Okay, be honest: You also regret some past trips, don't you?
Instagram aka Travelgram is teeming with travel bloggers snapping beautiful photos in front of the world's most famous landmarks.
Sure, you sometimes think: "I'd really like to be there now." What very few are aware of: Most of the time it's more appearance than reality.
I have dozens of snapshots myself on my Insta profile.
But I had to fight my way through hordes of tourists, annoying swarms of mosquitoes and overpriced tours to get this one photo, writes BuzzFeed.de.
On Reddit I came across the question "Which country are you definitely never visiting again?" and collected some suitable answers that make it clear: The grass isn't greener on the other side either.
Note: Topics such as sexual harassment are discussed below.
1. Let's start very homely: Germany
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Well, everything is beautiful with the right light, but that's how it is in everyday life and the German gray sky.
Oh well ...
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A post shared by Eveline Schoenfeldt (@evelineschoenfeldt)
2. The United Arab Emirates
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Futuristic and luxurious... but certainly not for all people there.
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“Three days in Dubai was enough for me.
Everything was totally artificial and posh, and the tour guides let it be known in a few words that they would rather be at home too, while raving about the progress and low gas prices (i.e. that they themselves because of their measly salary don't even get to enjoy the low fuel prices because you need a car for that...)”
-u/P0L1Z1STENS0HN
3. Egypt
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I don't know if the hordes of tourists and the often pushy vendors are worth this snapshot...
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"Egypt.
Every time we set foot in front of the hotel complex, we were immediately harassed.
If we didn't react when spoken to, things like 'Fuck you' and 'I hope you die' would come up.
At a market that we visited as part of a city tour, I was grabbed by the arm and pulled.”
-u/FakeHappy
“I was in Egypt with my boyfriend at the time and it was somehow too unsafe for us there.
The end of the story was that we didn't even leave the hotel complex.
I've never had that on a vacation."
-u/what-the-melon
4. India
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If you take a closer look ... then you will also see the downsides.
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"India.
Was there once at a wedding.
That's enough for this life.
The discrepancy between extreme luxury next to mud huts is staggering.”
-u/Fickle-Aardvark-543
5. United States
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Unlimited possibilities or no option at all?
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"USA - I don't get along with people at all!"
-Anonymous
"Extremely fake.
I also know from back home that you have to 'save face' in front of other people, but the Americans take it to the extreme." -u/
Soleska
"I haven't been to the USA yet, but there is one now nothing really interesting for me.
But I would be particularly upset by their supermarkets, because taxes aren't included in the item price, so you always have to do the math yourself... And the thing about gun laws worries me.
You always hear horror stories about gunfights, I don't have to admit that.”
-u/Twighdark
6. Sri Lanka
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Great snapshot.
But paradise can also be different...
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"My parents are from Sri Lanka, I've been there twice and never want to go there again."
-u/Toast_vi_Britannia
7. Australia
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Again, there's either too much sun... or problems we'll never have at home.
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"Australia.
The way the sun shines there, I imagine it in hell."
-u/Fulberry
"Besides, any resident animal or insect wants to kill you."
-u/BottleOfPizza
8. Japan
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It looks kind of... different on Google Images.
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“There is little tolerance for anything that does not fit the narrow ideals of society.
There is just as little tolerance for 'the other' as there is 'the other'."
-u/RvNx_
9. Turkey
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Imagine you went there especially for a picture like this and then something like that.
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"Turkey - so dirty, just met one nice person there and the food just no."
-u/lifewithgwin
“Tunisia and Turkey.
In both countries, my ex-girlfriend was constantly harassed.
In Turkey, a trader even unpacked his penis inconspicuously and rubbed it several times against the leg of my girlfriend at the time.”
-u/whatsgoingonjeez
10. Italy
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Bella Italy?
Bella Ciao!
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"The most arrogant people in the world live in and around Turin and Milan."
-u/ice hockey
11. Iceland
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Impressive.
But mostly really cold...
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“Iceland... Unusual answer.
I've been there twice and somehow lost the flair.
Sure, on the one hand because I've been there twice.
But Iceland is so overcrowded."
-u/MSkade
"I was there last fall.
Luckily it wasn't
that
crowded, but I couldn't understand the hype.
Under ideal conditions,
it looks fantastic in some places.
But mostly crowds and weather turn paradise into disappointment.
I won't have to do it again, especially for the price.”
-u/mkjsnb
If you want something a little more specific, check out these 15 Cities That Just Really Disappoint.
Some answers have been shortened and/or edited for clarity.