We prefer to travel on the shoulder season. Not quite so crowded and the weather is usually pleasant
For the worst, most crowded experience, my vote goes to Disneyland. I was spoiled years ago because the company I worked for them, would rent the park and we would only have about 15,000 people there. You could go on an ride as many times as possible.
A private tour of Vatican in Rome. We were told we would have a place to sit and be able to hear guide discuss Sistine Chapel. No such luck it was a mob scene. Very disappointed. It was a very expensive tour arranged by Vatican .
We used to travel regularly the week before thanksgiving so that we could return on Friday or Saturday and not get stuck in the craziness of the peak travel. Where ever we were at my husband insisted on having a traditional Thanksgiving meal- ham and turkey. One year we were in Las Vegas and decided to go to one of the buffets for the meal. I think we stood in line (with 4 young kids mind you) for 2.5-3 hours. The food was ok, but not spectacular. Don't worry, I remind my husband of that total waste of time at least once a year!
I would go to Zagreb, hands down. Hvar is probably packed, but not Zagreb. My vote for most crowded is DisneyWorld in Florida. I went probably a million years ago, couldn't get into anything, went to where ever I could get in, with no long lines, and thought I was brilliant.
We usually travel to Europe in October-November and it is pretty pleasant as far as crowds and lines. We went to Israel the end of October and it was so hot I had heat exhaustion(and I live in Phoenix.) and really crowded. We didn't go during a feast day or holiday so I don't know why it was so crowded. Maybe it's always crowded. Via Dolorosa was a mob. We waited 3 and a half hours in line at The Church of the Nativity while people pushed and shoved their way down those narrow stairs into the cave. Awful. I wouldn't stand in the line for the Church of the Holy Sepulcher when it was wrapped around the building. Every site we went to had these same 3 tour buses that seemed to be following us lol. They would cut in line, not take turns taking photos, and got scared and blocked the stairs into the water cisterns underground. I get it. These are popular places, but I didn't expect that. Here we are trying to be spiritual and meditative as pilgrims and we get pushed and shoved in a mob like fashion with the vendors pushing cheap souvenirs in our faces. I liked the boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and The Garden Tomb because we had to have timed tickets and it was quiet and peaceful. I wouldn't go so far as to not go there again, but I would pick an unpopular time of the year to go to avoid the crowds.
We were eager to visit Edinburgh Castle early on a Sat (in early August) but when we got there the place was so crawling with hundreds of people it became intolerable. Had to quickly abort that mission & form another plan. Actually worked out as we ended up at Lauriston Castle (w/maybe 30 people in the whole place). It was soooo much better...smaller & off the beaten path...just the way we like it! ♥
Right at home in Sedona, every year in March and early April, when the spring breakers come to town. Though we have some tourists year round, that is the time of year that everyone complains about. The two roads going into town are a solid, creeping line of traffic that is impossible for locals to get through for everyday business. Every hiking trailhead is jammed. Some neighborhoods post armed guards to keep them out.
My solution to crowds has always been traveling in the off-season although off-season is attracting more travelers. I prefer cooler, even cold weather; less crowds, less traffic overall.
My experiences with too many crowds have been at National Parks, particularly Yellowstone and Glacier and those were in September before park roads begin to close.
Many foreigners love our parks and come by the busload. Especially, it seems, in Sept.
Overcrowding is a real problem in our National Parks and there are solutions being explored such as shuttles and traffic limits.
As for AIRBnB, went to San Francisco in Oct. last year and checked them out for 3 night stay for 3 people and one was asking $2400./ two nights. No thanks. I quit looking and found a nice hotel for half that rate.
Tourist Season Confidential: How to handle the crowds this summer
We prefer to travel on the shoulder season. Not quite so crowded and the weather is usually pleasant
For the worst, most crowded experience, my vote goes to Disneyland. I was spoiled years ago because the company I worked for them, would rent the park and we would only have about 15,000 people there. You could go on an ride as many times as possible.
Go to Zagreb, Croatia is pretty cool, check out Split. Or visit Cornwall (Outside London)
A private tour of Vatican in Rome. We were told we would have a place to sit and be able to hear guide discuss Sistine Chapel. No such luck it was a mob scene. Very disappointed. It was a very expensive tour arranged by Vatican .
Most crowded--anything in Rome. Didn't matter time of year, either.
We used to travel regularly the week before thanksgiving so that we could return on Friday or Saturday and not get stuck in the craziness of the peak travel. Where ever we were at my husband insisted on having a traditional Thanksgiving meal- ham and turkey. One year we were in Las Vegas and decided to go to one of the buffets for the meal. I think we stood in line (with 4 young kids mind you) for 2.5-3 hours. The food was ok, but not spectacular. Don't worry, I remind my husband of that total waste of time at least once a year!
There is so much more to Greece than Athens.
Worse crowd: Vatican City.
I would go to Zagreb, hands down. Hvar is probably packed, but not Zagreb. My vote for most crowded is DisneyWorld in Florida. I went probably a million years ago, couldn't get into anything, went to where ever I could get in, with no long lines, and thought I was brilliant.
We usually travel to Europe in October-November and it is pretty pleasant as far as crowds and lines. We went to Israel the end of October and it was so hot I had heat exhaustion(and I live in Phoenix.) and really crowded. We didn't go during a feast day or holiday so I don't know why it was so crowded. Maybe it's always crowded. Via Dolorosa was a mob. We waited 3 and a half hours in line at The Church of the Nativity while people pushed and shoved their way down those narrow stairs into the cave. Awful. I wouldn't stand in the line for the Church of the Holy Sepulcher when it was wrapped around the building. Every site we went to had these same 3 tour buses that seemed to be following us lol. They would cut in line, not take turns taking photos, and got scared and blocked the stairs into the water cisterns underground. I get it. These are popular places, but I didn't expect that. Here we are trying to be spiritual and meditative as pilgrims and we get pushed and shoved in a mob like fashion with the vendors pushing cheap souvenirs in our faces. I liked the boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and The Garden Tomb because we had to have timed tickets and it was quiet and peaceful. I wouldn't go so far as to not go there again, but I would pick an unpopular time of the year to go to avoid the crowds.
In Athens right now and it is hot 90 plus degrees. Interesting we are staying at the Grande Bretagne. Nice central hotel.
Hi from Dominican Republic Guys.✌🏼🇩🇴
We were eager to visit Edinburgh Castle early on a Sat (in early August) but when we got there the place was so crawling with hundreds of people it became intolerable. Had to quickly abort that mission & form another plan. Actually worked out as we ended up at Lauriston Castle (w/maybe 30 people in the whole place). It was soooo much better...smaller & off the beaten path...just the way we like it! ♥
Right at home in Sedona, every year in March and early April, when the spring breakers come to town. Though we have some tourists year round, that is the time of year that everyone complains about. The two roads going into town are a solid, creeping line of traffic that is impossible for locals to get through for everyday business. Every hiking trailhead is jammed. Some neighborhoods post armed guards to keep them out.
My solution to crowds has always been traveling in the off-season although off-season is attracting more travelers. I prefer cooler, even cold weather; less crowds, less traffic overall.
My experiences with too many crowds have been at National Parks, particularly Yellowstone and Glacier and those were in September before park roads begin to close.
Many foreigners love our parks and come by the busload. Especially, it seems, in Sept.
Overcrowding is a real problem in our National Parks and there are solutions being explored such as shuttles and traffic limits.
As for AIRBnB, went to San Francisco in Oct. last year and checked them out for 3 night stay for 3 people and one was asking $2400./ two nights. No thanks. I quit looking and found a nice hotel for half that rate.
Paris, pre-pandemic, early June; 4-5 hour waits for nearly every major attraction even with Museum Pass. Mid-90s temps compounded the crowds!
Venice during a European holiday when Easyjet and Ryanair first started