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Original poster

Where would you have once liked to visit but now wouldn’t go?

228 replies

buddhasbelly · 12/04/2023 09:12

For me San Francisco. Would have loved to visit Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge etc but seeing the reports of the drug epidemic /fentanyl use just makes it seem like it would no longer be a place to feel safe whilst sightseeing.

Where would you no longer wish to visit?

OP posts:
Alsonification · 12/04/2023 11:00

Egypt. My parents went years ago & loved it. I'd love to see it for myself but sadly it still high risk (according to travel advice anyway).

BarrelOfOtters · 12/04/2023 11:00

Ethiopia, I understand they are trying to re open for tourists, went there about 7 years ago and it was stunning and so interesting. Visited areas that would be out of bounds now.

BarrelOfOtters · 12/04/2023 11:02

@Alsonification don't know which bit you want to go to, but it's only very limited areas that are considered high risk. Friend has just come back from the Nile and we went just before Covid.

TokyoSushi · 12/04/2023 11:03

Russia here too, particularly Moscow and the Kremlin.

JimmyDurham · 12/04/2023 11:06

Scotland. Now the ILs have moved there (Argyll) every trip requires us to visit and spend a couple of nights there. Even when we had gone to Inverness & Ft George or Galloway!

Hongkongsuey · 12/04/2023 11:08

What’s so bad about China? I’ve always wanted to go.

Ariela · 12/04/2023 11:10

I'd have liked to go on a cruise about 25 years ago - DH always said we'd do it for our 25th anniversary. But modern day cruise ships seem to me to be noisy some full of kids, and all look too big and busy. I don't think I'd like it. I'd also like to go to Burgh Island but cannot justify the cost.

RJ57 · 12/04/2023 11:13

Hongkongsuey · 12/04/2023 11:08

What’s so bad about China? I’ve always wanted to go.

Apart from the authoritarian regime, what my partner told me was mostly about sanitation and lack of it. People spitting in the streets, having to avoid dog shit all over the streets and toilets and cleaning facilities being... basic to none existent. Also some of the food and eating habits. There's also a lot of poverty outside of the main cities.

Another place I once wanted to go was South America. I had the idea of touring the place and then I found out how dangerous it is and decided against it.

I've been to the US a few times (including CA and NYC) and loved it. NYC was a bit... dull though. Very much a city with things to see, but little else that I saw.

JustFrustrated · 12/04/2023 11:14

Codger2023 · 12/04/2023 09:58

Manchester xxx

Why not?

RJ57 · 12/04/2023 11:15

Ariela · 12/04/2023 11:10

I'd have liked to go on a cruise about 25 years ago - DH always said we'd do it for our 25th anniversary. But modern day cruise ships seem to me to be noisy some full of kids, and all look too big and busy. I don't think I'd like it. I'd also like to go to Burgh Island but cannot justify the cost.

I went on one of these for the first time just before COVID. I had always thought I'd hate a cruise, but it was lovely. It wasn't busy and it wasn't full of kids. I went on one around the Adriatic and really enjoyed every minute of it.

Doubt I'll ever go on one again due to cost, but I am glad I did it.

Florissante · 12/04/2023 11:17

Syria.

Ginmonkeyagain · 12/04/2023 11:18

Syria, Iran, Iraq - I studied Classics and have always been fascinated by these areas and their relationship with the Roman and Greek empires.

WarmSausageTea · 12/04/2023 11:18

Ariela · 12/04/2023 11:10

I'd have liked to go on a cruise about 25 years ago - DH always said we'd do it for our 25th anniversary. But modern day cruise ships seem to me to be noisy some full of kids, and all look too big and busy. I don't think I'd like it. I'd also like to go to Burgh Island but cannot justify the cost.

Pick a higher end cruise company (Azamara, Regent, etc), as they tend not to have kids on board, and are usually all-inclusive, which is often better value overall. Also pick an itinerary with stops every day, so if you really don’t like the on-board experienced you can have a break from it daily.

My would love to, but probably won’t are Iran, and Mongolia, the latter mainly because I think it’s a place for younger, hardier people than me. But all that wide open space… bliss.

Babyroobs · 12/04/2023 11:22

Mexico, South Africa, some parts of the US but all seem too dangerous now.

HoppingPavlova · 12/04/2023 11:22

Pretty much anywhere now. I knew several people who locked out of our country for several months (could not obtain a flight on government announcing it was closing border in immediate future). Then to finally get back in they needed to basically pay what would have been a deposit for a flat to obtain a seat on the plane. Also know people who were locked out of their home state within the country for over a year as maniacs closed the state borders quick smart and some states are pretty much only fly in/out and again, only so many planes can come in once the announcement is made and they fill up quickly. Even with the vax they couldn’t get back in. Having seen how this can happen I’m quite paranoid now and not really keen to venture that far tbh.

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 12/04/2023 11:23

A lot of the animal experience holidays where you get up close with them.
a) couldn’t afford them
b) I know better now

midsomermurderess · 12/04/2023 11:26

Syria, and Myanmar.

KLFisgonnarockyou · 12/04/2023 11:26

RJ57 · 12/04/2023 11:13

Apart from the authoritarian regime, what my partner told me was mostly about sanitation and lack of it. People spitting in the streets, having to avoid dog shit all over the streets and toilets and cleaning facilities being... basic to none existent. Also some of the food and eating habits. There's also a lot of poverty outside of the main cities.

Another place I once wanted to go was South America. I had the idea of touring the place and then I found out how dangerous it is and decided against it.

I've been to the US a few times (including CA and NYC) and loved it. NYC was a bit... dull though. Very much a city with things to see, but little else that I saw.

Show quote history

I’m surprised about the sanitation. The big cities are generally cleaner than the UK and toilet provision is pretty excellent!

Alsonification · 12/04/2023 11:29

BarrelOfOtters · 12/04/2023 11:02

@Alsonification don't know which bit you want to go to, but it's only very limited areas that are considered high risk. Friend has just come back from the Nile and we went just before Covid.

Oh really? I must have a look again.

bustoterminal · 12/04/2023 11:31

I've been to China. Not much of it was a pleasant experience really apart from a big wall and some terracotta warriors. I don't look back and think it was an amazing trip.

RaraRachael · 12/04/2023 11:32

I'd love to see the pyramids, sphinx etc but wouldn't go there - same with the Holy Land.

There are lots of places in the US I'd love to visit but the gun situation terrifies me.

Echobelly · 12/04/2023 11:33

Yeah, Russia. I did visit Moscow on a school trip in early 90s, and I'd love to see St Petersburg, but even before the invasion of Ukraine I was never going to go while it's under Putin.

nicetoseetgesunsout · 12/04/2023 11:39

Same as you OP, sad isn't it

xogossipgirlxo · 12/04/2023 11:41

Tunisia and Iran

youngestisapsycho · 12/04/2023 11:45

What's wrong with Canada and New Zealand??

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