A woman who has traveled extensively, visiting over 30 countries, shared her experience of feeling unsafe in one particular nation.
As Gen Z and millennials increasingly adopt a straightforward travel trend to save money in 2026, budget travel has reached an unprecedented level of popularity.
A young traveler anonymously shared on Reddit her journey of visiting nearly 40 countries on a limited budget by the age of 22.
In the ‘AMA’ forum, she described: “I’m lucky enough to be Australian. Born in Sydney, moved to the US for 9 years, in Melbourne since then (except 1 year in Estonia).
“In Melbourne, it’s common to have a job from 14yr9mo, so I had 4 years to save up as much money as I could and travel as soon as I graduated high school. I’m deeply interested in nature, culture, architecture, and language in particular.”
She mentioned her backpacking adventures across Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Romania, and the Netherlands, along with visits to the Middle East, the Americas, and the popular tourist routes in Southeast Asia.
While she has embraced new cultures and met wonderful people, there is one European country where she felt unsafe.
Sharing her experience, she said: “Honestly, Bulgaria. I wasn’t there long so I don’t pretend to have a deep knowledge of the country, but as a young female tourist, that was scary.
“I’ve never seen anything like the poverty I saw in Bulgaria – not even in Southeast Asia. Whilst that’s sad, not scary, it did explain the sketchy vibe and attempts at theft/robbery.”
She described how some buildings were ‘missing floors’, and it was not unusual for homes to have ‘dirt floors’.
Moreover, she encountered people following her at night and even during the day.
“Being afraid to walk anywhere, even in a group, but being afraid to catch public transport or taxis because of other experiences,” she added.
Although she acknowledges the beauty of the Bulgarian people, she advises against visiting the Balkan country, especially for solo travelers.
In 2024, Drew Binsky, who has toured every country, shared another unnerving destination to be cautious of.
“Back in 2018, I spent time in N’Djamena, Chad’s capital, and largest city. Never in my life have I been more scared, threatened, or attacked (both verbally and physically) than I was in that hot, dusty, and beaten-down, deserted city,” the YouTuber explained.
Drew continued: “I was involved in a disastrous police chase on a motorbike and was attacked by over a dozen people for trying to take a photo. If it wasn’t for my 6’6” local friend (AKA Bodyguard), then I’m not sure I would have made it out of that country alive – no joke!
“The lessons I learned from my experience there are the following: always ask before taking a photo of anyone, avoid crowds, including any demonstrations or protests.”