Part of the thrill that comes along withtravelingis not knowing exactly what you’re going to experience. You might have a list ofmuseumsand monuments to check off, but the spontaneous encounters with locals and meals at quaint restaurants that you wandered into can end up being the most memorable parts of your trip. Unfortunately, however, the unexpected moments in your journey can also turn out to be theworstparts.
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Dubai. I know it’s rich, sophisticated, a holiday destination for many, and so on, but I just hate its tasteless glitz, its lack of soul, and the intense stratification of its society.
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Qatar. Slavery is basically legal.
I worked in Saudi Arabia for just 10 days and couldn’t stand it. It saddened me that there were almost ZERO women in public. And in the airport there was a bookseller kiosk where all of the books were in English so they were obviously aimed at westerners and almost all of them were about Islam. I browsed one of them and it was basically trying to convince western women that god wanted them to stay inside where they were “safe” and how rampant rape is in western countries. Sickening. Ironically in the bottom corner there were like 3 books in Arabic and do you know what they were? HARRY POTTER books! Funny.
Kuwait is a f*****g cesspool.penswright:From Kuwait, Seriously don’t come here. There’s absolutely nothing special to do here that you can’t do literally anywhere else.The lack of entertainment in the country is a huge issue, it’s the reason why we lead in obesity rates and why people don’t like going outside. Also if there’s a concert or a new mall opening, good luck going, if the traffic doesn’t kill you, the crowds will.
Pakistan. I lived there for a while. Even in the best neighborhoods in Islamabad, there is trash everywhere, literally no hygiene. Then, when it’s cold, trash is burned, releasing thick, toxic clouds of smoke.
“Take the area around Marx Dormoy and Porte de la Chapelle stations, for example,” Jhona continued. “During the day, it’s fine—people are going about their lives, and you might even find a decent boulangerie tucked away on a side street. But at night, the vibe completely changes. The stations become hangouts for groups of drunk and homeless individuals, which can make things feel dicey. Walking through there after dark left me constantly checking over my shoulder, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you enjoy that kind of adrenaline rush.“The travel expert also added that there are some places she’s avoided entirely based on others’ experiences. “Dubai, for example. Now, I know some people love the glitz and glamour, but I’ve heard too many stories about how rigid and strict it can be for certain tourists, especially women, and that doesn’t quite align with my idea of a relaxed vacation,” Jhona told Bored Panda.
“Take the area around Marx Dormoy and Porte de la Chapelle stations, for example,” Jhona continued. “During the day, it’s fine—people are going about their lives, and you might even find a decent boulangerie tucked away on a side street. But at night, the vibe completely changes. The stations become hangouts for groups of drunk and homeless individuals, which can make things feel dicey. Walking through there after dark left me constantly checking over my shoulder, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you enjoy that kind of adrenaline rush.”
The travel expert also added that there are some places she’s avoided entirely based on others’ experiences. “Dubai, for example. Now, I know some people love the glitz and glamour, but I’ve heard too many stories about how rigid and strict it can be for certain tourists, especially women, and that doesn’t quite align with my idea of a relaxed vacation,” Jhona told Bored Panda.
Turkey was terrible.My cousin was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl at the time.And some weird old man actually tried to kidnap her right in front of us.He grabbed her hand and tried to walk off with her.Bare in mind she was maybe 5 or 6 at the time.When we all started arguing, and were basically playing tug of war with this man trying to make him let her go, police came over and let the man go..They were speaking Turkish so we don’t know what he said but the man was allowed to walk free.
Morocco.From being ripped off, to children following me down a dark alley asking for money, to horrible hotel reception, to rich, spoilt locals at nightclubs, I’ve never been to any other country where I’ve been so relieved to leave.
Did not enjoy LA. Visited a bunch of places including more obvious stops like Hollywood, the beach, downtown. It is not a place I’ll go back to.
On the other hand, we wanted to hear about places where Jhona had surprisingly nice travel experiences. “On mywine trip in Portugal(which I extended to see more of this amazing country), I discovered Lagos,” she shared.“It’s got that exotic flair mixed with a laid-back coastal vibe that just sweeps you off your feet. I went expecting beautiful beaches, and yes, it delivered on that front with its golden cliffs and hidden coves, but what truly surprised me was how warm and welcoming the locals were,” Jhona noted. “It’s the kind of place where people stop to chat, recommend their favorite little seafood spots, and make you feel like you’ve lived there your whole life.”
On the other hand, we wanted to hear about places where Jhona had surprisingly nice travel experiences. “On mywine trip in Portugal(which I extended to see more of this amazing country), I discovered Lagos,” she shared.
“It’s got that exotic flair mixed with a laid-back coastal vibe that just sweeps you off your feet. I went expecting beautiful beaches, and yes, it delivered on that front with its golden cliffs and hidden coves, but what truly surprised me was how warm and welcoming the locals were,” Jhona noted. “It’s the kind of place where people stop to chat, recommend their favorite little seafood spots, and make you feel like you’ve lived there your whole life.”
I love Italy, but Rome was not great for me. There was an overwhelming amount of shady people trying to take advantage of tourists. The local we were with warned us not to carry any valuables to any touristy spots because there was a 100% chance someone would try and pickpocket us.One evening, a group of dudes followed me around for almost an hour, harassing me because I was a teenage boy with long hair, which must have meant to them that I was gay (I’m not, but that didn’t matter to them). 4 grown-a*s adults following around a teenage boy hurling insults in broken english. I was pretty terrified and have since had an appreciation for some of the challenges gay people have to deal with just for being themselves.One dude at a train station tried to forcibly ‘help’ my mom carry her luggage (aka run off with it).When we visited the coliseum, a lady threw a bracelet at my sister then started yelling at her, saying she was a thief and demanding she pay for it.Also, driving in Rome was terrifying - courtesy on the road does not exist there, and everyone drives extremely aggressively. I saw a guy in a van hit someone on a vespa, lean out the window and yell at him, then drive off. The vespa guy just got up and left as if it were a regular occurrence.Absolutely a beautiful country and most of the people were lovely, but a person without ‘street smarts’ could have a bad time there. This was all more than 20 years ago though, so it may be different now.
“If you’re looking for an underrated gem, I’d point you to Wistman’s Wood in Dartmoor, England,” Jhona added. “We covered it in our post ofhidden gems around the world. It’s like stepping straight into a fairytale. This ancient woodland, over 500 years old, feels otherworldly with its moss-covered trees and lichen-draped branches twisting into strange shapes. The dense understory barely lets any sunlight filter through, adding to the mystical vibe.““But beyond the enchanting atmosphere, what really surprised me were the locals,” the traveler continued. “Dartmoor residents are some of the friendliest people I’ve met. Whether it’s the pub owners who are happy to chat over a pint or the guides eager to share local legends about the wood, you get a real sense of community here. They make you feel welcome, which only adds to the charm of Wistman’s Wood—there’s not only a sense of magic in the air but also in the warmth of the people.”
“If you’re looking for an underrated gem, I’d point you to Wistman’s Wood in Dartmoor, England,” Jhona added. “We covered it in our post ofhidden gems around the world. It’s like stepping straight into a fairytale. This ancient woodland, over 500 years old, feels otherworldly with its moss-covered trees and lichen-draped branches twisting into strange shapes. The dense understory barely lets any sunlight filter through, adding to the mystical vibe.”
“But beyond the enchanting atmosphere, what really surprised me were the locals,” the traveler continued. “Dartmoor residents are some of the friendliest people I’ve met. Whether it’s the pub owners who are happy to chat over a pint or the guides eager to share local legends about the wood, you get a real sense of community here. They make you feel welcome, which only adds to the charm of Wistman’s Wood—there’s not only a sense of magic in the air but also in the warmth of the people.”
I’ve been all across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia and honestly the rudest people I encountered were in Wyoming (outside Yellowstone, everyone in Yellowstone was lovely)…even the guys who tried to rob me in Lagos were more polite.
Jamaica, from friends being grabbed and dragged into stores and shops, to locals hip checking you out of the way. Only country that we didn’t get more than 100' out of the resort before we turned around and went back in. People you are tipping with put a smile on but the second you walk away they are talking s**t about you.
Finally, we asked Jhona if she could share advice for visiting places that don’t have the best reviews from travelers. “As for places that don’t always roll out the welcome mat for tourists, I have one major piece of advice: do your homework,” she says. “Travel research isn’t just about looking up the top attractions; it’s about learning the culture, understanding the norms, and, most importantly, checking if tourists are generally treated like guests or like inconveniences.”
As a young woman- Florence, Italy. Spent three months there in college.First of all, you could feel the nasty demeanor the second you get off the train from any other town, very similar to a NYC vibe. Not in and of itself the deal breaker here though.The issue was that I have never had SO MANY r*pey and violating things happen anywhere else. Walking around was relatively ok, it was Friday/Saturday night activities that were the most problematic. I’d be out with a group of women, and hordes of men would surround and try to grope us. Every weekend. I once had a man come up behind me and put his drink to my mouth. It was regular practice to have to pull friends away from handsy men or literally shove the men away when they didn’t respond to “NO.” Many of us just stopped going out unless our male friends were with us. It became too much work to constantly protect ourselves and each other.Outside of the weekends, you’d still get the creeper yelling (or worse, whispering) “ciao, bella” and following you across the plaza.This all happened enough times that to this day, I get ANGRY whenever I see a touristy t-shirt that says “ciao, bella,” because that phrase dredges up memories all the violating behavior, and why the f**k would I want a shirt with the worst pick-up line in the world on it.
“Also, be prepared to adapt. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned—train strikes, language barriers, or the occasional scammer,” the travel expert continued. “Learn a few basic phrases in the local language, even if it’s just how to say ‘thank you’ or ‘sorry.’ It can go a long way in making you seem less like a clueless tourist and more like someone who respects the place they’re in.”
I was in Kazakhstan a few years back. The people there were extremely xenophobic towards me and the group I was traveling with. They called the military on us. Four soldiers on horseback showed up with AK47s and pointed them at our faces and told us to get the fk out of where we were even though we had a right to be there and we weren’t doing anything bad. These people weren’t just rude, they were fg a***s. Needless to say I will never visit that country ever again.
The Philippines probably has the worst traffic ever, and I don’t even understand why there are so many damn cars on a tiny a*s island.It makes a 20-30 commute turn into a 4 hour waiting game.
In Croatia I’ve always met rude people despite I always tried to be kind, patient and used the please and thank you on a regular basis. Every waiter tried to scam us, every shop attendant ignored us (if not snorted when we entered), I just think they hate tourists.
“Oh, and always have a backup plan if the primary itinerary turns into a disaster. I once missed a bus in Thailand and ended up hitching a ride with a local fisherman. It was unexpected, yes, but sometimes those curveballs are where the real adventure starts,” Jhona told Bored Panda.“Lastly, manage your expectations. If you’re visiting a place known for being tough on tourists, go in knowing that,” she added. “Treat it like visiting a prickly aunt—don’t expect hugs, but if you can find some common ground, you might walk away with a good story.“And of course, if you’re looking for more travel tips, don’t hesitate to visitoffMetro!
“Oh, and always have a backup plan if the primary itinerary turns into a disaster. I once missed a bus in Thailand and ended up hitching a ride with a local fisherman. It was unexpected, yes, but sometimes those curveballs are where the real adventure starts,” Jhona told Bored Panda.
“Lastly, manage your expectations. If you’re visiting a place known for being tough on tourists, go in knowing that,” she added. “Treat it like visiting a prickly aunt—don’t expect hugs, but if you can find some common ground, you might walk away with a good story.”
And of course, if you’re looking for more travel tips, don’t hesitate to visitoffMetro!
Many have mentioned Arab countries like Egypt or Morocco, or even India, which are usually regarded as rude countries to visit… but I’ve personally felt uncomfortable in Cuba. The country is extremely poor, frozen in time, and locals see you come and go with your expensive iPhone and cameras and everything they’ll never be able to afford. Scams are very common. People begging as well. Cuba is extremely safe (the govt makes sure every criminal disappears) but it just felt sad, and I could almost sense the resentment towards tourists, who are luckier than them.
I had a co-worker who traveled a bunch for various conferences.The worst in his experience was Russia.In most places he had been to, the locals were curious and happy to meet them; “Oh, how do you like it here? Where are you from? etc"In Russia everyone he saw was hostile and irritated. The general vibe was, “Why the fk did you even bother coming to this miserable st hole?“END COMMUNICATION.
Israel. They seem to make a point of being as rude as possible.scolfin:Israelis don’t believe in manners. No, it’s not that they have different manners than Americans, they just straight up don’t believe in them, liked the web-handed alien that hassled Whestley in that one Star Trek episode.
Bulgaria, “Bloody Beach"Mob/mafia controlled, lots of scammers. Even a worker at a club tried to extort me for money, threatening to call the mafia on me if i didnt pay up.
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Not me but I had a teacher in high school who taught world history who, well, traveled around the world. One of the students in the class asked what her least favorite country or place she’s been to was, she said Poland. It’s important to note that she’s a black woman because she said no where else had she ever been called so many slurs and spat at like Poland.Acceptable-Draft-163:Spent the last 10 years more or less travelling and living overseas. The worst experience I’ve had was in Warsaw. Mind, I was only there for 4 days in the dead of winter, but the people were very cold and unfriendly. Not a single person seemed interested in life, the city was grey and miserable (mind after ww2, it was more or less rebuilt) and I had 2 attempts to rob me. The first one the guy locked me and my girlfriend in a taxi and charged 180€ for a 5 minute drive. The only way I got out was I started kicking the windows in the back and started yelling. Second time I was walking near the metro and some guy walked over and tried to grab my girlfriends bag and run off, I pushed him and he ran away. That was more or less my experience of Warsaw haha. I’m sure it’s lovely In summer. Not going to lie, I had a better time in Egypt over Warsaw.
The airport I was in in Germany had the rudest attendants. The general people in Thailand are super friendly, but be careful in Bangkok, definitely some unsafe areas (especially for a woman).
I absolutely hated Sri Lanka. It was full of charlatans and cheats when I was there last.
Every country has its good and bad parts!For jerks to visitors, try some place like Iowa. If you are into what they like, its great. If you are a little different, forgot about it.
For travelling/getting around:Germany. I love Germany with all my heart but I mentally prepare to be treated like absolute garbage at airports and trains. I was yelled at at security checks and physically escorted off trains. I’d still go back, though. People were so friendly.For meeting locals:People from Mexico City seemed a little standoff-ish. Maybe it’s just part of living in a big city, but nobody seemed to have any time and simply asking for directions seemed like a huge inconvenience.For just walking around:Any Italian big city. Love the country and had soooo much fun in small towns. But as soon as you get to a big city (Milan, Rome, etc) get ready to fend off scammers, pay attention to pickpockets, people cutting in line for transit, it’s pure chaos.Now for the good!! (To balance off the negativity)For walking around and being a tourist:Germany or Canada. It’s incredibly safe, people are friendly, they seem genuinely interested that you have a good time in their country.For meeting locals:Toss up between Brazil or Ireland. You can go to a bar alone in either country and you’ll end up making friends, locals are super friendly and are very interested in chatting with tourists.
As a British person I’m both surprised and pleased no one has said Britain yet. For my part I have no particular country to say is especially bad but people in Brussels were pretty rude.I’ve been to Ostend in Belgium too and loved it, the people were lovely, everyone was accommodating and kind but I guess because it’s a capital city people were just not like that in Brussels. For context I’m in a wheelchair and it was like I didn’t exist for the week I was there, I was ignored, barged in front of through doors I was trying to open, and barged in front of in general more than I’ve ever been in my life. It was also pretty difficult to get people to talk to me instead of my grandma who I was with, which any disabled person knows is infuriating.There were some nice people, at times it was nice to be ignored instead of fussed over as I am sometimes, and it’s a beautiful city, but I’d definitely go elsewhere in Belgium over returning to Brussels. I’d especially recommend Ostend, I can’t say enough how lovely it was there.
I’ve been on five continents, and you couldn’t pay me to go back to the island of Java in Indonesia.
Iraq. I was stationed in Kuwait but travelled up north, often. The amount of flak we got was ridiculous.Also, South Korea, I loved it there, but there were riots and protests of people that hated us.
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Baltic Europe in the winter time. People are really cold and antsy. But totally different in the summertime. They come alive like spring flowers.
Prague in the Czech Republic! I found the locals to be very brusque, rude and unfriendly.We kept having these weird experiences with them.. getting out of the taxi we left the driver some change as payment + a tip, he looked at it and started throwing it across the cab and swearing, I guess he didn’t like people paying with change..? I got shouted at the hostel the first night for opening a door the wrong way. A different hostel looked at me like I had grown an extra head when I asked if they had internet. People were annoyed a lot, just generally and we had some weird vibes from some people too, wouldn’t go back in a hurry!
Paris was one of the worst and rudest cities I ever visited never met such a bunch of arrogant entitled people in my life. We for the bus and three men would not let my partner off the bus had to almost start a fight till they let her off, have also had many Friends who’ve been mugged for a 1st world developed city it’s shocking the treatment of tourists!CrunchyJeans:My mom visited Paris for a business trip. Apparently the only way to get help from the locals is to say “sorry I’m a stupid American could you help me please?”
Italians, especially in the south.This happened on multiple occasions: when I order food, the waiters are very impatient and keep mumbling in Italian and are visibly annoyed. They make it seem like questions about the menu are not allowed. I gave them a taste of their own medicine and cursed and mumbled at them in my own language. They always stop immediately xD.
I hated my visit to California. Everyone is either on one end of the spectrum or the other. Ie, a wanna be media influencer or a racist backwater dweller. Won’t be going back. Plus, America’s cops have to be the biggest pieces of power tripping garbage ever. You’d think it wouldn’t be so different from where I grew up (Calgary, Alberta) but America has always left me wanting to head back home. Scottsdale is painfully fake and Phoenix is stuffy and unbelievably dirty. Best was Costa Rica, I had an amazing time visiting there for 2 weeks in high school.
I was appalled when I went to Madrid, Spain and everyone would just throw all their trash in the street. I saw a whole family finish their take out containers of lunch and just leave it all over the street after. Then garbage street sweepers cleaned all the trash with water every night. It was beyond stupid. Also I watched the cops beat a train jumper. 5 on 1 with batons. It was terrifying.
Australia, hands down .I’ve never met so many douchebags concentrated in one area. It doesn’t surprise me now that I’ve learned that‘s literally how Australia was founded. Britain exiled their sh**tiest people to an island far far away from them.They’re 20 to 30 years behind North America in terms of accepting people of different ethnic backgrounds.
My little brother asked for “American cheese” at a restaurant in Quebec when he was six years old. I have never seen a waitress so angry before. She went absolutely ballistic. She would not stop yelling at him in French. I was a snarky teen at the time so it didn’t help when I asked her to speak American because we couldn’t understand her. I’ve traveled a lot since then and Quebec is the only place I’ve been where I felt looked down on for only speaking English.
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