After Traveling The World, These Are The 12 Countries I Do NOT Recommend Going To
Every country is unique, and everyone’s experience visiting a new place is entirely individual. While some people may fall in love with a destination, others may hate it. A great example? Morocco. While some solo travelers love the full immersion in the unique Arab cultures, others find the street vendors and locals way too pushy and harassing.
Whether you love a country is entirely up to you, yet a few destinations tend to be less popular among travelers, and for good reasons. After having traveled the world, here are a few places I would not return to.
Mauritania
Why did I not enjoy my trip to Mauritania? While I’m all in for less-touristy places where you can get an authentic experience, this country is so badly equipped to welcome tourists that it seems there is nothing to do here. Mauritania only has a few sites worth visiting, and even there, you won’t find a single facility for foreigners, such as a restaurant.
Guinea
While there may be some perks to visiting Guinea, the truth is that if you’re eager to explore West Africa, there are way better options. Neighboring Guinea Bissau, for instance, offers way better hospitality. The same can be said for Senegal. From my experience, Guinea has little to offer, and its capital, Conakry, is possibly one of the worst cities I’ve seen.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is the ideal destination for those wanting to enjoy opulent holidays. However, if you’re not interested in spending thousands of dollars within a single day, this is not the place for you. Unfortunately, this country often feels like a gigantic theme park with little to offer to tourists eager to explore authentic Arab culture. Opt for Oman if this is what you’re looking for.
Serbia
While Serbian nature may be interesting to explore, there are more enjoyable places to visit that offer better hospitality. Belgrade seems badly equipped to welcome tourists and is home to only a few sites worth checking out. People interested in the Balkans will probably have a better experience visiting other countries, such as Montenegro, Croatia, and Albania.
Luxemburg
While Luxemburg is home to a few lovely sites, it is not ideal for a long vacation. There are two main reasons for this: First, it’s way too tiny, and second, it’s way too expensive. While this remains the first country in the world to offer free public transport to everyone, I don’t think this will be enough for you to have a cheap trip. Hotels, restaurants, and all kinds of services have prohibitive prices. You have much better options in the area for a fraction of the price.
Qatar
Similarly to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar offers little to tourists looking for authenticity. Most tourist attractions are concentrated in the capital, Doha, while the rest of the country mainly comprises desert landscapes with nothing to do. Entertainment is limited, and so is authenticity. Again, Oman may be better if you’re interested in real Arab culture.
Singapore
While Singapore is unique in its genre, its tiny size and prohibitive prices make this city-state a bad choice for many people. This country is renowned for its highly modern architecture and strong emphasis on efficiency and order. Yet, a highly regulated environment may ruin the vibe for the most intrepid travelers. Neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia may be a better option for most.
Liechtenstein
Similarly to Luxemburg, Liechtenstein is renowned for its tiny size and expensive prices. If you’ve already visited all the other European countries and are eager to tick this destination off your travel list, go ahead; otherwise, there are plenty of other areas worth visiting. While the landscapes here are undeniably beautiful, most tourists prefer to opt for Austria, Italy, or France to see the Alps in all their glory.
Maldives
Despite the Maldives being one of the most enchanting countries in the world, human intervention has somehow spoiled this place. How? Mass tourism is yet once again to be blamed. This nation of islands in the Indian Ocean seems to be entirely built for tourists, and people heading here tend to wonder what happened to the local culture and traditions.
Monaco
If you’ve ever been to Monaco, you know this tiny country is synonymous with luxury, glamour, and wealth. Are you eager to spend all your money in a casino, get drunk, and pay astronomical prices for no good reason? Then this is the ideal place for you. Otherwise, you better opt for another country. Luckily, there are plenty of nearby places worth visiting.
The Bahamas
Similarly to the Maldives, most people heading to the Bahamas complain about a general lack of authenticity. Everything here seems to be tourist-centric and highly commercialized, giving travelers little opportunities to engage with the local culture and tradition. Not by chance, this country is renowned for being one of the world’s most popular cruise and resort destinations.
Belarus
Located in Eastern Europe, Belarus has little to offer tourists heading to this continent to see the magnificent European architecture. While Belarus has a unique history, many believe it cannot be compared to nearby countries such as Poland. Moreover, unlike other European countries, Belarus is now governed by an authoritarian regime, where political freedom is almost absent.
