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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Overrated in what capacity?

You have to manage your expectations.

We loved Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica but not Arenal.  For us overrated in Arenal had to do with not a lot of great food choices. We didn't feel there was as much to do there that were better than MA for example,

I love Paris but from a perspective of there's something in the air - not literally there's anything special other than being a major city.  I love this quality of romance about Paris.  But it's just another big city.  So you have to expect that any big city is about the same.  What defines it is not about what there is to see and do there but the quality of that place.

I think Rome is amazing for its history.  Take away that part and yeah it's dirty and just another big city. But how do you call it overrated in terms of its history in its architecture?

I think people like and dislike for many reasons but to call an entire country or city overrated is neither here nor there.  You have to define what you were hoping to find there to be fair.[/quote]

I agree that a lot of these responses reflect a failure of planning or expectations, and aren't really examples of overrated places. To me, it's hard for a major city or an entire country to be overrated, because there is a way of experiencing almost anywhere that will make the most of it and be worthwhile.

Now, a hotel or a certain neighborhood or something? Yes, can totally be overrated. For instance, I have specific resorts we won't return to because while they get great ratings, I don't think they offer anything special or I don't think they are a good value. The one time I've been to Riviera Maya I was underwhelmed by the resort, and while we had a good time, it felt incredibly generic, like that hotel could have been anywhere. I also discovered that I don't like staying in the Marais in Paris, even though that's considered a very classic thing to do, because I actually like a little more rough around the edges in Paris. But I wouldn't say that Mexico or Paris are overrated, even though I'm describing some slightly disappointing experiences I had both places. I've been back to Paris several times since and stayed in in other areas and been way happier. Haven't been back to Mexico but would go again in a heartbeat, just not back to that resort, perhaps skip Riviera Maya and just do Mexico City or go west coast, stay in a boutique hotel instead of a big resort, that kind of thing.[/quote]

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