The (less than tranquil) reality of those holiday idylls

Daily Mail

7 Apr, 2016 06:10 AM2 mins to read

Tourists pose for photographs at The Great Wall near Beijing, China. Photo / Adam Dean

Flicking through glossy holiday brochures, the idyllic images of city breaks, sun-kissed beaches and tourist favourites give people a taste of what to expect from their dream getaway.

But the reality can often be a world away from the photos of couples watching the sunset, enjoying romantic sightseeing and perusing art and culture.

From the beauty of Greece to the blissful appearance of Thailand's beaches, these brochure pictures show how blissful destinations across the world can be.

But what it's really like for tourists who visit is sometimes a very long way from the truth.

The comparisons below illustrate the difference between the dream and the less than tranquil reality of holiday idylls from across the globe.

Greek mythology: This holiday brochure shows a couple enjoying the sunset over the azure Aegean Sea on the island of Santorini.

Crowded: But in reality, you'd be hard put to find a spot to sit down because of how many people descend on the Greek island.

Spanish lies: Explore the eternal city of Rome, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and take a breather on the Spanish steps.

Not quite as imagined: But when you do, prepare to find a space amongst hundreds of other tourists who have the same idea.

Beauty: This brochure shows a small number of tourists walking along the World Heritage Site the Great Wall of China in glorious sunshine.

The great crawl of China: They say the Wall can be seen from space. But you won't find much space on it if you visit during the Chinese holiday season.

Stretching a point: They promote the idyllic Maya Bay beach on Koh Phi Phi Ley Island in Thailand as the perfect spot for peaceful yoga and meditation.