I've visited 30 countries and the most overrated travel trend I keep seeing is the 'off the beaten path' obsession — often it's just a dirt road to a worse version of the same souvenir shop. Booking a guided day tour in a major city like Paris or Bangkok gives real context and safety, while 'authentic' solo wandering can burn hours and money. Sure, serendipity exists, but is it worth wasting a third of your trip ration on a wrong turn?