• placement: superzone
  • path: articles/hero
  • containerId: gpt-ad-493854225808
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "staff-unpopular-travel-opinions",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

"It's fine to eat fast food" - Lonely Planet staff share their unpopular travel opinions

Dec 17, 2020

2 MIN READ
Hands of a woman packing her suitcase at home.

It's just as important not to over-pack as it is to bring everything you'll need. Atit Phetmuangtong / EyeEm / Getty Images

Lonely Planet Editors

Writer

We are the Lonely Planet editors: a team of contributors from around the world, including Lonely Planet staff. We infuse our diverse experiences into every recommendation we share. Balancing practical advice with engaging storytelling, we capture the essence of destinations to inspire and guide readers.

Here at Lonely Planet, we love seeing the world and finding new experiences. But we also have a few opinions. From thoughts about food (we have A LOT of opinions about food) to who gets the middle-seat arm rests, these are Lonely Planet staffers' unpopular travel opinions.

LPI-2100-13.jpg
People admiring Michelangelo's statue of David in the Galleria dell'Accademia. © Jon Davison / Lonely Planet

When it comes to art, if you've seen one Warhol (or Banksy, or Michaelangelo) you've seen them all. – Anna Hider, Commercial Copywriter

An open-top bus in Lisbon
An open-top tourist bus in Portugal ©Greg Elms/Lonely Planet
  • placement: inContentSidebar
  • path: articles/in-content-top
  • containerId: gpt-ad-896767798847
  • possible size: [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "staff-unpopular-travel-opinions",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

An opentop bus tour is the best way to see a city. – Fin McCarthy, Editorial Director

A center aisle in an airplane
©Surachet Jo/Shutterstock

You shouldn't be allowed to bring your own cooked food on airplanes. – Fahima Anwar, Lead, Social Strategy

Fast food signs in Las Vegas
© Jerry Alexander / Lonely Planet

It's fine to eat fast food – that can be a local experience, too. – Meghan O'Dea, Commercial Content Editor

A large bazaar
©Ayhan Altun/Getty Images

Asking someone to bring you back a souvenir is rude. – Alicia Johnson, Digital Editor

A slice of Chicago deep dish pizza
©supitchamcsdam/Getty Images

Chicago deep dish isn't pizza. – Alexander Howard, Lead Editor, Homepage

A glass of gin and tonic with ice and a slice of lime
©pjohnson1/Getty Images

An airplane G&T is better than a cocktail in a fancy bar. – Fin McCarthy, Editorial Director

  • placement: inContentSidebar
  • path: articles/in-content-middle
  • containerId: gpt-ad-607720971304
  • possible size: [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "staff-unpopular-travel-opinions",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}
A plate of penne pasta
©Ismayilov/Shutterstock

It's possible to get tired of the local cuisine, even if we're talking about Italian food in Italy. Also, related... room service in a hotel can be awesome. Just not every night! – Anna Hider, Commercial Copywriter

A long exposure of a crowded airport
©zixia/Shutterstock

A crowded airport can be relaxing. – Matt Paco, Video Content Producer

A crowded beach
©Yin-Hsun Chang/EyeEm/Getty Images

The beach is a stressful place. – Meghan O'Dea, Commercial Content Editor

Clouds seen from an airplane window.
©Tommaso Tuzj/Getty Images

I kinda love airplane turbulence. – Alexander Howard, Lead Editor, Homepage

Young american woman taking selfie in New york, Times Square.
©oneinchpunch/Shutterstock

Don't take any photos on a vacation. You're there to enjoy yourself, not humblebrag to your friends back home. – Alicia Johnson, Digital Editor

Children ice skating in an urban park
©Damion Rae Photography/500px

Winter destinations and travel are not fun. – Fahima Anwar, Lead, Social Strategy

handicrafts, paintings, and antiques on display at the Dry Bridge Flea market in Tbilisi
©photoaliona/Getty Images
  • placement: native
  • path: articles/in-content-native
  • containerId: gpt-ad-809773766108
  • possible size: [f, l],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "staff-unpopular-travel-opinions",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

I find picking out souvenirs for people very stressful. – Anna Hider, Commercial Copywriter

Tasty meal served on board of airplane on the table
© Getty Images/iStockphoto

Airplane food is great - just make sure to use the salt pack. – Alex Butler, Senior Editor

Man selecting his meal from a breakfast buffet
© zoranm / Getty Images

Hotel breakfasts are overrated. – Meghan O'Dea, Commercial Content Editor

Couple laughing and relaxing in suite
©Sofie Delauw/Getty Images

Hotel robes and slippers are useless. Slippers are like flippers and robes are only XXXXL. – Fin McCarthy, Editorial Director

Bread stacked in a market
©mary gaudin/Getty Images

French food is overrated. – Alexander Howard, Lead Editor, Homepage

Interior view of a commercial airplane and its legroom in between seats.
©Scott's Shotz Photography/Shutterstock

Arm rests are for passengers in the middle seat. – Meghan O'Dea, Commercial Content Editor

You might also like:

"Paris is overrated" - Lonely Planet fans share their unpopular travel opinionsHow to solo travel on a budget The perfect cocktail for each of the 50 US states (plus Puerto Rico)

  • placement: fullWidth
  • path: articles/bottom
  • containerId: gpt-ad-326260089947
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "staff-unpopular-travel-opinions",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

Explore related stories

Read more