The definition of a great travel destination really depends on who you ask. Some people swear by sun-soaked beaches, while others chase the quiet of misty mountaintops or the adventure of a desert safari. But no matter where you go, there are certain red flags that just about anyone would agree are deal-breakers. So, when someone on Reddit asked, “What popular travel destination did you visit and say ‘never again’?” the responses poured in. From getting robbed at knifepoint to being totally misled by Instagram photos, the stories were equal parts shocking and eye-opening. If you’re planning your next vacation, this brutally honest list might just save you a plane ticket and a whole lot of regret.

1,

For me it’s not really a destination so I’m gonna be “that guy” it’s more cruises.
I’ll never do a cruise again.
Too many people
Too many disgusting people
Too expensive.

2,

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.

3,

Disney World.
Yes, it’s federal law that you have to drag your kids there at some point. But it’s just one big money extraction device. Crappy rides, cheesy entertainment, and overpriced….well…everything wrapped up in some faux magical aura delivered by cartoon characters. This isn’t an attraction. It’s a confidence trick. A few dozen square miles of gimcrack and chintz built with no other intention than to siphon off cash from the gaping rubes. I mean, Universal is a little bit away, but it’s way more fun. When we took the kids, I wandered around Epcot with a running tally in my head, like the meter of a New York cab idling in traffic. I distinctly remember thinking, ‘Here we are in fake Europe when we could be in the real thing for less money.’ What’s even crazier is that people go back. Like repeatedly. Two or three times a year. To the same cheesy shows, the same s****y food, the same lame rides.

That always leads me to ask, “Are you goldfish? Do you swim over to one side of the bowl and, having reached it, forget what was on the other side needing to swim back? What in the name of all that’s holy keeps you coming back? Don’t you know there’s a big wide world out there filled with stuff more amazing than the fakery you see here?’. Most of us picture cities based on what we’ve seen in movies or TV shows: think the bustling streets of Manhattan or the dreamy coastlines of Australia. We build our expectations around iconic landmarks, romantic backdrops, and Hollywood magic. It’s easy to assume every corner of a place is as charming as a movie scene. 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?

4,

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.

5,

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).

6,

Plymouth Rock. The cranberry museum was more interesting.

Let’s be honest: filters, cinematic lighting, and curated content don’t always tell the full story. What you don’t see are the long queues, the overpriced meals, or the cramped hotel rooms with “a view.” Sure, the Eiffel Tower sparkles, but the pickpocket warning signs nearby aren’t as photogenic. 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.

7,

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.

We have a tourist attraction about 2 hours away from me called “Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu” which is famous for being the longest place name in the world. People drive there to take photos with the sign of the name. I drove to it and it turns out its literally just a hill. Not even a special hill or anything, not like a tourist attraction type hill, just a normal a*s hill. the bit i hated though? no bloody sign lmao. they removed the long a*s sign everyone took pictures with, so now its literally just a two hour drive to see a hill. I dont even know why that hill even has a name in the first place tbh lol.

8,

Dolphin Swimming in Dominican Republic, total rip off and poor dolphins.

9,

I went to India. Probably better to visit a reactor in the Chernobyl.

10,

Bali is a very popular place for Aussies to visit. I went for four days at the end of my honeymoon. It was hot and sticky, hard to breathe, I’m s**t at haggling prices, shopkeepers and taxi drivers constantly hassling you, got food poisoning first day (ate at Pizza Hut the rest of the time out of fear), saw cats jumping up and licking spoons and the servery at a buffet, can only drink bottled water, and when I went to the men’s room at (what I was told was) an up-market shopping location, I had to flush the toilet with a bucket, and then when I went to wash my hands, I saw a guy next to me washing his balls in the sink.

11,

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.

12,

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.