Avid traveller names the 5 places she'd never go back to including one of Brits' favourite holiday destinations and a city with 'dark energy'
A seasoned globetrotter has shared a list of cities and countries she would 'never' revisit - including one notably luxurious hotspot she described as 'soulless and dystopian.'
The avid traveller, known only as Eva on TikTok, has visited dozens of bucket-list destinations across the globe, including Versailles, Lake Como, Crete and New York City.
But in a slideshow post uploaded to her page @travelgirl423 in April, revealed six standout locations that left her feeling deflated as a tourist - citing 'scams' and 'constant' harassment, high costs and 'dark energy' as some of the driving factors.
The first surprising hotspot Eva highlighted as a no-go - despite it welcoming more than a million tourists every month - is the Canary Islands, as there's 'nothing to do' and 'the food wasn't great.'
She added: 'The beaches are gorgeous, but it got boring real quick. I wouldn't recommend going for more than three days.'
The second destination Eva vowed to never return to is Los Angeles, due to the iconic city being 'a lot more grim' than she'd expected.
Though she insisted there were lots of attractions and activities, the content creator couldn't shake off the feeling that a 'dark energy' was present, which had left her feeling 'uneasy' during her trip.
She also described the landmark city as 'super expensive' and difficult to navigate for tourists who are unable to drive.
Next, Eva shared that she has no intention of returning to the Egyptian city of Hurghada due to the 'constant harassment' she experienced from local men.
She advised: 'It was VERY overstimulating and I wouldn't recommend it for women unless you're travelling in a big group or hire a tour guide.'
The fourth destination that felt especially lacklustre to Eva was Dubai, a UAE nation widely known for its awe-inspiring architecture and luxury shopping.
However, according to the travel enthusiast, the popular holiday spot felt 'soulless' and 'dystopian', and she compared it to a 'simulation with dark energy'.
The fifth location Eva highlighted is Bali.
She first described it as 'gorgeous' with 'lovely' locals, though the jetsetter admitted she had been put off returning due to a 'bad experience of Bali belly'.
Finally, the travel fanatic declared she would never revisit the Indian capital of New Delhi as she found it 'really hard' navigate the city while facing 'a lot of harassment from the men'.
Over 400 people shared their views in the comments, with many arguing that the content creator's experiences are subjective.
Over 400 people shared their views in the comments, with many arguing that the content creator's experiences are subjective
One person quipped, 'Literally nothing to do in the Canary Islands? Good god,' while another added, 'I've been to all of the Canary Islands over the years and never found one of them to be boring.'
However, one unenthused former visitor hit back: 'I went to Gran Canaria and I agree it was a very boring holiday and the food was bad lol, really beautiful island though.'
Meanwhile, one person commented: 'Anyone that dislikes Dubai went to Dubai on a budget. If you want to enjoy the real Dubai you have to go there with money,' while another said, 'I've been to egypt 6 times, 4 to hurghada, never been harrassed at all.'
One former visitor to Los Angeles wrote: 'Yes I felt the dark energy of LA too.'
Finally, one person wrote: 'I think you should be grateful that you have had the chance to visit all of those place, some people can not even afford a weekend away.'
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Lebanon aims to lure back wealthy Gulf tourists to jumpstart its war-torn economy
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Now, after last year's bruising war with Israel, Hezbollah is much weaker and Lebanon's new political leaders sense an opportunity to revitalize the economy once again with help from wealthy neighbors. They aim to disarm Hezbollah and rekindle ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, which in recent years have prohibited their citizens from visiting Lebanon or importing its products. 'Tourism is a big catalyst, and so it's very important that the bans get lifted,' said Laura Khazen Lahoud, the country's tourism minister. On the highway leading to the Beirut airport, once-ubiquitous banners touting Hezbollah's leadership have been replaced with commercial billboards and posters that read 'a new era for Lebanon.' In the center of Beirut, and especially in neighborhoods that hope to attract tourists, political posters are coming down, and police and army patrols are on the rise. There are signs of thawing relations with some Gulf neighbors. 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Years of economic dysfunction have left the country's once-thriving middle class in a state of desperation. The World Bank says poverty nearly tripled in Lebanon over the past decade, affecting close to half its population of nearly 6 million. To make matters worse, inflation is soaring, with the Lebanese pound losing 90% of its value, and many families lost their savings when banks collapsed. Tourism is seen by Lebanon's leaders as the best way to kickstart the reconciliation needed with Gulf countries -- and only then can they move on to exports and other economic growth opportunities. 'It's the thing that makes most sense, because that's all Lebanon can sell now,' said Sami Zoughaib, research manager at The Policy Initiative, a Beirut-based think tank. With summer still weeks away, flights to Lebanon are already packed with expats and locals from countries that overturned their travel bans, and hotels say bookings have been brisk. 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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
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Staring at the mansions being built around his modest brick home in the Pakistani village of Dera Bajwa, Ali reflected on his wasted journey. 'These are the houses of those who made it abroad," Ali said. 'People like me see them and dream without thinking." ___ Brito reported from Barcelona, Spain.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Visiting this charming Norfolk seaside town feels like stepping into another century
I stepped off the train and into, it seemed, a former century. Sheringham is the terminus of the mainline from Norwich but, on the other side of Station Road, on another set of tracks, the steam locomotives of the Poppy Line clank and exhale, waiting to take trippers further along the coast. It was the arrival of the railway in 1887 that transformed this small fishing town. The poet and theatre critic Clement Scott wrote of the rail-accessible joys of North Norfolk for The Telegraph (coining the term 'Poppyland'), and holidaymakers began to flock in, creating such demand that fishing families would rent out their homes (sound familiar?). Now, the heritage railway is one of Sheringham's biggest draws. But it wasn't the only thing generating vintage vibes. Red, white and blue bunting flapped in the North Sea breeze, strung along a bygone-era high street: greengrocers, butchers, bakers, a model railway emporium, and an ironmongers dating back to 1897. Every September, Sheringham holds a 1940s Weekend, with themed window displays, classic cars and period music. But it was looking pretty throwback even on a regular Tuesday. 'It is a bit like going back in time,' one local told me. 'Whether you think that's good or bad – well, that's a personal preference.' What's it really like? As seaside resorts go, Sheringham is pretty low-key. There are a couple of arcades, ice creameries a-plenty, a toyshop that's sold buckets-n-spades since 1912. Sheringham Museum is filled with lifeboats and local history and a gallery of 200 shell sculptures, if things made from shells are your thing. Best is the big Blue Flag beach, backed by some of the county's highest cliffs; Norfolk's zenith, 103m (!) Beacon Hill, is nearby. The beach itself is lovely, when it's there – at high tide the sand is swallowed completely For all its nostalgic charm, Sheringham is actually pleasingly real, having managed to remain itself in the face of surrounding forces. It doesn't have the social issues that plague Great Yarmouth, 40 miles south. But nor is it as expensively gentrified as spots like Burnham Market (aka 'Chelsea-on-Sea'), 20 miles west – though local house prices reflect its proximity. Sheringham's identity has been tested. Long holding out as a bastion of independents, the town finally caved to Tesco in 2013, after a 17-year planning battle. However, the supermarket hasn't affected trade as much as feared: it's close to the centre, with parking – it may have actually brought more people in. More recently, a surge of young entrepreneurs has shaken things up. One of them is Ben Stubbs, who grew up in Sheringham and runs Stubby's, a 'chef-led' pizzeria where toppings include vodka sausage and black pudding. ' The Gangway bar opened around the same time as us,' Ben told me. 'Before, there were just pubs and fish and chips. Suddenly there was pizza and cocktails!' Gentrification, Sheringham style. What's not to like? Honestly, not a lot. The town's elderly-leaning demographic means you're unlikely to find much to do beyond 8.30pm, but that's probably not why you're here. And there's no headline-grabbing destination hotel or Michelin-starry restaurant – yet. Sheringham isn't perfect. But unlike the boarded-up shops and dwindling investment experienced in many coastal communities, it seems positively vibrant. District Councillor Liz Withington believes it may just offer the blueprint for other such towns looking to revive their fortunes. Liz moved here in 1994 but has lived all over, including Marbella – and sees similarities. 'It's the same with many seaside towns – rammed in summer, back to community in winter,' Liz said. 'We've got it right because we've maintained that sense of community.' There are concerns about preserving Sheringham's retail diversity as takeaway outlets increase. The current beef is with a pizza chain that's trying to move in. The council has objected, the chain has appealed. 'High streets are supposed to be about 30 per cent hot-food takeaways; Sheringham is over 40 per cent already,' Ben explained. 'If the appeal is overturned, where does it end? It could be the first Domino to fall, pardon the pun… Small towns are delicate little ecosystems. They need to be nurtured and protected.' Do this… Definitely ride the Poppy Line, which takes 25 minutes to huff from Sheringham to the pretty market town of Holt. After that, head to the Little Theatre. Seating just 160, and almost entirely run by volunteers, it's small but mighty. In 2024, actress Suranne Jones – who has a holiday home nearby – became President. 'She'd started to come quite regularly,' explained Debbie Thompson, the Little's director. 'She loved that it was a true community theatre and wanted to be involved.' Jones hosts workshops and helps promote the theatre's varied programme, which includes a traditional summer rep season, music, comedy and more. Eat this… Crab. Cromer, five miles east, has sown up the marketing, but Norfolk's famed crustaceans come from Sheringham too. In CA Seafoods you can buy them neatly dressed; it also has a 150-year-old smokehouse where they hot and cold smoke all sorts of fish. However, I ate at Camellia Cottage, a postcard-pretty, brick-and-flint cafe by the clock tower. It was heaving, both inside and out in the courtyard garden. I ordered the crab sandwich and had a tense wait while the server checked with the kitchen, and nabbed the last one of the day. Steep at £12, but a local treat. But don't do this… The ancient Cromer Shoals Chalk Bed – nicknamed 'Britain's Great Barrier Reef' – is the longest in the world, and lies only a stone's skim offshore. The 46-metre-long Sheringham Snorkel Trail, which follows a disused Victorian sewage pipe, leads out to this unexpectedly colourful underwater world that teems with crab, lobsters, fish, rare sponges and anemones. But in order to experience it, you need a long period of calm to cause the North Sea's sediment to drop and turn the water clear blue – which happens for about five or six days a year. Unless you get lucky, perhaps go stand-up paddle boarding with SUP Shack instead. From a local 'Shops come and go, restaurants change – but not a lot. That's the charm of it. Sheringham is expanding out, with new houses, but the core has remained the same. It's a great little town where everyone looks out for each other.' – Chris Taylor, Sheringham-born photographer, lifeboatman and shanty-man. From a tourist 'We've made a day-trip. My mum recommended the steam train, and it fully lived up to expectations. Quite slow but nice views and friendly staff. We like the museum. Now we're going to walk the seafront and get fish and chips from the shop with the longest queue.' – Sarah Wilson and Carl King from Lincolnshire Get there Sheringham is an hour by train from Norwich, at the end of the Bittern Line, which also stops at Cromer and Hoveton & Wroxham (a jumping-off point for the Broads). The Coasthopper Bus connects Wells-next-the-Sea and Cromer, via Sheringham. For more information, see Visit North Norfolk and Experience Sheringham. Stay at Burlington Berties (01263 821500) has B&B doubles from £320 for two nights.
