Written by: Robert Farmer.
There are of course many travel websites available that have spectacular photos of supposedly relaxing tourist locations. What those photos don’t show is the hoards of tourists that get photo-shopped out or whatever tricks those websites like to pull. I bet when the photo shoot is over, all that pristine beach sand is quickly scattered around by the crowds.
So you go to a website looking for a paradise hidden away from civilization. You see the well-prepared photos and it’s love at first sight. “Wow, this place is beautifully empty of people,” you think. “With a destination this popular, there’s somehow nobody to bump into. Amazing!” A picture is worth 1000 words, so they say. So you book your flight, pack your bags, and you’re off to Tijuana.
But they can’t Photoshop real life. Everywhere you look, inside and out, the tourists have overrun the place. You can’t hear the local music through all the clamor. You can’t see the wildlife through all the humans. Want a quiet walk along the beach? Use ear plugs and don’t trip.
I just now found an article on a popular travel website listing the best beaches in Honolulu. Most of the photos show beautiful and empty beaches. However, Honolulu is of course a large and heavily-toured city. I compared the photos with those taken by tourists. Nope, these beaches are full of people. Hey, where did all that peace go? It got chased away.
We don’t play such tricks at NotManyPeople.com. The photos we share are those taken by tourists, NMP collaborators, and by our members. They show the locations as they normally are, not set up or dressed to conceal something. If you don’t see crowds in the photo, it’s because there were indeed no crowds in the photo (or anywhere else). No crowds – that is what you will find at the destinations we list. No intrusive noise from traffic and whatnot either. We give you the factual scoop on the best places for travelers who want seclusion.