Places Not To Travel

         PLACES NOT TO TRAVEL

Written By:Hammad Abbasi.

Published By:BESTFORTRAVELLERS

Here are the 10 places Fodor’s suggests we avoid.

1. THE GALAPAGOS

Ecuador heavily regulates tourism in the Galapagos as part of its environmental conservation policies, but Fodor’s says the islands’ fragile ecosystems remain vulnerable.

Growing tourism to the Galapagos Islands could put the environment at risk.

2. THE PLACES THAT DON’T WANT YOU TO VISIT

Too many tourists in places like Venice and Amsterdam have resulted in a local backlash against visitors. Fodor’s says we should just stay away.

Venice is among Europe’s most touristed destinations.

3. TAJ MAHAL

In 2018, the Taj Mahal’s dome will get its first thorough cleaning since the monument was built 369 years ago. A mud paste has been used to clean other parts of the monument, and Fodor’s says “unless your dream Taj Mahal visit involves being photographed standing in front of a mud-caked and be-scaffolded dome, maybe give it until 2019 at the earliest.”

The Taj Mahal won’t be looking its best in 2018.

4. PHANG NGA PARK, THAILAND

Fodor’s says “the rush to paradise has overwhelmed” some of Thailand’s beaches with pollution and overuse. Successful recovery initiatives are in progress, but Fodor’s recommends taking “the road less littered and enjoy a tropical vacay away from the fray”.

Thailand’s Phang Nga Park is undergoing recovery from overuse.

5. MYANMAR

Just a few years ago Myanmar was on every globetrotter’s list, having opened up to tourism after years of isolation. Now Myanmar is one of the world’s pariahs because of a violent campaign against the ethnic Rohingya minority. Fodor’s noted that the United Nations labelled the atrocities “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.

Bagan, Myanmar had emerged as a bucket list destination in recent years.

6. MOUNT EVEREST

Fodor’s says the pursuit of bragging rights from a trip up Mount Everest just isn’t worth the danger (six people died climbing there in 2017) and the cost ($32,000-$57,000).

Mt Everest is among Fodor’s top destinations to avoid.

7. MISSOURI

Fodor’s put Missouri on its no-go list because of an NAACP travel advisory for the state, citing reports that African-Americans were more likely than whites to be stopped by law enforcement officers there, as well as other incidents and policies that raise questions about various types of discrimination.

St Louis, Missouri, should be avoided, says Fodor’s.

8. HONDURAS

The murder rate in Honduras has dropped in the last several years but it’s still among the deadliest places on earth. Fodor’s says travellers should stay safe and spend their money elsewhere.

Honduras’ coastline still attracts visitors, despite the country’s track record

9. GREAT WALL AND BEIJING

Fodor’s cites the deterioration of sections of the Great Wall of China and air pollution in Beijing as reasons to stay away.

The Great Wall of China is 2000 years old, and may be showing signs of its age.

10. CUBA

Americans are still permitted to visit Cuba, but new rules from the Trump administration are complicated and the mysterious illness reported among American embassy workers in Havana is worrisome. Fodor’s urges caution.

Cuba has only recently begun to open up to US tourism after years off the radar.