Most overrated international destination?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who hasn’t traveled a lot, but wants to..
when I hear overrated, I’m excited to hear a list of places that I shouldn’t bother going.
Im 38, and if I have a couple of decades of travel in me, I don’t want to waste it. Especially not near the beginning of our adventures.


We are now able to / prioritizing it more. Already have a couple of trips booked and planned.

Some of these destinations I think the PP must have just stayed in the wrong area. Santorini is fabulous - you just can't stay in the busiest cities. You get a place with a view and sit on your own balcony and don't fight the cruise shippers for the best sunset view spots. Paris is fabulous - I stayed in Bastille for 10 days and it was all postcard perfect. Costa Rica is also awesome. I can't imagine where PP went and didn't like it. Portugal is also great. Basically, you can just ignore all the posts TBH.

I agree! I’ve been to many of the places mentioned in this thread and most, if not all of them, have some positive or interesting traits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t take anyone seriously who puts any location in Japan in the same sentence as the word “overrated.” Even their 7-11s are mind-blowing!

NP - I really want to visit Tokyo but the pic below is mindblowing!

That is not the greater Tokyo area, that's the Kanto region which is comprised of the greater Tokyo area and 4 other prefectures.

[Anonymous]

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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.

I have nothing to say about the beach, but Ostia is very cool.

And it’s 26 minutes from Rome.

by helicoper maybe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tokyo
Seychelles
Mexico City
Phuket
Nepal
Prague
Martha’s Vineyard
Jackson Hole
Dubrovnik
Marrakech
Antarctica
Easter Island

Seychelles was gorgeous.
How is Antarctica and Easter Island overrated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tokyo
Seychelles
Mexico City
Phuket
Nepal
Prague
Martha’s Vineyard
Jackson Hole
Dubrovnik
Marrakech
Antarctica
Easter Island

Seychelles was gorgeous.
How is Antarctica and Easter Island overrated?

Antarctica just leaves some people cold, and some people who go to Easter Island get a big head about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t take anyone seriously who puts any location in Japan in the same sentence as the word “overrated.” Even their 7-11s are mind-blowing!

This. Tokyo may certainly be overwhelming, but you don't have to stay in Tokyo. Your trip can completely change just by catching one of their very efficient trains to a different part of Japan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think part of the bickering is about differences in how people hear "overrated"... Someplace can be "overrated" and still have a lot of value. Paris is an interesting & lovely city, but it is also dirty, crowded, gray (with just so much dog/bird sh!t), and so I think falls well short of the "City of Love" hype. I really like Rome, but I can see that if people are imagining just ancient ruins, trevi fountain, vatican & gelato shops on a large scale, it will be a letdown.

With that sense of the word, here are a couple more:

Dubrovnik (absolutely stunning, but attacked by waves of cruise tourists that looked like some sort of well-heeled zombie invasion until evening; thereafter, it was like wandering a lifeless museum)

Bruges/Brussels. Attractive enough, but a little dull, and I was expecting some sort of mindblowing beer and chocolate and it was... underwhelming.

Neuschwanstein. May be one of the few truly spectacular sights where the closer you get the less interesting it is. So much of Bavaria actually *does* live up to the hype (tho not Munich, agree) that it is shame to waste much time there.

Hong Kong. Perhaps there is not much hype, but I expected something super high tech & dynamic. It was unbelievably dense, made Tokyo look pastoral, and sort of boring.

It's definitely a bit sad about Dubrovnik. We were there 15 years ago now, when frankly most of our friends/family had not even heard of it, and even then the cruise ship crowds were bad and locals were telling us how hard it was to live there. I'm sure the permanent population is even lower now. I'd like to explore Croatia more someday but Dubrovnik feels like a one-and-done sort of place, despite how beautiful it was.

Bit surprised to see so many mention Rome.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Amsterdam. I’m glad I visited, but it’s not worth going back, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Koh Samui was our biggest let down in SE Asia (DH and I spent a couple months across two trips on the banana pancake trail) — over developed, really not that striking, full of drunk Europeans and Australians, not biologically/ecologically interesting. That said, I am not sure if it’s appropriate to call it overrated. It just fell short of our expectations. Traffic and crowds notwithstanding, we liked Bali. The highlights are in the visual culture and interior; the beaches other than for surfing are so-so.

The only trip I have taken and not felt great about was to Colombia. The food was bland with a lot of carb on carb situations, and we felt uneasy in the city centers. We still enjoyed ourselves! It was good value for money, the scenery outside cities was beautiful, and the people were perfectly pleasant (I understand Spanish, but can’t speak much at all for context). I realized after the fact that everyone raving about Medellin and Cartagena were raving about certain aspects of the nightlife, if you catch my drift.

One lesson I have learned after a lot of travel is that we are actually really lucky in terms of beach options living on the East Coast. From Maine to Miami, there is a piece of shoreline (accessible by car, too) that caters to just about anyone, the Caribbean is a short flight away (again something for everyone — an AI you never leave, diving and snorkeling the Mesoamerican reef, quiet luxury, flashy luxury).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Koh Samui was our biggest let down in SE Asia (DH and I spent a couple months across two trips on the banana pancake trail) — over developed, really not that striking, full of drunk Europeans and Australians, not biologically/ecologically interesting. That said, I am not sure if it’s appropriate to call it overrated. It just fell short of our expectations. Traffic and crowds notwithstanding, we liked Bali. The highlights are in the visual culture and interior; the beaches other than for surfing are so-so.

The only trip I have taken and not felt great about was to Colombia. The food was bland with a lot of carb on carb situations, and we felt uneasy in the city centers. We still enjoyed ourselves! It was good value for money, the scenery outside cities was beautiful, and the people were perfectly pleasant (I understand Spanish, but can’t speak much at all for context). I realized after the fact that everyone raving about Medellin and Cartagena were raving about certain aspects of the nightlife, if you catch my drift.

One lesson I have learned after a lot of travel is that we are actually really lucky in terms of beach options living on the East Coast. From Maine to Miami, there is a piece of shoreline (accessible by car, too) that caters to just about anyone, the Caribbean is a short flight away (again something for everyone — an AI you never leave, diving and snorkeling the Mesoamerican reef, quiet luxury, flashy luxury).

To be fair, Koh Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Koh Tao are supposed to be full of drunk backpackers. They are not the family friendly islands. I visited in my 20s (during full moon, I think that's what it was) and it was nothing but drunken twenty-somethings even back then. These are not where you go when you are older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cancun, Rio de Janeiro, Niagara Falls, San Francisco

Hard disagree with Rio. It’s beautiful and has a lot of stuff not just the two or three main attractions. But Brazil has a lot more than just Rio and cooler places to visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

We are definitely not the oldest country on Earth. Not even the oldest democracy. As far as standard of living, I would disagree also it is nowhere as evenly distributed as European countries. As far as never lost of a war, you may not be familiar with Vietnam or our efforts in Afghanistan.

Quit spewing Russian propaganda! We literally invented freedom. Ever since we ratified the Constitution in 1776 everyone here has been free and able to vote in Democratic elections. Even most European countries like France and Germany still have kings instead of elected presidents. There’s no comparison!

Talk to me when you get rid of the electoral college and actually vote for people through the popular vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Koh Samui was our biggest let down in SE Asia (DH and I spent a couple months across two trips on the banana pancake trail) — over developed, really not that striking, full of drunk Europeans and Australians, not biologically/ecologically interesting. That said, I am not sure if it’s appropriate to call it overrated. It just fell short of our expectations. Traffic and crowds notwithstanding, we liked Bali. The highlights are in the visual culture and interior; the beaches other than for surfing are so-so.

The only trip I have taken and not felt great about was to Colombia. The food was bland with a lot of carb on carb situations, and we felt uneasy in the city centers. We still enjoyed ourselves! It was good value for money, the scenery outside cities was beautiful, and the people were perfectly pleasant (I understand Spanish, but can’t speak much at all for context). I realized after the fact that everyone raving about Medellin and Cartagena were raving about certain aspects of the nightlife, if you catch my drift.

One lesson I have learned after a lot of travel is that we are actually really lucky in terms of beach options living on the East Coast. From Maine to Miami, there is a piece of shoreline (accessible by car, too) that caters to just about anyone, the Caribbean is a short flight away (again something for everyone — an AI you never leave, diving and snorkeling the Mesoamerican reef, quiet luxury, flashy luxury).

To be fair, Koh Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Koh Tao are supposed to be full of drunk backpackers. They are not the family friendly islands. I visited in my 20s (during full moon, I think that's what it was) and it was nothing but drunken twenty-somethings even back then. These are not where you go when you are older.

I hear “family friendly” and I’m outttttt. I go on vacations to avoid screaming children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tokyo
Seychelles
Mexico City
Phuket
Nepal
Prague
Martha’s Vineyard
Jackson Hole
Dubrovnik
Marrakech
Antarctica
Easter Island

I have the feeling this poster is likely insufferable in real life.

Tokyo is one of the most amazing places in the world. It's a lot, but I'd go back in a heartbeat. There's something for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Koh Samui was our biggest let down in SE Asia (DH and I spent a couple months across two trips on the banana pancake trail) — over developed, really not that striking, full of drunk Europeans and Australians, not biologically/ecologically interesting. That said, I am not sure if it’s appropriate to call it overrated. It just fell short of our expectations. Traffic and crowds notwithstanding, we liked Bali. The highlights are in the visual culture and interior; the beaches other than for surfing are so-so.

The only trip I have taken and not felt great about was to Colombia. The food was bland with a lot of carb on carb situations, and we felt uneasy in the city centers. We still enjoyed ourselves! It was good value for money, the scenery outside cities was beautiful, and the people were perfectly pleasant (I understand Spanish, but can’t speak much at all for context). I realized after the fact that everyone raving about Medellin and Cartagena were raving about certain aspects of the nightlife, if you catch my drift.

One lesson I have learned after a lot of travel is that we are actually really lucky in terms of beach options living on the East Coast. From Maine to Miami, there is a piece of shoreline (accessible by car, too) that caters to just about anyone, the Caribbean is a short flight away (again something for everyone — an AI you never leave, diving and snorkeling the Mesoamerican reef, quiet luxury, flashy luxury).

To be fair, Koh Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Koh Tao are supposed to be full of drunk backpackers. They are not the family friendly islands. I visited in my 20s (during full moon, I think that's what it was) and it was nothing but drunken twenty-somethings even back then. These are not where you go when you are older.

I hear “family friendly” and I’m outttttt. I go on vacations to avoid screaming children.

To be fair, this forum draws a lot of parents due to the name "DC urban moms (and dads)." The Rick Steves forum tends to attract more adults travelling without kids and may be less triggering for you.