7 Countries That Let Me Down—And 15 That Blew Me Away
Travel isn’t always sunshine and scenic views—sometimes it’s missed trains, overpriced meals, or landmarks that leave you thinking, “That’s it?” I’ve wandered through more than 50 countries, and while many places stole my heart, others fell flat despite all the buzz.
Ever arrived somewhere expecting magic, only to be greeted by crowds, chaos, or a vibe that just didn’t click? You’re not alone. But here’s the thing—those underwhelming moments make the truly unforgettable ones even sweeter.
For every letdown, there’s been a surprise gem or an experience that reminded me why I love travel in the first place. Curious which spots didn’t quite live up to the hype—and which ones were worth every mile? Let’s dive into the honest side of travel nobody puts on a postcard.
1. Dominican Republic: Paradise with Hidden Challenges
My Caribbean dreams fizzled quickly in the Dominican Republic. The resort brochures promised crystal waters and carefree days, but reality delivered tourist traps and persistent hawkers who wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Venturing beyond resort walls revealed troubling poverty alongside environmental neglect. Plastic bottles littered otherwise beautiful beaches, while local communities struggled within sight of lavish all-inclusives. The final straw?
Feeling confined to my resort for safety reasons. While the country has genuine beauty and wonderful people, the stark contrast between marketed paradise and actual experience left me questioning the ethics of how some Caribbean tourism operates.
2. Italy: Where Every Meal Becomes a Memory
Italy stole my heart through my stomach first. Each pasta dish told stories of regional pride, with recipes passed down through generations and prepared with almost religious devotion.
Walking through Rome felt like strolling through an open-air museum where ancient history casually mingles with everyday life. I turned a corner and boom—the Colosseum appeared, massive and magnificent against the modern city backdrop.
The people matched the country’s warmth, gesturing expressively as they spoke and insisting I try ‘just one more’ homemade limoncello. Italy wasn’t just a place I visited; it became part of me, leaving an imprint that makes me smile whenever I taste proper espresso.
3. Morocco: When Reality Doesn’t Match Expectations
I imagined Morocco would offer rich scents, colors, and culture — instead, I spent my days dodging scam artists and feeling exploited at every turn.
The famous tanneries of Fez assaulted my senses—not with fascinating cultural insights but with unbearable smells and uncomfortable pressure to buy overpriced leather goods. Many ‘authentic experiences’ felt staged specifically for tourists willing to pay.
Women travelers should know the constant unwanted attention can be exhausting. While Morocco has undeniable beauty in its architecture and landscapes, the relentless hassle factor made it impossible to relax and truly appreciate what the country could offer.
4. Iceland: Nature’s Masterpiece in Raw Form
The sheer beauty of Iceland hit hard — every stretch of the Ring Road delivered something surreal, from misty waterfalls to soul-stirring silence.
Bathing in natural hot springs under the midnight sun created a surreal time-bending experience. The locals shared fascinating folklore about elves and hidden people with such conviction that I found myself peering between rocks, half-believing.
My most treasured memory? Standing alone on a black sand beach as the northern lights danced overhead, feeling simultaneously tiny and infinite. Iceland doesn’t just show you nature—it forces you to reconsider your place within it.
5. Vietnam: Sensory Overload in the Best Way
There’s no gentle introduction to Hanoi — the motorbike madness hits fast, yet the movement feels strangely orchestrated, almost beautiful in its disorder.
Food became my obsession—sitting on tiny plastic stools, slurping pho from steaming bowls as daybreak illuminated ancient alleyways. Each region offered distinct flavors that told stories of history, invasion, and resilience.
Halong Bay’s limestone karsts rising from misty waters felt like sailing through a Chinese watercolor painting come to life. Vietnam doesn’t sanitize its experiences for tourists; it invites you into its everyday rhythm, leaving you forever changed by its resilient spirit and unforgettable flavors.
6. Slovenia: Europe’s Best-Kept Secret
I didn’t see it coming — Slovenia completely stunned me with its picture-perfect beauty, especially the surreal charm of Lake Bled nestled among alpine peaks.
The capital Ljubljana charmed with its car-free center, riverside cafés, and dragon bridges. I spent afternoons chatting with locals who seemed genuinely delighted to share their country with visitors.
Venturing underground at Postojna Cave, I gaped at massive stalactites while riding an actual train through chambers large enough to host concerts. Slovenia packs Alpine majesty, Mediterranean vibes, and Slavic soul into one tiny, accessible package—proving the best destinations are sometimes the ones you’ve barely heard of.
7. Germany: When Efficiency Lacks Soul
Germany disappointed me not through any major flaw but through a persistent emotional flatness. The trains ran perfectly on time, museums were meticulously organized, and everything functioned with impressive precision. Yet something crucial was missing.
Cities like Berlin and Munich felt clinically clean but somehow sterile, lacking the chaotic charm that makes places like Naples or Bangkok so vibrant. The famous German efficiency extended to tourism experiences that felt mass-produced rather than personal.
Even Oktoberfest, which I’d anticipated for years, felt like an overpriced, commercialized version of authentic beer culture. Germany works flawlessly as a country but left me cold as a traveler seeking connection and spontaneous joy.
8. Canada: Wilderness That Whispers to Your Soul
The scale of Canada is hard to grasp until you’re in it. In Banff, each turn revealed a new impossibly blue lake, framed by rugged peaks and genuine warmth from everyone you met.
Strangers invited me to family dinners in Newfoundland, sharing cod tongue stories and screech ceremonies that inducted me as an honorary local. Watching the Northern Lights dance above the Yukon wilderness, I felt a primal connection to something greater than myself.
Canada doesn’t brag about its magnificence; it simply exists in grand, pristine splendor, making space for you to discover your own smallness against its mighty landscapes.
9. Portugal: Melancholy Beauty That Stays With You
Portugal seduced me with its beautiful sadness. Fado music spilling from Lisbon’s tiny bars carried centuries of longing and loss, somehow making melancholy feel delicious rather than depressing. Coastal towns like Nazaré showed me the raw power of Atlantic waves crashing against ancient fortresses.
Old fishermen mended nets as they had for generations, their weathered faces telling stories without words. The food transformed simple ingredients into revelations—freshly caught sardines grilled on street corners, pastéis de nata still warm from centuries-old bakeries.
Portugal embraces its fading empire with dignified nostalgia rather than desperation, creating a uniquely bittersweet travel experience that lingers in your heart long after leaving.
10. France: When the City of Light Dims
The dream of Paris didn’t match reality — beneath the postcard views was a city weighed down by its myth, where unfriendliness felt more cultural norm than exception.
Simple requests in carefully practiced French were met with eye-rolls and impatient sighs, making every interaction feel like an unwelcome imposition. Even the Eiffel Tower lost its magic surrounded by aggressive scammers and endless lines.
While France has undeniable cultural treasures and spectacular countryside, the persistent hostility toward tourists and sky-high prices for mediocre experiences left me wondering why we collectively maintain the myth of French superiority.
11. South Africa: Where Wild Dreams Come True
I’d imagined moments like this since flipping through National Geographic as a kid — and South Africa actually delivered, with lions moving silently through gold-lit grass just feet away.
Cape Town dazzled with its impossible geography—Table Mountain creating a dramatic backdrop to pristine beaches where penguins waddled alongside sunbathers. The country’s complicated history created meaningful encounters with locals eager to share their perspectives on the ongoing journey toward reconciliation.
Wine country around Stellenbosch offered world-class tastings for a fraction of European prices. South Africa combines raw wilderness, sophisticated cities, and complex human stories in a way no other destination can match.
12. Japan: Perfect Harmony of Tradition and Future
I’ve never been somewhere that felt so futuristic and ancient at once — Japan’s seamless blend of neon cities and sacred spaces completely rewired my sense of time.
Food became art here—even convenience store meals outshined fancy restaurants back home. Watching a master sushi chef transform simple ingredients into transcendent bites made me reconsider everything I thought I knew about cooking. The Japanese attention to detail manifested everywhere, from immaculate subway systems to the way strangers helped this lost foreigner with gentle patience.
Japan functions like a living museum where tradition doesn’t fight modernity but dances with it, creating a society that honors its past while fearlessly embracing tomorrow.
13. Peru: Where Mountains Touch the Heavens
I thought I knew mountains — until Peru humbled me. With every high-altitude step, the Inca Trail revealed ruins that seemed etched into the sky itself.
Machu Picchu exceeded every expectation, not just for its iconic beauty but for the spiritual weight that hangs in the mist surrounding those ancient stones. Local Quechua communities welcomed me with coca tea and woven textiles bursting with colors derived from plants I’d never heard of.
Ceviche in Lima introduced me to flavors so bright and complex they seemed to create new taste buds on my tongue. Peru balances magnificent ruins, living indigenous cultures, and cutting-edge cuisine in a country where the oxygen may be thin, but experiences run incredibly deep.
14. Egypt: Ancient Wonders, Modern Frustrations
I wanted to be awed by Egypt — but the constant pushiness and chaos around the Pyramids made connecting with their wonder feel like a battle.
Every interaction felt like a battle, with straightforward questions answered with misleading information designed to extract more money. Museum guards demanded bribes to show special artifacts, while taxi drivers took circuitous routes to inflate fares.
The final straw came with food poisoning that hospitalized me after eating at a supposedly safe restaurant. While Egypt’s ancient wonders remain unparalleled, the exhausting gauntlet of scams surrounding them created an experience where relief at leaving outweighed amazement at what I’d seen.
15. Australia: Land of Laid-Back Wonders
Australia’s casual approach to its own magnificence charmed me completely. Locals shrugged off world-class beaches as “just another shore,” while serving coffee that would make Italian baristas weep with jealousy.
Wildlife encounters happened without planning—kangaroos bounded alongside hiking trails, while rainbow lorikeets argued loudly in city park trees. The Great Barrier Reef’s underwater wonderland left me floating in silent awe, coming face-to-face with creatures that seemed designed by an imaginative child.
Sydney’s harbor at sunset created a postcard moment that somehow felt personal, as if the Opera House was showing off just for me. Australia combines natural wonders with unpretentious hospitality, making even its most spectacular sights feel like they’re being shared by a friend.
16. Croatia: Where Medieval Meets Mediterranean
Croatia’s coastal magic hit hardest in Dubrovnik, where golden walls met sapphire sea, and every corner whispered stories from another time.
Island-hopping revealed hidden coves with water so clear I could count pebbles twenty feet below my kayak. Local konobas (taverns) served grilled fish caught hours earlier, accompanied by homemade rakija that locals insisted improved my Croatian pronunciation with each sip.
Plitvice Lakes National Park’s cascading waterfalls created a real-life fairytale landscape I hadn’t believed could exist outside of Photoshop. Croatia delivers Mediterranean beauty without Italian prices or French attitude—a sweet spot of authenticity, accessibility, and jaw-dropping scenery.
17. Thailand: When Paradise Becomes a Factory
I dreamed of Thailand’s untouched paradise — but what I found were overcrowded shores, polluted waters, and a coastline buckling under the weight of mass tourism.
Full Moon parties on Koh Phangan revealed the dark side of budget travel—entitled visitors treating local communities as disposable backdrops for hedonistic behavior they’d never consider acceptable at home. Cultural experiences felt increasingly manufactured for Western consumption.
Even food, Thailand’s saving grace, became disappointingly dumbed-down in tourist areas. While northern regions still offered authentic experiences, popular destinations had succumbed to a mass-produced version of Thailand that prioritized quantity of visitors over quality of experience.
18. New Zealand: Nature’s Perfect Playground
New Zealand redefined what outdoor beauty could be. Milford Sound’s towering fjords piercing misty skies made me feel like I’d discovered a lost world where dinosaurs might still roam behind the next mountain. Adventure became unavoidable—I found myself spontaneously jumping off bridges and rafting white-water rapids in Queenstown, activities I’d never consider at home.
The Māori cultural experiences offered genuine connections rather than tourist performances, with elders sharing stories that stretched back countless generations. Driving between destinations became the vacation itself, with each turn revealing landscapes so diverse it seemed impossible they belonged to the same small country.
New Zealand packs planetary highlights into a manageable package, delivering natural wonders without requiring extreme travel skills.
19. Greece: Where Myths Come Alive
Few places have moved me like Greece — where ferry rides unveiled cliffside villages, and standing beneath the Parthenon felt like time folded in on itself.
Family-run tavernas served food that made me understand why Greek gods fought over such earthly pleasures. My favorite moments came in tiny villages tourists usually skip, where yiayias (grandmothers) insisted I try their homemade baklava and refused payment with mock offense.
Greece delivers not just spectacular ruins and beaches but a sense of belonging that makes first-time visitors feel like they’ve returned to something essential they’d forgotten.
20. Malaysia: When Diversity Becomes Divisive
I arrived expecting unity in diversity — instead, I sensed a quiet strain beneath Malaysia’s polished façade, where ethnic lines still seemed sharply drawn.
Kuala Lumpur’s impressive skyline and shopping malls masked systematic inequality that became increasingly apparent outside tourist zones. Conversations with locals revealed deep frustrations with corruption and policies favoring specific ethnic groups. Even the food scene, while excellent, revealed these divisions—certain cuisines were celebrated while others were marginalized.
Natural attractions often suffered from poor management and environmental neglect. While Malaysia has genuine beauty and potential, the persistent sense of a society struggling with its own identity made for a travel experience tinged with unease.
21. Norway: Expensive But Worth Every Kroner
I winced at the prices, but Norway’s landscapes silenced my inner accountant — Lysefjord alone felt like a masterpiece only nature could paint.
Bergen’s colorful wooden houses huddled against mountain backdrops created perfect postcard scenes at every turn. Even simple pleasures became extraordinary—gas station hot dogs in Norway somehow taste like gourmet meals, while public transportation runs with Swiss-watch precision through seemingly impossible terrain.
The northern lights dancing above the Lofoten Islands created a spiritual experience that made me forget the $15 beers. Norway exemplifies how sometimes the most expensive destinations deliver value beyond monetary measurement, through experiences that recalibrate your understanding of what’s possible in this world.
22. Mexico: Beyond the Beach Resort Bubbles
It wasn’t the resorts that won me over — it was the soul of Mexico found in cities like Guanajuato and Oaxaca, where history and creativity pulse through every alley.
Food became a revelation—not just tacos (though they were life-changing) but regional specialties I’d never heard of, prepared by grandmothers using pre-Hispanic techniques. Day of the Dead celebrations showed me how a culture could approach mortality with both reverence and joy, transforming grief into artistic celebration.
Archaeological sites like Palenque nestled in misty jungles connected me to civilizations whose astronomical knowledge still defies explanation. Mexico offers layers of discovery that reward curious travelers willing to look beyond its beach party reputation.