I've been to over 65 countries - these are the three underrated spots that are about to blow up

A travel influencer who has explored the world has urged holidaymakers to visit three 'hidden gem' destinations before they 'get too popular.'
Tia, 26, from England, has visited 66 countries over three years since quitting a job in 2021 to travel full-time.
From Oman, to Switzerland, to Singapore, the content creator has documented her global adventures in videos uploaded to Instagram, where shares budget travel hacks, hiking and travel recommendations and advice regarding local customs.
In one video, posted to her account @teetravels_ on April 5, she highlighted three countries in Europe and Asia that are less-frequented by tourists, encouraging her followers to visit before they 'blow up' in popularity.
Tia's first recommendation is Taiwan, which she described as one of the 'coolest' places she's visited.
In the clip, she said: 'Compared to the other east Asian countries, you can experience the same things, and more, for a fraction of the price - and with way less crowds.'
The globetrotter gushed over the island's 268 mountains, coastline, 'cool' and trendy cities, 'impressive' temples, 'insanely friendly' locals, 'amazing' architecture and 'some of the most underrated' nature spots.
As well as sampling the delicious options at the endless number of night markets in Taipei, Tia also suggested tourists visit Taichung, Sun Moon Lake, Ci'En Pagoda, Wenwu Temple, Yuanzui Mountain and Jiufen.
Next up is Slovenia, a central European country the content creator described as a 'nature-lover's paradise.'
She highlighted the nation's 'beautiful' lakes, gorges, waterfalls and mountains, while adding she was dazzled by the brilliance of the shade of bright blue water flowing in alpine rivers.
Tia added: 'Ljubljana is such an underrated city with lovely colourful buildings and a great alfresco setting in summer.'
She personally recommended visitors explore Lake Bled, Tomlin Gorge, Triglav National Park, Pericinik Watercall, Lake Jasna, Soča river and Velika Planina.
Last, but not least, is the Maldives - which happens to be home to ultra-affordable, lesser-known islands where tourists can enjoy crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches for much less than its iconic luxury resorts.
Tia said: 'People are realising that you can travel the Maldives on a budget visiting the local islands and this is a total game changer.
'I spent less than £35 a day on picture-perfect beaches. While tourism in the Maldives isn't new, budget travelling the local islands is booming.'
She advised her followers to snorkel in Maalhos, surf in Thulsdhoo, and walk along the stunning beaches in Dhiffushi.
In the comments, reactions were mixed among viewers, though many agreed with Tia that the three highlighted destinations were some of the best they had visited
In the comments, reactions were mixed among viewers, though many agreed with Tia that the three highlighted destinations were some of the best they had visited.
One person wrote, 'Taiwan was one of my favourite trips I'd go back in a heartbeat,' as another shared: 'The rivers in Slovenia really are so blue! Maldives is on my list.'
A third wrote, 'I neeeeed to explore budget Maldives!' while another said, 'We went as a family to Slovenia in the summer and it was such an incredible place!'
However, one person fumed: 'Of course they will, because you and other influencers are exposing them lol. All the hidden gems will be ruined.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mirror

3 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

'We made a change after Covid that's let us quit our jobs to travel the world'

Ryan Losasso and Jade Beaty, 30, are now known as Live The Dash and travel across the world filming their exploits for their TikTok account, which is followed by 505,000 people A couple quit their desk jobs and now travel the world full-time after discovering what they had captured on holiday. Ryan Losasso and Jade Beaty, 30, are now known as Live The Dash, one of the biggest UK travel creators with 505,000 followers on TikTok. They live a life many dream of, getting paid to whizz around the world to intriguing destinations. ‌ The advertising workers had not planned to become full-time TikTok content creators. In fact, it wasn't until they returned from a big six-month trip at the turn of the Covid lockdowns that they realised what they were sitting on. ‌ "We had all this video content when the world shut down, and we had a lot of time on our hands. So we turned to this huge stock of footage," Ryan told the Mirror. "We set ourselves a challenge of posting a video every day for 30 days. Then when some of that did really well, it spurred us on. We continued to post every day for six months." Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@ READ MORE: Tourist warning to 10 million as Europe's hottest capital on alert Jade added: "It was surprising how quickly we got through that content. On a walk in Spain, the videos were doing quite well, and we realised we were going to run out of content soon. We started joking that we'd start going on trips." At first, the couple juggled their desk jobs with travel, booking themselves onto the cheapest flight out after they clocked off on a Friday and returning on Sunday. Two years ago, they decided to go full time. The risk has clearly paid off, as Jade and Ryan are among the most watched travel TikTok channels and won the platform's Travel Award for 2024. Part of the secret to their success is putting in the research hours before they go on a trip and then only travelling when they've landed on a great idea. That might be heading to New York to see if the hallowed 'dollar slice' of pizza can still be purchased, or around the UK in search for a genuine 99p 99 whippy. ‌ They've also spent the night on the fastest sleeper train in the world, which rushes snoozing passengers from Hong Kong to Shanghai. "Was it amazing? The tech is amazing, but you're sharing with three other strangers. It reaches 270 mph, but it's super smooth," Ryan explained. "For TikTok specifically, we have our hooks before we go. We film all we can, we film the journey, we film two intros, two hooks. We bet on all the horses." The search for something new that will engage their audiences takes the pair to places they might otherwise not have visited, which often turn out to be the most enjoyable. READ MORE: Brits warned of travel chaos as European airport hit by 10th walkout in 45 days "Somewhere I wasn't expecting much from was Weston-super-mare. It had a lot of cheap whippies. It is obviously a faded Victorian seaside town, but the beach is gorgeous," Ryan said. ‌ Jade added: "We also like to hunt out weird hotels. We stayed in a cow cabin with unlimited free milk, near Ed Sheeran's hometown, called Easton Farm Park. We also stayed in these huge tree houses in Derby." The old adage of 'if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life' seems true in the couple's case. They still have the travel bug and are hugely excited by their trips. Part of that means pushing themselves to engage with people they meet along the way. "We have this rule that whenever we're on the plane, we have to speak to the person next to us. One guy told us 'do what excites you'. Six years later, we still tell ourselves that. We call it Conrad's message." ‌ The couple also recommends running every day and practicing good communication for travelling couples who want to avoid arguments while on the road. In terms of finding inspiration, they recommend using the adjustable 'For You' feed on TikTok. It is now possible to customise content preferences so you can see more or less of certain content in topics from over 10 categories – including travel, sports, nature, and food and drink An AI-powered 'smart keyword filter" that allows users to limit content they don't want to see'. "The For You feed is the heart of TikTok, a way for us to discover new content. We use the new features, manage topics, and think it's really cool that you can filter which topics you want to see more or less of."

Daily Mirror

7 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Kieran Trippier marriage update after England star addressed Chloe Ferry rumours

Kieran Trippier, who has been married to wife Charlotte since 2016, is reportedly set to divorce just days after the Newcastle United defender was pictured with Chloe Ferry They think it's all over - it is now! Kieran Trippier and his estranged wife are reportedly ready to start divorce proceedings, just days on from the Newcastle United defender being spotted looking cosy with reality TV star Chloe Ferry. Earlier this week, Trippier, 34, took to Instagram to address rumours after being seen with the Geordie Shore star. The England international, who has 54 caps, shared with his followers that he's moving forward after parting ways with his wife and the mother of his two children, Charlotte. ‌ And it's now been claimed that there is apparently no chance of a reconciliation as sources close to Charlotte claim she has been seeking legal advice and "keen to move on with her life." ‌ "Kieran is a devoted dad, but as a partner, it hasn't worked out as Charlotte had hoped," the insider told The Sun. "She has moved house and started anew, so getting a divorce has been the next logical step. Charlotte wants to keep things as amicable as possible with Kieran." The Mirror has approached Trippier for comment on this story. Writing on Instagram on Wednesday night, the footballer told fans: "Myself and Charlotte separated over a year ago. I have not commented previously as it is a private matter, and we want to protect our children. We ask the media to respect our privacy in the same way." Trippier, who transferred to Newcastle from Atlético Madrid last year, was recently spotted at the renowned Ibiza club Ushuaia getting cosy with Chloe, 29, known for her stint on Geordie Shore since 2015. Last May, video footage surfaced showing Trippier hoisting 27-year-old blonde call centre worker, Frankie Carmichael, at Cosy Joes, a karaoke bar in Newcastle. Subsequent images captured months later revealed the defender without his wedding ring at a train station. This May, the Magpies' defender was again snapped alongside another blonde during a night out in Newcastle. ‌ Kieran and the England footballer tied the knot in 2016 in Cyprus. Despite typically keeping a low profile, Charlotte once referred to herself as "a princess who has found her prince." Amidst whispers of marital troubles last year, the couple's lavish £3.8million family abode was put up for sale. In contrast, Chloe Ferry, known for her stint on Geordie Shore, hasn't walked down the aisle before, despite a lengthy three-year romance with fellow cast member Sam Gowland. Their relationship ended in 2020 after Sam had departed from the show, but Chloe continues to be a fan favourite. Hailing from Newcastle, she also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017 but faced eviction just a week into the show. ‌ The details of how Chloe and Trippier crossed paths remain a mystery. Trippier has been a fixture at Newcastle, clocking in close to 100 matches since his 2022 transfer under manager Eddie Howe, who he previously played for at Burnley. It was there that Trippier's loan spell turned into a full-time commitment in 2012. Trippier's career has been marked by his swift playing style as a full-back, earning his first England cap in 2017 while with Tottenham Hotspur. He represented his country 54 times before hanging up his international boots last summer. His unforgettable moment on the pitch came with a stunning free-kick goal against Croatia during the World Cup semi-finals in 2018.

Scottish Sun

11 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Who is Lions' captain Maro Itoje's wife Mimi?

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE British and Irish Lions embark on a world tour every four years, which kicks off against Argentina in Dublin on June 20, 2025. Here we get to know captain Maro Itoje's wife Mimi — just one of the glam WAGs attached to the squad. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Maro Itoje is married to Mimi Itoje (née Fall) Credit: Instagram/mimiitoje 3 Like her husband, Mimi works as a model Credit: Instagram/mimiitoje Who is Maro Itoje's wife Mimi? Mimi Itoje is a model and artist who is married to England rugby captain Maro Itoje. In addition to rugby, Maro sometimes also works as a model. He's appeared on the cover of Tatler alongside Lady Amelia Windsor. It's understood the couple met during a shoot. read more on maro itoje WORTH A TRY Itoje captains Lions as squad revealed with shock call up for England star, 20 She has been represented by London-based agencies including W Management. On top of her modelling career, Mimi is an artist — she creates acrylic on canvas paintings incorporating cultural themes. Maro proposed to his now-wife during a holiday to Nigeria and Ghana in August 2024. Mimi shared the happy news on Instagram alongside snaps of her dazzling ring, which she captioned and the caption: "Mrs I to be." Maro subsequently described the moment to the Daily Mail, saying: "We went to this beautiful aqua-safari in Ada, which is on the coast, about two hours from Accra. "It was a beautiful resort, and I popped the question there." England captain Maro Itoje hopeful for 'classy operator' Fin Smith starting against France in the Six Nations The couple married less than a month before the Lions tour kicks off on May 25, 2025. Maro celebrated the occasion by writing on social media: "Scripture says It is not good for man to be alone… I am no longer alone. "I HAVE A WIFE. To God be the Glory!!!!" Talented rugby family Talent runs in Maro's family — his cousin Beno Obano, who plays for Bath rugby, was born just three days apart from him. The cousins often show public support for each other, with Beno appearing on Maro's podcast titled Pearl Conversations. On the show, Maro interviews leaders and groundbreakers from various fields including music, sports, politics and art. 3 The couple tied the knot less than a month before the Lions tour kicks off Credit: Instagram/mimiitoje Maro reflected on their upbringing on Pearl Conversations, saying: "For you and I, rugby has never really been [there] when we were growing up — as you said, from when we were born to when we went to secondary school. "Before then, rugby was never really a thing for us. Coming from a Nigerian household where, if it's any sport at all, it's football. If it's not football, then it's books.""If it's not football, then it's books." Maro's Rugby career Born in Camden, London, Maro didn't pick up rugby until he was 11, discovering the sport at secondary school. Before committing to rugby, he also competed at shot put and basketball. He joined Saracens at the tender age of 17 in 2012. In 2016, Maro went on to earn his first senior England cap against Italy when he was just 21. Maro had already been part of a Lions tour, being the youngest member of the 2017 New Zealand squad at just 22. The Saracens lock was named England captain in January 2025 ahead of the Six Nations.