Travel CEO's Controversial Warning on Europe's 'Overrated' Hotspots
A well-travelled CEO has issued a stark warning to British tourists, urging them to steer clear of three classic European cities which he describes as overrated and plagued by locals who resent visitors. Francis Hellyer, the founder and CEO of tickadoo, boasts of having "been everywhere twice" and holds strong opinions on which popular destinations are best avoided.
The Three Cities to Think Twice About
Francis Hellyer did not hold back when sharing his views with the Mirror, pinpointing Paris, Venice, and Amsterdam as the primary culprits for disappointing travel experiences.
On the French capital, Hellyer was particularly scathing. "Unless you enjoy paying €15 for terrible coffee while dodging selfie sticks at the Eiffel Tower. The locals hate you, the metro smells like regret, and don't get me started on Gare du Nord," he stated. His criticism is echoed by some visitors, with one Reddit user complaining about rude encounters and subpar food, claiming London offers superior cuisine.
This disillusionment can be extreme for some. The phenomenon known as Paris Syndrome is a severe form of culture shock documented among Japanese tourists, who can experience profound psychological distress when the city's reality fails to match their idealised media-fueled expectations. Despite this, Paris saw a post-pandemic high of 48.7 million visitors in 2024.
When it comes to Venice, Hellyer quipped that the city in summer is "basically Disneyland with pigeons." This sentiment is shared by the anonymous creators of the protest Instagram page 'Venice is not Disneyland', who started the account to highlight inappropriate tourist behaviour. "A very common one is taking a bath in the canals!" the page's creator told Spotted by Locals, explaining that the water is unsafe, dirty, and that canals are active transportation routes, making bathing dangerous.
As for Amsterdam, Hellyer reduced its appeal to "stag dos and overpriced chips." The Dutch capital, with a population of 800,000, grapples with up to 20 million annual visitors. In response to overtourism and rowdy behaviour, authorities have taken significant steps. Public smoking of marijuana and drinking are illegal, and photographing sex workers in the Red Light District is prohibited. In 2023, the city council banned cruise ships from its city centre and launched a digital "stay-away" campaign aimed at young British men, discouraging visits centred around drugs and alcohol. A portion of chips in Amsterdam typically costs between €3.50 and €6.50.
Better Alternatives for Your Next Trip
Fortunately, Hellyer's travel expertise isn't all negative. He enthusiastically recommends several European cities as superior alternatives to the crowded classics.
His top picks include:
- Prague: "All the beauty of Paris, half the price, triple the beer quality. Try the fried cheese."
- Porto: "Lisbon's cooler older brother who doesn't need to show off. Proper city. Great locals."
- Cardiff: "Yes, Cardiff. Arcades, castle, rugby, brilliant nights out. Fight me."
- Ljubljana: "Slovenia's capital that nobody can pronounce but everyone falls in love with. Like a fairytale that serves excellent wine."
- Birmingham: "Genuinely. More canals than Venice, curry better than Bradford, and they've finally sorted the Bullring out."
- Ghent: "Bruges without the coach parties. Medieval as hell, students keep it lively."
- Split: "Where Romans built a palace and Croatians turned it into the world's best bar crawl."
