Christmas comes early here at Travel Off Path. Every year, one of our most exciting topics to cover isn’t a new digital nomad visa or up-and-coming beach paradise — it’s where not to go.
Fodor’s, one of the most respected names in the travel industry, shares their list of ‘Go’s and ‘No’s each fall, and maybe it’s just my tendency to land on the “naughty list”, but there’s something extra juicy about places to avoid over fluffed-up fodder every publication regurgitates.
This time around, Fodor’s deep dive spans 8 destinations you may want to consider in 2026, ranging from environmental ethics to anti-tourism protests, upticks in violence, and even cases of raw sewage trickling into turquoise seas.
As has become tradition here, we invite you to chime in and give us your take on Fodor’s 2026 rendition of the No List, again spotlighting the following 8 destinations not having their best moment:
Paris: The Eiffel’s Been Stifled!
For any Parisian tourist, the Eiffel Tower is as unmissable as it gets. But, in the distance, you may have noticed the sky-high village of Montmartre, an inviting dreamscape once you lay eyes on it.
Unlike the Eiffel Tower’s drab iron beams and surrounding scam artist vendors, Montmartre has long been a fresh escape to witness such sites as the Sacré-Cœur Basilica at the city’s highest point.
Well, now it receives more visitors than the Eiffel Tower — over 11 million in fact.
What’s considered as one of Paris’s most timeless neighborhoods brimming with picturesque stone walkways, centuries-old cabarets, and even the very ‘first Parisian bistro’, it’s become a burgeoning hotspot much to the chagrin of locals simply trying to enjoy their 8th espresso and 14th cigarette of the day in peace.
Kidding aside, Fodor’s quoted one local as claiming Montmartre is now “unlivable”, especially with the headache of ongoing beautification projects angled toward more tourism, not peaceful living.
As such, now isn’t the best time to check out Paris’s bustling hilltop. Instead, we recommend the district of Belleville, one of the city’s most vibrant, artistic and welcoming neighborhoods to all walks of life.
The Canary Islands: Protests In Paradise
The Canary Islands is a repeat offender, topping Fodor’s 2025 ‘No’ list as well.
It begs to question if the islands’ now notorious protests are effective as tourist repellent, or if us pesky mosquitos are still feeding on the islands’ sunshine and cheap sangria anyway.
The answer is no. You see, many Canary Islands locals have taken to the streets begging for a break for years now, resulting in a 5% increase in visitors over the first half of 2025.
Whether or not the loudest voice in the room reflects the entirety of the islands’ opinions is another story — but vacationers are still arriving in droves for year-round sunshine, sensational wine and tapas, and gorgeous golden coastlines.
As a result, locals claim traffic is unbearable due to the crowds, and real estate is booming in the wrong direction, triggering public outcry far too commonplace for a flawless vacation.
Cheeseburgers in paradise are one thing; protests are another…
With the Canary Islands caught in a tailspin, why not swap cranky residents and congested streets for Travel Off Path’s favorite winter getaway on Spain’s Costa Cálida?
Rome’s Blissful Beach Town Is Cruisin’ For A Bruisin’
In a world of over 8 billion people, not everyone is a “tree hugger”. You don’t have to be an environmental activist begging for signatures outside Whole Foods to care about saving fragile habitats in people’s hometowns.
That’s the case for a sleepy coastal hideaway outside Rome, just a gladiator slingshot from always-busy Rome Fiumicino Airport.
Isola Sacra is where locals who love living in Rome reside to avoid the chaos of tourists lining up for endless iconic landmarks, but a new cruise port is bulldozing that dream — literally.
Concerns are mounting for this Isola Sacra’s serenity and untouched landscapes, but cruise titans like Royal Caribbean are putting their hands into a community that isn’t seeking to become Italy’s next hotspot.
An expansive cruise port complex is being built, resulting in what experts say will leave swaths of flora and fauna devastated and certain beaches cemented over as if they never existed.
If you’re seeking a Rome day trip to an unsung paradise, we can’t stop singing Terracina’s praises!
Switzerland’s Alpine Villages: Is The Epic Photo Worth The Fallout?
Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region may not be a household name, but it’s become a full-fledged tourist destination.
With that comes a laundry list of problems for a region not equipped for a surge in sightseers.
Renowned for its Alpine villages of Grindelwald, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, and Mürren, this cluster of mountain hideouts proudly beams with immaculate beauty, but has no solution as a destination that rose to stardom too quickly.
In other words, there are more holes in their plan than Swiss cheese. Traffic, lack of accommodations, and sustainability efforts are falling short, and tourists aren’t getting the memo.
To make matters worse, many are in and out like a late-night burger run, minimally boosting the economy whose workforce is made up of 90% tourism-related jobs.
For 2026, the aforementioned mountain towns need a breather to recuperate and game-plan accordingly.
‘Til then, we can’t recommend Slovenia enough as a cheaper alternative to Switzerland’s showstoppers.
Mexico City: What Happened To This Place?
Would you want to arrive in a city with “kill a gringo” graffiti and constant public gatherings shouting similar sentiments?
That’s not exactly a welcome mat for Americans looking to feast on famous street tacos and deep dive into the heartbeat of Mexican culture, now is it?
Mexico City has become the antithesis to the argument of digital nomadism, where travelers take advantage of cheaper costs of living that often push locals further out of the neighborhoods they’ve called home for years.
The situation is beyond the boiling point now — not only are short-term stays now being more strictly regulated in hopes to drive housing prices down, more and more restaurants are dumbing down flavors for foreign palates who can’t handle jalapeño-infused margs and roasted Serranos, and English is all but the official second language.
There’s no doubt Mexico City is still iconic and full of amazing experiences, but it’s not the same as it once was, now finding itself backtracking to correct years of unchecked gentrification, even in ritzy neighborhoods like Polanco.
If you’re seeking a safe, cultural metropolis welcoming visitors with open arms, Panama City is just the place!
Glacier National Park Might Need A New Name…
If Taco Bell no longer served tacos, they might be due for a name change, right?
The same can be said for Glacier National Park, who is struggling with overtourism for a reason you might not suspect…
The truth is this popular National Park’s problems are 2 sides of the same coin.
On one hand, you have melting glaciers in a destination obviously known for its once-mighty glaciers.
On the other, the deterioration of its most sought-after landscapes has become a detriment to the very problem itself, causing more tourists to drive in during the park’s most vulnerable times.
Additionally, there are constant traffic jams on Going-to-the-Sun Road and unnecessarily stressing wildlife.
The park is taking a sustainable approach to lessen the blow of their climate change claims, and entry policies such as booking reservations in advance are required during the busy summer.
With only 27 out of 150 glaciers remaining, if you’re seeking a winter wonderland embracing tourism, we suggest making Alaska your next adventure!
Antarctica: Should The World’s Final Frontier Remain That Way?
We get it — everyone wants to see penguins in the wild in their natural tuxes, but at what cost?
With no human residents, there’s no economy to boost. Scientists argue Antarctica shouldn’t be a bucket-list destination, unless they’re just afraid you’ll discover the alien bases…
With cruise ships becoming more trendy, even for solo travelers forking over their paycheck, visitor numbers have topped 6 figures on an annual basis.
There will never be a booming cruise industry to the likes of, say, Jamaica, but small expedition ships are suitable here and have become a driving force for mass tourism, rather than specific eco-tourism excursions.
In turn, the hope is that visitors will advocate for Antarctica back home, but if stepping foot on one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems is what it takes, a new approach may be in store.
If otherworldly scenery and seemingly untouched landscapes are up your alley, we are huge fans of The Faroe Islands! No penguins, but puffins are pretty cute…
Mombasa’s Paradise Beaches Don’t Outshine Dark Underbelly
Unlike Antarctica, it’s hard to fathom not having an assortment of African destinations on your bucket list — and for good reason.
Whether it be safaris, laughter-filled villages, bustling cities, or postcard white-sand shores, Africa has a lot to offer, including the warmth of locals you just can’t find back home, no matter how inauthentically we ask each other, “how ya doing?”.
Unfortunately, one of Africa’s paradise getaways has been exposed as a no-go destination.
Mombasa, Kenya may look stunning from the outside, but it holds a variety of red flags tourists need to know before visiting:
- Fort Jesus and Old Town are overcrowded and losing authenticity
- Overcrowding: Mombasa now absorbs 70% of Kenya’s coastal tourists
- Increasing presence of sex tourism
- Raw sewage is spewed into the ocean
- Criminal organizations robbing cruise ports
Measures are being taken to alleviate Mombasa’s issues, but it surely won’t be an overnight success.
If you want to blend vibrant culture, gorgeous beaches, safety, and nonstop flights from the U.S., put your adventure cap on and jet off to Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), one of Africa’s up-and-coming destinations!
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