The founder of Lonely Planet reveals the travel destinations that he will never visit again

As one of the most respected voices in writing, Tony Wheeler has been helping tourists to experience the most majestic sights in the world since the early 1970s when he first founded a Lonely Planet.

Vacation wiseNow 78, his favorite places regularly discusses, and the destinations he did not want to visit – and his latest list is out.

Although some may not surprise much, given the worldwide politics, the other two who made the no-go list of Wheeler are hugely popular tourist destinations.

In a blog post on his website, The Lonely Planet co -founder – he put the company with his wife Maureen in 1973 but later sold it to BBC Worldwide, posted by explaining what exactly is behind his decisions.

The post entitled, I’m not going there anymorereveals that traveling through the aircraft feels difficult as the threat of global increases, but admits that he ‘continues to travel and continues to feel guilty about it ‘.

The first two destinations on the list are Russia and Saudia Arabia. While the latter invests heavily in chasing tourists with luxury hotels and high -quality developments, it does not run a wheel boat – and it is frank about it.

Saudi Arabia gets a short shrift from co-founder of Lonely Planet Tony Wheeler in his latest list of places he says he has no plans to go back

Bali High? Not according to Travel Sage Wheeler, who says that the popular Tourist Island is besieged by traffic to woo him back soon (shown: display of Nusa Dua Resort Area near Denpasar in southern Bali)

He says that although he had an interesting time while visiting 2002, he has no desire to go back, and it is a similar story with Russia, in which the founder of Lonely Planet quotes political stories about both countries who let him vote with his feet.

The place where those who read his books maybe are more surprised? Indonesian island of Bali.

“Sorry Bali,” he explains. “There are so many good things about that Indonesian island and I have just had a great reunion trip from the travel writers there, but until they sort out ridiculous traffic, I never want to go back unless there is a very good reason to drag me there.”

While he claims that he loves the art, the food, shopping and cultural attractions in Bali, the jam between Kuta Beach and Ubud postponed him for the expiration.

And a place where he has visited dozens of times is also cut briefly, which means that he cannot complete his search to visit all 50 states.

Yes, the US is from Radar for the travel guru, with his visits to Missouri and Carolina probably being his last for a while – well, at least the next four years.

He explained: “Although I lived in the US for almost 10 years and despite the fact that I have many American friends, I am currently happy to leave the US at the bottom of my dance card.”

He reveals that it is the current president who postpones him: “At the moment with the Orange (or even Donald Trump for some people) and his corresponding villains that I really don’t want to go there anymore.”

Wheeler has often been to Russia, but says that the current political situation means that he will not go back

And the beaches of Miami are also on his no-go list, with Wheeler not impressed by the current American administration, led by ‘The Orange One’

Wheeler and his wife Maureen sold Lonely Planet to the BBC worldwide in 2007 in a deal of £ 130 million in 2007.

However, the commercial arm of the BBC later sold it to the American company NC2 Media with a loss of almost £ 80 million. In 2020 the brand was taken over by Red Ventures.

Last year the current series of travel experts on Lonely Planet unveiled a Wanderlust – inducing list of the 30 best places to visit in 2025 – and the US achieved.

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 Book crowns the top ten countries, regions and cities to visit this year.

The rankings were compiled by ‘Lonely Planet experts, contributors from all over the world and publication partners’, where the guide adds that the destinations have been chosen for their current events, unique experiences, WOW factor and continuous dedication to sustainability, community and diversity’.

Cameroon was at the top of the ranking of the country, with Lithuania in second place and Fiji who takes the bronze medal.

Pittsburgh finished sixth in the city ranking, which was covered by Toulouse in France. East Anglia was declared the eighth best region in the world.