Nearly every traveler has a bucket list full of places around the globe they can’t wait to visit. Perhaps it will take a lifetime to complete, but that’s part of the fun, right?
What isn’t fun is arriving at a dream location and having an experience that leaves a lot to be desired. The actual attraction might live up to the hype, but the surrounding city, rude locals, or dirty wildlife leaves you questioning your decision to visit.
An experience like this might leave you thinking, “Why didn’t someone warn me?”
So here’s your warning. All of the attractions on this list are amazing, life- changing experiences that you shouldn’t miss. However, these are some occupational hazards to look out for while you’re there.
Macchu Picchu
Macchu Picchu is beautiful, what you can’t see are the mosquitos. (Photo: Brittany Jones-Cooper)
Simply put, Macchu Picchu does not disappoint. After taking planes, trains, and buses (while battling altitude sickness), most travelers are pretty exhausted by the time they reach the ancient Incan settlement. Still, one look at the ruins, and it’s clear that the view is worth the journey.
With that said, it’s not all sunshine and roses once you’re there. Macchu Picchu is located in the middle of the rainforest and is home to some of the most aggressive mosquitos you’ll ever encounter. Even if you spray repellant all over your body, they will find the one place you’re unprotected and attack. The surprising thing about these mosquitos is that they are different than the ones you have at home. This means that you might be allergic to their saliva, and you just might have allergic reaction.
Case and point: our editor Brittany Jones-Cooper didn’t spray about an inch of skin around her ankles and received nearly 20 bites. Her feet and ankles swelled up, and she couldn’t walk without intense pain for about three days.
Was it worth it? Of course. Did she wish someone would have warned her to wear tall socks? Yes!
Swimming pigs of Exuma
Swim with the Exuma pigs at your own risk. (Photo: iStock)
On its own, the Exuma islands in the Bahamas are a wonderful destination. There’s sun, beaches, and all of the fruity drinks your little heart desires. But for many, those things are only secondary attractions.
Real travelers come for the pigs.
That’s right, the Exuma Islands are the only place in the world where you can swim with pigs. The marine activity takes place on Pig Island, where a family of swine happily swims alongside tourists. It’s weird, it’s quirky, and it’s awesome.
However, all of this fun comes with one smelly problem — the pigs poop in the water. After browsing through a few TripAdvisor reviews, we discovered that this complaint was filed over and over again by tourists. In nearly every case, the water was clear, the pigs were swimming, but there was poop everywhere. Yuck!
Riding a horse in the ocean looks exotic, but it leaves a lot to be desired. (Photo: Thinkstock)
Ah, Mustique, an exclusive and magical island in the Grenadines. The entire place feels luxurious — with private resorts, five-star dining, and beautiful beaches.
Riding horses is an amazing way to see the island, and visitors are often seen trotting up the hills and along the shore.
But like our little friends on Pig Island, when an animal has to go…it has to go.
Our editor Paula Froelich experienced this first-hand when she visited the island in 2014. While riding her trusty steed in the water, she was shocked when the horse in front of her relieved itself.
“Just then Liz’s horse, who was in front of me, took a dump,” Froelich wrote. “A large floaty one that went on my pants and into my Wellies.”
So no, riding horses through the water isn’t as glamorous as it seems. Perhaps just relaxing on the beach will have to be enough.
The Old City of Jerusalem
An old city with some very new problems. (Photo: iStock)
Walking through the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City is a moment many wait their entire lives for. The magical feeling this area possess is undeniable, and the history can be felt in the stone walls and ancient architecture.
But while the experience might be spiritual, some of the locals don’t have the best morals. A scan through Trip Advisor reviews reveals an ugly money scheme that has been targeting tourists for years.
The scheme deals with cash exchange, and Yahoo Travel editor Jo Piazza experienced it first-hand. While visiting the Old City, she attempted to use a nearby ATM. That’s when man at a cash exchange jumped in and told her that she had to exchange her money with him. Of course this was a lie, and she ended up spending an extra $20.
While the dishonesty of a few isn’t enough to ruin the entire trip, it can certainly leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Angkor Wat is a truly miraculous site, if you can get past the panhandlers. (Photo: iStock)
Without a doubt, Angkor Wat is one of the most important archaeological sites on Earth. The remains come from different capitals of the Khmer Empire and date back to the 9th century. This spiritual place is important for both religious and symbolic reasons, and that importance remains imprinted on all who visit.
What no one tells you is that the entire archeological complex is surrounded by aggressive panhandlers who tug at your heart strings while emptying your wallet.
According to previous visitors, little children are sent to the ruins to sell bracelets to tourists. Many of these little girls are very poor, young, and refuse to take no for an answer until you give them money.
It’s important to help others, but the pressure to give money to everyone can certainly distract from the surrounding beauty.
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