You might believe that posting photos on social media of a picture-perfect sunset, breathtaking skyline, or white sandy beach during a trip will elevate your status or impress your followers. However, according to experts, your glossy vacation snaps may actually come across as tacky, boring, or even cheap simply because of where you decided to go.
There are a slew of popular vacation spots that may seem idyllic and glamorous to you but are actually considered uncool and overdone by many. And if nailing your next holiday destination wasn't tricky enough, there are also numerous travel behaviors that can have you marked as a 'trashy' traveler. Before you book flights and a hotel for your next big trip, you might want to think carefully about the destination... and take a closer look at the tawdry behaviors you ought to avoid so you can truly travel with style and class.
Overdone and Boring: The Algarve
While it might boast of 300 days of sunshine, golden sands, and red cliffs, Portugal's southern coastline is a little has-been, according to experts. Albufeira is the Algarve's most overexposed strip, Flavia Voican, a European travel market analyst and founder of 360 Business Tour, told the Daily Mail. Despite being home to a beautiful and picturesque coastline, she argued that it is 'completely hollowed out by [bachelor] parties.' Voican also pointed out that the area offers numerous all-inclusive packages, which you could get anywhere. In 2024, the Algarve was named the top destination for a bargain break in Europe, overtaking Sunny Beach in Bulgaria in the Post Office Travel Money's annual report.
Uncool and Cheap: Albania
Albania has fast become one of Europe's top tourist destinations thanks to the crystal-clear waters and golden beaches on the coast. Capital city Tirana has also grown in popularity due to its affordability and buzzy atmosphere. According to Voican, the city has been aggressively marketed as 'the new cool' on every budget travel platform, but she insisted that it's actually losing appeal. Because Tirana is being pushed so hard, it is currently experiencing a wave of underprepared tourism. As a result, hotels are doubling prices overnight, and restaurants are catering entirely to foreigners. Voican added that the city center 'feels like it's cosplaying as trendy rather than actually being it.'
Tacky and Underwhelming: Dubai
Dubai might be a huge hit with social media influencers, but it has long lost its allure as an exciting and unique travel destination, according to experts. Famed for its luxury shopping, skyscrapers, and being a tax-free haven, it's hard to open Instagram without seeing another ex-reality television star posing in front of the Burj Khalifa. 'Dubai feels more status-driven, flashier, more about showing a certain lifestyle,' Mehdi Fliss, founder of Photo Trips Tokyo, Japan, told the Daily Mail. 'A lot of travelers go there because other people are going there, and because influencers keep pushing the destination, so it becomes a bit of a crowd-following effect.' Fliss said part of the reason Dubai gets a bad reputation is that some visitors barely experience the destination itself. Rather than exploring beyond the hotel, they enjoy the pool, take their pictures, and then go home having seen a very limited side of the place. 'The image of Dubai can become less about curiosity and more about wanting to be seen having fun in the sun while everyone back home is still in winter,' he said.
Culturally Curious: Japan
The experts revealed that those choosing to see the Sakura cherry blossoms in Tokyo's parks or the sacred Shinto temples in Kyoto will likely come across as culturally curious. While it has been a popular destination for quite some time, Japan still seems to have a great reputation for tourists wanting to visit. According to Fliss, people often pick the country as a holiday destination because they are genuinely interested in the place itself rather than just the image attached to it. 'Japan often attracts travelers who want more than a beach club or a luxury hotel,' he said. 'They want a mix of aesthetics, culture, and meaningful experiences, whether that is staying in a ryokan, exploring quieter neighborhoods, or seeking out places that feel more rooted in local identity. They want to explore the food, traditions, local etiquette, temples, neighborhoods, ryokan stays, all the little things that make daily life here feel so different.'
The Disrespectful Tourist Behavior to Avoid on Vacation... or Risk Looking 'Trashy'
The most glaring behaviors that signal as trashy while on vacation include disrespecting locals and lack of self-awareness. Treating local people or neighborhoods like props for content, dressing or acting in ways that ignore the cultural setting, is also terrible travel etiquette. According to travel expert Fliss, being loud or entitled in places that require respect, or showing off money and luxury in a way that feels forced, are also not a good look. 'Another common one is when travelers seem more focused on proving they are having a good time than actually enjoying where they are,' he said. 'Audiences are much more sensitive to that now, and it tends to read as insecure rather than aspirational. To me, the most tasteful travelers are usually the ones who show curiosity, restraint, and a real interest in the place. The least appealing ones are often the ones trying too hard to turn the trip into a performance.'
Get Immersed in Local Culture
Travel blogger Juan Castells stressed the importance of experiencing first-hand the local cuisine, culture, and experience of a holiday destination. Why bother going anywhere if there is no interest or desire to immerse oneself, he pointed out. 'I've seen people eating pizzas in the Himalayas and I've seen tourists in Thailand flock to McDonald's despite being next to several authentic restaurants at a fraction of a price of a Big Mac with definitely tastier options,' he said. This kind of behavior can be considered boring or trashy, and Castells said he is not convinced that this travel experience is a satisfying or interesting one. 'No matter where you go, you can always go back to your favorite fast-food chain back home, so do yourself a favor and immerse yourself in the place that you're visiting. Chances are that you will be greatly surprised!'
Learn Key Phrases
Another terrible travel faux pas comes down to language. Many English-speaking tourists who travel to non-English-speaking countries don't put in the work to learn the language of their vacation destination. Instead, what Castells has seen is tourists who expect locals to communicate fluently in English. In some cases, there's also an expectation to have restaurant menus translated to English and for foreign waiters to understand dietary requirements. 'Whilst it's essential to communicate if you have an allergy or a health requirement, it's up to you to do your homework and have at least some screenshots saved or notes taken about how to say what you cannot have,' he said. '[Also] don't expect to find Wi-Fi everywhere, especially when your health depends on it. In short, go out and explore, but make sure to adapt yourself to the destination as the destination will not necessarily adapt to yourself.'
Plastic-Wrapping Your Suitcase
Plastic-wrapping your suitcase is another huge mistake when it comes to jet-setting. Yannis Moati, founder and CEO of HotelsByDay.com, argued that if you're genuinely worried about belongings getting stolen, you should buy a decent suitcase with a proper lock. 'Come on. Nobody is plotting to rifle through your socks at the carousel,' he told the Daily Mail. 'It's travel paranoia dressed up as security, and meanwhile you've wrapped half a kilo of plastic around something you already own.'
Airport Lounges
Airport lounges aren't all that either, added Moati, who argued that they are 'tired' and packed with 'stale sandwiches, fluorescent lighting, strangers fighting over outlets.' 'For similar money or less, you can book a proper hotel room a few minutes from the terminal: real bed, real shower, room service, and a pool or spa,' he said.
