Five Ways To Avoid Tourist Traps: The Sites You Can MIss

THESE FIVE SITES HAVE BEEN BUILT UP AS MUST SEE PLACES IN EUROPE. HOWEVER, THE REALITY IS THAT THEY FAIL TO MEASURE UP TO THE HYPE.

Stonehenge, UK

Famous and beautiful, they promise spiritual awakening and mystery. The stones are huge and mythical and a sight to behold.

Problem: You can't touch them or get near them.There's no museum to explain their significance and history. The weather elements are rough and there aren't protection against them like outdoor rotunda's. The visitor facilities are limited.

Petra,Jordan

Rising out of rose-red sandstone in a hidden valley is the city of Petra, Jordan’s top attraction. The city comprises tombs, temples, storerooms and stables cut out of the rock. There was a highly successful empire of selling frankincense during the Arab 3rd century BC.

Problem:Because of the huge popularity of the site/city, the town has had a population boom and become a crowded tourist attraction. The town has out-sized the historic site, and overshadows it's beauty.

The Collosseum, Rome

Tourists have been enthusing about the Colosseum since the 18th-century Grand Tour of Europe, which the English elite had popularized. It is said to take your breath away and be a place to be ingrained in your mind forever.

Problem:It is too crowded and overwhelmed with tourists and those hoping to make a living off the tourists. The traffic is horrendous, and the actual building is off limits due to preservation requirements. Crime is high due to those pick-pocketing tourists.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Possibly South America’s most-promoted destination, it has held the top spot for travellers eager to see the majesty of the Inca for several years.

Problem: The journey is far from pleasant. The entrance fee is 25 Euros. Add to this the round-trip train fare to the village at the foot of the mountain (the most common means of transport from Cusco), the bus fare from here to the site, plus the food and water you’ll need during the day, and you’re well above 100 Euros before you’ve even set foot in Machu Picchu. There is also a daily limit of how many people can be allowed to visit the Machu Picchu.

Angkor, Cambodia

Home of some of the most awe-inspiring Buddhist monuments in South Asia, the site is memorable and paddy fields are crystal clear and inviting.

Problem:Like most popular tourist destinations, it is crowded and challenging to circumnavigate around the city. The temples were designed for peace and quiet, but ironically, it's anything but that now.

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