Vacations are not always the dream experiences we wish for.
Even those to destinations that are home to the wonders of the world, breathtaking mountain scenery and waterfronts favored by the rich and famous.
On the other hand, there are places that make tourists desperate to return.
But where are they?
Two Reddit threads reveal all. In one, users discuss places they never want to return to – including the US state’s “tourist trap” – and in another, the topic of places users “want to visit again and again”, featuring a stunning English seaside town. with a city in Louisiana.
Places where visitors NEVER want to return
On a recent Reddit forum discussion, tourists shared travel hotspots they would never return to, with Monaco (above) heavily criticized.
It could be home to a wonder of the world, but tourists have criticized Egypt for being ‘ruined by fraudsters’
This discussion was started by Reddit user ‘Affordable Traveler’ who asked: ‘What is the one place you will never travel to again?’
From Europe to Africa to the US, several of the world’s top destinations failed to impress contributors.
Counting in Cairo.
Reddit user “Cheat-Meal” said: “Cairo, Egypt. I will never go there again. Sure, the pyramids are beautiful, but scammers and scumbags spoil the experience.”
‘Crap_bag’ chimed in with his experiences in Egypt, recalling: ‘I locked myself in a perfume shop in Egypt, still didn’t buy anything and finally gave up but was a bit scary at the time. I just went for a walk. I also saw a guy washing his balls with a hose on the street, so it wasn’t the best first impression, but definitely memorable.’
India They also came forward in the discussion with complaints of “constant harassment and disrespect” and of “staring, stalking and groping”.
“Thecwestions” declared: “India. No amount of love for curry could ever draw me back there.’
Floridahas since been condemned as a “hot, gross, dirty tourist trap”, although one user said she has “a wonderful personality… if you can escape the dank grip of the malls and find her”.
For one traveler, it was bright lights Monaco which failed to impress. ‘Tazdevil64’ said: ‘Monaco! The public toilets in the palace were absolutely filthy! At the Monte Carlo Casino, you were ignored by the dealers and staff unless you were common people or obviously rich.’
Price was the deciding factor for one traveler, “Joecooool418”, who said: “Probably Switzerland. It’s beautiful, but damn, it’s expensive. The cheapest dinner we had was around $150 (£117) and most were over $200 (£156). A thirty-minute train or lift ride into the mountains costs $130 (£101) per person. The Alps are just as beautiful in France, Italy, Austria and Germany and the food/activities are about half the price.”
Sometimes it’s not about the destination itself, but the circumstances. ‘Gre209by’ said: ‘Rome at the height of summer. Personally, the heat and the crowds made it pretty awful.’
Dubai has also been blacklisted by some – a “giant tourist trap” – along with Jamaica (“outrageous frauds” and “sketchy”).
Places where tourists want to return again and again
One Reddit user describes St Ives (above) as ‘gorgeous’ with ‘unspoiled beaches’
‘Strictcompliance’ said of New Orleans (above): ‘This is the most culturally vibrant place I’ve ever been in my life’
In a separate Reddit thread, ‘Vorm’ asked: ‘Which place, city, resort or hotel is so good that you keep coming back?’
This was the case in the UK Cornwall that one traveler wanted more.
‘Coffeewalnut05’ said: ‘St Ives in Cornwall. You are spoiled by this city’s pristine sandy beaches, good history and architecture, turquoise seas, gorgeous bays and coastal paths with an endless supply of fragrant flowers. Probably the closest to a tropical environment you can find in the UK.’
Another traveler loved the coastal town Penang in Malaysia, describing it as “like being in several countries at once” due to the “mixture of cultures”.
They were also impressed by Oman in the Middle East, noting that “there is so much to see and a huge variety of landscapes; desert, mountains, beaches, forests, wadis, ancient villages and nice people.
“JusthereforNachos” said, “I love all of Japan, but if I had to choose, Kanazawa has my heart every time.” Kenrokuen (pictured above) is a “beautiful garden” in the city
New Orleans also received the highest rating.
‘Strictcompliance’ said of the Louisiana city: ‘This is the most culturally vibrant place I’ve ever been in my life.
“My husband and I go down every chance we get, and learning about the neighborhoods, the music culture, the history, the food, the politics has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are staples on Japan’s tourist trails, but one traveler shared another spot they can’t stay away from.
‘JusthereforNachos’ said: ‘I love all of Japan, but if I had to choose Kanazawa she has my heart every time. It’s known as “Little Kyoto” and it does more than live up to the hype.
“Kenrokuen. [there] is a beautiful garden, they have temples and geisha, and their local craft is gold leaf.”