Lucas Brancatisano, a 29-year-old from Melbourne, has identified 10 travel destinations he would not revisit after a two-year, 60-country global journey that cost over $70,000. Brancatisano, who saved money by working in sales for his trip, detailed his experiences and reasons for avoiding these locations in a social media video.
Cancún, Mexico, was one of the most criticized destinations. Brancatisano expressed sadness about placing it on his "never again" list, given his general fondness for Mexico and its people. However, he described Cancún as a "s---hole" that exemplified everything he dislikes about over-touristed areas, particularly the prevalence of all-inclusive resorts, which he felt detracted from the authentic Mexican experience.
Phuket, Thailand, also failed to impress Brancatisano. He found it overcrowded and expensive, stating it "didn't live up to the hype" and that he "didn't fall in love with it at all." He suggested alternative Thai locations like Koh Tao or Krabi as superior choices.
In Vietnam, Mui Ne was flagged as a place to "skip entirely." Brancatisano cited its relatively high cost compared to other parts of Vietnam, its "disgusting" water, and a lack of authentic local interaction, calling it a beach town with sand dunes that offered little value.
Uyuni, Bolivia, was described as a "tip" and a place "time forgot." Despite its popularity for the salt flats, Brancatisano noted the presence of "rubbish everywhere" and felt the town was underdeveloped, expressing a desire not to return.
Cala d’Or, a resort town on Mallorca, Spain, was criticized for being overly geared towards British tourists, featuring "tiki bars" and a general atmosphere he felt was detrimenal to the local character. While acknowledging the beach's beauty, he found the main town's offerings unappealing.
Brancatisano also listed New Delhi, India, as a place he would not return to, citing sensory overload from heavy traffic, pollution, and noise as overwhelming. He contrasted this with other parts of India he found enjoyable.
León, Nicaragua, was described as "sweaty and it's dangerous at night." Although he acknowledged the appeal of volcano boarding there and enjoyed Nicaragua overall, he stated he would "never go back" to León specifically.
Oia, Santorini, was called Brancatisano's "definition of hell" due to summer crowds, overwhelming numbers of selfie sticks, and the pursuit of identical sunset photos, which he suggested could be viewed online instead of experiencing in person.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, left Brancatisano with a negative impression from a visit many years ago, recalling a "very built-up city with lots of tyre shops and not much going on." He admitted he could be mistaken and open to returning if his memory was inaccurate.
Rounding out the list was Benidorm, Spain, which Brancatisano characterized as "hell" for non-British visitors, noting the prevalence of English breakfast menus and a general atmosphere he found unappealing, advising visitors to reconsider their choices if heading there.