A seasoned traveler who has journeyed to 170 countries has shared her experiences of the five least impressive destinations she has visited.
Lauren Heavner, much like other travel influencers such as Drew Binsky and Lexie Limitless, has crafted a career on social media by sharing her travel experiences.
Having already explored 170 nations, Lauren is only 25 countries away from having visited every country in the world.
With such an extensive travel history, it’s no surprise that she has encountered destinations that didn’t quite meet her expectations.
In a TikTok video under the username @laurenheav, Lauren revealed her five least favorite travel spots.
Monaco, known for its luxury and opulence, is not a place Lauren plans to revisit anytime soon.
“It just doesn’t have much of a culture. It’s impossible to walk around the streets and see anything,” she commented in the video.
Even though she has visited Monaco ‘at least 20 times’, Lauren clearly isn’t charmed by the lavish microstate.
She shared with the Daily Mail, “The thing about Monaco, the bitter pill you can’t quite swallow, is that it’s unapologetically built for the ultra-rich. Every time I’m there, I’m confronted by my place in the food chain. Just someone passing through, acutely aware of what I don’t have.
“It’s not even subtle, either. Monaco whispers it to you through every overpriced glass of wine, every gleaming yacht, every diamond-studded wristwatch you pass on the street.”
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Lauren’s experience in Malaysia, particularly in Kuala Lumpur and the Batu Caves, left something to be desired.
In her interview with the Daily Mail, Lauren said, “I was there with a group of friends. It was one of those punishingly hot, humid days where even breathing felt like work.
“We were all in shorts, naturally. But then came the rules: women had to be covered – no knees, no shoulders. Men? ‘Yeah, come as you are, it doesn’t matter’.
“Typical. A small army of women at the entrance of the steps leading up to the ‘cave’ were forcing us to buy $15 long skirts to cover our bodies. All nine of us bought one, begrudgingly draped ourselves and trudged up the steps.”
Ghana, particularly its capital city Accra, also made it to Lauren’s list of countries she wouldn’t recommend.
Reflecting on her experience, Lauren recounted feeling ‘unease’ while in Accra.
“I wandered the streets of Accra on my own for a while. But it didn’t take long before unease crept in,” she explained to the Mail. “The chaos, the unfamiliarity, it’s not the kind of place that coddles a lone outsider. I felt slightly on guard.
“Maybe it was paranoia, maybe it was instinct – but either way, I retreated after only a short time of wandering solo.”
When it comes to Canada, Lauren’s perception is influenced by its familiarity, which she finds somewhat uninspiring.
“It’s familiar to the point of feeling predictable. The same big-box stores, the same general vibe – just with better manners and a lot more Tim Hortons,” she commented.
Lastly, Paris, despite being a top destination for tourists worldwide, did not win Lauren’s favor, as she described it as ‘overrated’.
“Please don’t come for me, I am so scared to say this,” she admitted on TikTok.
Elaborating to the Daily Mail, she added, “Let’s just say France isn’t exactly known for rolling out the red carpet for outsiders. There’s a certain coolness, a guardedness that can feel like a wall if you’re not prepared for it.”