Most travellers don't choose the wrong destinations — they just choose the narrowest version of them. A recent piece from Islands makes the case that places like Jamaica, Bali and Santorini aren't overrated; they're under-explored, with visitors settling for one slice of what each has to offer.
Take Jamaica. For many Americans, the island means an all-inclusive beachfront resort, and it's easy to see the appeal: rum, sunshine and zero planning. But that version could be almost anywhere with warm water. Kingston, a UNESCO Creative City of Music, offers the Bob Marley Museum, dancehall culture and murals that tell the island's story. The Blue Mountains hide some of the Caribbean's best hiking and working coffee farms, while Port Antonio — once the banana capital of the world — makes a rewarding base beyond the resort belt.
The Dominican Republic tells a similar story. More than 3.7 million Americans visited in 2025, most of them glued to Punta Cana's all-inclusives — an area that was essentially undeveloped until 1969. Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial, with its colourful streets, fortresses and museums, rewards several days on its own, and the Cueva de las Maravillas holds hundreds of Taíno pictographs and petroglyphs thousands of years old.
Mexico may be the sharpest example of all. It's the 13th-largest country on earth, yet international visitors cluster on the Cancún–Tulum–Cabo coastline. Oaxaca is the obvious counterweight: the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán, extraordinary Día de Muertos celebrations, a reputation as Mexico's culinary capital and the heart of mezcal country. Mérida, a relaxed historical city not far from Cancún, is an easy add-on for anyone already flying into the Yucatán.
In Southeast Asia, Bali's beach clubs and villa scene have made it a hub for digital nomads — but the island's soul is Balinese Hinduism, expressed through daily offerings, ceremonies and temples. The famous Gates of Heaven photo spot has become such a trap that many visitors never get past the backdrop stage. The quieter eastern and northern coasts see a fraction of the crowds.
Thailand's party circuit — Phuket, Koh Samui, the Full Moon Party — is genuinely fun, but the mistake is making it the whole trip. Markets, temples and regional dishes beyond pad thai are usually sitting just outside the hostel door. And Greece? Santorini alone draws over 3 million visitors a year, many spending thousands to queue for the same sunset photo. A long Greek lunch or an uncrowded archaeological site often costs less and delivers more.
The through-line is simple: none of these places are wrong to visit, but the headline experience is only the beginning. A couple of nights in a city, a hike, a market breakfast — small shifts that turn a good beach holiday into a trip you actually remember.
