A holidaymaker has recounted her “complete chaos” adventure to an Italian coastal resort which she described as being “shoulder to shoulder” with tourists.
Regina Simmons, 38, had eagerly anticipated her holiday to Positano, Italy, after witnessing “amazing views” and “calm empty streets” in photographs and clips across social media platforms, particularly TikTok. Following a gruelling 10-hour flight from her Las Vegas, Nevada home, she and her family found themselves utterly let down by the historic Amalfi Coast destination.
Regina explained: “In the videos, you see everything looks completely empty and calm. In real life there were far too many people.
“It was just bananas… We were overwhelmed by the amount of people. We had to look for a restaurant to hide in and make a game plan.”
Her ordeal follows recent alerts issued to British tourists considering all-inclusive breaks to Spain. Regina, alongside her spouse Dan Simmons, 46, and their daughters Sofia, 16, and 13-year-old Camila, also explored Rome and various other popular destinations during their Italian getaway last month.
Having watched numerous TikTok videos, Regina had envisioned “amazing views” accompanied by “calm empty streets” and “locals buying fresh vegetables from the markets”. However, troubles began the instant they stepped off at the railway station – which Regina likened to “like a horror movie” – due to the overwhelming number of tourists.
This was something Regina, who owns a restaurant chain, had never anticipated. The mum added: “Positano is all these tight little streets and everyone is walking together.
“Half the people are going up and half are going down. It was complete chaos. Everyone was touching, shoulder to shoulder.
“There are hundreds of beautiful videos of Positano which inspire you to go. This year feels very trendy – lots of my American friends are travelling to Italy this year.”
Regina and Dan, who are from Las Vegas, had imagined tranquil streets, peaceful local markets with fresh produce, and quaint, tucked-away diners. Yet, when they stumbled upon an enchanting shop, the crowded walkways made it impossible to pause and peruse.
After staying at a hotel in Sorrento and taking a trip to Positano for the day, Regina remarked: “We found everything was in English and there were Americans everywhere. I actually took Italian classes, and I never needed to use it.
If they venture back to Europe for a holiday, the pair intend to explore different nations. Mum-of-two Regina, warned: “If it’s trendy on social media, everyone wants to do what everyone else is doing, Myself included… Don’t believe everything you see on social media.