Lists of must-see destinations are everywhere, but one seasoned traveler has highlighted a handful of places he says he wouldn’t rush back to.
That traveler is Oliver Browne, a mountaineer from Hampshire in the UK who has spent years circling the globe in search of adventure.
After visiting 105 countries, Browne said only four left him unimpressed enough that he’d choose to avoid returning.
With summer travel planning underway, his shortlist may surprise some would-be vacationers—especially given the popularity of a few of the locations mentioned.
In Browne’s view, Antigua, Bahrain, New York, and Singapore are places he doesn’t plan to revisit anytime soon.
New York—often sold as the ultimate city break? Bahrain, known for heat and sunshine? And Singapore, celebrated for its striking green architecture?
Still, speaking to MetroUK, Browne explained: “I don’t want to be disparaging about anywhere, but they aren’t for me.”
On Antigua, the Caribbean island, he pointed to what he described as ‘flat, ageing hotels’ as a major downside.
As for New York, he said the extremes of weather don’t suit him—along with the constant crowds and intensity the city is known for.
He also described Singapore as being ‘fiendishly hot’, despite its reputation for lush urban greenery, while Bahrain, in his experience, ‘feels a bit run down’.
Browne is also the founder and CEO of True Summit adventures, and he credits a long history of travel for shaping what he considers a worthwhile trip. His interest in exploring began in his 20s and quickly expanded into more ambitious journeys.
On his company’s website, it states he started out as a solo traveler, traveling through Mozambique at 18, ‘in the aftermath of the civil war and flooding’.
Since those early trips, his travels have taken him to destinations including Argentina, Barbados, South Africa, and Pakistan.
In 2019, he relocated to Ecuador to ‘pursue his dream of being a high altitude mountaineer’, a move that helped cement his career around expedition travel.
When it comes to his top recommendations, Browne told Metro that Skerjevoy in Norway stands out as his favorite, thanks to the chance to see orcas.
He also highlighted Valbone, Albania, citing the scenery of the Albanian Alps.
Other places he singled out include the Rwenzori mountains in Uganda, Palawan in the Philippines, Antisana in Ecuador, and Mongolia’s Altai Mountains.