13 Places So Terrible That Travelers Vowed Never to Return to Again

While travel often offers enriching experiences and fond memories, there are certain places that travelers vow never to return to due to various reasons ranging from safety concerns to unpleasant experiences.

Here are 13 such places and the reasons behind travelers’ aversion:

Chernobyl, Ukraine

“Isn’t that the place where a nuclear reactor blew its top?” one may ask. It certainly is! It’s difficult to locate a bright spot in a radioactive cloud, but Chornobyl is the place to go if you want to venture out on the wild side or have a morbid interest in the effects of nuclear accidents. Just keep in mind that taking mementos is highly discouraged.

Norilsk, Russia

Welcome to Norilsk, Russia, where the main attractions include smokestacks dominating the skyline and frostbite in July. Nestled in the Siberian forest, this industrial city holds the dubious distinction of being one of the most polluted locations on Earth.

Even at the height of summer, the temperature hardly ever rises above zero, and every winter, the sun disappears for forty-five days. It’s safe to assume that if visiting Norilsk is on your bucket list, grab your warm underwear and reevaluate your life decisions.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas’s bustling nightlife and high-stakes gaming are well-known. But when you add the unbearable heat, shortage of greenery, and nonstop noise levels of living in Sin City, the neon lights may rapidly become dull.

Then there is the crime rate: with about 1,500 recorded robberies in 2019 alone, Las Vegas has one of the highest rates of robberies in the United States. Las Vegas might not be the best place to go if you’re seeking a vacation from the stress of daily life.

Aleppo, Syria

Devastated by years of fighting in the Syrian Civil War, Aleppo was once a thriving center of culture. Travelers swear not to return until security and safety are restored because of the continued bloodshed, damage to historical monuments, and humanitarian crises.

Fukushima, Japan

In 2011, a disastrous nuclear catastrophe occurred there, akin to Chornobyl. The stigma attached to nuclear pollution endures despite continuous attempts to reduce radiation dangers and return the area to normalcy, deterring many tourists from visiting.

Dubai

Dubai appears amazing when viewed in photographs. It resembles a true desert oasis. However, it seems that the city values money more than culture. “There’s definitely no soul,” stated one guy. Everything is only an ostentation of money.

South Africa

Without making generalizations about the entire nation, a commentator from South Africa believes that crime, extreme poverty, and corruption have made their country intolerable. Because of their high crime rates, there are some areas you can’t afford to travel to in most situations, if at all,” the local cautions. “Some of those places are the Cape flats in Cape Town and the slums in Johannesburg.”

Marrakesh, Morocco

“The one and only place I’ve ever gone that I vowed never to return to. We gave up trying to sight-see and spent the remainder of our vacation in the hotel after two days of walking around, during which times groups of men and boys tried to touch my wife (She was modestly clothed (with her shoulders and legs covered), followed by hostility when I or she expressed our disapproval of this,” said one of the travelers.

Cairo, Egypt

“I would never go back there since I saw all I wanted to see. To the great shame of the many decent Egyptians who reside in the city, tourists are treated like livestock there by those engaged in the tourism industry.”

“The maltreatment of animals, the filth, and the people that beg for money everywhere you walk…I wish I could tell you that the city’s historical aspect makes up for it, but alas, no.”

Bradford, England

Sadly, it doesn’t have much going for it. It’s the kind of location where people question you why you are there when they learn you are from out of town—not in the upbeat, ‘Oh, what are you here for?’ manner, but rather, ‘Seriously, why have you decided to come here?’ way.

Rason, North Korea

Ahh, Rason, North Korea – the place you won’t find in a fancy tourist guidebook. You could fall off the face of the Earth attempting to get there since it’s far off the main path. Rason is a center of depressing homogeneity, building after building of the same drab color as hospitable as a tax audit.

Your sense of adventure may wither away in this environment due to boredom. However, Rason has you covered if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to enter an Orwellian dystopia.

Kandahar, Afghanistan

Welcome to Kandahar, Afghanistan, where a good steak at a vegan restaurant is as rare as the city’s charm. The city welcomes you with an overwhelming combination of dust storms, never-ending heat, and noise that would make a metal concert seem like a sleepover.

The local food may make you reevaluate your life decisions, and the idea of safety feels as ethereal as a Picasso painting. You would only go to Kandahar if you lost a wager; even then, you could choose another option.

N’Djamena, Chad

Let’s discuss N’Djamena, Chad, a destination many people found slightly off their ideal holiday area. It’s like asking for a fine drink and getting a can of lukewarm beer instead. The intense heat may create a free sauna experience, but lacking even the most basic public facilities could dampen your holiday fantasies.

Not to mention the terrible state of the traffic. N’Djamena may be your next unusual vacation spot if you enjoy driving chaotically and swerving over potholes the size of small countries.

“Watch Your Wallet” 10 Tourist Traps Everyone Inevitably Experiences

Every city has its charms and traps when it comes to traveling. However, some cities are more known for their tourist traps than others. In a popular thread on a social media platform, travelers were asked which cities they believed to be the biggest tourist traps. Here are the top 10 cities that made the list.

“Watch Your Wallet” 10 Tourist Traps Everyone Inevitably Experiences