Most overrated international destination?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Twenty-five years I lived in Europe for 3 years and traveled extensively. We traveled with family for years since. Our recent trips ~5-8 years have been very different. Just back from a trip this year and the difference between as shocking - trash, lack of maintenance upkeep, old construction, poor transit.

All that said, Iceland has been the only place I would say I was underwhelmed. Though I have had many people tell me 1) we went at the wrong time, and 2) tried to see two much in our 4 days. It was interesting but I’ll take a return trip to either Switzerland, Norway or Alaska first.

You mean you found trash, lack of maintenance upkeep, old construction, poor transit in the US? OR Europe? I'm a bit confused here.

I was in Southern Italy in June and while it's definitely a poorer area with plenty of crumbling old buildings, I have to acknowledge the transit was excellent and pretty updated. Naples did have a fair amount of trash in the city proper, but other places didn't and Palermo was practically spotlessly clean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think all of Europe is overrated during high season. It’s awful for those of us with children under 18.

I have adult kids and agree with this. Summer in Europe is awful. Crowds, heat, humidity. Fall is much more enjoyable.

Let's be a bit fair here. It depends on where you go. Europe isn't a single destination but many countries. It's like saying summer in the US is awful, crowds, heat, humidity, because you went to NYC in August. Is that really true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Share your most overrated international destinations, something you were excited about but didn’t quite live up to expectations.

Obviously the Amalfi coast!!!! The beaches are a joke unless you like walking on a few feet of "stretch" with rocks under your feet. Almost every American beach blows theirs away. Sorry, its true!

Did you not know the Amalfi coast is not and has never been about beaches? The coastline is all rocky, which is part of the charm. That's why the private swimming clubs have pontoons to swim from.

I must admit I slightly prefer rocky to sandy because sand gets into everything and it's harder to clean up after a day's swim. But with rocky it's less a problem. And the Mediterranean is a fabulous sea to swim in. Compare it to the Delaware shore!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Madrid. I lived in several parts of Spain, & Madrid is like a synthesis of the worst aspects of all the other parts of spain: crime, sprawl, crappy new architecture, rudeness, American fast food, etc. Lots of great places to visit in Spain. I found that the capital city isn’t one of them.

And Madrid is my favorite city in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thread is a joke. The idea that people living in DC of all places are qualified to pass judgment on their superiors around the globe is hilarious.

We’re the oldest and greatest country on the earth, we have the highest standard of living, and we’ve never lost a war, we can judge whoever we want!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thread is a joke. The idea that people living in DC of all places are qualified to pass judgment on their superiors around the globe is hilarious.

We’re the oldest and greatest country on the earth, we have the highest standard of living, and we’ve never lost a war, we can judge whoever we want!

Whomever. FFS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rome

Greatest city in the world.

Achingly beautiful, amazing food, excellent mass transit, 20 minutes to the beach.

from Rome?

By train - Ostia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: All my life I dreamt of Bali- boy, was that a disappointment!
Ok the beach was a total disappointment nut thats what Bali is “famous” for.
However the rice fields, mountains, sceneries were very beautiful!

Maldives - gorgeous water beach….but cant go in water at the beach, too dangerous - another teaser.

Might as well stick to Caribbean.

Why couldn’t you go in the water in the Maldives?

Undercurrents.

Where did you stay? Going in two weeks, and per reviews, can snorkel off the beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thread is a joke. The idea that people living in DC of all places are qualified to pass judgment on their superiors around the globe is hilarious.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Twenty-five years I lived in Europe for 3 years and traveled extensively. We traveled with family for years since. Our recent trips ~5-8 years have been very different. Just back from a trip this year and the difference between as shocking - trash, lack of maintenance upkeep, old construction, poor transit.

All that said, Iceland has been the only place I would say I was underwhelmed. Though I have had many people tell me 1) we went at the wrong time, and 2) tried to see two much in our 4 days. It was interesting but I’ll take a return trip to either Switzerland, Norway or Alaska first.

You mean you found trash, lack of maintenance upkeep, old construction, poor transit in the US? OR Europe? I'm a bit confused here.

I was in Southern Italy in June and while it's definitely a poorer area with plenty of crumbling old buildings, I have to acknowledge the transit was excellent and pretty updated. Naples did have a fair amount of trash in the city proper, but other places didn't and Palermo was practically spotlessly clean.

Italy is a dump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thread is a joke. The idea that people living in DC of all places are qualified to pass judgment on their superiors around the globe is hilarious.

Eh, much of Europe is plagued with rampant pickpockets. That simply isn’t the case here.

Much of the world seemingly tolerates littering. And public urination. Eww.

Much of the world has a shortlist of tourist spots, whereas the US is vast and you rarely feel a crush of tourists as you do at the Trevi Fountain or pretty much any tourist spot in Italy during the summer months.

We are very lucky in the US to have so much space and so many places to visit—including off the beaten path destinations.

Plus, American tourists know how to form a line and wait patiently. Apparently the rest of the world never got the memo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paris. Filthy city, frequent public urination and even defecation, and some of the major tourist attractions like the Louvre are overrated. I had a great time and would certainly go again but I’ve enjoyed other European cities more.

Which other ones? Planning a trip to Paris and want to add on another city or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Twenty-five years I lived in Europe for 3 years and traveled extensively. We traveled with family for years since. Our recent trips ~5-8 years have been very different. Just back from a trip this year and the difference between as shocking - trash, lack of maintenance upkeep, old construction, poor transit.

All that said, Iceland has been the only place I would say I was underwhelmed. Though I have had many people tell me 1) we went at the wrong time, and 2) tried to see two much in our 4 days. It was interesting but I’ll take a return trip to either Switzerland, Norway or Alaska first.

You mean you found trash, lack of maintenance upkeep, old construction, poor transit in the US? OR Europe? I'm a bit confused here.

I was in Southern Italy in June and while it's definitely a poorer area with plenty of crumbling old buildings, I have to acknowledge the transit was excellent and pretty updated. Naples did have a fair amount of trash in the city proper, but other places didn't and Palermo was practically spotlessly clean.

Italy is a dump.

I think Americans enjoy seeing old cities and villages…we find them charming and a nice change of pace from our bland American brand of the same nondescript new architecture surrounded by chipotle/Panera/nail salons/Starbucks.

Having said that, the pickpockets and trash are sad and annoying. Plus the whole lazy work ethic/poor service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think all of Europe is overrated during high season. It’s awful for those of us with children under 18.

I have adult kids and agree with this. Summer in Europe is awful. Crowds, heat, humidity. Fall is much more enjoyable.

Let's be a bit fair here. It depends on where you go. Europe isn't a single destination but many countries. It's like saying summer in the US is awful, crowds, heat, humidity, because you went to NYC in August. Is that really true?

Basically. Have you been watching the news?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rome

Greatest city in the world.

Achingly beautiful, amazing food, excellent mass transit, 20 minutes to the beach.

from Rome?

By train - Ostia.

Not true. Pp said 20 minutes to the beach from Rome. The train takes 45 minutes so there is no “20 minutes to the beach” from Rome.