#1
I went to Somalia with my family because my parents wanted us to visit and to see the country and the culture they come from.
I hated being in that country.
People in Somalia would just stare at me all day because it was strange for them to see a Somali girl not wearing hijab.
Relatives of my father would pity my parents, because I was an unmarried 20 year-old woman. They would, of course, then blame it on the fact that I was born in a western country. Then they would go on and laugh at my parents, because they paid for my education; my relatives thought it was an absolute waste since I was just a girl.
People thought it was a disgrace that Female Genital Mutilation wasn’t performed on me, and they would wonder what kind of men would want an unclean girl like me.
There was not a day in Somalia where I didn’t face sexism. All of it just made me hate the country and the Somali culture.
I’m never going back to that country, even if it is where I came from.
#2
#3
Even if there might be obstacles or difficulties with the trip, it seems like people love to travel. Research has shown that around 31% of Americans take up to three vacations a year. An enthusiastic 6% take more than 10 trips every year, which might seem impossible at first until you hear about travelers who’ve taken it to the extreme.
Lexie Alford is one such person who fits the bill. After breaking the world record, she continued her global adventures and shared her passion for travel with her highly engaged audience.
Lexie is also a viral filmmaker with over 350 million views, a public speaker, a TedX alumnus, a talented photographer, and a writer currently finishing her autobiography. Her biggest goal is to inspire others to push their limits, no matter how big or small they may be.
When we asked Lexie about troublesome tourist destinations, she told us that “surprisingly, some of the least visited countries in the world are often the most expensive and, at times, the most dangerous to travel to.”
#4
Every trip is a learning experience, even the ones that don’t go as planned. India taught me to be more prepared and patient while traveling. While it wasn’t my favorite destination, it had its beautiful moments, and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from experiencing its wonders for themselves. Follow for more travel experience.
#5
#6
Big mistake! As an introverted Finn, the hawking was really a nightmare!
Well, I’m not that introverted as pictured, but I hated how you couldn't walk in the street without someone yelling you and constantly trying to get you to buy some junk. As Alanya is very popular tourist attraction for Finns, they of course recognise as to be Finns. The sellers have learnt some basic Finnish words and would yell those on and on. If you tried to be polite and say no thanks, they just bashed you behind your back. Trying not to notice them didn't help either.
I don’t know if the aggressive selling is working or not, but for us it was too much. Nowadays the security situation in Turkey is also quite worrying so it wouldn’t be my first choice anyhow.
Most places that you take a trip to will be fun and exciting, with lots of great areas to explore, delicious cuisines to try, and activities to enjoy. Traveling is all about adventure and being willing to learn about what each place has to offer. The only problem is that even though certain countries might seem incredibly inviting, they might be unsafe to travel to.
According to the World Economic Forum’s tourism report, certain places like El Salvador or Yemen are ranked low on safety. This might be due to factors like a high rate of crime or political instability in the country. These kinds of situations can make it difficult for tourists to have a safe and relaxing trip to a new destination.
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#9
Everything about it is atrocious in every way. Even if nobody had ever tried to k**l me there, it still would have been atrocious in every way.
But hey, if you like the smell of open sewage and the occasional rotting corpse baking in 120+ degree heat, if you like barbarism and piles of garbage, if you like a medieval worldview and high illiteracy rates, feel free to visit.
Seriously, f**k that place. It’s the land that God forgot.
Every country has some interesting aspects and some cons that each traveler must decide if they’re okay with. These difficulties may range from things like lack of physical accessibility to even challenges with personal safety.
We asked Lexie to elaborate on challenging travel experiences she had. She said: “when I set out to visit every country in the world, I quickly realized that some of the hardest places to reach were in Central Africa. For example, countries like Chad, Mali, and mainland Yemen were challenging due to the lack of tourism infrastructure, political instability, and safety concerns.”
“These destinations often require detailed preparation, special visas/permits, and significant resources to travel. Flights are expensive, overland travel is arduous, and finding accommodation can be difficult in remote areas,” she explained.
#10
#11
The people were friendly enough but I got the impression they weren’t as happy to be there as they let on. Working in a tourist resort would have been a pretty lucrative job but I think the government confiscated most of the tips.
IOW I would not go back there on my own dime.
#12
Nobody wants to be stranded in a foreign place and have to struggle to figure out what to do next. Rather than getting into a fix like that, it’s incredibly important to research the country that you’re planning to visit and figure out all there is to know about it. Taking your time to learn about the place can help save you a lot of trouble later on.
Lexie also told us that “finding the right destination comes down to understanding what you’re looking for and doing a bit of research to match your goals with your budget. I always tell people to start by asking themselves a few key questions: Are you after adventure, relaxation, cultural experiences, or maybe a mix of everything? Once you know that, it’s easier to narrow down your options.”
“From there, I’d recommend looking into the costs. Check flights, accommodations, and general expenses like food and activities to get a sense of what fits your budget. Some countries offer amazing experiences without breaking the bank, especially if your currency goes a long way there,” she shared.
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#15
Visiting a new country can be a beautiful and life-changing experience as long as you take the time to learn about the place before you visit it. Rather than being impulsive and rushing into the unknown, let these travelers’ words of advice soak in before you book your next trip.
A very useful tip that Lexie gave is, “don’t forget to tap into the travel community! There are so many blogs, YouTube videos, and social media posts out there from people who’ve been where you want to go, and they can give you honest, practical advice.”
“The more you dig into the details, the more confident you’ll feel about your choice, and you might even discover a place you hadn’t considered before!” Plus, you can travel with no fear to places that fit all the safety, fun, and budget-based requirements you have.
What are some countries you’ve been to that you’d want everyone to visit? We’d love to hear of your travel stories, and any words of caution about difficult tourist destinations you’ve been to as well.
#16
I lived and worked in Seoul for 6 months. Well, if you want to call it “living”. But definitely working, and working and working.
It might be because I am essentially a hedonist at heart. I love a life of good food, relaxing strolls, cozy cafés, beautiful surroundings, nature, art, architecture, melodic and complex music… did I mention good food? But I don’t think there is a Korean word for hedonist. Pleasure seems to be very low indeed on the typical South Korean’s list of priorities. Mainly for lack of time, it would seem.
My Korean colleagues would arrive at 8 AM in the office, work until 9–10 PM (like the Japanese), then spend a couple hours in traffic, make dinner, check their children’s homework, get some more internet time in before bed. That’s the work week.
On weekends, one of the days would be dedicated to spending time with the grandparents. The remaining day would be more homework with the kids (success at school is an absolute obsession), house work and shopping. Then back to work the next day.
As a result, I found that Seoul and other Korean cities were not designed with “enjoyment” or “leisure” in mind, but rather for efficiency, given that Koreans had so little time to spare.
It’s probably a shock to some that I implied that Korean food is not good. It can be quite tasty, or so they tell me. But unfortunately I’m vegetarian, and that is another word that doesn’t seem to exist in Korean.
Still, a few things about the food I will never understand:
the Korean love affair with Spam
kimchi
the appeal of squid on a stick (which children on the sidewalks of Seoul eat the way European children would eat ice cream)
Koreans, please don’t be offended - I have great admiration for you. I just can’t figure out how or why you do it all!
#17
#18
It has to be one of the most overrated places on Earth. Where can one start? First off, the locals are generally hostile to visitors from the mainland, whom they regard as little better than sheep to be fleeced. The overall level of education and competence is drastically below that of the rest of the country. Many Hawaiians devote themselves to little more than getting high.
In addition, Oahu, with over a million residents, now has more than its share of crime, traffic congestion, pollution, and other urban ills. And for all that, you have to pay dearly. Almost all foodstuffs and consumer goods in Hawaii have to be brought over by sea or by air, making them hideously expensive. At a Honolulu supermarket, I once paid $3 for a mealy Red Delicious apple—and that was fifteen years ago! How do you feel about forking over $10 or more for a gallon of milk?
And the weather? Tropical paradise, all right—hot and humid most of the time.
Growing up in Southern California, I often heard people fantasizing about moving to Hawaii as though it were some kind of lazy, idyllic paradise. You’d have to be nuts to leave California (or anywhere else) to live in Hawaii.
#19
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