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?

Nowhere, I think. I loved Morocco- amazing food, amazing architecture, just such a feast for the senses. Loved India, again what an incredible treat. Dubai is a bit boring as a destination but I have friends who live there and so it's fine as a setting for catch ups. The place I count myself luckiest to have visited is Iran- I tagged along with a very adventurous friend when I was young and brave enough to not think twice about it, and it's an utterly extraordinary country with incredible culture and people that not many people get to see.

I understand women who have experienced sexual harassment and assault, that would absolutely damage their perception of a place, though.

The Gambia. People followed us everywhere begging for money. In the hotel restaurant beggars came to the tables whilst we were eating and the staff allowed it. Some guests complained there were human bones on the beach (we didnt go to the beach but they had with their children to be met with that sight. There was reportedly a cemetary next to the beach by the hotel so possibly high tides had washed away some of the graves or animals had dug up the bodies perhaps.

It didnt feel safe to try and hail a taxi anywhere, taxis needed to be booked via the hotel with a significant mark-up to ensure safety/trackability of the taxi. Even then the taxi drivers were pushy and opportunistically looking for ways to get extra money out of us.

The poverty was extreme everywhere which I was sympathetic to but it meant that as a perceived ‘wealthy’ westerner by their standards we were constant targets for opportunists.

On the last night we went for a curry meal to a reataurant that was supposedly the classiest restaurant in the area. On the flight back I was extemely ill. Couldnt keep any food inside me, I was in a lot of pain and was unfortunately hogging a plane toilet for most of the flight. My last meal had been the one in the ‘classy’ restaurant.

Turkey's government is appalling.

Its refusal to acknowledge the Armenian genocide of WW1 is despicable.
Its oppression of its Kurdish minority is criminal. Even as the Kurds were successfully and courageously fighting Isis in the borderlands with Syria, the Turkish government was still attacking the Kurds as terrorists.

The Istanbul government is increasingly pushing a traditionalist Islamist agenda in what was once the most secular Islam nation. Journalists are imprisoned. Opposition parties are harassed.

It is nothing like the UK.

Really, we should appreciate the value of our democracy and our good fortune to live here. So much of the world is ruled by demagogues.

I quite liked Turkey, but had the shits for two weeks. Given that my diet is exclusively vegan, I think that's quite impressive. For that reason only, I wouldn't go back in a hurry. I did experience some leering from the men. At the time, I was in my 20s, blond and athletic. I'm none of those things now, so if I was to return, it probably wouldn't be an issue . . . 😂

I disliked Tenerife because of the loud British tourists (sorry guys).

Also visited Dubai with work and I can't believe that people spend their own money to go on holiday there.

I would go back to Israel in a heartbeat but like you had some experiences of feeling “unwelcome”.

This mainly happened in Jerusalem and only at the hands of Hasidic Jews (multiple stories) who seemed offended by our presence there?

Also had an ‘interesting’ experience at border control but generally would go back. Especially to Tel Aviv which was phenomenal!

Hilarious.

Malaysia. I felt so unsafe as a woman travelling alone age 21. Thailand I felt fine. It’s hard to say but Muslim countries are very difficult for lone women to travel in. Ok I said it.

I would not travel to the US at the moment due to gun laws (practical fear) and the misogny that is now legal in certain states (ideology slapped on top of main practical fear).

It’s usually on the rush hour trains, early morning etc, when everyone is packed in like sardines, but is rarer these days. Honestly, it’s the safest country for women in the world, been living there for over a decade and it’s fine. I love that my dds and I can walk home at gone midnight in Tokyo and it’s completely safe.

Qatar was one I found to be fine. At least back when I was there in 2010. I went exploring alone and to the souk alone and no issues at all. Except with some guys from Lebanon. I wonder if the “stricter” the Muslim country the less of an issue women have (so unlike Morocco and Tunisia or Turkey). The only leeriness I got was from western expats.

It blows my mind that somebody as openly misogynistic as Vance is seen as a viable VP candidate!

It wouldn't stop me going to a country again but another thing that REALLY angered me when traveling Asia was all the signs saying you were forbidden from going in somewhere if you were on your period.

I was younger and less tolerant of this nonsense then so I remember putting our (male) tour guide on the spot after he explained it was because we were 'dirty' and I asked a lot of very specific follow up questions... 'What if it's just spotting and not a heavy flow?' 'What if you're wearing a tampon?'

He didn't like that.

If men want to make these comments and make up these ridiculous rules they can answer questions about the detail!

Not a country but Rome. We were constantly being harassed by men trying to sell us roses, which is an absolute joke because the city has absolutely no problem with policing. If you even just think about standing on the trevi fountain you will have a police officer blowing a whistle in your face so I don't buy that they can't solve this problem.

I seem to have been oblivious to this!!

Did have it when trying to visit Komodo...and heard it was advised against if cage diving with great whites...both of those seemed rather logical though.

Yes I buy that. I have also been to Qatar and it is so strict I felt safe.

Anywhere where I need to go with several male relatives to feel safe even as a 62 year old.
Also France. I was fat shamed everywhere I went and I'm not even that fat. I left the country feeling like a giant pig.

I think where it involves great whites and Komodo dragons I'd consider those reasonable safety concerns.

This was at a lot of temples and historic sites.

On the one hand I can see how they could argue its tradition and a culture that should be respected but I see no place for it in the 21st century.

PLUS you book onto these tours and pay to go into these places and they never warn you in advance.

I wouldn’t rule out going back anywhere I’ve been before.
There are places I refuse to go to on political grounds, but the place I’m least likely to go back to is probably New Zealand, unless I was already going to Australia. A big reason is the distance, but I also feel like I did everything I wanted to do there when I lived there for 13 months. I would highly recommend anyone who hasn’t been to go though.

Human bones on the beach 😳

I think you win this thread. I can't see much worse happening on holiday than that.

I am going to Vietnam next year with my child. I'd be interested to hear the best and worst areas as I'm still finalising the itinerary. We're missing out HCMC and spending longest in Hoi An. The 2 places I'm most excited about are Phong Nha and Ha Giang

Yeah seriously! The stuff that humanity has gotten away with...and is still currently blatantly getting away with...madness!

Yes, we loved Amsterdam.

I didn't necessarily feel unsafe (I was travelling in a group), but I just felt really objectified. It was relentless.

The only time I felt free from the weight of all the leering was when we went trekking in the Atlas mountains for a few days. But I wouldn't want to do that now since those Swedish women were beheaded by terrorists whilst on the same trip a few years ago.

Everywhere has their 'bad' places and experiences. I've been to the US several times. Some places were awesome, some places I'd never go again. Sometimes the awesome and awful happened in same city.

Notable:
Downtown memphis for work. Dear God. Police on every corner. Store had massive guns behind counter, looked like it had been shot up recently. I asked the hotel reception where to go for dinner, they said not out of sight of the doorman. Saw a car getting broken into on the very short walk to restaurant 2 doors down. Restaurant door staff gave me a full on interview before allowing me access.
San Francisco. 100% sure I saw a very large drug exchange on the street. But also had a lovely tour around Alcatraz with some very pleasant Amish people. Cycled over golden gate bridge, made friends with some other solo travellers.

Egypt. Creepy men and men wanting money.