Indian vlogger exposes ‘reality’ of Europe after Rs 10 lakh trip: ‘Filth on streets and crime’

Indian vlogger shares unfiltered Europe experience. (Image: travelwprateek/Instagram)

For many Indian travellers, Europe has been an ultimate travel destination. However, a recent viral video has questioned this glossy image, drawing attention to a side of Europe rarely shown online.

The video was shared by Prateek Singh, an Indian travel vlogger, who said his experience of Europe was far removed from what social media portrays. After spending more than Rs 10 lakh on his trip, Singh claimed he was shocked to see dirty streets, poor management and rising crime, despite the strict visa process and high travel costs involved.

The clip showed littered roads and crowded streets, while Singh questioned whether the effort and expense of visiting Europe were still justified.

Singh pointed out that getting a Schengen visa is no easy task for Indian travellers. In the caption of his video, he elaborated on the emotional toll of the travel process. He wrote, “What makes you think even more is the effort it takes just to get here. The Schengen visa process is intense - bank statements, cover letters, itineraries, hotel bookings, insurance, employment proofs, and what feels like 20 different documents just to prove you’ll come back. You go through all of this, hoping for a smooth, enriching experience.”

“After spending over Rs 10 lakh, you are coming to Europe to see this! You can see all this in India itself,” Singh said, adding, “The reality is, the eastern world, like Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, is leading the world right now in terms of tourism, infrastructure, and development. Europe and the Western world are losing their status. And this is the reality.”

Apart from cleanliness, Singh also raised serious safety concerns, especially for tourists. He claimed that theft, robbery and the presence of illegal migrants in several European cities have become common, making visitors feel unsafe, particularly at night.

At the same time, the travel vlogger clarified that his criticism was not meant to dismiss Europe entirely. He explained, “This isn’t about dismissing Europe or its culture, there’s still so much to admire and learn from. But it does raise an honest question about expectations versus reality, and whether the travel experience today justifies the hoops you have to jump through to access it. Travel is evolving. Destinations change. And it’s okay to talk openly about both the beauty and the discomfort that comes with it.”

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A post shared by Prateek Singh (@travelwprateek)

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The video quickly triggered reactions online, with many users agreeing with Singh’s observations, while others offered a more balanced perspective. One user commented, “Excellent. It's high time we post more such videos. It's tiring to see blind-western tourist projecting India as such.”

Another shared a personal comparison, saying, “We felt so safe in Japan. Also, the cleanest, with the best people. Whereas Naples and Milan were the exact opposite.”

A third user echoed similar disappointment, writing, “Bang on. Someone said it finally. Everyone in my circle was shocked to hear from me that I didn’t like Paris. And that was the place I wanted to visit first in the EU trip. But unfortunately really disappointed.”

The debate also spilled over to X (formerly Twitter). One user reshared the video with the caption, “Filth on the streets, illegal immigrants, attacks on women and police on New Year, rampant crime after dark. One spends 10,000-12,000 dollars to go and see all that?”

I live in the Netherlands and I completely agree that the touristy parts of central Amsterdam are filthy. But I have never seen safety issues. And the non-touristy parts are extremely clean and beautiful. — Maulin Tolia (@mntolia) January 8, 2026

However, not everyone agreed fully. A user responded to this by saying, “I live in the Netherlands, and I completely agree that the touristy parts of central Amsterdam are filthy. But I have never seen safety issues. And the non-touristy parts are extremely clean and beautiful.”