Mum slams 'chaos' as Italian seaside town 'shoulder to shoulder with tourists'
A tourist has described her holiday to an Italian seaside town as "complete chaos" claiming she was "shoulder to shoulder" with tourists.
Regina Simmons, 38, had high hopes for Positano after falling in love with the 'amazing views' and 'calm, empty streets' shown in glossy videos on social media, including TikTok, reports the Mirror.
But after flying 10 hours from her home in Las Vegas, Nevada, the mum-of-two said tat she and her family were disappointed with the historic town on the Amalfi Coast.
Regina said: "In the videos, you see everything looks completely empty and calm. In real life there were far too many people. It was just bananas... We were overwhelmed by the amount of people. We had to look for a restaurant to hide in and make a game plan." Her experience comes after a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.
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Regina, her husband Dan, 46, and their daughters Sofia, 16, and Camila, 13, visited Rome and other hotspots across Italy last month.
After watching TikTok clips, Regina anticipated "amazing views" along with "calm empty streets" and "locals buying fresh vegetables from the markets".
From the moment they arrived at the train station, Regina said it felt "like a horror movie" as swarms of tourists packed the platforms.
The businesswoman, who owns a chain of restaurants, hadn't expected the crush.
"Positano is all these tight little streets and everyone is walking together. Half the people are going up and half are going down. It was complete chaos. Everyone was touching, shoulder to shoulder," the mum continued.
"There are hundreds of beautiful videos of Positano which inspire you to go. This year feels very trendy - lots of my American friends are travelling to Italy this year."
The couple imagined peaceful strolls, scenic views, and locals picking up fresh produce from quiet markets.
But when they did spot a quaint shop or cafe, the crowds made it impossible to stop.
Regina, who had stayed at a hotel in Sorrento and ventured east to Positano for a day trip, said: "We found everything was in English and there were Americans everywhere. I actually took Italian classes, and I never needed to use it."
If they return to Europe for a holiday, the couple say they will look at other countries. Mum-of-two Regina continued: "If it's trendy on social media, everyone wants to do what everyone else is doing, Myself included... Don't believe everything you see on social media."
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