It's easy to convince yourself of a glamorous location from exotic photos seen on social media, but often the most praised places online are overrun with tourists and are far from desirable upon arrival.
Want to get off the beaten track, a Reddit user asked on the forum: 'Which is this country a must-visit? with commenters responding en masse with their favorite places to see.
Users have shared their own experiences of visiting little-known holiday spots – urging people to get there quickly before tourists from around the world get there.
Take a look below at the hidden gems that promise the beauty of an Instagram-famous location without the crowds.
Slovenia, Central Europe
Slovenia is a country in Central Europe, known for its mountains, ski resorts and lakes.
Slovenia is a country in central Europe, close to the Alps and bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. It is known for its mountains, ski resorts and lakes.
'Slovenia is absolutely magnificent – at least in part. It attracts a few tourists, but much less than equally beautiful destinations,” wrote one user.
“My wife was born/raised Slovenian and we go back there about every two years to see her family and friends,” shared another.
They continued: “It's a beautiful country, but that secret is really out now, especially in Instagram places like Lake Bled and Predjama Grad. Granted, it's still nowhere near as busy as places like Dubrovnik.
Albania, Balkan Peninsula
Albania is a country in the Balkans. The country is known for its beautiful beaches and the Cursed Mountains, a spectacular mountain range located in northern Albania.
'Albania. Try it before the mass exodus due to Instagram influencers,” urged one user.
Albania is known for its beautiful beaches and cursed mountains
“I’m going to go to Albania. It has a very bad reputation, but the people there are very warm and honest, the beaches are amazing, the food is a very good mix of Balkan, Greek, Turkish and Italian cuisine,” agreed another.
They continued: “It’s very cheap and the weather is nice. The only downside is that it lacks tourist infrastructure to travel between the main cities.
“Buses can get really overcrowded and pick up random people on the side of the highway/deliver chickens to random farms.”
Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania is located in central Romania, known for its medieval towns, mountains and castles like Bran Castle, a Gothic fortress associated with the legend of Dracula.
Transylvania is located in central Romania, known for its medieval towns, mountains and castles like Bran Castle, a Gothic fortress associated with the legend of Dracula.
“I love seeing the red roofs, open fields and mountains when I fly to Transylvania. The more I learn about Romania, the more I fall in love with it,” exclaimed one user.
“Romania has great architecture,” someone else agreed.
Bolivia, South America
Bolivia is located in South America and spans the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert and the rainforest of the Amazon basin.
Bolivia, a landlocked country, is located in South America and spans the Andes, the Atacama Desert and the rainforest of the Amazon basin.
“Amazing scenery, spotlessly clean, friendly people and lots of fun if you want to party.”
“It was 10 years ago, I hope it's still as beautiful as it holds a special place in my heart,” one user wrote.
Montenegro, Balkan Peninsula
Montenegro is located in the west-central Balkans, known for its high mountain ranges, medieval villages and beaches. In the photo: Perast, located in the Bay of Kotor
Montenegro is located in the west-central Balkans, known for its high mountain ranges, medieval villages and beaches.
“I loved Montenegro too,” suggested one Reddit user.
“This whole region is beautiful. I had the chance to visit Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia (among others) and thought it was a wonderfully beautiful and underrated part of the world,” shared another.
Paraguay, South America
Paraguay is a country in South America located between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia.
“Paraguay is really cool. The history and culture of the capital Asunción is really cool. There have been many wars with neighboring countries over the years – at one point in their history, 90 percent of Paraguayan men were killed in wars,” someone wrote.
Paraguay is a country in South America located between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia.
“The social scene and food are also ridiculous!” The freshly grilled meats straight from the asado with friends are legendary,” recalls one user.
“One of my favorite parts of Paraguay was going out late to a club with friends and then eating lomitos, this incredible sandwich in a bag that you buy in a parking lot at four in the morning with about fifty people. 'other hungry drunks.'
They continued: “Plus, it’s CHEAP there. An Uber across town literally costs about two dollars. A good lunch for two will cost maybe $15. I received a 1 hour massage at a nice spa for $25. If you're on a budget, Paraguay is the place to go.
