{"id":1321599,"date":"2026-10-30T10:54:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T10:54:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=1321599"},"modified":"2026-10-30T10:54:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T10:54:06","slug":"7-places-travel-experts-say-to-skip-this-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/7-places-travel-experts-say-to-skip-this-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Places Travel Experts Say to Skip This Winter (and Where Backpackers Should Go Instead)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every winter, a new list tells you where not to go. This year’s version comes from Travel Off Path<\/a>, updated on 21 October 2026. It names seven places to avoid: Hallstatt, Nassau, Kyoto, Aspen, Amsterdam, Key West and Banff, citing crowds, cold fronts, sky-high prices and dark, soggy days.<\/p>\n

But are these really places not to visit in winter, or just places that need a smarter plan? Some of the reasons hold up. Others don’t survive a quick check against official prices and the actual rules.<\/p>\n

So for each destination, we look at what the list claims, what’s actually true, and our verdict for budget travellers: skip it, swap it or go differently<\/strong>. Every swap comes with a cheaper, hostel-friendly alternative nearby. For more on timing your trip, see our guide to seasonal hostel travel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Hallstatt, Austria: is it really too crowded in winter?<\/h2>\n

The claim:<\/strong> Hallstatt is overrun with day-trippers, the village has fenced off a famous viewpoint, and the lakeside paths turn icy.<\/p>\n

What’s true:<\/strong> the crowding is real. In May 2023 the mayor put up a wooden fence at a popular selfie spot to stop crowds gathering outside people’s homes, Euronews reported<\/a>. It came down soon after a backlash, so it’s not a winter barrier you’ll meet today. Icy paths are just Alpine winter: pack shoes with grip.<\/p>\n

Our verdict: go differently.<\/strong> Hallstatt has no hostels on Hostelworld (checked October 2026), so for budget travellers it’s a day trip anyway. Base yourself in Salzburg<\/a>, catch the earliest connection and aim for a weekday, when the coach groups are thinner. You’ll get the snowy lake views, then head back to a city with plenty of things to do in Salzburg<\/a> once the light goes. Our Austria travel guides<\/a> have more winter ideas.<\/p>\n