Five 'hardest' countries where UK tourists 'shouldn't holiday'

FIVE countries where UK tourists shouldn't holiday because they are the "hardest" destinations to get by in have been revealed. UK tourists venturing outside of the European Union on their holidays have been warned over countries where NO English is spoken.

Babbel has discussed the five countries in questions, earmarking China and Russia as potential sticking points for Brits. The site has also ranked Colombia and Brazil, both in South America, as third and fourth, while Laos in Asia ranks fifth.

The reason for the ranking is based on the English Proficiency Index, which projects where UK tourists may struggle due to a lack of English speakers. China ranks 36th but was ranked first by Babbel because 99 per cent don't speak English.

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It reasoned: "Though you might encounter some English on restaurant menus (which is more than likely if you’re dining at a tourist trap), you’ll probably have a hard time getting around if you don’t know Mandarin — especially because you won’t be able to rely on the Latin alphabet.

"Of course, it depends on where you are in China, and younger people are more likely to know a bit of English." As of 2012, 46 per cent of Hong Kong residents could speak English, though, and the site reckons tourist hotspots like Beijing and Shanghai will accommodate you.

Russia - which owing to the war with Ukraine is off-limits - was second with 94 per cent not speaking English. Colombia ranks 51st (out of 80) on the EPI index but in big cities like Bogotá and Medellín, you’ll need to rely on your Spanish knowledge to help you get around.

Brazil ranks 41st on the EPI index, but only 5 per cent of Brazilians speak English. In contrast, roughly 99 per cent speak Portuguese. In Laos you will "encounter various regional dialects of the country’s official language, Lao, in addition to a little bit of French and smaller minority tongues", it said.