AirBnBs are great for my family. I enjoy shopping at local supermarkets for fresh and convenience foods. My kids have a lot of fun memories from this.

Starting with touring Europe in the 1970s as a child, I ate a lot of mediocre overpriced food because we were traveling as a family on something of a budget. I ate bland chicken in white cream sauce multiple times on my 1982 trip to France. Each time billed as a local specialty. After that I tended to stick to croque monsieurs and citron presses. Some other low-lights include Hawaii Toast in Austria, Italian pizzas literally swimming in grease, and extremely overpriced red sauce spaghetti in Reykavik.

So I don't feel sad for mediocre ripoff tourist cafes. They were never good.

I'm pretty sure I got sick from a restaurant in Tulum. Also in Bali. I felt they had low hygiene standards for food-related issues. Would not go back to Tulum. Would go back to Bali because it has a really interesting island culture and it's visually lovely.

What I think is most ruined about Europe is the experience of seeing the largest/most famous art museums. I tend to avoid them now. They are too crowded to facilitate learning and enjoyment at peak season. The second tier museums are a much better experience.

A lot of insecure people getting weirdly touchy about a standard conversation starter question

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tokyo for me, sorry. Kyoto is still good tho

You sure about that?

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/kyoto-japan-tourism-attraction-travel-tourist-trap.html

The picture of the dude in the kimono made me never want to go there if I had to poison my eyes with that.

This was a great article. Thanks for sharing. I was delighted by the Kobayashi appearance part way through.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tokyo for me, sorry. Kyoto is still good tho

lol the idea that one of the world’s densest metropolises has “jumped the shark” is absurd.

Or that a whole country can jump the shark. Op is like one of those people who think Africa is a country.

I am now in Greece, sure, there are lots of restaurants, but I don’t see empty restaurants. Maybe outside of main tourist attractions?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tokyo for me, sorry. Kyoto is still good tho

lol the idea that one of the world’s densest metropolises has “jumped the shark” is absurd.

I'm sure it's great for the folks who live there. I'm talking about my times visiting as a tourist over decades compared to my trip this summer

Then you're just not going to the right spots. We went in June for the 6th time. Only did a few days in Tokyo this time, but once you get out of the main tourist areas, it's still great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tokyo for me, sorry. Kyoto is still good tho

lol the idea that one of the world’s densest metropolises has “jumped the shark” is absurd.

I'm sure it's great for the folks who live there. I'm talking about my times visiting as a tourist over decades compared to my trip this summer

There's always going to be talk like this. And if you listen to it all, you'll miss out on some of the most beautiful places in the world.

Im from the Balkans and totally agree about Croatia and Montenegro. Most of my family and friends are going to Albania and Turkey these days.

Anonymous wrote:Tokyo for me, sorry. Kyoto is still good tho

lol the idea that one of the world’s densest metropolises has “jumped the shark” is absurd.

Anonymous wrote:Tokyo for me, sorry. Kyoto is still good tho

You sure about that?

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/kyoto-japan-tourism-attraction-travel-tourist-trap.html

The picture of the dude in the kimono made me never want to go there if I had to poison my eyes with that.

Cancun

Tulum

Tokyo for me, sorry. Kyoto is still good tho

I follow tons of country and city specific travel groups, and I’m noticing a trend: once-popular destinations that had a good reputation are suddenly being criticized for overpriced and subpar restaurants, food/drinks, groceries, accommodations, etc.

I’m wondering if one of the culprits is AirBnBs where many/most opt to eat in instead of going out?

All the chatter I’m seeing in multiple groups is how strange it is that destinations are still drawing tourists but the restaurants are quiet/empty (with staff begging people to come inside). The comments point to the same thing: dramatic increases in cost (based on comparison to cost during prior trips) and subpar food and service.

Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Malta, Italy, etc. are all popping up. Local restaurants are chiming in to lash out.

Anyone noticing this?

Relatedly, the French media recently documented how cafes price gouge Americans and other tourists by charging them more, adding fees, etc. They tested in multiple places in Paris (and highlighted the exceptionally rude service).