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Original poster

Most overrated destination you’ve visited?

944 replies

Rnm62 · 20/05/2023 13:53

Just that really..

OP posts:
BishopRock · 20/05/2023 16:12

Oh, the top of Snowdon. The walk up and down was lovely but the summit itself was such a dump. You couldn't even get any water from the vending machines!

Snodon and Everest, are two places I have zero interest in visiting. Whenever I see photos, both just seem to have lobg queus of people. Couldn't imagine anything worse!

Sarahtm35 · 20/05/2023 16:14

Bourton on the water in the Cotswolds. It’s ok but not as great and lovely as people make out.

Spring78Mermaid · 20/05/2023 16:15

Bahamas was a nightmare as DH worked for an American company and got “rewarded” with a trip for us both we hadn’t realised it was very “structured trip” by the company it was centre parcs on steroids at the resort with zero down time. Hated it a very long 5days no desire to go back and an odd vibe of all white Americans being waited on all the time by non-white staff.

LaMaG · 20/05/2023 16:16

The little mermaid statue in Copenhagen. Wasted half a day to see a tiny statue. It was a life lesson though, I no longer go to see the touristy things, I take any place as I see it and find what I like and have found I enjoy places much more now

WestwardHo1 · 20/05/2023 16:16

These threads are always the same

People slating clearly wonderful places because they didn't enjoy themselves due to one small detail.

Thighlengthboots · 20/05/2023 16:16

Definitely New York. Its the back drop to loads of films, Sinatra sings a damn song about it for goodness sake, its hyped up to the max and when I finally got there I just thought wow, is this it? It was incredibly disappointing.

NCAO · 20/05/2023 16:20

New York. Dreary and dull.

Freefall212 · 20/05/2023 16:20

Almost everywhere that has become a tourist trap. All the gimmicky and tacky aspects and harrassing people along with hoards of tourists being shuffled through ruin the beauty or splendour or history of what that site offered that made it a toursit attraction in the first place.

Winglessvulture · 20/05/2023 16:21

Berlin - everyone else we know who has been has loved it but we just didn't get the appeal.

Basel - painfully expensive!

Bideshi · 20/05/2023 16:22

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 20/05/2023 15:33

Edinburgh. I really wanted to like it but the throngs of tourists and the prices made me wince. Also not a fan of gothic architecture.

Gothic architecture? A smallish cathedral and a couple of Neo-gothic oddments. But street after street after crescent after square of superlative Georgian architecture.. Agree about the tourists but somewhat baffled by this.

BumblingCakeLover · 20/05/2023 16:23

Answer to the question: Vienna for me (but my wife enjoyed it and partly as I didn't like our accomodation so probably unfairly judging Vienna).

On the flip side (positive).....

Tourist attraction that beat expectation: Death Valley, absolutely loved it and driving across from Yosemite to Vegas.

xabia · 20/05/2023 16:27

@Summertimesmile
I agree with you!
Mallorca is stunning ( if you go to the right part)

dandeliondandy · 20/05/2023 16:27

I preferred Dubai 20 years ago before it all became so plastic. Though I adored the history and the handicrafts and the historical building and mooching around the bookshops in Connaught Circus, I found Delhi was just overpowering in a not very nice way. Policemen openly defaecating in the streets, lepers, filthy, crap everywhere. Loved Kathmandu though!

midsomermurderess · 20/05/2023 16:29

Granted it was 30 years about, Auckland. Such a dull, soporific city.

Pe55yP00 · 20/05/2023 16:30

Paris.

Sae123 · 20/05/2023 16:32

Manchester

midsomermurderess · 20/05/2023 16:32

‘Bali like many places, it depends where’ Does it, really? Strong contribution there, a front runner for Mumsnet medal for the statement of the bleeding obvious.

OMG12 · 20/05/2023 16:32

Paris hands down

thing47 · 20/05/2023 16:33

WestwardHo1 · 20/05/2023 16:16

These threads are always the same

People slating clearly wonderful places because they didn't enjoy themselves due to one small detail.

There are a few posters doing that – I was last in New York on 10th September 2001 and freely admit that has coloured my view of a city I had enjoyed previously – but lots of other PPs are talking about not liking the 'vibe' of a particular place, and I think that's valid. Doesn't mean others won't like it, but on a thread about 'overrated destinations' it's clearly going to be a question of opinions.

SwedishEdith · 20/05/2023 16:34

WestwardHo1 · 20/05/2023 16:16

These threads are always the same

People slating clearly wonderful places because they didn't enjoy themselves due to one small detail.

I know people who "don't like Edinburgh" because they couldn't get a free parking spot for more than 30 minutes or something. They're nearly 80 and that's their sole experience of visiting Edinburgh and they've written it off because of parking.

BillyNoM8s · 20/05/2023 16:34

WestwardHo1 · 20/05/2023 16:16

These threads are always the same

People slating clearly wonderful places because they didn't enjoy themselves due to one small detail.

Some places deserve a second visit or a visit to more than one city.

I think a lot of the Turkey hate is from the coastal resorts, which I haven't been to and wouldn't go to. Istanbul was great.

Cairo is hard work if you arent used to the region and the Pyramids are not marketed accurately so if people don't research they're surprised that they're basically next to KFC. I went 20 years ago as an unseasoned 18 year old and it wasn't what I was expecting. I need to return though and desperately want to go to Luxor. Sharm was blah.

I've been to the US enough times and to enough places to know that it doesn't scratch my itch. Hawaii Big Island is stunning though.

I didn't enjoy India at all - did the golden triangle. I expected to love it. It was at the end of a longer trip elsewhere though and I would consider giving it a second look, but not as a priority.

Pisa does what it says on the tin. I stayed for one night as I knew that already. It's a tower. Venice didn't smell when I was there and I enjoyed it. Loved Rome but round the train station is rough as. Didn't find Lake Garda interesting or beautiful.

People want different things from places they visit so I largely ignore recommendations.

WickedSerious · 20/05/2023 16:35

Barcelona.

gogohmm · 20/05/2023 16:36

I like Ibiza but Hawaii, vegas, Orlando- all overrated. Don't know why ordinary people are scrimping and saving for years to go to Disney in Florida, it's ok but so busy, so humid, and so very very expensive, you barely get on any rides due to queues and even the signing the autograph book which was simple 20 years ago is now hours long queues

Twinsforthewin · 20/05/2023 16:37

Marrakech. OMG let me walk along a road without hassling me!!!! No I don't want to buy a carpet! (Loved Damascus and Moroccan coast FWIW)

BillyNoM8s · 20/05/2023 16:37

Bideshi · 20/05/2023 16:22

Gothic architecture? A smallish cathedral and a couple of Neo-gothic oddments. But street after street after crescent after square of superlative Georgian architecture.. Agree about the tourists but somewhat baffled by this.

Show quote history

I love Edinburgh. And Scotland. I love the architecture. And that it has a fossil shop. It's a place that "feels right" for me.