Don't Go There! The Travel Detective's Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World

by Peter Greenberg

We've all suffered through bad tourist traps, endless lines, rundown hotels, and the worst airports on earth. Before you book your next trip, get all of the facts--that "idyllic" beachfront hotel could really be one of the world's hellholes.
In this follow-up to his New York Times bestseller, The Complete Travel Detective Bible , Peter Greenberg shares his experiences and hard-won knowledge of where not to go and why, so you can make sure your big vacation isn't to a dismal destination.
From dangerous roads, crime-ridden cities, and countries overrun with disease to depressing destinations, polluted beaches, and places that (literally) stink, the ultimate travel expert leaves no stone unturned, no garbage heap unexplored, to list the locations you should forget even exist.
Backed up by information he has been compiling for years, Don't Go There! unapologetically exposes misrepresented resorts, corrupt countries, and cringe-worthy cruise ships so that travelers can confidently pack their bags and avoid vacation tragedy.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

308 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2008

About the author

Peter S. Greenberg (born 1950) is an American journalist. He is the CBS News Travel Editor. His books include "The Best Places for Everything", "New Rules of the Road", and "Don't Go There: The Travel Detective's Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World".

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would contain stories of those travel moments that we suffer through in hopes of a chance to retell it, to wide-eyed listeners in the safety of well lit living room.

However, it was really just a list of polluted, terrible places to travel, beaches festooned with plastic litter, air particles that will lodge in your lungs, bacterial infections you've never heard of, and the like. Valuable and honest, but not what I was looking for.

[MTD · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, though it mostly features United States destinations and often reads like a compilation of others' lists (The Morgan Quitno company's annual list of top crime-ridden places, etc.). It is well researched and features a bibliography of articles, reports, etc. that the author used to supplement his choices. My favorite section was the last chapter, where the author invites other travelers/travel writers to list their must-miss places. These lists included entertaining travel stories.

[Kathleen Crimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny!

[Darin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't get me wrong: this isn't really a *bad* book. Greenberg has always produced interesting books that have taught me a lot about how to and not to go places. It's certainly a good idea for a book to note places that aren't worth going, and the author wisely steers clear of the sort of political correctness that would make the entire text worthless. However, the proper term is "referencing". It doesn't read like a travelogue, and if you try to do so a lot of the material just blends together. It's good for a reference text, but I wouldn't recommend it for leisure reading.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are looking to make a con list for any destination, this is the book for you.
Here are a few examples of Section Headings: Lamest Claims to Fame; Bottlenecks (bad trafic); Air Pollution- go there and don't breath; Natural Diasterous; etc.
It was an okay book. I wouldn't use it to plan a trip, though.
It was intresting looking up cities I've been to, or want to travel to, and see what is reported about there.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a prime example of a travel book that is "of the moment" but is out-dated almost at the exact time of publication. I think I expected travel anecdotes, not lists of the most expensive place to buy a Big Mac or references to dirty hotels that have already closed. ??? Anyway, it was an interesting 30 minutes to scan the entire book, which is 10 years old. Maybe the website he mentioned is more up-to-date, if it even still exists. I didn't bother to check.

[Hilaryball · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the description of this book, I felt like I'd struck gold. I couldn't wait to read about places that left the author's stomach churning. However, the book disappointed. It simply listed places, albeit under specific categorizations, without any emotional content or humor. I thought the book was going to be something that it wasn't.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is more a compendium of facts and figures about areas with high crime rates, bad water, infectious diseases, dirty hotels, and pollution.

I was hoping it would be an interesting summary of tourist traps around the world to avoid.

Disappointing.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hahaha, what Greenberg said about the places I've been to made me snicker the most. The "unnecessary museums" of China are particularly hysterical. I've been through only a fraction of those and understand what this author means when he says unnecessary.
...but... then again... cultural preservation IS important...
[Seriously now.]

The Delaware chapter is a hoot as well.

(The less said about New Jersey, the better.)
New Jersey and you...
(I was so small when I was made to research it, I'm sorry!)

I think I've already read all of the articles this book details! Or they sound extremely familiar.

Yipes. "It's not that Pittsburgh's gotten worse, it's that Los Angeles has gotten better."
"The American Lung Association figures [in 2009 when this book went to press] that 626,049 individuals suffer from [nasty bodily] conditions."

But I initially came into this review thinking of this book highly, so I am maintaining that opinion. I am relieved, moreover, that I do not go close to the cities with the worst road rage by the list this author provides. (I mean, I could venture kinda close to New York, Baltimore, and Washington, DC and I have been to all of which I've mentioned, but I don't often, but I will- for colleagues' senior recitals and cons &c.)

I looked online for an updated list of road rage cities to find Houston has supplanted Miami - it was not on the 2009 road rage list in this book at all. Интересно.

The longer I spend looking at this book, the more I like it, and I think you would, as well.
(Rest of the slogan: ...perfect together.)

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Travel editor shares the dark side of travel: where not to go, how not to travel, where not to stay. He includes things like air, water, toxic polluted spots to avoid. Discusses natural disasters & when to avoid certain spots. Tells what airlines to avoid and what hotels & cruises to run away from.

Mostly, this was a "DUH!" book. Don't go to the Caribbean in July-November (hurricanes), don't visit Chernobyl (toxic), not a good idea to visit Iran (military action). Info seemed more common sense (if one reads the news) and easily attainable elsewhere.

All-in-all: More fun to focus on where to go & where you want to go and make the best it

[Liam Arne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this sometimes failed to understand why people would visit a place- it started with pollution which is worth considering, but is the Anacostia River really a reason to avoid DC? It actively discouraged going to the Louvre which is one of the best places to experience the world’s best art. Sometimes going to a super touristy place is an experience all its own, like the mentioned South of the Border, SC! I will say that the final section had some interesting contributions from others’ travel experiences, places to avoid to protect them ecologically or historically, and some suggestions on alternatives to get a better sense for the feel of a place

[Peggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've seen Peter Greenberg's TV show about travel and assumed this would be places you can miss because they just aren't that interesting. Not! This was Love Canal, and Chernobyl, and cities with high pollution counts and polluted rivers. I'm not sure why you would need someone to tell you these are not vacation spots.

[Carolyn Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOL. What places to avoid, what airlines not to use (hint--most of the ones in Africa). It's an absolute riot.

[Stefanos Baziotis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really don't understand why this book has such a bad average. I loved it! It's not just the places that are interesting, but also the writing is funny and enjoyable.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always look on the bright side of life.

[Douglas Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, but sort of repetitive book cataloging travel horror stories. Bought it on a whim, and it was mildly amusing.

[Ice · Rating 2 out of 5]

We've all suffered through bad vacations: tourist traps, endless lines, rundown hotels, and the worst airports on earth. Before you book your next trip, get all of the facts--that "idyllic" beachfront hotel could really be one of the world's hellholes.

Peter Greenberg shares his experiences and hard-won knowledge of where not to go and why, so you can make sure your big vacation isn't to a dismal destination. From dangerous roads, crime-ridden cities, and countries overrun with disease to depressing destinations, polluted beaches, and place that (literally) stink, the ultimate travel expert leaves no stone unturned, no garbage heap unexplored, to list the locations you should forget even exist.

Backed up by information he has been compiling for years, Greenberg unapologetically exposes misrepresented resorts, corrupt countries, and cringe-worthy cruise ships so that travelers can confidently pack their bags and avoid vacation tragedy.

[Chris Duryee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't a big fan of this book. I appreciate the chapters the tell you when the best time of year to travel to certain places is but the rest just seems to be reaching a bit. I feel as though in some cases he is making mountains out of mole hills such as the case work airlines mishandling baggage. Everything is listed in number of bags per thousand. When I see that each of these airlines listed is mishandling 9 to 14 bags per thousand I don't have the same reaction the author does about it being terrible. then I see that when he tells about the airline that mishandles 9 bags per thousand and comments "hey, at least it's under 10%" I think I see the problem. Apparently he let his math skills go because that is actually below 1%. A pretty darn good number actually. There are much better travel books out there.

[AuthorsOnTourLive! · Rating 5 out of 5]

We met Peter Greenberg when he visited the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. You can listen to him talk about "Don't Go There!" here: http://www.authorsontourlive.com/?p=213

About this podcast:
Peter Greenberg is the travel editor for NBC’s Today Show and America Online. Considered the nation’s preeminent expert on travel, his bestselling books include "The Travel Detective," "Hotel Secrets from the Travel Detective," "The Traveler’s Diet," and "The Complete Travel Detective Bible." Greenberg discusses his new book "Don’t Go There: The Travel Detective’s Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World." In this follow-up to "The Complete Travel Detective Bible," Greenberg offers his expert, hard-won knowledge of where not to go and why.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter Greenberg shares his experiences and hard-won knowledge of where not to go and why, so you can make sure your big vacation isn't to a dismal destination.
From dangerous roads, crime-ridden cities, and countries overrun with disease to depressing destinations, polluted beaches, and place that (literally) stink, the ultimate travel expert leaves no stone unturned, no garbage heap unexplored, to list the locations you should forget even exist.
Backed up by information he has been compiling for years, Greenberg unapologetically exposes misrepresented resorts, corrupt countries, and cringe-worthy cruise ships so that travelers can confidently pack their bags and avoid vacation tragedy. (Amazon)

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far I love the writing style and the sense of humor that is mixed in with the information about each place and why it's not a good travel destination. It's refreshing.

Only 50 pages left! It's a good book, but it really makes me sad when I read about the what would have been a beautiful place if humans hadn't mucked it up. Makes me very unhappy with humanity. One of the reasons why it took me so long to go through was if I read too much of it at one time, I would get bitter. Not a good way to be.

Good book, with some very good ideas on places to avoid when planning a trip. It makes sense to research a place before you go there, cuz you never know!

[B Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amusing little book. I certainly have to agree with the entry on the most wretched airport I have ever encountered: Charles de Gaulle International

"Although some complain about the smell ... the corruption ... or the crowds ... the consensus seems to be that this airport is just a poorly designed mess.
...
The problems happen when you try to transfer flights. There's no easy way to connect without going outside and trying to find a bus (wherever that may be) that actually will take you to the correct terminal. And when you get to that terminal, the lines can be so long that you can easily miss your flight. As for your connecting luggage, c'est la vie!"

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the anti-travel book. Instead of saying that you should go to Orlando for the theme parks, the author says why should not go to various destinations in the US and throughout the world. It certainly is light reading and probably won't change any future vacation plans but it was still a fun book to read.

[Rosie Beck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Instead of places to see, here are some you might want to pass. Looking for pollution,
places that are toxic, where the worst natural disasters usually occur, exciting exotic diseases you can cat, etc. Most places mentioned are ones you wouldn't normally be checking out, and the writing can, at times, be annoying. Interesting for travellers, tho'

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love to travel, but I don't always end up loving everywhere I visit. It seems like you never hear about the bad stuff, which is what makes me so facinated by this book. Also, reading it helps me realize that I don't have to love everywhere in the world to be a "good" traveller.

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were only 3 places in the whole book of 'Don't go there' that we were considering - Mumbai, Johannesburg, and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. So while it was interesting, it wasn't especially useful nor was it what I expected. The best part of the book was the last 15 or so pages, where different well-known travelers gave their individual top 10 'don't go there' lists.

[Alison Hardtmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

In general, I love quirky travel books, like Roadside America or stories of travel gone wrong, like in I Should Have Stayed Home. This was more a FOX "news" version of a travel book; that is to say, it was humorless and seemed designed to frighten more than inform. In its defense; it's an equal opportunity fearmonger with the US represented more heavily than the rest of the world.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really fun to browse through. It is kind of like the opposite of 1000 Places to See Before You Die. I was especially amused by places that made the book that I have actually traveled to.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this book until I read his recommendation not to go to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His reasons why did not make much sense to someone who has been there a lot. There is NO reason to avoid CR, and that made me suspicious of his other places to be avoided also.

[Bryce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a particular helpful travel guide... and not even full of juicy insider gossip, which is what I was guiltily hoping for. Filled with mostly common sense tips, but would probably be helpful for a travel newbie.