Lonely Planet co-founder reveals three more countries 'not to visit'

Metro

13-06-2025

Lonely Planet has long been a reliable name when it comes to holiday guides and recommendations, ever since it was founded in 1973, by husband and wife team Tony and Maureen Wheeler.
The adventurous duo have been all over the world, and Tony is often asked by holidaymakers exactly which four corners of the globe people should visit.
Tony has shared his love for the Australian Outback, and Jaipur, in India, but he's also got some opinions on where definitely not to go.
The 78-year-old previously wrote a blog post, titled, 'I'm not going there anymore', where he listed four places he's sworn off.
Bali was written off due to it's 'ridiculous traffic', and the USA is a no-no for Tony while Trump and his 'associated scoundrels' are running the place.
His other two big vetoes for travel probably won't surprise many people: Russia and Saudi Arabia.
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And in a follow-up post, he's added three more to his list: Israel, Belarus, and Burma (Myanmar).
Firstly, in regards to Israel, Tony says he's 'amazed' he left it off his initial blog post. He adds that people complained about the country's omission, which Tony says was 'absolutely right.'
He's actually visited Israel more than once, and when he went in 2011, he said he felt a sense of 'hope that some sort of peace and agreement could come to that troubled region.'
But in light of the events of and since October 7 2023, Tony says he won't be returning.
He wrote: 'Despite the horrors of the Hamas attack I still cannot live with the Israeli attack on Gaza which has now been going on for more than one and a half years. It has to stop.'
Next, Tony references the Belarussian dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, as a reason not to visit Belarus, calling him a 'Soviet era thug.' More Trending
Tony actually visited the Eastern European country in 2018, saying he had a 'few interesting days in Minsk' but adds that 'my interest in Belarus has definitely gone downhill, I'm not planning on any return trips.'
Finally, Burma was the last place that Tony listed. He has been to the country several times over the years, most recently in 2017, making a stop in 'the country's absurd capital'.
Citing Burma's unstable political situation he said of his trip back then: 'It was very clear that a country which has gone up and then down for the whole time I've been visiting it, the first time was in 1974, was embarking on another stupid downhill plunge.'
Tony adds that recommending places not to visit is a gear change for him, adding: 'For a long time I've thought we should go anywhere, it's important for all sorts of reasons that we make contact with places, good or bad.'
While the places in this article might not be on your travel bucket list, there are several 'underrated' spots that are well worth a visit, according to Michael, a man who has visited 175 of 195.
Here are his top recommendations:
Tunisia
'Tunis has one of the best street food scenes I've ever encountered,' he says of the capital.
'I did a food tour with my buddy Mehdi, who runs the YouTube channel Tunisian Street Food, and I still dream about the stuff we tried. Fricassés, brik, grilled merguez – it was unforgettable.'
Bhutan
Metro's Gergana Krasteva recently wrote that of the 10 countries she visited in 2024, Bhutan trumped them all.
Michael agrees that the isolated Himalayan kingdom is unlike anywhere else on Earth.
From the ethereal mist draping the capital Thimphu to the sheer cliffs where Tiger's Nest Monastery clings, this mystic enclave feels like it exists outside of time.
'It's the kind of place that stays with you, haunting your thoughts long after you leave,' Michael explains.
Madagascar
'If you want nature, wildlife, adventure, and coastline all in one place, this island will leave you speechless,' Michael says.
'It feels prehistoric. Like stepping into a lost world.'
Pakistan
The path to Pakistan is one less travelled.
Michael says: 'The people, the food, the landscapes, and the sheer affordability make Pakistan a must-visit for adventurers like me.'
Metro recently named Pakistan as an unmissable destination to visit in 2025 thanks to its vast valleys and mountain ranges in the north, and we're not the only ones noticing all the country has to offer.
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