Travelling nowadays is easier than ever. Flight times to faraway destinations are decreasing and with social media always at the ready we get inspired all the time. I find a lot of my travel inspiration from social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. It is an amazing way to discover future destinations and do research on where you are going!
In general I hardly ever travel to the same place twice. Even if I loved it, I tend to go to a new place next time. The world is so big and there is so much to see! I’ve done a quick round up of the top 3 places that I’d love to revisit again – so you know it’s actually a place worth visiting! Also in this list I have included 3 places I wouldn’t necessarily choose to travel to again. These are examples of times where I have travelled somewhere and it has sadly disappointed me! Of course I’ll explain to you why so you can decide for yourself.
Places I’d love to revisit:
Cornwall, UK
I spent some time in Cornwall a couple years ago and was absolutely astounded by how beautiful it was. I was there in early summer and the weather was gorgeous, the entire county seemed very Mediterranean. One morning we went out on a sailboat and were lucky enough to see some dolphins which made the experience even more special.
If you are looking for a location that is not necessarily far from home but feels like it is: Cornwall might be the one for you. There are beautiful walking paths around the area, of course lots of water sports and plenty of nice hotels and campsites. And there are some quirky National Trust accommodations I’d like to try out!
Don’t be fooled though, as Cornwall is right in the tip of the country I always find it harder to get to than I think it is! My good friend is from Cornwall but lives in London and flies over when she goes to visit family! This is because the train is often really expensive and it’s a very long drive..
Marrakesh, Morocco
My visit to Marrakesh really opened my eyes in different aspects. From the vibrant colours to the flavourful food – for me Marrakesh really has it all. Although I would love to explore more places in Morocco and other nearby countries, I would definitely love to go back to Marrakesh and explore more.
The old town is a must-visit. You won’t be able to properly experience Marrakesh without immersing yourself in the old town. Enjoy a peppermint tea whilst watching people go by and walk around to explore the history of this fantastic place. I understand it is not for everyone as it is a touristy place, but I did thoroughly enjoy the Jardin Majorelle. Those blue, green and yellow colours are breathtaking – they really stand out perfectly with the sunny backdrop!
Switzerland
Oh, Switzerland… I don’t even know where to start! I’ve been to Switzerland multiple times and I think it is one of my favourite countries in Europe, if not the world. The snow-capped mountains and the fresh air combined with the bustling cities and friendly people is just perfect for me. Switzerland is gorgeous both in winter and in summer. In the winter of course for snow sports and refuelling lunches (cheese fondue) on top of the piste, in the summer for the hiking and sunbathing in the mountains.
Fair enough, it is an expensive country. There are lots of countries nearby where you would pay half the price for the same sort of environment. But I just love how Switzerland – this landlocked European country – has a bit of a different culture than the rest of Europe.
Those I wouldn’t choose again:
Venice, Italy
I have to admit that it has been a while since I have been to Venice. They have recently started managing their over-crowding and tourism problems so if you plan your visit now it might actually be better.
When I visited Venice it was quite a hard city to get to: you basically have to take a boat to get there. This is of course still the case, so beware of this if you are thinking of going. I found the city itself really quite dirty to be honest. Maybe we were unlucky and arrived on bin-day, but there were bin bags everywhere. And I mean everywhere: along every street there was rubbish!
Of course Venice is one of the most over-crowded places in the world. This means that all the restaurants, bars and hotels have steep prices and are very busy. We were having a lot of trouble finding a spot to have a quick pizza, not what you need when you need fuel for sightseeing! Again: maybe it was just a bad personal experience, but I wouldn’t rush to get back there.
Paris, France
Oui, Paris… I really wanted to love it you know. Sadly it’s not a place I would quickly return to again. I know what you’re thinking: ‘Paris? What’s not to love?’, but hear me out!
Just like Venice I found Paris disappointingly dirty. There was quite a lot of rubbish on the streets which didn’t help in enjoying my experience of the city. In general I found the city quite ‘grey’, I was hoping for a bit more colour on the buildings! Maybe I missed the cool and trendy areas of the city where this is a thing – so please let me know if you have suggestions!
Also, when going to some of the different markets in the city I saw a lot of animal cruelty like birds and bunnies in small cages ready to be sold. Personally I found this really hard to see! This is of course down to your personal opinion and they are working on changing legislation around these markets, but it might be something to be aware of.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
I went to Dubai on a work trip and this was the only reason I went there – I would have never chosen the destination myself. Don’t get me wrong, I understand people visiting Dubai on their way to/from Asia. But other than that I don’t see the charm about this place. When I travel I want to explore the rich history of a place and everything the country and their residents is about. Old plaques on random houses, museums with national treasures and family run restaurants that have been going for years and years.
Sadly, I felt Dubai doesn’t have anything like this. It tries to be a Middle-Eastern place with a rich culture as well as a party-destination like Ibiza at the same time. For me it fails at both. I find it hard to support a place that doesn’t care about its’ people: we saw hundreds of workers asphalting a new road in 50 degree (celsius) heat without any sun protection – sadly it often happens that people get hurt. Read this Telegraph article if you want to know more, it’s very harsh but an interesting read.
Without going too much on a political rant: I’ve had many of chats about this with friends and family members and some argue that any country you visit might have things you don’t support. Does that still mean you would never visit? For example, in Switzerland same-sex marriage is illegal. I don’t agree with this, but have still put it in the above list of places I’d love to revisit! When it comes to travel it is hard to navigate and what to support. Do legalisations of a country decide whether you visit or not?
