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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask where you’d love to visit but are too scared to visit.

237 replies

Gawwwd · 04/08/2025 21:04

Mine is Haiti. Such a fascinating place and such an interesting (and predictably oppressed) history. I would so love to go there, but even if things improved there I’d likely still be far too chicken shit, truth be told.

OP posts:
queenofchocolatepuddings · 04/08/2025 21:16

drspouse · 04/08/2025 21:07

Russia- I'd love to do the train from St Petersburg to Moscow. Or even the trans Siberian.
Maybe some day!

There isn't a lot to see on that first railway, just miles and miles of snow-covered terrain with fir trees and lakes. Mind you I went in March. It's a twelve hour journey if you get the "stopping train" and 5 hours otherwise.
They advise you to go to the loo before you set off and try not to go again until you get to Moscow. There are a lot of people on that train, if you get my drift......

I haven't been on the Trans-Siberian railway but I imagine it would be rather boring.

katedan · 04/08/2025 21:16

drspouse · 04/08/2025 21:07

Russia- I'd love to do the train from St Petersburg to Moscow. Or even the trans Siberian.
Maybe some day!

I did this in 1993, it was amazing but don't think I will be going back soon

AtlasPine · 04/08/2025 21:16

I’d love to travel solo to Kashmir but don’t have the courage.

irregularegular · 04/08/2025 21:17

soupyspoon · 04/08/2025 21:08

All of the places I would love to visit are a bit risky

Would love to visit Russia, Israel, Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Cuba. Always been fascinated with these countries even from a young child before I knew too much about them.

Luckily Ive already been to Egypt but I would have liked to go to Alexandria but thats unlikely now.

Alexandria still Green on the UK travel advisory map.

tooloololoo · 04/08/2025 21:18

Colombia, Honduras and Venezuela

queenofchocolatepuddings · 04/08/2025 21:18

I'd love to visit Israel but that would be rather foolish at the moment.

DuesToTheDirt · 04/08/2025 21:21

KTheGrey · 04/08/2025 21:06

Uzbekistan’s Silk Road. I know several people who have returned unscathed but it is on the ‘don’t go you’ll get kidnapped’ list at the British Consul.

Really? I went (on a tour admittedly but with lots of free time wandering by ourselves) and we didn't feel unsafe at all. It was welcoming, friendly, and a great holiday.

SuburbanLegend · 04/08/2025 21:21

Mine's a bit daft, but Japan. I know tons of people go there and it's very safe but I am irrationally scared of being in an earthquake and I would be constantly afraid. I went to California a few years ago and I didn't fully relax until I was on the plane home.

queenofchocolatepuddings · 04/08/2025 21:22

katedan · 04/08/2025 21:16

I did this in 1993, it was amazing but don't think I will be going back soon

Show quote history

Me neither the food was crap !

Thispupsgottofly · 04/08/2025 21:23

@PeachTrifle
Iran (20 years ago, it was relatively safe for foreign tourists)

Really 20 years ago? This surprises me

OneTrackMindToday · 04/08/2025 21:24

drspouse · 04/08/2025 21:07

Russia- I'd love to do the train from St Petersburg to Moscow. Or even the trans Siberian.
Maybe some day!

I did St P to Yekaterinburg a few years back, it was pretty awful to be honest! Too hot, no fresh air, disgusting facilities, hard to sleep, and views not much to write home about. Views might improve further east, although I don't imagine the train will.

Waggytail · 04/08/2025 21:25

Russia is miles out in front.

Followed then by Sri Lanka, India and Egypt.

Apollonia1 · 04/08/2025 21:25

In safer times, I’ve been to a lot of the places mentioned - Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, Colombia, Honduras, Cuba. I’d love the opportunity to go back, also to Syria.

For places I haven’t been to, I’d love to go to Iraq, Kashmir, Venezuela.

Jdkaksbd · 04/08/2025 21:26

soupyspoon · 04/08/2025 21:08

All of the places I would love to visit are a bit risky

Would love to visit Russia, Israel, Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Cuba. Always been fascinated with these countries even from a young child before I knew too much about them.

Luckily Ive already been to Egypt but I would have liked to go to Alexandria but thats unlikely now.

Cuba isn't risky. I took my two teenagers there a a single parent, we travelled around in local taxis etc, people were nice and we felt very safe, including walking around Havana in the late evening.

Fen476 · 04/08/2025 21:26

Mexico is wonderful, buses are really easy and there's a new tourist train around the Yucatan peninsula. We've been with twice, once with ds and it's his favourite holiday. Definitely go - just don't stay in Cancun/PDC.

Also took DS to Cuba, fantastic country. Travelled around there too - nowhere else like it. Again I'd recommend not staying in resorts, the food is not exciting though.

I wouldn't like to visit Haiti, I think it would be extremely depressing. I do plan to visit Uzbekistan, everything I've seen suggests it's very safe, Japan is on the list too.

My two unsafe destinations I'd love to visit are Israel and Myanmar both for the historic sites.

Original poster
Gawwwd · 04/08/2025 21:26

SuburbanLegend · 04/08/2025 21:21

Mine's a bit daft, but Japan. I know tons of people go there and it's very safe but I am irrationally scared of being in an earthquake and I would be constantly afraid. I went to California a few years ago and I didn't fully relax until I was on the plane home.

Yep, I get that. I was in San Francisco for a few months and was constantly picturing myself trapped under rubble….it was a claustrophobic thing. I’d also love to visit Japan though, tectonic plate shifts notwithstanding 😊

OP posts:
SchoolDilemma17 · 04/08/2025 21:26

I have been to Lebanon and Syria (pre-war obviously) would love to go to Iran. Also loved Jerusalem, one of the most interesting cities in the world. Would love to return.

Jdkaksbd · 04/08/2025 21:27

I'd like to visit Iran, for the history, culture and the scenery

N0Tfunny · 04/08/2025 21:27

South Africa

JHound · 04/08/2025 21:27

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 04/08/2025 21:05

Russia, so much history

I actually rather liked Russia. Moscow specifically but I was there for work so spent a lot of time in local hang-outs.

Jdkaksbd · 04/08/2025 21:28

SchoolDilemma17 · 04/08/2025 21:26

I have been to Lebanon and Syria (pre-war obviously) would love to go to Iran. Also loved Jerusalem, one of the most interesting cities in the world. Would love to return.

Ooh lucky you getting to see Syria before the war. It used to be a beautiful and cultured country with an ancient history. I'd love to have seen it before it was all destroyed

JHound · 04/08/2025 21:28

Jdkaksbd · 04/08/2025 21:27

I'd like to visit Iran, for the history, culture and the scenery

Iran is high on my list once the current set of middle eastern hostilities does down.

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 04/08/2025 21:28

I'd love to see the Roman ruins at Jerash in Jordan.

Sportsdaywinner · 04/08/2025 21:28

Russia

ELS20 · 04/08/2025 21:29

Iran. Such a rich, fascinating history and wonderful historic sites and architecture.