Over-tourism: are you fed up with crowded destinations?

For us, anyway, Rome certainly did. But then we were more than happy simply to wander through the forums – both of them – and let our imaginations run riot. Spent an afternoon simply gazing at the detail in the Michaelangelo statuary that you encounter when rounding a corner, and an entire day in the larger forum. Of course, even in the off season it’s plagued by pickpockets and Ethiopian street urchins, but somehow I doubt it was much different 2000 years ago.

Venice in summer is somewhat smelly. And packed. And smelly – did I mention that?

You do not go because it is an effort. You like your home comforts and they sway you. I went to Venice aged 61 and worrying a little about my arthritis and the hole in my pelvis. Venice is a moment in history that freeze framed and yes the tourist ships are too big with passengers fed on board and not overly keen to part with their money to keep the city afloat, and every other tourist wants ANOTHER selfie .When ever you go there will be that strange and sometimes uncomfortable feeling that many people go to Venice for a selfie and little else. I went, by choice, in misty February and off the main thoroughfares I found myself in empty avenues with above me gargoyles and angels I gazed and heard the odd echo of a footfall and I was slipping in and out of history in a spine tingling way. The museums helped during the day and the moon and shadows at night The museums are many, one on every corner it felt like, all of which were uplifting; quality, class, knowledge; I went to a museum of perfume and was mesmerised. I went to another, four floors of fascination and was exhausted, I had to steal a guard’s chair and sit panting for ten minutes. If I had been more mobile, and I walked every day to something new I may have found the cheaper but quality restaurants on the outer rim or in some of the less visited, worker based, areas. I paid for a fish in one restaurant near to the main canal and asked if I had just bought shares in a fishing fleet. No I just thought it. What I know is I came home and read a number of books; history, factual, fiction and realised I had missed so much and (in reading still learning) I would go again.

Yes it was crowded (in parts, but not throughout) and a bit smelly, but less so than Barcelona – it was more reminiscent of the Dudley canal… My other half took me there for a surprise 70th birthday present last July – amid some trepidation because it was in the middle of the UK heatwave. But it wasn’t significantly hotter during the day – just more so at night – and the cicadas were deafening. We stayed in a rambling old hotel on Jet2’s list that was quiet – but not one to go to for the view from the room! Just don’t go to any restaurant near the Rialto bridge – one guide told us they’re all run by the Mafia and charge extortionate prices. The ‘vaporettos’ (water buses) were a good way of getting around and quite cheap with day tickets. You have to walk everywhere else – even bikes are banned – but given the number of bridges (about 400) and narrowness of streets, that’s sensible. The locals were great – and united about cruise ships judging by some of the posters. These monsters tower over the beautiful Renaissance buildings and don’t help the local economy – they’re also totally unmanoeuvrable in the narrow lagoon, so have to be towed by tugs. Ban them!

John, if you didn’t like Rio, then you probably stayed in the wrong area. Most tourists flock unwisely to Zona Sul (e.g. Copacabana and Ipanema), where there are plenty of criminals waiting to prey on tourists, especially on the beaches.

Instead stay in Barra da Tijuca in the west of Rio, not far from the Olympic Park, not least as there are no favelas and very few tourists whom criminals attract. Although it’s mostly a residential area for wealthy locals, there are several hotels along the beach front from major international chains. The beach in Barra da Tijuca is much better than the more famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, and they have genuine Brazilian beach culture undiluted by lots of tourists.

Thank you, NFH. We soon realised our party was in the wrong place, but we tried to make the best of it. The extremely high temperature and humidity in February made life very uncomfortable. On our ride to the airport we did pass some favelas and the experience was interesting to say the least.