To ask which country you would not visit again and why?

[travelcat]

I love hearing about travel experiences and am interested in knowing about places you have visited that you wouldn't go back to.

AIBU to ask which country you'd avoid in the future and what specifically made your experience less enjoyable? Was it due to culture, safety, or something else?

Morocco because of the way they treat their horses and donkeys, everywhere, can't avoid it.

Same and I've been to Spain a lot. I've always felt very welcome in Spain.

I’m shocked by this as Japan is normally rated as very safe.

Hong Kong.

Dubai. Long time ago now but it had no soul.
The hotel we were in was full of Eastern European sex workers. It made me uncomfortable when I was being respectful of their culture but they were turning a blind eye to blatant prostitution in a really lovely hotel.
The girls were early 20’s the men old enough to be their grandfathers it was grim.

Moldova
Serbia
Burkina Faso
Gabon

Dubai, the way the workers are treated was terrible. Underneath the glitch and glam is a horrible under current and once you notice it, it changes your opinion on the place

Thailand. I know most people love it but I felt a sleazy/sinister undercurrent everywhere. Older European men shouting at their female Thai “companion”, the live sex shows, dodgy men on mopeds zooming into you, drug dealers, stray cats and dogs roaming everywhere, surly hotel staff. Plus animal cruelty with elephants and monkeys being paraded at terrible roadside shows for money. Just felt like exploitation was everywhere, so depressing.

Also, won’t go back to the Caribbean- beautiful place, lovely people but just can’t get over being in a luxury hotel next to people living in tin shacks with no money. Then being told not to venture outside the security gates in case the same people decide to rob you, it just feels wrong.

Israel. Russia. Need I explain?

@FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar can i ask what Moldova is like? What particularly did you not like about it?

South Africa. Overt racism, plus felt very unsafe.

Really?

I travelled solo twice in South Africa just taking trains and buses and hanging out with locals. Yes even in Soweto. Never had a problem.

Looking back at the news of the recent riots in England I'd say overt racism is rife there too. Always has been. 50 years since Stephen Lawrence's racist murder.

South Africa, i now only use it to transfer when going to other countries in the region.

Dubai - had an even worse immigration experince than i have ever had going to the US

Yes Dubai is the only place I wouldn't go back to so far.

Hated it, felt really oppressive

Mexico. Only went to Tijuana but felt really unsafe as a white woman despite being with dh,it was full of awful men, couldn't get out quick enough.

Egypt - all got amoebic dysentry and the hassle was another level. Didn't like Dubai either- weird feel and I'm not keen on subservient male dominated cultures - felt it was very expensive for very average food and drink too-

I have 3 sets of friends who have returned from South Africa in last 18 months - all had some shocking experiences including murder of close friends and won't go back at all -

I loved South Africa! Especially the safari

Wasn't keen on the way I felt in Tunisia. White skin and blue eyes, men thought they could touch me.
Also now I know more about FGM I would avoid countries that practise it.

1000% agree re Dubai. It definitely does have a nasty undercurrent. And the gaudy displays of wealth are just gross.
The whole place is artificial and unnatural... even the trees and plants look fake

Libya.

Mauritius. Perfectly nice country, but if I want a beach holiday I can go to 100 other perfectly nice beaches without flying for 18 hrs.

China - undercooked meat, pollution, generally underwhelming.

Wales - crap weather (ok maybe a bit unfair as I’m from Ireland but there’s no point travelling from a rainy country to another rainy country)

Sicily - dirty with overflowing bins everywhere

Tunisia - actually loved it at the time but there was a terrorist attack with tourists killed a week after we left, at the same place we had stayed.

Canary Islands - weird sand, unfriendly locals and too windy (probably another IABU)

I don’t get the hate for Egypt at all though, it’s one of my favourite destinations.

@dayswithaY yes I wasn't keen on that vibe in Antigua either!!

@travelcat
Moldova: grim and grimy and downtrodden.
But, some of the best wine I've ever had!

Oslo, Norway although I think our experience was tainted slightly by the fact it rained and rained and rained and rained!

Santorini, it was nice but once you’d seen the sunset etc. the novelty wore off pretty quick and it felt like we were trying to kill time the rest of the week. We did Crete and much preferred that as there was a lot more stuff to do.

Weve just come back from Milan today and I was not a fan! We normally love Italy but it felt so busy and just a bit meh compared to other Italian cities.

Australia and New Zealand I would do again BUT only if we fly business class. The flight killed me!! But I did like the destination.

Cape Verde. Nothing really there except for the resorts. Wouldn't recommend or go back.