The brutal truth about Bali: It looks idyllic - but the glossy pictures conceal a multitude of horrors. For so many like Molly-Mae's sister, their trip will end in tears, writes THEODORA SUTCLIFFE
Now, clearly, if high-rise, sky-rise, manicured Dubai is your dream holiday, then Bali, where even the poshest hotel room rarely escapes a gecko or two and few buildings rise above four storeys, is probably not for you.
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The Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Sun
First tourists visit North Korea's ghostly ‘Benidorm' resort where ‘minders' follow visitors & phones are ‘bugged'
NORTH Korea has welcomed its first tourists to its ghostly new " Benidorm" beach resort. But the initial batch of visitors have reported that they are followed everywhere and their phones are likely bugged. 10 10 The newly built resort, called Wonsan‑Kalma, has opened for Russian tourists on package tours. It features a a giant artificial white sand beach - once a missile test site - on the Sea of Japan, and was opened by dictator Kim Jong Un himself. But Russian guests say the experience is very different inside a state even more repressive than their own. "You are accompanied everywhere… even on the beach someone walked with us," according to blogger Daria Zubkova. Yet this was as "sweet concern" for guests rather than more ominous snooping, she added. "They are walking [with you]. "[If] you want, they chat with you, [if not] they just walk behind you." Daria added that the minders "argue that they worry about us getting lost or something else". But the veterinary therapist added: "What many people are afraid of….is some kind of wiretapping everywhere and so on. "Most likely, I think that there is probably all of this, but we just weren't afraid, because we have nothing to say that would make someone scold us for it." North Korea's 'Benidorm' to FINALLY open next week as tyrant Kim Jong-Un cuts ribbon - and Brits have signed up to visit The resort can accommodate up to 20,000 people, according to reports, and has jet-skis. Russian tourists holidaying there must make their own way to the eastern city of Vladivostok. From there they are flown into North Korea - to the capital city of Pyongyang. But once in the country, the group of 13 inaugural guests had their short flight from Pyongyang to Wonsan was suddenly cancelled - and a train arranged instead. "An entire train for just 13 people is simply unthinkable," said Daria. "It was new, very comfortable, with air conditioning." 10 10 10 10 She added: "I saw villages [from the windows of the train]….people are working in the fields, not very rich people." Another tourist Lyudmila said: "I was even interested in riding the train, because for the first time I saw that the mountains they paint in their pictures really exist. "It is also very interesting to see the country from the train." But once they got to Wonsan, their hotel was full with visiting officials and journalists accompanying Putin's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. The tourists were then moved to inferior accommodation. Tourists were also told that sending emails cost £1.65 each. The tour company made clear that the secret police would have the opportunity to monitor their messages. "Please note that the email will be sent from the hotel's email box, not yours. "Therefore, to make it easier to find a reply addressed to you, we recommend that you include your room number in the subject line." Tourists were also told in advance: "We recommend taking tea, coffee, sugar with you!!! Fruits are not served." But Daria added: "There were a lot of types of meat, duck, rabbit, different types of fish. They really tried to please us." The basic cost of this tour for Russians is £1,360 - once they have made their way to Vladivostok. All but £325 of this has to be paid in cash. "We like everything," said tourist Pavla Gambal. "The sea is warm, the beach is clean, they keep order. "The territory is well-kept. The food is very tasty, you can eat it." It comes at a time when when North Korea has sent soldiers to die for "ally" Vladimir Putin, along with ship loads of military equipment and ammunition. 10 10
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
When did people start going on holiday?
When did people start going on holiday? Valentina Otero, Mexico City Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@ A selection will be published next Sunday.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The worst tourist trap in the world
In every country, tourists eagerly gather at the most popular and talked-about spots , hoping it lives up to their expectations. Though at times, travellers may find themselves disappointed - charged premium prices and squashed shoulder-to-shoulder with others all aiming to chase the same sought-after attraction. Now, the very worst tourist trap in the world has been revealed, in research by Nomad eSIM. There's not one, but two places that tie as the top spots to avoid when travelling – and both are in the United States. Fisherman's Wharf, located in San Francisco, and Wall Drug, in South Dakota, scored the worst in Nomad's analysis. The company looked at thousands of reviews for attractions in 50 popular destinations around the world and tracked mentions of 'tourist trap'. Both Fisherman's Wharf and Wall Drug have 1,000 reviews labelling them as 'tourist traps'. Wall Drug attracts around 2 million tourists each year and started out as a small pharmacy in 1931. Now, it is known worldwide for being a quirky roadside attraction spreading across 76,000sq feet. Visitors can enjoy coffee for five cents, fresh donuts and an old-timey photo studio, as well as over 300 pieces of Western art. However, not everyone is impressed with its offerings and the attraction has received more than 1,000 reviews labelling it a 'tourist trap,' according to Nomad. One slammed it for being 'very crammed and tacky' while another swiped 'you will be ripped off by every store owner in town'. Fisherman's Wharf ties with Wall Drug as one of the worst tourist traps. The historic waterfront spot brings in around 12 million tourists a year who visit for the seafood restaurants, sea lions and souvenir shops. However, many leave disappointed and underwhelmed. According to Nomad, some visitors described the location as 'dirty, run down and overcrowded' and commented 'only worth it to see the seals.' Spain's Las Ramblas, a promenade that runs for more than a kilometre through central Barcelona, placed second in the 'tourist trap' rankings with 826 reviews. The attraction is packed with shops, eateries, and attractions and while some travellers enjoy its energetic vibe, others find the experience chaotic and overwhelming. Known for pickpocketing, the area is often packed with crowds some visitors find that it's 'one of the most overrated roads in the world', and one even went as far as to say that 'it should be on your DO NOT DO list'. Dublin's Temple Bar was listed third, despite being renowned for its lively nightlife and traditional Irish pub s. The Irish icon saw 'tourist trap' mentioned a whopping 687 times. Complaints about Temple Bar range from how dirty it is to the sky-high prices, with one reviewer describing it as 'overcrowded, overpriced and overrated'. Temple Bar was closely followed by Checkpoint Charlie, in Germany, which had 681 reviews dubbing it a 'tourist trap'. The famous Cold War-era border crossing in Germany features plenty of souvenir stalls and draws in plenty of visitors. But it doesn't always impress and according to Nomad, one traveller said: 'For somewhere with so much historical importance, it has become a cheap and nasty tourist spot'. While the Royal Mile in Edinburgh placed five in the 'tourist trap' rankings with 539 reviews. Stretching 1.81km, the cobbled road links Edinburgh Castle the Palace of Holyroodhouse. However, one visitor to the Scottish capital expressed disappointment: 'Bring back the days when locals could live and work in the area without locusts like plagues of tourists!'.
