Worst Places to Take a Vacation

There are hundreds of wonderful destinations to take a vacation spread out all over the world. But not all places are going to great to take a vacation, here are a few destinations that are wort skiping:

North Korea

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when someone mentions North Korea? A xenophobic dictator keeping his people in the Stone Age? How about a tourist hotspot? No? Well, that’s because only a handful of “western” tourists are authorized to visit North Korea, and even then, only on very restricted terms.

Although The Democratic (irony here?) People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) boasts of beautiful natural scenery and a reportedly very-low crime rate, foreboding concerns run rampant. One sign that the north might not be ready for international tourist appeal is a July 2008 incident during which a North Korean soldier shot a South Korean tourist near Mount Kumgang, a DPRK mountain resort.

The United States doesn’t maintain any kind of embassy there, and so U.S. citizens have to rely on the Swedish consulate for diplomatic assistance. Furthermore, the U.S. State Department warns that your phones, faxes, hotel rooms, personal possessions, and even you are subject to extensive searches at any time. Not to mention, taking pictures, interacting with the local population, or participating in religious activities could make you a criminal.

New York

Ah, the Big Apple: the glitzy, glamorous, city that never sleeps. New York may be the epicenter of some very important dealings in the world, but as a tourist destination, its appeal is WAY overrated.

The novelty of everyone being rude wears off quickly as you will be pushed by strangers in public and looked at with utter disgust if, guffaw, you happen to be carrying a map or tour pamphlet. Victorian manners aren’t necessary, but every shred of courtesy was purged from this city long ago.

Many of those who live and work in NYC carry with them the too-cool-for-the-world attitude, which will explain the condescending looks you get from your 70-pound waiter who has to deliver one plate at a time because “emaciation is in this summer.”

Sure, there are tons of historic landmarks and famous places to see, but they’re over-crowded, over-priced, and over-rated. Plus, there really isn’t a good time of year to visit; the summer is sweltering and winter is wet and cold.

Mexico

For those who aren’t visiting family in Mexico, going south of the border used to mean spring break, cheap vacations, and just a general sense of getting away from it all. Lately, however, that sense of hospitality is becoming a sense of hostility as violence has increased significantly over the years.

As drug gangs have gained multi-billionaire status funded by “The American War on Drugs” they have also spent a great deal of that defending their empires. Now, an arms race is underway between rival gangs and the police, sometimes erupting in public places.

Just this summer, travel advisories were issued for Nuevo Laredo – a Mexican city just across the Texas border – because drug gangs were using grenades against Mexican army troops and carjacking vehicles on the nearby highway.

Also, the U.S. State Department says there are dozens of unsolved kidnappings of U.S. citizens throughout Mexico. Suddenly the economic benefits of visiting Mexico are being outweighed by the risks of violence.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro has long invoked images of sandy beaches and beautiful women. However, over the years, the darker side of Rio has come into the light: wretched slums, miserable poverty, and street violence. Although the city is slated to host highly lauded international events – the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 summer Olympics – it still has a lot of ground to gain in making tourists feel safe.

Just as recently as Aug. 22, 2010, a gun battle between gangs and police spilled in to the Intercontinental Hotel, a very popular resort for foreign tourists. The gang managed to take employees and guests hostage, staging a standoff with the police that ended only after a firefight killed one gang member and wounded other gang members and police.

This event has even been rumored to stir up second thoughts amongst the crew of the latest “Twilight” saga movie that was planning on shooting some scenes in Rio. Ooh, even the undead are staying away.

Death Valley

The single virtue of Death Valley seems to be the scenery. Vast landscapes of barren earth surround visitors exposing beautiful color palettes of the desert.

Behind all that lies a rather uneventful, exploitative history. The first people to settle in Death Valley after the Native Americans were Americans looking to mine gold and borax. And then, of course, there were a few innocent Japanese folks temporarily interned in Death Valley, moved from their WWII internment camp during a riot.

And now, the National Park Service is trying to turn people on to the wondrous offerings of the lowest, driest, hottest place in the United States? That might be a tough sell.

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