Not sure about your next travel destination? There are several lists of highlights Best places of the year, but there are those who say where not to go! Over-tourism, pollution, political instability, natural disasters… just a few places you should avoid traveling to in the coming months!
1. Paris, France: Consider the Olympics
It’s no big surprise that the City of Lights will be hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, causing many headaches for tourists and residents alike. With more than 11 million visitors expected, this unique event will complicate travel and, above all, guarantee additional costs for your vacation in Paris.
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First, expect increased security around popular destinations and the possibility of last-minute closures. To access some areas, you must have a free QR code, “Games Pass”, of course, if you haven’t got a ticket to the Olympic events, we are talking here specifically about the banks of the Seine, Grand Palais, Champ-de-Mars, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Trocadero via Invalides and many other places.
You will notice the tourist tax in the final payment for your hotel stay. While this is typical, overnight overnight stays have tripled during this period, meaning a higher bill.
2. Bogotá, Colombia: Water scarcity
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Located in the Andes mountain range, the Colombian capital is very interesting to visit; However, for several weeks, a major water shortage has forced residents and visitors to reduce their consumption. In some parts of the city, the cuts are numerous and long, so a tanker truck supplies water to companies on demand. This failure can be attributed to the El Niño climate phenomenon, which causes a significant drop in the capital’s reserves. The recently implemented measures have forced water cuts every 10 days in various parts of the city until normalcy returns, affecting visitors and residents alike.
Other Latin American cities, such as Koh Samui in Thailand, and some popular islands around the world, are experiencing the same kind of scarcity on a more or less large scale.
3. Venice, Italy: Most day visitors
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Venice, the famous and wonderful city of Dax, has been in the news for years for its overtourism that causes widespread discontent among its people. To counter this phenomenon, the new tax is being tested this summer on 29 selected days between April and July. The entrance fee is 5 euros and is valid for the historical center of Venice and applies to day visitors. Officials hope to reduce the number of tourists on peak days and encourage people to stay in the city longer. From 2021, cruise ships are banned from entering the lagoon and must now dock at the industrial port.
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4. Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland: Intense volcanic activity
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A volcanic eruption is a very remarkable natural spectacle and Iceland has seen more than one, especially on the Reykjanes Peninsula. 33 volcanoes are considered active in the land of fire and ice, with 6 eruptions in 3 years. Although residents prepare for these types of events ahead of strong earthquakes, the last eruption in February 2024 closed many roads and the famous Blue Lagoon.
Iceland is open to tourists who want to explore its natural beauty, but the reality is that your trip can be disrupted by unexpected closures, flight delays, and cancellations and evacuations.
5. Ibiza and Mallorca, Spain: The party is over
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Popular party destinations Ibiza and Mallorca want to change things up. Since mid-May, the authorities have wanted to curb mass tourism and, above all, reduce the number of excesses caused by excessive alcohol consumption. In 2020, the Happy hourType actions Pub crawl And ads on 2-for-1 drinks have already been banned. The new rules now ban the sale of alcohol between 9:30pm and 8:30am and apply up to 2 kilometers from the beach, aimed at avoiding drunken parties on boats. Fines for reneging companies or individuals vary from €500 to €3,000. This may not be a reason to abandon these paradise islands, but a smart traveler is worth two!
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