Latest news with #CarlosLavilla
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Daily Mail
I'm a travel agent - the world's most overrated tourist destination is like visiting a motorway petrol station
It can often be tricky when trying to find a new destination to discover. But a travel agent – who has been jet-setting around the world for the last 30 years - has revealed the places he wouldn't recommend anyone going to visit. Carlos Lavilla, who works for Turama, took to the Spanish holiday company's TikTok to warn the account's 29.7k followers of the 'five tourist destinations that, as a professional travel agent, [he] considers to be the most overrated', and that he 'doesn't usually recommend to [his] customers'. The country in fifth place, for Carlos, is Cape Verde – an archipelago, made up of 10 volcanic islands, in West Africa. Last year, Cape Verde welcomed a record 1.2 million tourists – but Carlos insists it's no replacement for Spain 's Canary Islands. Speaking in Spanish, he says: 'In my opinion, travelling to Cape Verde as an alternative to the Canary Islands is like buying a Fiat Panda thinking you're getting a Ferrari F40. 'No matter how you try to dress it up, there's simply no comparison.' In fourth place was Johannesburg - one of the largest cities in South Africa, and home to plenty of wildlife safaris, as well as the Apartheid Museum. Taking about Johannesburg, South Africa, Carlos says: 'You'll be able to say you were robbed in one of the ugliest cities on Earth' Although many tourists love it there, according to Statista, between 2022 and 2023, Johannesburg experienced more contact crime incidents than any other city – mainly consisting of common assaults. And it's the high crime rate that leaves a sour taste for Carlos, who sneers: 'You'll be able to say you were robbed in one of the ugliest cities on Earth.' Many will be surprised to hear that it's Hawaii in third place on Carlos' list. The reason? There are far 'more interesting' yet similar destinations, says Carlos. He continues: 'With a couple of honourable exceptions (which do exist), Hawaii is the ideal destination for an American retiree, over 70, who has a collection of shirts at home that he doesn't dare to wear anywhere else. 'If that's not your case, I assure you there are much more interesting and far less predictable alternatives.' Next up is South Korea, a country which is predicted to welcome more than 20 million tourists in 2025 – a record-breaking number. But Carlos says you shouldn't bother. He explains: 'South Korea is excessively expensive for what it offers. The treatment of foreign tourists leaves much to be desired. 'I find it bland, insipid, and rather sad. You may return home shrouded in a great depression.' The most overrated destination in the world, for Carlos, is Doha, Qatar – which welcomed a record-breaking 1.5 million international tourists in the first three months of 2025. Despite this, Carlos says visiting Doha is like visiting a 'petrol station in the middle of a motorway'. He adds: 'It's a place where you stop briefly to relieve yourself, grab a quick bite, rest for a few minutes, and then carry on. There's nothing more to it.'
Daily Record
13-07-2025
- Daily Record
'I'm a travel agent and these five destinations are completely overrated'
The travel agent certainly didn't hold back on his review of five tourist hotspots Picking the perfect destination for your holiday is no easy task. But now, a professional travel agent may just help you narrow down your options. Carlos Lavilla, who assists in curating tailor-made trips at Turama, recently took to TikTok to share his insights. After travelling for more than three decades, he warned that some destinations are severely overrated. "These are the five tourist destinations that, as a professional travel agent, I consider to be the most overrated," he told Turama's followers. "And not just as a professional travel agent, but also as an inveterate traveller for more than 30 years, these are the tourist destinations that I don't usually recommend to my customers." No. 5: Cape Verde Counting back from fifth place, Carlos revealed that Cape Verde was among the most overhyped destinations he'd ever been to. The archipelago, situated in the Atlantic Ocean just west of Africa, has long attracted tourists from far and wide. In fact, official statistics suggest that a record-breaking 1.2 million tourists were welcomed into the nation last year alone. However, perhaps contentiously, Carlos has been disappointed with his experience. On TikTok, he said: "In my opinion, travelling to Cape Verde as an alternative to the Canary Islands is like buying a Fiat Panda thinking you're getting a Ferrari F40. No matter how you try to dress it up, there's simply no comparison." No. 4: Johannesburg, South Africa Johannesburg's position as the fourth city on the agent's list might raise a few eyebrows. As one of South Africa's largest cities, it boasts an array of significant landmarks such as Constitution Hill and the Apartheid Museum, not to mention the chance for visitors to embark on nearby wildlife safaris. However, Carlos cited its high crime rate as a reason he wasn't so keen on the destination. According to Statista data, between 2022 and 2023, Johannesburg Central experienced more contact crime incidents than any other city. These mainly included common assaults. "In addition, you'll be able to say you were robbed in one of the ugliest cities on Earth," Carlos added. No. 3: Hawaiian Islands For many, Hawaii's vibrant blue waters and beautiful beaches represent the ideal holiday destination. Unfortunately, Carlos doesn't agree. Instead, he claimed there are far 'more interesting' alternatives that are worth more of your time. He went on: "With a couple of honourable exceptions (which do exist), Hawaii is the ideal destination for an American retiree over 70 who has a collection of shirts at home that he doesn't dare to wear anywhere else. "If that's not your case, I assure you there are much more interesting and far less predictable alternatives." No. 2: South Korea Next on the hit list was South Korea and Carlos certainly didn't hold back. The travel agent not only alleged that tourists aren't treated too warmly here but also said he just finds the entire nation 'bland'. "South Korea is excessively expensive for what it offers," he said. "The treatment of foreign tourists leaves much to be desired. I find it bland, insipid, and rather sad. You may return home shrouded in a great depression." Despite his views, tourism in South Korea is only increasing. The nation's capital, Seoul, and other major cities like Busan, are among the various hotspots that welcome countless visitors every year. No. 1: Doha, Qatar Last but not least, Carlos drew attention to Doha. Qatar's capital is often deemed a vibrant source of culture, hosting numerous museums, malls and even a chance to hop on desert safaris. Yet, Carlos disagrees. In fact, he compared tourism here to visiting a 'petrol station in the middle of a motorway'. He explained: "For my taste, Doha in tourism terms is like a petrol station in the middle of a motorway: a place where you stop briefly to relieve yourself, grab a quick bite, rest for a few minutes, and then carry on. There's nothing more to it." Unsurprisingly, the travel agent's views stirred up quite the debate on TikTok. While some users agreed with his views, others slammed them as completely untrue. One person wrote: "I've travelled to more than 40 countries, and South Korea is one of the best places to relax and see very different things, and they treat you wonderfully! And Cape Verde is very diverse, with several islands, all different, very Europeanised, having been a Portuguese colony. It's highly recommended, not to put it in the top 5 most overrated..." Another person added: "Have you been to Cape Verde? There are 10 islands... and they are all different." Meanwhile, someone else said: "I would add Cuba. Depressing."
