Hiscox to sell motor and travel insurer DirectAsia

• Ignite Thailand Holdings has agreed to purchase DirectAsia from Hiscox
• Hiscox said the decision to sell DirectAsia follows a recent strategic review 

By Harry Wise

Updated: 09:15 EDT, 27 September 2023

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

Waking up to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore on the Isle of Sheppey, I couldn’t be happier about my weekend away with Franky – a Peugeot Boxer converted into a home on wheels.

With the doors of the van wide open, I propped myself up in bed with the sea breeze in my hair and gazed out over the cliffs where a rosy sunrise painted the horizon.

Britain’s van life movement has taken off in recent years and I was here to see what the fuss was about before potentially spending money on my own conversion.

Quirky Campers allows you to do just that, without any of the hard work or investment, by renting out bespoke campervans across the UK for two nights or more.

From the collection, I chose Franky – a two-berth camper with a modern and chic interior that instantly evokes a feeling of home the moment you step inside.

Inspired by owner Rebecca’s passion for beaches and winter mountains, not only does it look good but it’s extremely functional too.

After collecting the van from south London, I embarked on a road trip through Kent where I planned to stop for lunch at Blue Bell Hill in Aylesford on my 50-mile journey to Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey.

I then drove the 35 miles to Dering Wood, near Pluckley village, before heading another 20 miles to Whitstable before making the 60-mile journey back to south London.

Franky felt like a rolling Airbnb, with its stylish kitchenette equipped with everything you need to cook up a feast, from a dining set to pots and pans, a chopping board, and cooking utensils.

At the rear is a cosy dining area with a swing-out dining table that rotates out of the van.

I enjoyed using it to prepare food outside during my September road trip where the wild cliffs of Eastchurch and the magical woodland of Pluckley felt like my own private garden.

At the end of each day, I folded away the table, which formed the base of a full-size double bed, along with three additional planks stored under the seating area.

I was surprised at how comfortable it was and I was even able to leave the door ajar and fall asleep to the soothing sounds of the sea.

Other creative design elements I loved were a magnetic wall rack for metal coffee cups, Velcro curtains, a pop-out privacy screen to separate the driver compartment, and a compact indoor shower-come-drying closet, perfect for rainy days in nature.

Everything was neatly held in place when I was on the road thanks to non-slip mats inside the cupboards and magnets that kept the doors and drawers closed.

Parking up on my first night at the Isle of Sheppey’s Clifftop Camping site, I opened all the van doors to welcome in the countryside views.

The stunning clifftop is part of a family-run hay farm where I was able to buy beef and freshly laid eggs.

At night, it provided the perfect setting for a crackling open fire where I used a cast-iron casserole dish that comes with Franky to cook chargrilled vegetables and crispy lamb with tarragon.

This was followed by an evening of stargazing, using picnic chairs and blankets from the van.

The next day, I opened the van doors to miles of unspoiled forest at Dering Wood, a private forest on the edge of Pluckley village.

Here, I enjoyed waking up to birdsong and taking a morning stroll among the trickling streams and towering trees home to birds, badgers, bats, and deer.

Staying off-grid for a long weekend was possible thanks to Franky’s self-sufficient appliances.

The indoor shower and kitchen sink are fed by a 55-litre water tank and there is a 21-litre chemical toilet stored in the shower room.

What was even more useful was how the built-in electrical appliances are powered by a 190amp battery, 115w solar, and split relay charge that keeps you topped up when driving.

When additional power is needed for plug-in electrical devices, the van has a shore-line hook-up point for mains power enabling four three-pin household plugs.

I later took advantage of this at Hampton Bay Park, three miles from Whitstable, where I connected to the mains power supply and transformed the van into a home cinema with my Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen portable projector.

Here, I saw first-hand the benefits of visiting a campsite with a mains power supply, a water tap, rubbish bins, a toilet waste disposal point, and an onsite restaurant.

While I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of van life, it did not come without its challenges.

My very first stop-off – a picnic site at Bluebell Hill in Aylesford – turned into disappointment when a height barrier prevented me from being able to enter the car park.

And another plan to park up along the seafront just outside of Whitstable was foiled when I was met by parking restrictions for overnight van parking.

In this way, renting somebody else’s van can become a game of trial an error, and I found staying organised is key.

Despite the hiccups, I thoroughly enjoyed my van life experience, which has spurred me on further to design my own camper.

The best fine-dining restaurants have been named by Tripadvisor, with Restaurant Bougainville in Amsterdam taking the top spot. 

The Michelin-starred Dutch eatery has been awarded the accolade as part of Tripadvisor’s 2023 Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Best’ Restaurants Awards, which are decided by an algorithm that analyses the millions of reviews and ratings collected in a year from travellers around the world.

Ise Sueyoshi in Nishiazabu, a district of Tokyo, is the second-best restaurant in the global ranking, followed by the Old Stamp House Restaurant in the Lake District – last year’s number one – in third place, making it the top-ranking UK eatery. 

Number one in the U.S is Le Bernardin in New York City, which ranks 23rd overall. No Australian restaurants made it into the top 25.

The gold-medal-winning Restaurant Bougainville has more than 260 coveted ‘five-bubble’ reviews on Tripadvisor, with one user, ‘Linda K’, declaring the restaurant a ‘first-class dining experience’. 

Silver medal-winner Ise Sueyoshi, meanwhile, serves up ‘kaiseki’, which is a traditional Japanese dinner consisting of several courses. Reviewer ‘Tyler K’ described his meal there as ‘unforgettable’. 

Third-place Old Stamp Restaurant, which lies in the picturesque town of Ambleside, is housed in the former office of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth.

With head chef Ryan Blackburn at the helm, the 28-cover restaurant serves dishes that give a ‘unique glimpse into the food and cultural heritage of Cumbria’. A tasting menu might feature tomatoes from the north of Cumbria, mushrooms found in the woods around Ambleside, and turbot from the English Channel. 

MailOnline Travel Editor Ted Thornhill described the food as ‘winningly whimsical and sometimes breathtaking‘. 

Rounding out the rest of the top five are two more European eateries – the Michelin-starred Maison Medard restaurant in the French village of Boulleret and the three-Michelin-starred Ristorante Villa Crespi in Orta San Giulio, Italy. 

As for the UK fine-dining ranking, the Old Stamp Restaurant is followed by Paul Ainsworth at No. 6, a restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall, that presents ‘modern British’ fare.

The Kitchin in Edinburgh is third, Hide and Fox in Hythe, Kent, ranks fourth, and Cellar in Anstruther, Scotland, is fifth. 

In the U.S list, top-ranking Le Bernardin, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, is run by Chef Eric Ripert and is famous for its seafood. Tripadvisor reviewer ‘213LAX’ wrote that the restaurant’s dishes ‘are visually stunning’. 

The rest of the U.S top five is made up of The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge in Blowing Rock, North Carolina (second); Halls Chophouse in Charleston (third); Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina in Nashville (fourth) and The Silver Fork in Manchester, Vermont (fifth). 

The awards also have five more subcategories – Everyday Eats, Date Night, Hidden Gems, Family-Friendly and Vegetarian. 

Brand-new category ‘Vegetarian’ celebrates meat-free restaurants around the globe, with Chia Vegan Restaurant, in Cusco, Peru, taking the top spot. 

It’s tailed by Blu Bar in Barcelona in second place and Time Traveller in the Indian city of Bengaluru in third. 

The UK bagged two top world spots in the inaugural Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants category – Mallow in Borough Market, London, has been named best vegetarian-friendly restaurant in the UK and 12th in the world, and Herb in Leicester takes 13th place globally. 

In the ‘Date Night’ category, it’s Waitui Bar & Grill on Denarau Island in Fiji that’s number one, followed by Restaurante 1621 in Cartagena, Colombia (second), and Mylos A La Carte Restaurant in Kolimbia, Greece (third). 

In the UK date-night ranking, it’s Uig Sands Restaurant in Timsgarry, Scotland, that ranks top, though it doesn’t make the global top 25. While in the U.S, it’s Hot Tin Roof in Key West, Florida (19th worldwide), that reigns supreme and in Australia, EXP Restaurant in Pokolbin, New South Wales, tops the podium – it’s 24th worldwide. 

For travellers who like to wander off the beaten path, the awards also points out the best ‘hidden gem’ restaurants to discover. Top of the list is Restauracja Future & Wine in Warsaw, Poland. It’s followed by Omakase in Braga, Portugal (second), and Kinara by Vikas Khanna in Dubai (third). 

The UK’s best ‘hidden gem’ restaurant? That accolade goes to Ganesha Authentic Indian Cuisine in Bristol. Meanwhile, in the U.S it’s ‘Cookie Dough Monster – Burgers & Shakes’ in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. 

And for foodie families, the world’s best family-friendly restaurant, according to Tripadvisor, is El Huaso Mirra in Tongoy, Chile. It’s tailed by two Brazilian restaurants – Pizzaria da Vila in Aquiraz (second) and Restaurante Casa do Tempero in Penha (third). 

One Australian eatery performed well in this category – Hatsuhana Japanese Restaurant in Gold Coast ranks as the world’s fifth-best eatery for families. 

Tripadvisor also analysed the best ‘everyday eats’ for the UK and the U.S. Top in Britain is La Boca Steakhouse in Doncaster, while Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille in St. Petersburg, Florida, is number one in the States. 

Commenting on the awards, Sarah Firshein, Head of Editorial at Tripadvisor, said: ‘Restaurants provide a great way for travellers to get immersed in a destination’s history and culture. 

‘This year’s Travellers’ Choice Restaurant winners -whose diversity and geographic reach reflect the fact that the last remaining pandemic-era travel restrictions have lifted – are especially exciting. 

‘We know Tripadvisor travellers seek out first-hand intel and guidance, and that’s exactly the spirit of these lists – All of our winners were selected not by professional food critics or editors, but by real diners who have left their feedback on Tripadvisor within the past year.’ 

Raise a glass to the winners of the ‘Oscars‘ of the UK hospitality industry.

At a prestigious awards ceremony hosted by the AA at Grosvenor House in London on Monday night, awards were presented in categories including ‘Hotel of the Year’, ‘Restaurant of the Year’ and ‘Chefs’ Chef of the Year’.

The 2023 AA Hospitality Awards winners were picked by the AA’s inspectors, who spent the past year feasting their way through the UK’s restaurants and laying their heads in the nation’s hotel rooms in a bid to crown the cream of the crop. Here are their verdicts…

HOTELS

The top hotel in England is Forest Side, a former mansion house that’s been transformed into a hotel – complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant – on the edge of the pretty Lake District village of Grasmere. 

‘The bedrooms have stunning views of the hills and countryside beyond,’ reveals the AA’s inspector. 

The number one hotel in London is The Lanesborough, an ‘elegant and luxurious’ hotel that ‘offers nearly 100 rooms, of which almost 50 are suites, with a personal butler service for all guests 24 hours a day’.

Reigning supreme as the best hotel in Wales, meanwhile, is Penally Abbey Hotel in Pembrokeshire. The AA Inspector was impressed by its ‘friendly team’ who show a ‘genuine concern for guest comfort and enjoyment’.

Moving up the map, Scotland’s hotel of the year is Fingal, a former support vessel for the Northern Lighthouse Board that’s been converted into a luxury hotel that’s moored permanently in Edinburgh. 

‘This is a hotel experience unlike any other that Edinburgh can offer,’ says the AA’s Inspector.

And Northern Ireland‘s hotel of the year is Killeavy Castle Estate in County Armagh, a ‘fairy-tale castle’ set in ‘a 350-acre estate made up of woods and farmlands’.

The prize for ‘spa hotel of the year’ goes to South Lodge in West Sussex. Its spa, complete with a spin studio and an outdoor hydrotherapy pool, is ‘set into the natural contours of the land and designed with sustainability in mind’, the AA’s inspector reveals.

For travellers with an affinity for foodie experiences, the awards also breaks down the nation’s top restaurants with rooms, with The New Inn in Hereford taking the top spot in England. 

Originally a 16th-century coaching lodge, the inn has been ‘delightfully refurbished’ and boasts ‘plenty of character’, the AA’s inspector notes.

In Wales, the number one restaurant with rooms is Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, an inn surrounded by mountains to the west of the country. 

Ynyshir’s restaurant serves ‘exceptional’ food that takes diners on a ‘relentless tasting journey that offers hit after hit’, says the AA’s inspector. 

And the gong for Scotland’s best restaurant with rooms goes to The Witchery, an inn housed in a 16th-century property beside Edinburgh Castle.

The AA’s inspector notes that it’s a ‘romantic’ destination, with suites ‘filled with antiques, opulently draped beds, large roll-top baths and a plethora of memorabilia’.

RESTAURANTS

Looking to the top restaurants of the year, in England, it’s the Old Stamp House Restaurant in the Lake District town of Ambleside that takes the crown. 

The AA’s inspector praises the ‘charming little basement’ restaurant for its ‘creatively presented’ tasting menus with ‘plenty of focus on the best of Cumbrian produce’.

London’s restaurant of the year is Chutney Mary, a ‘long-established and super stylish’ Indian restaurant in the St James district. 

‘Expect luxurious ingredients, careful presentation and well-judged spicing in a fabulously glossy dining room,’ says the AA’s Inspector.

The Jackdaw in Conwy is Wales’s top restaurant. This eatery, housed in a former cinema, offers ‘clever modern dishes and a cool Scandi vibe’. 

Scotland’s restaurant of the year, meanwhile, is Cail Bruich, a Glasgow eatery that ‘champions the finest British produce’. 

Here you can expect ‘a unique and relaxed dining experience’ and ‘modern Scottish cooking with lots of luxury ingredients’.

The AA Food Service Award goes to The Strathearn restaurant at Gleneagles in Scotland, where diners enjoy ‘slick’ service and Franco-Scottish cooking with ‘plenty of modern twists’. 

The AA Wine Award goes to Askham Hall in Cumbria, where guests are treated to a ‘notable wine list’ that includes a number of ‘vintage French stunners’.

CHEF’S CHEF OF THE YEAR

The ‘Chef’s Chef of the Year’ goes to Paul Ainsworth, who – as the name suggests – is Chef Patron of Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 in Padstow, Cornwall.

The Southampton-born chef studied catering and hospitality at his local college and went on to work with celebrated chefs that include Gary Rhodes, Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing. 

The AA says: ‘After eight years in London, Paul moved to Padstow to work at No 6, and fell in love with Cornwall. Together with his wife Emma, they took over the business, relaunching it as Paul Ainsworth at No 6.’ The AA’s Inspector praises the restaurant as a ‘truly delightful place to eat’, adding that every dish on the menu is ‘underpinned by quality produce and assured technique’. 

Commenting on the awards, Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media, said: ‘It’s a delight to be back at Grosvenor House as we mark the greatest hospitality celebration across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The last year has been tough on the hospitality industry as we’ve felt, like many others, the challenges facing businesses. Yet I’m so proud of the resilience, innovation and quality shown by the UK hospitality industry in response. We would like to extend a massive congratulations [to] all the winners and shortlisted establishments for their hard work, passion, and dedication.’

For more information on the winners, visit ratedtrips.com. 

A fascinating reworked world map reveals the most popular bucket list experiences in countries around the globe – and it’s visiting the Maldives that’s number one.

On the map – generated using Google search data – country names have been supplemented with their residents’ most-searched-for bucket-list experiences. Researchers drew up a list of 119 bucket-list items and studied 12 months of Google data in 219 countries to ascertain the top bucket-list items for each nation.

A separate breakdown shows the top bucket-list experience favoured by residents of each U.S State.  

Visiting the Maldives tops the global list, compiled by travel firm Kuoni, thanks to being the most popular bucket-list experience in 122 countries around the world, including the UK, Australia and the U.S. Kuoni says: ‘With gorgeous white sandy beaches, tropical blue waters and dreamy sunsets, it’s easy to see why so many people want to experience this the most in their lifetime.’

Visiting Bora Bora earns second place because a total of 19 countries – including Hungary and Aruba – appear to be searching for the bucket-list experience. Kuoni says the South Pacific island offers holidaymakers ‘a serene sanctuary to unwind and relax in as they enjoy the bright white sandy beaches and laid-back island lifestyle’.

Seeing the Mona Lisa ranks third, as it’s top in 16 countries. ‘The painting by Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most instantly recognisable pieces of art in the world, drawing in countless visitors each year,’ says Kuoni.

In fourth place it’s visiting Italy’s colourful Cinque Terre region (top in 11 countries), while seeing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai – at 830m/2,722ft in height the world’s tallest skyscraper – is fifth, as it’s number one in nine countries.

The UK is home to two of the top 10 – visiting Stonehenge (top in three countries) and Big Ben (top in two countries) take joint seventh and joint eighth place respectively.

The U.S is home to four of the top 10 – climbing the Statue of Liberty is sixth (top in four countries), seeing Times Square is joint seventh (top in three countries), seeing the White House is joint eighth (top in two countries) and getting splashed at Niagara Falls is joint ninth (top in one country).

A series of regional maps were also produced to show the breakdown of the results more clearly across the globe.

In Europe, visiting the Maldives is top in 28 countries including France and Spain, while exploring the Cinque Terre region is top in Malta, Greece and Cyprus. In Ukraine, it’s seeing Stonehenge that is number one.

Moving across the Atlantic to North and Central America, exploring the Maldives is top in 20 countries including Canada, Turks and Caicos and Barbados. It’s seeing the Mona Lisa that reigns supreme in Mexico and Guatemala while seeing the Northern Lights tops the podium in El Salvador.

While the Maldives is the most searched-for bucket-list experience overall in the U.S, the map that breaks down each U.S State reveals that a visit to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial – a giant sculpture of U.S presidents that’s been carved into a South Dakota peak – tops the list for 30 states including Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah.

Visiting the Kentucky Derby is also popular, with nine states including Delaware, New Hampshire and Vermont searching for this experience the most. Kuoni says: ‘Usually held on the first Saturday in May each year, the horse race is known for being the fastest two minutes in sports and is the first leg of the American Triple Crown – the perfect experience for a thrilling weekend away.’

Travelling down to South America, seeing the Sagrada Familia is top in Paraguay while seeing the Northern Lights is top in Venezuela. Visiting the Maldives again reigns triumphant in several countries, including Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

In Africa, the Maldives is once again the most popular travel bucket list item, with an impressive 45 countries – such as Egypt and Zimbabwe – searching for it the most.

The Mona Lisa is also popular, with three countries – South Africa, Guinea-Bissau and Tunisia – searching for a visit to this impressive piece of art more often than any other bucket-list experience.

Looking to Asia, visiting the Maldives also tops the list in several countries, including South Korea and Laos. Visiting Yosemite is top in Yemen, while in Turkmenistan, the preference is to visit Big Ben. In Malaysia, it’s seeing Times Square that’s number one, while in Pakistan, it’s visiting the ancient city of Pompeii.

In Oceania, meanwhile, 13 countries have a visit to the Maldives at the top of their list. They include New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu. Climbing the Statue of Liberty takes the gold medal in Guam while visiting Bora Bora tops the leaderboard in French Polynesia.

Kuoni’s research also produced a ranking of the world’s most popular bucket-list experiences based on search volume alone. Interestingly, even though some places are incredibly popular globally, they rank as number one in very few countries. 

An example of this is Niagara Falls, which ranks as the second most popular experience worldwide in terms of search volume, with more than 24million searches over 12 months, but only takes the top spot in one country – Guam. 

Commenting on the research, Kuoni says: ‘With travel now back to normal for many countries after a few years with restrictions in place, there’s more opportunity to get back out there to explore and tick off things from your bucket list, whether that be travelling far away or keeping things closer to home.’

By Ted Thornhill, Mailonline Travel Editor

Published: 11:32 EDT, 25 September 2023 | Updated: 11:37 EDT, 25 September 2023

If strolling down the Hollywood Walk of Fame is on your bucket list, it might be time to think again.

Because the popular hotspot running through the heart of Los Angeles has actually been ranked as the world’s worst tourist attraction.

Luggage storage network Stasher analyzed a whole host of factors to reveal which sights to steer clear of on your next vacation.

It included Google reviews, quality of local accommodation, distance from the nearest international airport, tourist safety and TikTok popularity to give each attraction an overall score out of ten.

And it turns out that the famous boulevard is far from alone in being underwhelming – as dozens of other attractions have also left visitors disappointed. 

The Tate Modern in the UK, the Palace of Versailles in France and Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany were all among the worst-rated list. 

Take a look below to explore the 15 hotspots which were the least satisfactory.

15. Forbidden City, China (5.41 out of 10)

Forbidden City is a sprawling imperial palace complex situated in the heart of Beijing.

It was commissioned in 1406 by an emperor of the Ming dynasty and so named because access to the area was barred to most of the subjects of the realm.

But despite its long history – it seems that it leaves much to the imagination.

Among the Google reviews people wrote that tourists had ‘expected more’ after being left ‘extremely disappointed with how boring the inside of the place was.’ 

And another simply branded it as ‘repetitive and expensive.’ 

14. Magic Kingdom Park, USA (5.41 out of 10)

The Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, Florida, is one of the most visited amusement parks in the world – with more than 17 million people attending in 2022.

The theme park consists of classic attractions, enchanting fireworks, musical parades and a whole host of Disney characters. 

But it seems that many visitors to ‘the land where fantasy reigns’ were actually left in disbelief.

The recurring issues were around price and cost with one Google review summarizing most of the complaints in one, writing: ‘Terrible, overcrowded, there is not even space where to sit to eat. 

‘It is not possible to ride anything because of the lanes. Just a terrible day.’

13. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA (5.39 out of 10)

The world-renowned Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee.

Its official website states that it is America’s most visited national park thanks to the ‘diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture.’

But not everyone agrees.

A recent visitor passionately argued: ‘Don’t waste your time…  I’m a huge supporter if our parks but this is the WORST national or state park we’ve ever visited.’

Another branded it ‘an absolute travesty’ and added: ‘You cannot find a more poorly operated national park in the US.’

12. PortAventura World, Spain (5.37 out of 10)

PortAventura World, which consists of ‘six worlds in a single destination,’ claims to have been the first theme park in Spain.

It currently boasts more than 40 rides and five kilometers of rollercoaster track. 

Yet, one user wrote: ‘We came here to have fun and a relaxed time but it is not fun at all.’ 

Elaborating further as to why, she slammed the staff as ‘impolite and unfriendly’ and claimed it ‘smelt like a sewer’ before criticizing the queuing system and adding that it was ‘strewn with litter.’

Another simply labeled it an ‘endless disappointment.’ 

11. Pier 39, USA (5.27 out of 10)

Located in San Francisco, the iconic Pier 39 is a 45-acre waterfront complex lined with restaurants, shops and independent attractions.

It also offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge and Alcatraz.

But it seems that is still not enough for some.

Pier 39 has been branded as ‘a big disappointment’ with one Google reviewer elaborating further: ‘It has become so dirty and smelly over the years.’

Others also criticized the place as a whole, writing: ‘San Francisco is no more a safe place to live or visit or tour.’ 

10. Everland, South Korea (5.17 out of 10)

Korea’s largest theme park, Everland, welcomed its first visitors in 1976 and continues to draw in the crowds.

It is split into five individually-themed zones – namely Global Fair, American Adventure, Magic Land, European Adventure and Zootopia. 

Yet, it seems that it is still not enough to meet everyone’s needs.

Visitors took to review forums in their droves to argue that it was ‘too old’ and ‘disappointing’ with ‘too many people.’

Someone else stated that despite the big build-up, ‘generally, the attractions are lousy.’  

9. Great Wall of China, China (5.05 out of 10)

The Great Wall of China is one of the largest building-construction projects ever undertaken – with the total length of all sections ever built adding up to about 21,196 kilometers.

It actually consists of numerous walls that were built over some two millennia across northern China and southern Mongolia.

And, despite the feat, some visitors were less than impressed.

One tourist wrote: ‘There were throngs of people pushing and shoving to buy tickets and the huge queues to get on the wall itself.’

Issuing a warning to others, another added: ‘Expect to spend a few hours in the heat among thousands while standing.’ 

8. Fushimi Inari Taisha, Japan (5.04 out of 10)

The Fushimi Inari Shrine, which has ancient origins, is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari – the Shinto god of rice.

Most foreign tourists primarily visit to explore the surrounding mountain trails – but the building itself is also incredibly attractive. 

But not everyone could see the beauty as one user claimed that it was a ‘joke,’ adding: ‘Not a serious place by a mile.’

Another added: ‘We didn’t spend long here as it was like sardines and crammed with tourists.’  

And a third, referencing the approach via stairs, said it was ‘a miserable slog to nothing’ and ‘poorly designed.’

7. Ocean Park, Hong Kong (4.96 out of 10)

Ocean Park has been billed as a ‘must-see destination for nature lovers and inquisitive minds’ as well as being a go-to for thrill-seekers.

The site, which is praised for its immense and diverse attractions, opened in 1977 and has been delighting almost all visitors ever since. 

But there are some that have been left wanting more. 

One family who visited earlier this year wrote a review to brand it: ‘The biggest disappointment during our Hong Kong trip.’ 

And another summed it up by simply saying it was ‘absolute sh*t.’ 

6. Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong (4.89 out of 10)

The city façade Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, often considered to be the birthplace of the city itself, has become one of the most recognizable skylines in the world.

The surrounding area is bustling with hotels, retail shops and commercial offices in a busy neighborhood that never sleeps. 

But, with the Pearl of the Orient welcoming 55 million visitors to its shores every year, it seems impossible to keep them all happy.

One such disgruntled visitor wrote: ‘Please don’t even bother. There is nothing here.’

Another added that they were ‘not certain why people would come to view this’ before a third candidly said: ‘Went around in circles. Not much to see.’

5. Lotte World, South Korea (4.80 out of 10)

Lotte World is a major recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea, and is home to the world’s largest indoor theme park – as well as a mall and aquarium.

Having open in 1989, it has been a staple for locals and tourists alike for decades – but not everyone is convinced.

One recent reviewer wrote: ‘This has to be one of the worst theme parks I have ever visited. It is overcrowded. There is nowhere near enough rides with capacity for the amount of people they cram into this place.

‘The rides are pretty poor and none of them have less than an hours wait unless you are there at rope drop.’

And someone else simply said: ‘I had never seen so many people in such a tiny park.’ 

4. Busch Gardens in Florida, USA (4.52 out of 10)

Busch Gardens, which first opened in 1959, is a 335-acre theme park located in Tampa Bay, Florida, with the entire attraction landscaped around themes of Africa and Asia.

Despite there being a staggering 12,000 animals, one wrote: ‘Absolutely waste of time do not visit save your money.

‘The place is dirty and full of attitude from the catering staff. Animal enclosures are disgraceful.’

It seemed as though they had more to say, but concluded: ‘Don’t really want to waste anymore of my time reviewing the sh**hole.’

And others agreed, urging tourists to ‘do something else with your vacation.’

3. Taj Mahal, India (3.83 out of 10)

The Taj Mahal is widely considered one of the most beautiful buildings ever erected.

The immense mausoleum of white marble was built in Agra, India, between 1631 and 1648.

It was commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife whom he dubbed Mumtaz Mahal or ‘Chosen One of the Palace.’

However, even the love story was not sweet enough for some, as one visitor wrote: ‘The Taj is a bit cliché, once you have seen the photos there is nothing really extra to see.’

One particularly unhappy visitor branded it as ‘a lifeless celebration of death’ with the experience only being ‘exacerbated by the hagglers who will haunt you like hyenas every step of the way.’

2. Grand Bazaar, Turkey (3.48 out of 10)

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, is one of the world’s oldest covered markets, having been running during the Ottoman Empire as the marketplace of jewelry and precious hand-woven textiles.

And the impressive legacy continues today as it is now home to more than four thousand sellers.

However, it still ranked as second worst tourist hotspot in the world following the analysis – losing several points for tourist safety – and the reviews also gave an added insight.

One states: ‘I have to be completely honest. I was really looking forward to seeing this place and I was really let down. I thought the variation of things was poor and more importantly the attitude of the sellers just annoyed me. I don’t think I’d ever bother going back again.’

And another reads: ‘Full of fake goods. Nothing has price displayed. Sellers aggressive/pestering to the point of being rude.’

1. Hollywood Walk of Fame, USA (3.42 out of 10)

Topping the list of least popular landmarks from around the world was the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

There are more than 2,700 plaques lining the sidewalk on the boulevard to commemorate some of the biggest names in the industry.

Yet, even still, most visitors branded it as ‘average’ on various review sites.

Giving specific details about its perceived flaws, one tourist appeared to sum up the situation with a review that read: ‘This is grim. It’s just a lot of grubby stars on a pavement. 

‘The area is awful, with aggressive street sellers, and others half dressed with trousers around their knees, shouting and swearing at passers by. Famous stars are surrounded by mobile burger stands. Save your time and give this a miss.’

Welcome to the cafe of the future, where the waiting staff are all robots.

And the location? No surprises there – Tokyo.

It’s called the Dawn Avatar Robot Café and travel content creator Maz Green dropped in for a juice and a green tea, with the short video she made of the visit garnering tens of thousands of views on Instagram.

Maz, who posts eye-catching photos and videos to Instagram and TikTok to hundreds of thousands of followers using the handle ‘Where To Find Me‘, explained to MailOnline Travel that all the food and drinks are served by robots – and that they’re controlled remotely ‘by people with medical or physical limitations who cannot come into work but want to stay connected to society’.

Maz, who is half Japanese though born and raised in London, was told there are 70 staff members who work as robot pilots.

Inside, she saw ‘about 10 avatar robot waiters, one barista robot, one robot behind the bar, and a few more tiny robots dotted around the cafe’.

Plus, humans were assisting with issues and helping customers place their orders, and making drinks and meals.

The robots, though, serve everything and customers can interact with them.

Maz, 31, said: ‘The robots can all speak. Each avatar features a camera on the robot’s forehead, a microphone and speaker, so that the pilots can communicate with customers as if they were standing right in front of them.

‘The robots can perform simple movements, such as nodding their head or raising their hand, all through eye-tracking technology.

‘I interacted with so many of them. A robot greeted me at the entrance and explained how the cafe works, then I spoke to my robot waiter and with the mini robots by the bar.

‘Because I can speak Japanese, I was able to learn about the lives of many of the pilots.

‘It was fascinating to hear their stories and their appreciation for the job, which allows them to feel less isolated and more social during their week.

‘They are all lovely and are very keen to converse with their tables in English.

‘Most of the robots have iPads stationed beside them, so that you can see a photo of the person piloting the robot and where in the world they’re logging in from.’

And what was the service like?

Maz revealed that as you enter the cafe, which is in the Nihonbashi Honcho area of Tokyo, you make your order and pay on an iPad before being assigned to a table.

Her juice and green tea ‘came within minutes’ and none of the robots made a mistake.

Did the robots demand a tip?

Maz said: ‘No, because in Japan, it’s not the custom to tip. If you try, they’ll deny it and sometimes even chase you out of the restaurant to return your money.’

And what was Maz’s overall impression?

‘I loved it,’ she said. ‘It was pricier than your average cafe, but worthwhile knowing that you’re supporting a great initiative that provides opportunities for people with mobility or isolation issues.

‘It was very futuristic and as a result a quintessential Tokyo experience that I highly recommend.’

For more about the Dawn Avatar Robot Cafe visit dawn2021.orylab.com. Where To Find Me can be found on Instagram here and on TikTok here. 

By Laura Sharman

Published: 09:02 EDT, 20 September 2023 | Updated: 11:18 EDT, 20 September 2023

Life in the fold of the super-rich comes with serious perks, these nannies and former nannies reveal.

They’re taking to TikTok to lift the veil on the reality of au pairing for the super-rich – and shedding light on the luxurious benefits that are part and parcel of the role. 

Working holidays on private yachts, flying by private jet, VIP access to theme parks and meals cooked by private chefs can be all in a day’s work, they reveal.

One example is Ginger Rose Smith, 27, who recently shared a video about her experience working as a nanny for a Middle Eastern royal family who were spending time in Los Angeles. It taught her ‘how the wealthiest of the wealthy live’, she reveals. 

Ginger Rose, who is no longer a nanny, was employed in the position five years ago  to support herself while she was doing an unpaid internship in the city. Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Ginger Rose says that VIP access to ‘some of the most elite shops, events, and shows’ was one of the biggest perks of the role. She says: ‘We’d go shopping at the Nike store and they would literally close the store down for us to shop there.’

The most luxurious experience she had, she reveals, was when she accompanied the family on a trip to the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. ‘I got to see how the one per cent attends these sort of experiences,’ she says, adding: ‘We had a personal guide [and] got to cut straight to the front of every line.’

Ginger adds that when they went on rides at the theme park, no other park visitors were allowed on the ride at the same time. ‘That day was pretty crazy,’ she says.

Another bonus was the ‘free stuff’ she was gifted. Ginger says: ‘I cleared out one of their spare rooms and they told me I could keep anything I wanted – I found a box filled with gift cards and over $400 (£322) worth of quarters.’

And meals cooked by the family’s private chef were another plus. ‘I would get to work in the morning and their private chef would ask me what I wanted to eat. There was always a million staff coming and going,’ she says.

Chef-prepared dishes are something Sami Jean Williams also enjoys daily in her role as a nanny – she frequently shares videos of these lunches and dinners with her 27,000 followers on TikTok.

Originally from Prince Edward Island in Canada, Sami has spent the Past two years working for uber-rich families – with billionaires among her employers – in the U.S.

In her videos, Sami, who is currently working for a family in Miami, reveals that other perks of the job include travelling by private jet, swimming in families’ private pools and holidaying with families on their private yachts. ‘Some families take you on vacation if they want you to help,’ she explains.

A video she shared of a yacht holiday on the job – titled ‘life is good’ – has racked up more than eight million views, with one user, ‘Bella’, declaring Sami’s role the ‘dream job’. And ‘user423541’ commented: ‘Some people live incredible lives.’

Another North American TikToker, Katrina Martin, also offered insight into the glamorous holidays that can be part of the role in a series of viral videos. 

In one clip, which has racked up more than 3.2million views, she admits: ‘My experience as a nanny was terrible, to say the least, but the one kind of interesting thing from my experience was that they took me with them on a family vacation to Turks and Caicos. We flew there on a private jet and we stayed in this insane villa – I’ve never seen anything like it.

‘It was giant. The staff there later told us that celebrities like Drake, Rihanna [and] countless Victoria’s Secret models had all stayed there.’

And luxury travel is a perk similarly enjoyed by nanny Valerie DaBaldo, 19, who is a university student and works as a live-in nanny in the summertime. Greece, Florida and Long Beach Island on the eastern coast of the U.S are among the destinations she has travelled to as part of the role. 

Describing how wealthy host families travel, she tells MailOnline Travel: ‘They don’t take ordinary trips, it’s always top of the line… the biggest perk is definitely the endless adventures and events I get to experience with [my host family] because they can afford to bring a nanny along.’ 

She adds: ‘I also gain access to limited clubs and country clubs just by being their nanny.’ 

And the homes she stays in as a live-in nanny are equipped for a pampering lifestyle. She says: ‘Wealthy people have an endless amount of luxurious technology and access to luxurious places. The home I stay at now has two saunas, a steam room, [a] home gym and a personal [masseuse] that we can call whenever.’

Documenting her life as a nanny on TikTok, Valerie shared one video showing her enjoying the walk-in shower in her host family’s ‘$9million (£7.3million) beach house’ that has racked up nearly 40,000 views. Another shows her unwinding in their infrared sauna, while others show her sunbathing by the pool or on the beach during her time off work. 

She also frequently shares outfit videos with her followers on TikTok, from bikinis for the beach to more laid-back looks for running errands. 

Valerie says that while working, she spends ‘most travelling days exploring with [the family’s children], at the pool or beach’. She adds: ‘My role as a nanny mainly comes at night when they’d like to visit a theme park or when they need a ride somewhere.’

Naturally, this exposure to luxury also applies to nannies hired by A-list stars, TikToker Rachel DiBease reveals. 

Now a model and content creator, she spent several years working as a nanny for famous families in the U.S and tells her followers: ‘As a celebrity nanny you are exposed to a different kind of wealthy.’

In one TikTok video, she reveals how she received gifts such as a Gucci bag from one of her employers and in another, she describes how one of the high-profile families she worked for ‘had an elevator put in [to their home], a bowling alley, a sauna, a game room with Skee-Ball [arcade machine]… just everything’. 

What about pay? New Jersey native DiBease worked as a medical assistant before becoming a nanny and admits that the career change quadrupled her annual salary.

She says that in the U.S, nannies working for celebrities and high-profile clients are paid annual salaries that range from $75,000 (£61,000) to $175,000 (£142,000). ’They are very high paying, almost always six-figure positions,’ she admits.

This set salary isn’t the only financial perk to the role. DiBease says: ‘I trialled with families who were open to giving me a living stipend if I lived in New York or California where the cost of living is really expensive… that’s something that a lot of families offer.’ Paid time off and a 401(k) – a retirement savings plan – are also common, she explains.

So how do you become a high-profile nanny? There are nanny agencies designed specifically for high net-worth families, DiBease reveals. Among them are agencies such as ‘The Nanny League’ and ‘Elite Nannies’.

When it comes to interviewing for the role, DiBease notes that wealthy families ‘really look for individuality’ from their nannies. It also helps if you’re bilingual, she adds.