There is that bit people deliberately leave out whenever they narrate their experience traveling to another country. A lot of times, the experience in the country was so great that travelers decided to overlook one horrible thing to keep the story upbeat. What is that thing for you?
One Reddit user made a post on a popular subreddit asking travelers what they choose not to say about the country they visited to keep the story positive, and here are some of the top responses.
Table of Contents
1. The Pickpockets of Rome, Italy
While pickpocketing is rampant in most big Western European cities, it can be incredibly baffling in Rome.
Unsuspecting tourists often lose their valuables to sly pickpockets. As one user said, “The train stations in Rome are filled with teenage pickpockets. Two different groups made attempts at us in five minutes. It was fun to watch once we realized their strategy.”
2. The Stray Dogs of Peru
Other than being a traffic nuisance in major urban centers, stray dogs can be responsible for transmitting infections and diseases. It is even more disheartening to see dogs not having a chance to live in safe and loving households.
Unfortunately, this is a big issue in Lima, Peru as one user said, “There’s a lot of stray dogs in Peru. I’ve heard that stray dogs are the norm in Latin American countries, and most of the ones I encountered didn’t want anything to do with anyone passing by.”
3. Cities Choking in Trash and Sewage, India
A city sinking in filth can be such a turn-off for tourists. People have had good times in different destinations but would never return only due to the trash, and India is one of those destinations.
One commenter who has experienced this firsthand said, “India was spectacularly bad in littering. At one point, I asked our tour guide if he knew the location of a trash can, and he responded with, “I’ll take care of that,” and threw an empty water bottle over the wall into someone’s front yard. Twenty meters from a UNESCO heritage site. Let us not get started on the trash, open sewers, and wastewater in the cities.”
4. The Carefree Attitude Towards Road Safety in Vietnam
Seeing how risky people’s way of life can be can be disheartening. One great example is the experience tourists have had in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, where civilians and even the police do not care about traffic safety.
One user said, “When you go to South-East Asia, you are struck by their carefree approach to road safety. From your tuk-tuk, it’s typical to see a whole family on a single motorbike, none wearing helmets, zipping through congested traffic without a worry in the world.”
And it is not just for transporting people. Surprisingly, huge items are moved around on motorcycles, too, as one user said, “I lived in Vietnam. They delivered my fridge and washing machine on the same motorbike. And when I say ‘they,’ I mean the two people also on the motorbike.”
5. The Stinky Parisian Attitude – France
Everyone that has been to Paris would most likely hate the trash, the dog poop on the streets, the pickpockets and the pestering hawkers. But there is one almost constant thing people don’t mention: the stinky Parisian attitude.
They seem to hate everyone, and even other French non-Parisians will tell you how much they cannot stand Parisians’ attitudes, especially in the service industry.
One user, bewildered by this, said, “I enjoyed my (brief) visit to Paris. However, I did have a couple of times when I’d visit a shop, and the workers would be rude. I speak French ok, but I’m a bit slow, and I’d try to talk in French, and the shopkeepers would laugh in my face/talk about me to each other when I was standing in front of them.”
6. Children Hawkers in Peru
Enjoying a peaceful time in popular tourist spots is not always a guarantee. There will always be hawkers forcing you to buy things you don’t want to.
But isn’t it heartbreaking to have children hawkers trying to convince you to get a selfie stick you do not need at a tourist attraction? Unfortunately, this seems to be the norm in tourist attractions in Lima, Peru.
One commenter disheartened by this said, “The number of children selling you stuff in the streets of Lima, Peru. At any one point, you could have five different kids competing with each other to sell you the same Keychain. Seeing poverty at that level shatters your perspective.”
7. Animal Cruelty in Greece
One of the everyday things to do in Santorini is ride up the village steps on a donkey’s back. It can be heartbreaking to see worn-out animals pass out or die for the sheer financial gain of their owners.
One commenter who experienced this said, “I have never seen a group of people partake in and enjoy animal cruelty as much as the Greeks. I lived in Greece for a few years; it’s part of their culture. You will see the real thing once you get away from the nice hotels and beaches.”
Although new regulations safeguarding the welfare of animals seem to have been put in place, this was still such a bad thing for both animal owners and tourists to engage in.
8. The Obvious Xenophobia in Japan
A section of commenters have experienced xenophobia in Japan, which seemingly targets other non-Japanese Asians.
One said, “Japan is awesome, but they have “Only Japanese Allowed” clubs. It was in a shady area of Gotanda, Tokyo.”
Another user added, “Japan hates other Asians. Loves white/European people. I never had dramas about not being allowed to go places (white girl with blonde hair), but the number of things I saw happen to Asian people was astounding. To simplify – A white person orders a beer in Japanese – wow, your Japanese is amazing (even when it’s not), etc. An Asian orders a beer – why aren’t you fluent in Japanese?”
9. The Noxious Air Pollution in China
With all the industrialization in China, the major cities are expected to be polluted.
But how bad can the air pollution get? A few tourists in the comment section were shocked at how bad the air in the major cities was.
One commenter said, “Been to Beijing and a few other big cities in China. The air was unbreathable – I felt like I needed a gas mask. And while I knew about the air quality beforehand, I was surprised by how strongly I felt it.”
Another user with an even worse experience said, “Adopted my daughter from China. Spent 22 days there and took over 5500 pictures. Only about 50 of the photos have blue skies. On the 10th day, I started coughing up blood. Smog, pollution, heat… China was terrible.”
10. The Homelessness Crisis in the United States
Although homelessness is such a big problem in many major cities, tourists visiting the United States have had a problem processing how high the homeless population is.
One user who chooses to leave out this part about their US trip said, “The insane number of homeless people in San Francisco struck me. The juxtaposition of incredible wealth next to absolute poverty is pretty sickening.”
“I’m a Brit currently living in the San Francisco area, and I’m always sure never to mention to people back home the overwhelming number of homeless people around here. It makes me so sad that people in one of the wealthiest cities in the wealthiest country on the planet have to live in a soiled sleeping bag under a freeway.” Added another user.
Most Dangerous Cities in the World, Ranked: Know Before You Go
These are the ten most dangerous cities in the world, where stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage collide with alarming crime rates. We’re not saying don’t travel to these locations, but it’s important to be aware in order to stay safe.
Most Dangerous Cities in the World, Ranked: Know Before You Go
12 “Tourist Traps” That Actually Live Up to the Hype
The moniker “tourist trap” isn’t a complimentary term for a destination, implying it wastes money and time. But some popular sites worldwide have value despite being labeled as tourist traps. Check out this list of places that are so awe-inspiring, unique, or enlightening that it’s worth every minute and every dollar spent.
12 “Tourist Traps” That Actually Live Up to the Hype
10 Countries Travelers Won’t Visit as a Tourist for Ethical Reasons
When people look for places to travel overseas, one of the primary considerations is the threat to personal safety. So it’s understandable why very few Americans would choose to travel to places that would put themselves, their families, and fellow travel companions at risk for harm or worse. Safety concerns are one of many reasons people avoid traveling to specific regions
10 Countries Travelers Won’t Visit as a Tourist for Ethical Reasons
This article was produced by Our Woven Journey.