The Happiness Function

The “10 Most Popular Tropical Travel Locations” lists are so played out. Let’s flip the script. So how about 10 travel destinations frequently serving as a visitor’s “Final Destination?” These are the one-hitter quitters of tourist spots, leaving a sour enough taste in enough travelers’ mouths to discourage any return trips.

10 Travel Destinations People Won’t Go Back To

While many of these locations attract millions of tourists yearly, you rarely hear about the poor experiences. When evaluating potential vacation spots, the harsh reviews are just as critical as the glowing ones. Here they are according to some travel stories.

1. Paris

Arguably the most popular tourist city on the planet, Paris proves that popularity comes at a cost. The top gripes include dirty streets, massive crowds, and rampant pickpocketing. Though there were some positive rebuttals, several visitors to Paris reported having a stranger stick their hand in their pocket fishing for valuables.

Maybe it’s just me, but a stranger’s hand in the pocket isn’t exactly the sort of romance one thinks of when they dream of Paris.

2. Morocco

Take note when someone says that a country is “hands down” the destination they’ll never return to. Multiple people who spent their hard-earned money to travel to Morocco were stunned by the handsy-ness of complete strangers.

Both those who traveled in small and large groups said they felt unsafe in Morocco, despite its natural beauty and other highlights.

3. Egypt

One (presumably female) travel veteran to Egypt noted that they are “done” paying to visit countries where they must modify virtually everything about themselves. Whether it’s increasingly strict restrictions on clothing, public behavior, or daily habits, Egypt seems to be moving backward regarding individual rights and personal safety.

4. Russia

Before the recent conflict, Russia had become a trendy tourist spot for tourists seeking a venture into a world that would have been largely off-limits a few decades ago.

However, complainers noted an inescapable plume of cigarette smoke indoors and out. And, let’s be honest, that’s probably Item #304 on the list of reasons someone might not visit Russia today.

5. Las Vegas

Did nobody watch The Hangover? One jaded Vegas vet said, “everything is mediocre and expensive” in Las Vegas. Yeah, but at least you didn’t black out and get a Mike Tyson tattoo on your face! Count your blessings that you got away with only an overpriced Cirque du Soleil show to complain about.

6. China

One traveler noted that they needed permission not only to enter China but also to leave the country. They said that much of their trip to the massive Asian nation felt cumbersome and Draconian, so they won’t be returning anytime soon.

7. Nassau, Bahamas

You can’t put the Bahamas into a single box, as much of it is truly a tropical paradise that seems uniquely made for legendary vacations. Nassau, though, is a capital city with all the ills that come with modern cities. Poverty, crime, and destitution lie just beyond the walls of the famed Atlantis resort.

After seeing that, some visitors say Baha-nah.

8. Los Angeles

Piling on Hollywood is trendier than Rodeo Drive. Call me a trend chaser, but LA’s homeless encampments make the Depression-era Hoovervilles look sterile. The traffic is the stuff of legend (Looking for a buzz? Crack your window and huff that smog, baby!), and you’ll find yourself paying for parking, water, and everything else.

I loooove LA (we love it!).

9. Dubai

Casuals might see the Burj Khalifa, artificial islands, Ferraris, and designer shopping malls and assume that Dubai is a hyper-modern paradise. Yet, many disgruntled visitors have reported a far different experience. In particular, women report being catcalled, accosted for immodest dress, and nearly melting to death in the Dubai heat.

10. Jamaica

The Jamaica of a Peter Tosh or Bob Marley song differs from the Jamaica many visitors find. Whether you’re in a hyper-segregated resort that doesn’t represent authentic Jamaica or in true Jamaica facing Jamaican realities of poverty, crime, and insecurity, you may be on your first and only trip to the Caribbean island.

To be clear, you can have a positive experience at each of these locations. However, there are enough mediocre to downright bad reviews that you should only travel to these places after doing some serious homework first.

This thread inspired this post.

Where indicated, some images courtesy of Depositphotos.com.

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