Vibe Check: What’s Up at the World’s Top Tourist Traps?

That Iceland is partially on fire might, given its name, sound a little paradoxical. And yet, it is what's currently happening in the area surrounding the Blue Lagoon, one of the country's most visited tourist attractions.

Due to the seventh volcanic eruption in a year near the Icelandic capital, which happened on Wednesday night, the car park of the Blue Lagoon, which attracts tourists looking to bathe in its natural geothermal pools, has been covered in hot lava. As a result, CNN reports that two hotels at the iconic landmark were evacuated, and the Blue Lagoon itself was forced to close again. When the eruption happened, it was around 11 pm, and the Blue Lagoon was already empty.

So, now that the lava has reportedly slowed down and the country's Civil Protection agency reported no victims or injuries, I can only daydream about such a popular tourist trap being completely empty. Sure, it would be dangerous to venture into a lava-engulfed parking lot and into waters surrounded by an active volcano, but think about the crowdless natural pools. Considering the spot's overwhelming popularity, this might be the only time you see it empty.

But I won't encourage you to do something that puts your safety at risk or something that is, in fact, illegal. So, instead of hyper-fixating on dreamlike scenarios concerning one of the world's top tourist attractions, let's zoom in on the facts and get a sense of what up at some of the world's most famous tourist traps.

In case you didn't get it yet, Vibe Check is back. Tell your traveler friends.

How busy it got: Considering it's closed due to a volcanic eruption, definitely not busy!
What the weather was like: Ridiculously cold (average of 25 degrees) and cloudy.
Google Reviews to note: On non-volcanic-eruption days, people tend to describe it as "beautiful" and "amazing" albeit "price,ey" and "crowded." Better rank your priorities before you visit.
Social media highlights to note: It's a hot destination right now… in the most literal sense.
Overall vibe score: 1/10 for safety and because it is, technically, closed. Crowdless vibes, on the other hand…

How busy it got: Honestly, this place is always busy, especially on the weekends (or when the outside temperature gets unbearably hot).
What the weather was like: 80s, sunny, and relatively low humidity. A winning trio, in my opinion.
Google Reviews to note: Prepare to walk distances. As one visitor puts it, "it's so big, people get tired when walking around." (I've been, it's true).
Social media highlights to note: So yeah… crowds.
Overall vibe score: I get easily overwhelmed. 5/10.

How busy it got: Crowds are smaller this time of the year, so it was relatively busy.
What the weather was like: Kinda chilly—temperatures during the day oscillated between 45 and 60 degrees.
Google Reviews to note: Travelers say it's "really worth a visit," but some of them still complain about the crowds.
Social media highlights to note: It's pretty at night, but for a less touristy experience, you might want to check out the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
Overall vibe score: I mean, it's still the Great Wall of China. 6.5/10.

How busy it got: It's a cabaret and ticket-base, so it depends.
What the weather was like: Temperatures went down in Paris, and it even snowed on Thursday!
Google Reviews to note: They're really polarized. Some describe it as "magnificent" and "wonderful," while others claim it's rather "disappointing." Another recent visitor, who awarded the landmark one star out of five, gave their broader (albeit questionable) opinion: "Everything in France is bad."
Social media highlights to note: Maybe it's the recent snowfall, or maybe it's the champagne glasses, but I'm kinda feeling it.
Overall vibe score: I'd go, even if it's just to see what the fuss is all about. 7/10

How busy it got: Always busy, especially at night.
What the weather was like: Low 80s and mostly sunny. Pretty nice, in my opinion.
Google Reviews to note: "Lots of vendors, lots of food stalls," says one recent visitor. "You can buy beautiful things, [and] you should negotiate hard if you are interested in them."
Social media highlights to note: Don't touch the snake.
Overall vibe score: A must-see, even if it isn't Marrakech's most authentic spot. 7/10.

How busy it got: Not too busy, according to Google.
What the weather was like: Some rain and some sun with temperatures in the 30s and low 40s. A very typical November week in England.
Google Reviews to note: Many rave about how surreal the landmark is, especially if you visit during sunrise or sunset. Others, however, will tell you it's "just some rocks" in a circle.
Social media highlights to note: Maybe it's worth visiting the summer solstice.
Overall vibe score: Eh, 6/10.

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