Beat the Crowds With These 7 World Wonders Travel Hacks

Whether it’s visiting every U.S. state or visiting every country, travel bucket lists are a fun thing to tackle. Once I had reached my fourth world wonder, I thought, “I’m already halfway there, why not see them all?” And so, I officially set my goal of solo traveling to all seven. In 2023, perched high above the city of Rio de Janeiro at the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, my eyes welled as I finally accomplished what I had set out to do.

With ticking epic travel goals comes lessons learned, and visiting all seven world wonders is no exception. Here are the top tips I learned from each iconic destination.

Having visited twice, there are plenty of tips I could give for Machu Picchu that all feel equally important: being prepared for altitude sickness (coca tea will be your best friend), wearing a raincoat and bringing a waterproof backpack like a GORUCK (the weather is extremely unpredictable), and making sure you bring your passport—you can’t get in without it.

Yet my biggest advice for Machu Picchu is to save time in your schedule to check out everything else in the area. This Incan city is 100% worth visiting, but so is Rainbow Mountain in nearby Vinicunca, and the Maras Salt Mines of Sacred Valley. Even getting to Machu Picchu is an adventure in itself, with options like the Inca Trail, a four-day hike consisting of 26 miles, or the panoramic views of The PeruRail Express Train. Plus, Cusco, the main transport hub in the general area, is not to be missed. Visit historic sites like Qorinkancha and Tambomachay, take a cooking class at Batata Marcelo, and sip cocktails at Limbus Restobar.

Motto by Hilton Cusco is a centrally located hotel. Having opened in February 2024, it feels more like a boutique hotel as opposed to a chain, allowing you to live like a local while racking up Hilton Honors points. The staff can help you arrange city tours, day trips to Machu Picchu, and anything else in the area you’d like to see.

The Taj Mahal is one of my favorite world wonders, up there with the Great Wall of China. That was partly because of my experience of getting there at sunrise.

A little birdy who worked at the hostel I stayed at told me to arrive one hour before opening. So, in the dark Agra morning, at about 4:30 a.m., I made my way over to the Taj Mahal. I was let in right at 5 a.m. and shared the massive space with maybe 20 other people. There are few moments in my life that could ever top dancing at sunrise, by myself, at a world wonder. By 6:30 a.m., 30 minutes after it “officially” opened, the site was completely packed with people.

Other important tips for the Taj Mahal to keep in mind is that it is closed on Fridays, and tripods are not allowed.

The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra is the only hotel in Agra with views of the Taj Mahal from all of its rooms and suites. Plus, if you don’t want to walk early in the morning, they offer private transfers to and from the entrance.

I never really had plans to visit China, but when I saw a long layover flight option when en route from Tokyo to Taipei, I thought, “Eh, why not?” And so, I applied for a Chinese transit visa and spent three days in Beijing. Turns out I was accidentally visiting during May Day, one of the biggest national holidays (think Labor Day for China—everyone is off work). I couldn’t find a hotel, so I ended up booking a room in a bed and breakfast in the Miyun District, about two hours outside of Beijing.

While central Beijing can feel overwhelming, I found complete solace in China. I had home-cooked meals every night, hung out with the kids who lived at the house, and got to try homemade cherry wine. But best of all, I got to experience a quiet part of the Great Wall of China without any crowds, during one of the busiest weeks of the year. I was able to walk to the Great Wall from my bed and breakfast in just five minutes, and after spending several hours there, I saw only four other people.

I stayed at a family-run accommodation, Chengtiao Xiaozhu, but just about anywhere in the Miyun District will provide you with the same peace and quiet and closeness to the Great Wall of China. If you do stay in Miyun, you’ll want to consider renting a car to explore elsewhere in Beijing. If you don’t rent a car, you can either prearrange a taxi service or grab one from the airport, but it’s a long journey and there’s no public transportation in the area.

Petra is a far more expansive site than just the famous Treasury. To properly explore, you need a full day; the grounds are approximately 100 square miles, and walking the entirety of it is a 7.3 mile loop. To get to the Treasury, you’ll have to walk about 30 minutes to an hour from the entrance. The ground is dry and rocky, so wear good walking shoes. (I felt blindsided when I showed up in glitter boots with a three-inch heel.)

You’ll see bedouins assisting visitors to climb above the Treasury for the best views, and they will expect a tip of about 10 Jordanian Dinar, roughly $14. This is not a scam; if you want the best views of Petra, let them assist you up the very steep rocks. At the top, they’ll give you some tea while you take in the scenery. 

Another Petra tip would be that it’s quite far from the capital of Amman, and public transportation is extremely limited. You can hire a taxi driver from the airport, but the ride is about four hours, with not a whole lot going on in between. If I could do it again, I’d rent a car and use it to explore more of Jordan. The roads are well-paved and it’s a straight shot from Amman to Petra.

For an in-depth visit, opt for glamping in the desert. Seven Wonders Desert Camp is a ten-minute drive from Petra’s Visitor Center. With private tents, an onsite restaurant, and nightly campfires, it’s tough to outdo glamping at a world wonder.

Chichen Itza is the only site on this list where I had trouble bringing my GoPro. When I entered, I had to fill out paperwork and pay an extra fee of 50 Mexican pesos, which is only about $2.50. You won’t have to leave it at the door, but it was a surprise when I’d brought one to every other world wonder without a problem.

Though tripods are not allowed, I managed to get a “tripod-like” shot by propping my selfie stick up inside my backpack to get a photo of myself exploring Chichen Itza.Aside from camera gear, brace yourself for long lines. Despite getting there early in the morning, the queue was close to two hours long.

Most travelers opt to stay in a nearby city like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum. We love the tranquil vibes and luxe amenities of TROBBU Tulum, the first all-inclusive luxury villa experience in the city.

As a frequent visitor of Italy, I’ve been to the Colosseum more times than I can count, but I always keep a close eye on my belongings, since the area is a breeding ground for pickpockets and scams. That “Attenzione, pickpocket!” viral audio from Venice applies to Rome, too.

There are a few ways you can protect yourself from pickpockets. My go-to way is by putting something completely useless at the top of my bag, right before I zip it. For example, I will put my camera, wallet, and phone at the bottom of my bag, and something like a reusable bag above them before zipping. That way, if a pickpocket does manage to sneak in, they’ll really have to dig to find something good. 

Pickpockets aside, a common scam in the area is men “selling” roses. They often target heterosexual couples, and will simply walk up to the male, hand him a rose, and then demand money. Avoiding this is simple: don’t take the damn rose.

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel is a sliver of respite in the chaotic Italian capital. Located just ten minutes walk from Termini station, and a 25-minute walk to the Colosseum, this central location simply cannot be beat.

The consensus among people who have visited all seven wonders of the world is that Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer is the most underwhelming of the bunch.  Even so, it holds a special place in my heart because it was my final world wonder, and it was an emotional experience for me.

Part of the issue with Christ the Redeemer is the space to see it is quite small, and always crowded. The solution? Take a helicopter and see it from above instead. Not only will you have stunning views of this world wonder, you’ll also get the chance to check out Rio’s impeccable coastline. You can book a helicopter in advance through GetYourGuide, or simply head to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain and grab one from there.

Even if you opt for a helicopter ride, you should still see Christ the Redeemer the proper way. But what’s cooler than the statue itself is the church located behind it. (Better still, there’s also a bar up there.)

If you want to get to the heart of the city and the action, stay on Copacabana Beach. For an opulent experience, Copacabana Palace is a 239-room and suite hotel with ahalf-Olympic sized swimming pool, piano bar, Michelin-starred restaurants, and a world-class spa and fitness center.