Embarking on a global trip, have you ever imagined drinking Champagne atop the famous Eiffel Tower, reaching the top of Mount Everest, or relishing the warm glow of the sun as it sets over the stupendous Pyramids? When someone really wants to travel, these dreams can be what drives them to go on trips all over the world in search of adventures they will never forget.
However, the harsh truth often differs a lot from these romantic travel dreams. Instead of living up to standards, some of the world's most sought-after travel experiences can turn into anything from mild disappointments to complete travel nightmares. Do not worry, though, because beyond these possible problems lie many interesting places waiting to be found and explored.
Climbing The Eiffel Tower
Just picture this: my soon-to-be ex-boyfriend and I are drinking champagne atop the Eiffel Tower. A heated fight about wasting valuable hours of our Parisian adventure waiting in endless lines to climb the famous building led to the impending breakup.
We tried to climb the tower several times over the course of ten days in May, but there were lines that were too long for me to stand in. Thousands of other people were already in line, whether it was early or late.
After a terrible three-hour wait for tickets on the last day, we had to walk up the tower because the line for the elevators was even longer. As a tip, choose to see the view from Montmartre, and if you can afford it, think about "skipping the line" trips.
Hiking Mount Everest
When someone wants to climb Mount Everest, they picture the highest point in the world surrounded by pristine snowy hills. During peak seasons, however, the paths going to and around Everest are crowded with tourists, making it hard to enjoy the stunning views.
Seeing The Pyramids
Going to Egypt to see the Pyramids comes with its own set of problems. Dodging cab drivers who are trying to scam tourists who aren't paying attention is part of the trouble of getting to the spot.
There are a lot of persistent sellers and tour guides pushing useless goods and tours, which can be overwhelming. A good way to avoid annoying requests is to hire a private guide ahead of time.
Viewing The Mona Lisa
A common theme amongst these bucket-list spots is the people, which can sometimes make the beauty of the place itself less noticeable. It's crazy when so many people rush to see the famous Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris.
Similar problems happen when people try to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat; the huge number of tourists with cameras takes away from the beauty of the moment.
Visiting Angkor Wat For The Sunrise
The guidebooks, the guides, and your hipster pals who are knowledgeable about these things all say, "You've got to see Angkor at sunrise." and you'd be right.
You get up at four in the morning, hail a tuk-tuk driver to take you there, and then wait in the dark with three thousand other sleepy tourists who have also been swindled.
Angkor Wat is magnificent and impressive, but thousands of flashing camera bulbs lighting up the sleep-deprived faces of monks standing in line to make people's photos look more "authentic" isn't very majestic.
Midday, when it's a million degrees and mostly shaded, is the best time to visit Angkor without the throng. While you're out there working up a sweat, you might find some peace and quiet in the old temples.
Plus, that is an unforgettable experience that should be on every traveller's bucket list.
In this travel story, the allure of destinations often clashes with the problems that come with too many people. The story stresses how important it is to plan ahead and try new things in order to have the world’s most sought-after travel experiences.
This is brought to you by The Wise Traveller, who gives you advice on what to do and not to do when you travel and offers cheap one-time payment plans that protect you from unforeseen circumstances all year long.
Before you go on your trip, make sure that each place on your dream list turns into a memorable experience that you will never forget.
Brought to you by The Wise Traveller
