I’m a Professional Travel Writer — and These Are the Places I’d Never Go Back To

I’ve dedicated most of my adult life to traveling, checking off over 40 countries and territories (five of which I’ve lived in). Most of my experiences have been overwhelmingly magical, mostly because there is always something wonderful about every place on Earth … well, almost every place. 

Though I firmly believe in going back to destinations again and again and again, there are a few places that I wouldn’t visit more than once. Sure, they all have good qualities but, overall, the experience is just not worth it. 

Here’s my controversial but honest list of places I’d recommend people skip.

Morocco is an undeniable cool place where I had some of the best travel experiences of my life. But while the medinas and souks and arid hills are wonderful, I would never again find myself alone in the country. 

I was with friends on my two-week trip here, but spent my last day in Tangier alone and the level of harassment was overwhelming. It was probably the only time I have felt that I couldn’t wait for a trip to be over. While harassment sadly happens everywhere, Morocco is the worst I’ve ever experienced. If you’re a female traveler, think twice about visiting solo. 

Copenhagen is a worthy destination … for a single visit. There isn’t anything really bad that I can say about it. On the contrary, the waterfront Nyhavn district, the palaces and the museums were all great. It’s just that once you’ve done them, there isn’t much to bring you back to the city. 

That and the food is expensive and not very good — despite what the Michelin Guide wants us to believe. 

Let me clarify that I absolutely think Ghana is an incredible destination. The food is amazing, the people are some of the friendliest I’ve ever encountered and the colonial castles and palaces that were used to hold enslaved people are an invaluable reminder of one of the darkest chapters of human history. 

But despite all of this, pollution in the capital is worse than almost anywhere I’ve been. It’s not just air pollution, but also street and water pollution. I saw cows graze on a field of plastic and the sand in the Jamestown fishing harbor covered in waste. Though there are great spots to visit in Accra, pollution is a huge issue that affects locals and, to a lesser extent, travelers. 

The Yucatan Peninsula is one of the most beautiful places on Earth — and also one of the worst examples of overtourism. Blessed with corals, clear blue water, jungles, underground sinkholes and Maya ruins, the area is a gem. But its many charms have attracted too much development and now the road that connects Cancun to Tulum is lined with endless hotels and luxury apartment complexes. 

Cancun is the worst place in the area (especially its hotel zone). I would recommend everyone visit Yucatan but stay as far away from Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum as possible.