Most overrated international destination?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Europe for 5 years and traveled a lot. I don’t think one should equate “touristy” with “overrated.” Many places are overwhelming in the high season but that doesn’t mean they aren’t wonderful destinations.

The only place in Europe anyone mentioned that I think is actually overrated is Brussels. Apart from the Grand Place, the city is pretty ordinary compared with other European cities. The smaller Belgian cities Ghent, Antwerp, Bruges more interesting imo.

Naples not overrated (don’t think generally it’s a highly regarded tourist destination) but another place we didn’t think was worth our time and no need to return. Don’t understand the appeal. We loved every other place we went in Italy.

You didn't like the pizza? The pastries? The seafood pastas? The archeological museum? Capidemonte museum? The churches and monasteries? The old city center? Access to Pompeii? Bay of Naples? City views from the hills?

Italy-mos are the worst. Naples is a crap hole

I'm genuinely curious why people say this. I can understand not liking noise and crowds and seeing trash. But there's a lot to see and do and eat in Naples the setting along the bay is spectacular. Crap hole is pretty strong language to use. We were just there last month and enjoyed ourselves greatly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in Europe for 5 years and traveled a lot. I don’t think one should equate “touristy” with “overrated.” Many places are overwhelming in the high season but that doesn’t mean they aren’t wonderful destinations.

The only place in Europe anyone mentioned that I think is actually overrated is Brussels. Apart from the Grand Place, the city is pretty ordinary compared with other European cities. The smaller Belgian cities Ghent, Antwerp, Bruges more interesting imo.

Naples not overrated (don’t think generally it’s a highly regarded tourist destination) but another place we didn’t think was worth our time and no need to return. Don’t understand the appeal. We loved every other place we went in Italy.

You didn't like the pizza? The pastries? The seafood pastas? The archeological museum? Capidemonte museum? The churches and monasteries? The old city center? Access to Pompeii? Bay of Naples? City views from the hills?

Italy-mos are the worst. Naples is a crap hole

I'm genuinely curious why people say this. I can understand not liking noise and crowds and seeing trash. But there's a lot to see and do and eat in Naples the setting along the bay is spectacular. Crap hole is pretty strong language to use. We were just there last month and enjoyed ourselves greatly.

I think when the best one can do to describe their travels as a “crap hole,” they may not be ready to appreciate another culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You couldn’t pay me to go back to Mexico. Shudder.

Agree 1000%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would invite everyone to consider the possibility that if you find somewhere overrated, it is because you are doing it wrong. Eg going in peak season, going to see shat all the tourists are seeing rather than quieter bug still interesting places etc.

People who blithely dismiss cities like Rome, which contain some of the greatest treasures of art, architecture, and history that the world has ever produced, as “overrated”…

Exactly we loved visiting Rome and Venice in the fall. Loved seeing the forum lit up at night and visiting small neighborhood bars. And walking down empty alleyways in Venice. Plus best pizza in Naples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Venice, Florence

Barcelona, Venice, and Florence are just too overrun with tourists. I actually thought Madrid was fabulous—it seemed like a real city with actual locals and I wasn’t tripping over a tourist every two feet.

You are a tourist!!! Wtf

I'm with second PP. Not a fan of Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Florence. Loved Madrid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Venice, Florence

Barcelona, Venice, and Florence are just too overrun with tourists. I actually thought Madrid was fabulous—it seemed like a real city with actual locals and I wasn’t tripping over a tourist every two feet.

You are a tourist!!! Wtf

I'm with second PP. Not a fan of Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Florence. Loved Madrid.

You are Epcot material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would invite everyone to consider the possibility that if you find somewhere overrated, it is because you are doing it wrong. Eg going in peak season, going to see shat all the tourists are seeing rather than quieter bug still interesting places etc.

People who blithely dismiss cities like Rome, which contain some of the greatest treasures of art, architecture, and history that the world has ever produced, as “overrated”…

Exactly we loved visiting Rome and Venice in the fall. Loved seeing the forum lit up at night and visiting small neighborhood bars. And walking down empty alleyways in Venice. Plus best pizza in Naples.

Yes! I loved Venice in the fall. It was so empty, and the whole "city without cars" / canals just felt magical. I wish we'd spent more time there. I could have just walked for hours.

I've been to 9 different countries, and found something to love in all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I really liked Madrid too. Was surprised. Found it more charming than Barcelona...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I really liked Madrid too. Was surprised. Found it more charming than Barcelona...

It's dirtier. And hotter in the Summer. Both too big to be charming for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You couldn’t pay me to go back to Mexico. Shudder.

Agree 1000%

Mexico is a big country and I adored my time there. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Now that I think about it, I haven't been horribly disappointed in any place that I've been. But I avoid places, like Las Vegas and Dubai, that I'm pretty sure I would hate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I'm from former Yugoslavia and grew up vacationing in Croatia in the early 80s and 90s. The difference between then and now is astounding. You couldn't pay me to go there in the summer anymore.

This is very sad to me. I was in Dubrovnik in the 70s and it was magical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Venice, Florence

Barcelona, Venice, and Florence are just too overrun with tourists. I actually thought Madrid was fabulous—it seemed like a real city with actual locals and I wasn’t tripping over a tourist every two feet.

You are a tourist!!! Wtf

I'm with second PP. Not a fan of Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Florence. Loved Madrid.

You are Epcot material.

Never been, wouldn’t know. Apparently you do, though. So who’s the real Epcot material?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would invite everyone to consider the possibility that if you find somewhere overrated, it is because you are doing it wrong. Eg going in peak season, going to see shat all the tourists are seeing rather than quieter bug still interesting places etc.

People who blithely dismiss cities like Rome, which contain some of the greatest treasures of art, architecture, and history that the world has ever produced, as “overrated”…

Exactly we loved visiting Rome and Venice in the fall. Loved seeing the forum lit up at night and visiting small neighborhood bars. And walking down empty alleyways in Venice. Plus best pizza in Naples.

Yes! I loved Venice in the fall. It was so empty, and the whole "city without cars" / canals just felt magical. I wish we'd spent more time there. I could have just walked for hours.

I've been to 9 different countries, and found something to love in all of them.

A whole 9 countries? Wow!!

[Anonymous]

Most of the posters on this thread are ridiculous. If you can tolerate living in the United States - with its poverty, crime, obesity, vulgarity, and ridiculous politics - you surely ought to be able to find something good when visiting international destinations.