Recently, I watched an episode of a TV series based on Agatha Christie's novels, featuring the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. The story takes place in the 1930s, and one of the female characters sets off on a solo bus journey to Turkey. At the time, this was considered almost unthinkable. Even in the 1960s, travelling through Greece still had a sense of adventure. Since then, however, mass tourism has swept across the world like a tsunami, reaching even the most remote corners.

Why famous places so often disappoint

The Trevi Fountain in Rome… Malaga… Charles Bridge in Prague… Machu Picchu… Phuket… Bali – and many other places that everyone goes to. Crowds everywhere, high prices, rude vendors, irritated locals, and endless rules about what you can and cannot do. One almost starts to wonder whether this kind of travelling still makes sense at all. So what can be done?

The solution is surprisingly simple: you just need to switch to a different mindset and approach travel from a completely different angle than usual. When people decide to "go somewhere," they usually rely on what they already know about travelling, what they have heard before – on the places everyone goes to, or on the attractive images smiling at them from travel agency brochures. But what if we tried, just for a moment, to forget all that and awaken the spirit of a true traveller – someone eager to discover unknown places? That idea deserves a more concrete explanation.

How overtourism really works

The reason why visiting many famous places often ends in disappointment is quite simple: these are the places everyone goes to. The Trevi Fountain is undoubtedly beautiful, but it is not the only beautiful fountain in the world – not even in Italy. It is famous and iconic, and that is why everyone wants to see it. Tourism works on the same principles as society itself. And this applies to almost everything.

A simple comparison from music

As a fan of rock and modern electronic music, I am often amazed by how many brilliant bands can be found on YouTube. Many of them have songs with real hit potential, yet hardly anyone knows them. Often simply because they never had the luck of being played on a major radio station.

Travelling works in a very similar way. The world is full of beautiful and fascinating places, but only a small fraction of them have become famous and iconic. From there, the process turns into a snowball effect. Everyone wants to go to the same places. Travel agencies have little choice but to include them in their itineraries – otherwise, competitors would easily outperform them. Even independent travellers tend to add all these "must-see" locations to their plans. After all, how could you go to France without seeing the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Versailles?

But holidays are short. As a result, people often spend their time moving from one overcrowded iconic site to another, only to return home exhausted and look forward to resting back at work.

Why Czechia is a perfect example

I am a passionate traveller myself, and since I was born and live in the Czech Republic, it is the country I know best. That is why I would like to illustrate this whole issue using Czechia as an example. From as early as the 11th century, the region experienced a dynamic cultural and architectural development. In later centuries, it was not devastated by modern wars or radical urban redesigns, which is why it has preserved an exceptional number of authentic historic towns, as well as countless castles, châteaux, and other monuments.

Where most visitors go – and where they don't

Every year, around 10–11 million foreign tourists stay overnight in the Czech Republic (this number does not include approximately another 10 million day visitors from neighbouring countries). Nearly two thirds of them visit Prague only. Many of the remaining visitors add just a few other iconic destinations, such as the spa town of Karlovy Vary or the South Bohemian town of Český Krumlov. For most foreigners, the rest of the country remains terra incognita.

Český Krumlov and the illusion of discovery

Český Krumlov is a particularly interesting example. While many visitors speak of it as a newly discovered gem, in reality it has become one of the worst cases of overtourism in Czechia. A typical scenario: at some point, the town was "discovered," everyone started going there, and it quickly became a fixed "must-see" item on travel itineraries. Český Krumlov is beautiful – but I could easily name ten other Czech towns just as beautiful, yet almost unknown to foreign visitors. In total, Czechia has around 300 towns officially protected as historic centres, thousands of castles and ruins, and roughly 40,000 protected heritage sites.

The real solution to overtourism

This brings us to the very essence of overtourism – and, at the same time, to the solution. How can you avoid the crowds and enjoy a truly wonderful holiday, exactly the kind you are hoping for? Let us again use Czechia as an example, although the principle applies universally.

How to plan a different kind of trip

So how should we proceed if we want to enjoy an authentic and enjoyable holiday that we will remember fondly for many years? The key is good preparation. Travelling completely "on a whim," letting things unfold spontaneously and seeing what happens around the next corner, certainly has its charm – but it is a luxury usually reserved for students with unlimited time. For most people with one to three weeks available, it often results in wasted time.

Choose places you want to stay in, not just see

Start by choosing places you genuinely like – places where you would enjoy spending time, not just locations you want to photograph so you can tick them off a list.

Highlights are fine – in moderation

To avoid being overly strict, you can include one or two highlights in your plan – partly for peace of mind and, frankly, because Prague Castle really is worth seeing. But that is enough. Choose the rest of your destinations purely according to what attracts you personally. Clarify what kind of holiday suits you best. Some people love the idea of visiting a castle in the morning, exploring a town in the afternoon, and spending the evening in a cosy bar. For others, the perfect holiday means relaxing in the garden of a stylish cottage near the forest. Once this is clear, it becomes obvious whether you want to spend your holiday in one place, five places, or twenty.

Why local knowledge matters

The greatest attention should be paid to selecting the right locations. Beautiful pictures alone are not enough, and even trustworthy reviews are not always a guarantee. I have personally experienced situations where an "off-the-beaten-path seaside village with a relaxed atmosphere" turned out to be a snobbish resort full of premium bars. Ideally, someone with local knowledge can help you choose – someone who understands what you enjoy and can immediately point you in the right direction.

Accommodation is part of the experience

After selecting your dream destinations, accommodation comes next. A well-chosen hotel, guesthouse, apartment, or cottage is often almost as important as the place itself. Luxury does not matter, nor does the number of stars. What matters is the feeling – having a place to return to in the evening where you truly feel comfortable.

Logistics create freedom

Finally, everything needs to be planned logistically: transport, transfers, and time buffers. Not to create a packed schedule, but to ensure calm, avoid rushing, and allow you to truly enjoy your holiday. When these aspects are well prepared, space opens up for spontaneity, joy of discovery, and a sense of freedom – exactly what most of us seek when we travel.

This is precisely the kind of planning I help people with today – those who want to travel differently than the majority, without crowds, stress, or "mandatory" stops. If this approach to travel appeals to you, a good first step may simply be to start thinking about your holiday in a slightly different way. The rest comes down to experience and local knowledge.