I'm a travel writer who's been to 19 countries. Here are 4 'tourist traps' I wouldn't recommend and where I'd go instead.

I wanted to love Zermatt, the picturesque town at the base of the Matterhorn, so badly. So badly that I practically begged my family to put it on the itinerary when we visited Switzerland in 2022, even though it was well out of our way.

They appeased me, and we spent a day in Zermatt — but I found myself wishing we'd gone elsewhere instead.

The town's beauty and charm met my expectations; it looked like something out of a fairy tale. But it was also expensive and crowded, and after having just spent a few days camping in Lauterbrunnen, I wished I was still there.

Lauterbrunnen, just a few hours away from Zermatt, is something out of a movie. As you drive into the village, you're greeted with cascading waterfalls from cliffs so high they get lost in the clouds.

While you can see the Matterhorn in Zermatt from a distance, in Lauterbrunnen, you're surrounded by impossibly tall mountains in every direction. I thought it was more beautiful and peaceful than Zermatt, and I'd jump at the chance to return.

I'm still disappointed by how much Versailles overwhelmed me.

I couldn't wait to get out of the palace, one of the things I was most excited to see during my last trip to Paris. Filled wall-to-wall with visitors, it made me more anxious than I'd been in a long time.

While I loved exploring the estate's gardens, next time, I'd skip the long commute to Versailles — which took about an hour from Paris by train — and set up a lunch under the Eiffel Tower.

I did it on my first trip to Paris and truly enjoyed it. People-watching from a park near the monument was a great way to spend the afternoon, and it's what I'd do instead of revisiting Versailles.

In New York City, Times Square is one of the most popular tourist traps and, in my opinion, an overstimulating hellscape that's not worth visiting.

Instead, I'd choose to pick up food — maybe a bagel, slice of pizza, or a sandwich — and walk around Central Park.

Depending on where in the park you find yourself, you can still experience the city's charms, like performers, souvenirs, and food carts, but it's infinitely less stressful.

I visited the Louvre for the first time in July, more out of a sense of obligation than anything — how can you visit Paris without seeing the Mona Lisa at least once?

Visiting the Louvre was exhausting; every room was packed with visitors, and long lines snaked throughout much of the museum. I left shortly after seeing Leonardo da Vinci's most famous work and will likely never return.

Instead, I'd like to see other Paris museums locals recommended. The Louis Vuitton Foundation, for example, was brought to my attention more than once. If I ever return to Paris, I'd skip the Louvre and head there instead.