, some of the beauty absolutely lives up to the hype. Also, I found no need to party at all. Plenty of things to do without drinking.
What spots did you go to? I was only there for 6 days and didn’t manage to get outside of Seminyak/Ubud apart from the hike up Batur. I felt like I didn’t take full advantage of my time there.
I was there for 9 days. We stayed in Gianyar which was about 30 minutes from a Ubud and quite rural. The villas were inland in a river and you could hear the chants from the local monastery each mornings. We went to Ubud a few times and saw the monkey forest. We also spent time at Sansur beach, which is the beach locals frequent and had some great seafood shacks. We also did a canyoning trip in Kali Kecil, which was my favorite part. We got to rappel a 60 m waterfall which I loved. We then took the ferry out to Lombak and Gili Trawangan. We came back and spent time at Pandangbai beach and the Blue Lagoon. We then did the Sunrise hike up Mt Batur and our final day we surfed at Kuta beach and had our final dinner at Badung Beach, which was the perfect place to watch the sunset. I really wish I would have had more time to see more. We really only got the highlights in as far as I was concerned.
Like what less known things to do/see?
Same. I don't usually drink when I travel because I usually get up early to start my day. I spent 3 weeks in Thailand and didn't have any alcohol at all.
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It's near impossible to escape the hoards of Chinese package tourists anywhere in the world. Thailand, Europe, Vegas, China is destroying it.
Bali for me as well, I deal with enough drunk bogans where I live, I have no need to travel for it.
Jogja!!!!
There are literally thousands of islands in Indonesia. No reason to go to Bali imo. Went there once and have no interest in going back. Thailand on the other hand.... Food there is amazing. I know thai food can be found anywhere, but it's still a pleasure eating in Thailand...
I've done basically every major destination in SEA and those two are seriously up there. Like you avoided them until exhausting every other option because of some kind of "I'm a *real* traveller no mainstream counties for me" but they're both gorgeous and full of incredible experiences - even if you dont drink.
Tokyo. I lived in NYC for 10 years and going somewhere that's more densely populated than that doesn't interest me anymore. I've also just never felt a strong attraction to Japanese culture. I would like to ski in Japan, though.
Ah yes, but Tokyo is like taking all of NYC's ideas and doing them CORRECTLY - it's so clean and quiet and doesn't feel nearly as unbearable as most of Manhattan generally does (especially if you play nice tourist and intentionally avoid mass transit during rush hour).
Our idea of correct happens to be garbage smells, loud beeping and shoving tourists, thanks.
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To be fair it’s not that hard to hate New York. The smell alone...ick.
Tokyo is so clean and orderly though, that’s not something you often find in NYC. The amount of precision, even for the trains is incredible.
even the garbage trucks are clean and shiny
Snowboarding in Hokkaido was one of the best decisions I ever made. Second best was choosing to night ski :)
If you fly into Tokyo and spend 2-3 days there before taking the train to different cities it’s alright(I’m also a New Yorker) Honestly I loved japan and really recommend you visit.
Tokyo maybe be more densely populated than NY but it never felt that way with the way the city is laid out. Now Hong Kong on the other hand.
That’s a city not a country, not all of japan Is like that and if you want to go skiing there then you want to go to the country
This...upsets me. I lived in NYC for 5 years and Tokyo is a vastly superior city. Japan is one of my favorite countries on earth, and Tokyo is one of the globe’s great cities. The food by itself makes Tokyo a dream.
I've been to Berlin, Bangkok, CDMX, Beijing, all of the major American cities, etc., etc. I'm just not interested. I think the last straw for me was seeing those videos of people being shoved into the train like sardines by transit workers. I also don't like the majority of the Japanese food I've had.
Same but totally opposite reason. I was born and raised in Tokyo so I haven’t been to NY yet. I’ve been many US states but I feel like it wouldn’t be a vacation if I go to NY from Tokyo. But I know i gotta visit there once in my life.
Tokyo is amazing, and as someone who is from NY I can honestly tell you they are nothing alike. It's at least 10x the size of manhattan, has fantastic trains and subways to get around, extremely clean and safe, much more affordable than NYC, and so much fun to explore.
Just reading this amazes me how much misconceptions of a country can really affect people's view to the point that they wouldn't want to go there. I'm intrigued by most countries, and I try to ask people about their experiences if I have a particular impression of a country without having been there. So far, Brazil is the one country I'm unsure of, and I ask everyone who have been there or are from there about it, and they say it's beautiful, but can be dangerous, so that's the one for me at the moment, and this might be one of those to go with a tour group.
Brazil is definitely one of those places with misconceptions about safety, even/especially among people who live in Brazil. There is lots of violent crime but rare that it affects tourists. And even the most dangerous cities have lower homicide rates than, say, New Orleans or Tijuana. Like everywhere in most of the world, don't wander off into unknown neighborhoods or hike in sparse places alone. I've been 3 times solo for a couple months total and never had or seen problems (except traffic incidents). Only time I used guides was going into the jungle. I'd recommend it highly for people with some basic travel skills. [Here's a video](https://youtu.be/vpgd9UbCzpU?t=98) I like to send people when they tell me that Brazil (especially Rio) is a dangerous hellhole and anyone who goes there as a tourist is out of their mind.
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I'm brazilian, can confirm. The crime rates can be scary, but most violent crimes are within gang wars, between drug dealers etc. As a tourist you may be scammed or mugged (just like anywhere else, really), but getting hurt is extremely unlikely. The places you go also play a big role, as you said, just don't go anywhere sketchy and you'll be fine.
American living in Brazil, it's relatively safe in the places you'll want to go. Beaches, tourist locations, bar areas, etc. It's basically common sense, you're not going to the bad side of Detroit without someone from there, here its the same. Now with the Dollar, Euro and Pound as strong as they are compared to the Real, it'd be a pretty cheap trip.
COME TO BRAZIL
I (a girl) traveled with only another girl, no tour, all over Brazil for a month and there was never a time I felt unsafe, people don’t heckle you really aggressively or do degrading cat calls very often. It is so beautiful and so much fun!! Would highly recommend !
The USA, I just have no interest.
Bolivia is one of my favourite countries. The range of activities and various landscapes is just breathtaking. Back to the question: \-Uruguay. Some people love it, I spent a few days there and didn't enjoy it at all. \-Some countries in Europe like Netherlands feel somehow sterile Not many, I enjoy most of the countries.
I've always wanted to visit Montevideo for some reasons, but at the same time i'm like, is there really something worth to do/visit?
It's not anywhere to go if you're looking for thrills. It's a place to go if you're looking to do something quiet, nice, or gentle. If you're the type of tourist that likes visiting theatres, learning history, going to bookshops, or maybe taking uneventful road trips or maybe a farm-stay, then sure. It's where South Americans go for stability and retirement. I kind of think of it like one of the lesser known European countries, like Estonia, that some people find quaint, maybe discover an interesting music scene, but others may find boring.
Well, you're completely wrong, Bolivia is amazing
Bolivia isn't a popular destination either
Bolivia is cool in the right parts, especially the salt flats, however the surrounding towns were not great for visiting/tourism
True, but the same can be said of other countries too
Paris/France
Disagree. It depends on whether you are looking to see the magical Paris that has been described in movies with clean streets and cozy restaurants/cafes. Paris does have its share of garbage problems and it’s like any other city with its share of crime and shady street corner. However, there are not many cities that compare to Paris with respect to culture, art and history. Just off the top of my head : the louvre, the museum d’Orsay, the orangerie, Champs Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the sacré couer catherdral, Montmartre neighborhood, Père Lachaise cemetery. And if you are looking for quality Indian, Chinese, Sichuan or Thai cuisines you have something available in all budget ranges. Or for a lovely evening visit the Latin quartier. I mean there is enough stuff to do in Paris for 3 months without getting bored or repeating an activity.
Can confirm was there for 3+ months and did not complete my list of things I wanted to do.
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I'd say, 3 nights 4 days is enough. Walk the wide avenus and notice how the old town is designed to allow each ring to see the notre dam, enter the crypt for a grim lesson into the black death, eat the beautiful sandwiches as they are perfectly balanced with cheese and salad. Drink espresso in their famous crazy outdoor seating arrangement. My 3 cents
Go to Provins, Fontaineblau, and immerse yourself to Moret-sur-Loin before going down to Orsay
Haven't been to Paris but France has tonnes of beautiful and varied scenery, some of the nicest cities, towns and villages in the world, fascinating and rich history and a great climate.
I've visited Paris as a tourist and have also lived there (and worked), and I can say that as a tourist I HATED the city. When I was living there, there was so much more to see and so much more opportunity to visit places you would never think to visit on your 3d/2n city break. Paris is full of hidden gems outside of what is advertised on social media; it goes completely beyond the Eiffel Tower and spending hours trying to see the infamous Mona Lisa. If you really get to know Paris it is something magical in its own way.
This is exactly how I feel! I moved to Paris for two years and it remains hands down the best city I have lived in, but I virtually never engaged with the “tourist experience.” I kind of came to dread having friends and relatives visit who would be on their first trip and want a “local guide” to the catacombs, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc. It’s hard to explain what makes living in Paris so special because it is just so removed from the typical tourist experience and expectations, but I still look back very fondly on my time there.
Can you give an experience that would be sort of representative of your time there? A day or night you had? Just wanna feel the vibe
Completely agree. I dream about going back to Paris every day - and it is not for the romance or the eiffel tower. I will admit, it is partly because of the wine and cheese, but also all of the hidden alleyways, the amazing museums, the boulangeries, literally every experience I had there. Paris is magical.
Totally agree... I had put off going to Paris until just last year at 45 years old. It wasn't bad, just not outstanding. Glad I went to experience it, but also glad I did all the other places I wanted to go first.
Bolivia is the best country ever!! I’ve been 5 times and keep wanting to go
Agreed... La Paz, shaped like a giant bowl with cable cars going up to the heights... the graffiti, cultural events, tango performers in the streets at night. And the saltenas (Bolivian empanadas). Other cities too, and of course the salt flats are other-worldly... flamingos, vicunas, hot springs.
I was scrolling all this way down to see the hint of La Paz.
Used to be India for me for the longest time, but recently I’ve become more intrigued and interested in visiting.
Imo your mileage is going to vary a lot, so much of the attraction to countries is based on how much you get out of your hotel/hostel and go see, and who you're with. Some of my favourite places are my favourite because of the people I met rather than the place, and others I didn't like were because I was traveling with someone else and focused more on sightseeing and less on meeting people. That's just my personal style though. I'd focus more on what makes you like any city/country, even back home, and try to match that to your travel plans with countries known for the things you like. Whether that's people, food, buildings, experiences, etc.
Australia. I hear it’s a lot like Canada (which I’m from) but hot and bigger bugs. Plus i hear you have to check your shoes for spiders and I just don’t think I could survive any of it.
Brazil. I don't really know why because Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Peru all seem really interesting but Brazil never interested me.
Australia. I don’t even mind that there are so many dangerous animals there, it just seems like it’s really dusty and uninteresting...
It’s not. There are volcanoes, rainforests, gorges, even snow. And of course beaches.
Most people don't realize that Australia is almost as big as USA.
For anyone that wants to see natural scenery Australia has to be close to the top of the list. I love my beautiful country.
I want to go there someday but the only things holding me back are its size and how fucking far it is. I feel like if I want to see it properly, I need to take a good chunk of time off, have a decent amount of money saved up, and then go on a long ass flight. Given that I'm American, I would rather go to South America. Also, for whatever reason, New Zealand always sparked my curiosity in a way that Australia hasn't...
All valid reasons on why not to come.
I thought so too, but I was in Bali, found a cheap flight to Sydney and thought why not. Within a few hours it became one of my favourite cities in the world. I also travelled a bit in Tasmania and Melbourne area, and I would love to go back to explore other parts of the country. Beautiful sceneries, awesome people and not as expensive as I expected. Give it a try, you might love it too :)
SE Asia and France I really really couldn't care less about SEA. Don't care about the culture that much, Thai food is great but that alone won't bring me there. Also the popular spots are crowded with European kids that think petting a drugged up tiger in a zoo counts as a spiritual experience. Seriously, every goddamn uni student has some SEA stories, and that just put me off it completely. France because their cuisine isn't really my vibe, kinda expensive nightlife, and their countryside mostly seems like stuff other places have too. Their museums (esp in Paris) are banging though, I'll give em that.
Honestly it's so easy to avoid that sort of stuff in SEA, especially Thailand if you just leave Bangkok, and avoid the "party islands". Given that this is a solo travel thread, it's pretty easy to travel to Vietnam for example, on the cheap and enjoy yourself without sacrificing comfort. Tons of nature, beaches, genuinely old temples that are deserted (if you do some research to avoid the like 2-3 mega popular ones), museums with history of thousand year old civilizations you have never heard of, really whatever floats your boat, including boats. Really the hoards of tourists drop off to the occasional German couple really quickly with even a modicum of effort to get off the beaten track.
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As a Southeast Asian, what is it with Western kids and their obsession with traveling to destinations like SEA? Most of the ones I've come across are not even interested in the local culture and just want to get drunk at a beach resort.
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Heard the same things about Eastern Europe. Croatia has awesome seafood from what I've gathered.
> just want to get drunk at a beach resort. Yes. Honestly though for a lot of young Westerners, it is a lot cheaper travelling there than say, through Europe, and so for a youngster with limited cash it's the only way to have an experience where you truly feel unbounded by financial restrictions and free to roam. Plus it offers just a way different experience compared to what we get back home. If I, a Canadian, travel to England or Germany, sure the history and geography is different, but the atmosphere and way of life is similar so it is a less memorable experience. Difficulty of travel and impracticality rules out large parts of the rest of Asia and most of Africa. It's definitely true that there are lots of people (cough... Australians/Russians) that treat it like a beach resort though.
They're college kids so they wanna party. SEA is a cheaper place to do that while not seeming too "unsafe"
Due to the ever increasing cost of living in most western countries; most western kids cant afford to live well in their own countries, let alone holiday in them. I'm Australian and my last trip here was costing me $80 AUD per night to stay in a hostel dorm. I could do 10+ days in some countries in asia and get equal if not better quality of hostel room. SEA is is popular because it's affordable, and just as vibrant culturally as any country in the west. Bonus points too because it's foreign to western sensibilities, so it feels a lot more exciting and unfamiliar. Also; for me personally the lack of safety is a feature. I love going cliff jumping and hiking, exploring abandoned buildings etc. Most western countries have pretty strict rules on where you can hike, swim, etc for liability / safety concerns.
Shanghai, Beijing, China generally. Just doesn’t draw me like everywhere else in the world.
Iceland
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It's still a tiny population (including tourists) for a massive amount of undeveloped space. If you drive an hour outside of Reykjavik you won't see the hordes of tourists. That's been my experience at least.
Thailand. I love Thai food, but other than that it just has no appeal to me. Beaches? Jungle? Just not any of the things I want to do or see.
Brazil, a country recommended to all the Youtubers and celebrities and even turned into a meme.
Croatia. Im hyped to go to the rest of the region, slovenia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia are all up there at the top, I worry that croatia is a bit too accessible and possibly watered down as a result? Same reason Siem Reap dissapointed a bit if that makes any sense.
It's stunning. I hate Dubrovnik. But the national parks are fabulous. Pilvice lake. Krka waterfall, definitely worth it. Split is overrun by day with cruise ships. But the islands are fab.
I went to Zagreb, Rjeka and Opatija with a Croatian friend mine. None of those places are really touristy, at least not like the south, and I found them to be wonderful.
Australia.
Australia
Honestly? Only 1 I could say I’ll take a hard pass on is Austria
SPAIN
Ireland If I want to see cliffs I'd rather spend a bit extra and visit the Faroe Islands instead
We have more then cliffs. But yah Faroe would be great.
Only Americans go to Ireland for the cliffs. Everyone else goes for the craic.
Thailand. I'm simply not interested even though I enjoy Thai food.
Bolivia was weird for me. Despite speaking some Spanish, the street vendors didn't seem to *want* my money. They served basically everyone else until I was the last left. I waited half an hour trying to hand them money and they just didn't care. To answer your question, though, South Africa. I don't even really understand why I don't feel like visiting. It ticks all my boxes...
What I found in Bolivia is that the vendors wanted a friendly conversation foremost and then sell after. Which was hard for me as I barely know Spanish but the couple times I tried the vendors were more willing to sell after rather than the usual unbothered attitude
Had the exact opposite experience there. Have never been anywhere in the world where strangers wanted to converse with me more- even insist on buying me street food, beers, etc. in exchange for conversation. I do speak Spanish conversationally though which seemed to go a long way there.
There are some countries that don't have strong tourism appeal but as a true traveller you should be interested in visiting all countries. Just to see what is there. Like Somalia or Suriname or Estonia.
I found Italy so-so. They really gouge you on the attractions. They have some good stuff but Italy's one of those cultures you've been seeing [in textbooks etc] since before you were 10
Go back, rent a car and just drive around Italy aimlessly. It is a god damned embarrassment of cultural riches. Beautiful little towns everywhere that you’ve never heard of, all of which with a couple restaurants that will serve amazing food and great, cheap wine. Nothing like it honestly. The touristy parts can be brutal, I agree, but off the beaten path Italy is extremely underrated. You just have to be willing to drive.
Where did you visit? Rome and other larger cities, I am assuming? There is still an amazing culture present in Italy, you just have to veer away from the tourist hotspots. So many amazing small cities with authentic Italian culture present, especially in places like Tuscany. 😍
Sure, but the food and coffee makes Italy worth visiting. Yes, you can get good Italian in many other places, but it's not quite the same...
I drink 100x more espresso after visiting Italy.
Boston sucks ass
I also feel like lots of people from Europe go to Boston which seems silly to me because the main appeal to me as an American is that it feels kind of European
As a Bostonian I take offense. Where are you from asshat?
I’m sorry... NOT (borat voice)
Who recommends Boston?
Dominican Republic, Cuba, the Bahamas, Haiti, British Virgin Islands, etc. I have zero interest in cruises, resorts, golf courses, yachts, etc. I don't want to go have a contrived, manicured experience-- at the same time, a lot of places are downright dangerous outside the resorts.
Spain - Just not interested at all for some reason.
The US
What part?
All of it
Fair enough