Taking off on a globetrotting adventure is usually an exciting break from reality.
However, too often, upon arrival, those amazing, idyllic moments you pictured — basking in the glory of the Eiffel Tower or riding those Malibu Beach waves — get overshadowed by the sheer number of other tourists also vying for their chances to enjoy the sights.
Sightseeing at leading attractions and locations around the world has sadly, in recent years, become synonymous with braving swarms of people.
As with any other aspect of life, though, our travels, packed with other tourists or not, will always be exactly what we make of them. There are all sorts of different ways to make memories on a trip, no matter how long the lines or how big the crowds.
Scroll through below to see some of the world's most famous destinations as we think they will look, followed by those same destinations as they really look — these were truly eye-opening!
[H/T: Daily Mail]
Taking a break from our normal responsibilities to travel the globe is such a gift.
Trips like this one to the Great Wall of China provide precious chances to explore the world's wonders, bask in their beauty, and roam as we please.
After all, doesn't this look peaceful?
Unfortunately, more often than not, the most popular tourist attractions we visit are crowded with swarms of other tourists, also vying to catch their glimpse of the action.
There is still nothing more magical than jetting off to somewhere in the world you have never been before, eating the local cuisine, visiting historic sights, and soaking in the culture.
So how can we enjoy these beautiful landmarks without succumbing to the anxieties and frustrations of crowds and long lines?
Oftentimes, scheduling your most popular attraction visits towards the very beginning of the day is an effective plan of action for beating the crowds.
When you start your day early, you are first in line. You’ll get to enjoy the sights with minimal delays, and then move on with time to spare for exploring other attractions.
Your hotel concierge can also be a great itinerary-planning resource. These folks are trained to advise you in how to spend your travel time wisely.
Chatting with your hotel concierge, you'll likely learn which peak hours to avoid at each attraction on your list, helping you make the most of your hard-earned vacation.
Nothing would be more heartbreaking than traveling for hours on end and missing the chance to see something as glorious as the Eiffel Tower.
Each these amazing spots are crowded for a reason. They are all, in one way or another, breathtaking.
These iconic feats of human inspiration or natural wonder have rightly attracted lines of tourists for quite some time.
Most are rich with enough history and inspiration to warrant spending a whole afternoon, or even an entire day, exploring.
Whether folks have flocked to see historic architecture or a spectacular view, trips to these destinations can provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
Being immersed in crowds of other tourists out on holiday is also a unique opportunity to meet new people, share experiences, and add things to your itinerary from others' suggestions.
After all, the memories you make on special trips like these are really your most valuable souvenirs.
You might find yourself needing to compromise personal space to reach, say, the Trevi Fountain. But once you toss that coin into the water, kissed with your special wish, braving the crowds will pale in comparison to the memory you'll carry back with you of that wish-tossing moment.
Seeing glorious sights like the Taj Mahal in person will take your breath away. And when all is said and done, they may just be worthy of the crowds they attract.
While the idyllic vacation destinations and attractions we see in photographs may set high expectations that don’t necessarily match reality, it is still fully possible to return home with beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.
Have you visited any of these famous locations? Were they as crowded as some of these photos show? Let us know in the comments.
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