What is the most overrated destination you have ever been?

[Meltinthemiddle]

Mine is Dubai l.

This was asked a page or two ago - this thread is moving so quickly! And my reply was -

Santorini is just like every other island in Greece - but without the stunning beaches- with the exception of the views of the caldera along the west coast and in particular of the typical blue dome buildings in Oia. Otherwise there is nothing special about it. If you could afford one of the resorts in Oia or Thira built into the cliffs with your own plunge pool and see the amazing sunsets you'd probably feel a lot differently about it than if you were stuck in a hotel on the other side of the island. And when the cruise ships are in it gets insanely busy!

Mykonos. Chavvy, overpriced and overrated. Even a decade ago. Dread to think what it’s like now.

Casablanca
La Paz

I think the thing about the Cairngorms is that's it's pretty much just hills and mountains. Not enough water.

Dublin was underwhelming, and I lived there for a year around the millennium, I don't know if it's more whelming now.

Barcelona I love, lived there 5+ years, try to visit at least twice a year, more If I can: I chill out in Gracia, go round the Labyrinth - great view of the city, usually really quiet. CosmoCaixa to say hi to the capybara, El Born for takeaway pizza, Rambla Catalunya for people watching and to see the Flirty Giraffe.

Tunisia left a really bad taste, but it was 1993 and I was 17. Again, things may be less awful now.

I love Pyrenean France/Languedoc-Rousillon (scuse spelling?). Saw Carcassonne on a windy Easter day - pretty much had the place to ourselves. A friend raved about Narbonne, but while pretty, I was expecting amazing, so felt a bit meh.

San Francisco we loved in 2010, didn't feel dangerous - until we got lost in the Tenderloin district looking for a cinema! I'd love to go back, but having seen the news, most definitely no.

Venice I adored. Went in 2005 for a special birthday, super-cheap ryanair flight, 3 nights in a 3* in Mestre, over the bridge. We travelled in every day by bus with mostly Venetians, very few tourists. It was the end of April, so not full of kids off school, not heaving with people, not too hot, no smell whatsoever. We walked, and walked, and walked, found tiny cafes, authentic food, cute bars full of locals, saw a wedding - B&G climbing into a gondola outside the church. Honestly, it was a magical 4 days.

Amsterdam. Dirty and sleazy. Very young dead-eyed prostitutes in windows, so sad to see. Overflowing bins. Overpriced.

Australia. They give an impression that they have a great night life but in reality everything closes at 8 and there us something on every corner that can kill you

Auckland, so boring!! I found the scenery in most of NZ so similar to Scotland and Wales actually but they did have some stunning parts of course! (But in a way I felt was similar to parts of the UK and so not worth the flight. Hobbiton was amazing tho as a LOTR fan)

Vancouver. Dirty, run down, most disgusting hostel of my life and I really felt like I was going to be murdered and so I upped sticks at 9pm and fled to a proper hotel. STILL saw people doing heroin openly in the streets. Canadians don’t deserve the friendly reputation they have, they are just as moody for the most part and of course have some friendly locals but so do all countries and I found their hospitality there crappy.

Cairo. Gross, full of creepy weirdos, felt really unsafe and saw so many shitty nappies around the pyramids…

Paris. I get food poisoning every time we go! My friend had all her stuff stolen on the metro. The nice parts are very nice but the rest of it is so gross and quite scary. I love Disneyland tho! I’d rather go there than main Paris!

I think that for some of these places it's really not very clear cut as to whether they are nice or a shit hole. Some people like places because they are interesting, different, or full of life or excitement, even if excitement can sometimes mean a little bit edgy. If you're just miserable walking round a place or freaked out by the vibe you're going to hate it.

Last year in a California road trip we saw lots of different types of place, including a supposedly lovely town, Carmel, near Monterey, where Clint Eastwood was mayor at one time. Our 18 year old absolutely HATED it. I mean, with a passion, his whole body language was one of discomfort and "get me out of here, I hate this vibe". I mean, objectively it's lovely and desirable. But it gave me, and me to some extent, an air of sterility, of being too perfect. It wasn't very diverse, and seemed to be just full of rich old white folk. We didn't stay very long. We just didn't like the vibe.

In contrast we all enjoyed San Francisco which has come up here a few times. And yes, we saw the homeless. Quite a few mentally ill. Maybe because there were 4 of us were didn't feel as vulnerable as if it had just been DH and me, I don't know. Or maybe it's because I'm from Liverpool which can have its fair share of dickheads and wierdos in town at times. Or because I've lived in London? I don't know. But sanitised places like Carmel freak me out as much as edgy places do.

Paris

Disney land- hated every moment, it was completely lost on me

At least the coke is cheap there though.

My vote would be for Ingoldmells.

I also found Dublin very underwhelming. Temple bar is fun but in the day once you have done the Guinness factory (and I don’t drink so would have no interest in going again) there was nothing to do and I found it so dull. I LOVE Belfast and Northern Ireland so would absolutely go back there!

Santorini for me. Agree with pp. Small parts of it were nice.

@Delatron I like LA too- but it is a place I prefer more if you are there for a purpose I feel, my H usually has 3 or 4 meetings , so leaves me at rooftop pool with a book. I then take myself off for a cafe coffee and amazing pancakes etc , maybe pop to Westfield in Beverley hills or the grove (get cabs) and then meet him there , we usually have a car so will then maybe go to Santa Monica or Venice, then back to pool and bar. It's kind of shabby chic in parts, but disneyish in other bits- love griffin park and laurel canyon - also go for coffees at laurel canyon stores. I really like Santa Barbara too . I can see it's not a conventional tourist holiday - but I always find it very cheery - the homeless situation is awful though

Bali - not the unspoiled tropical paradise I was hoping for.

Hawaii- as per above. Really Americanised.

Sorry another vote for Cornwall. Hated it.

And Newquay. The bit we were in was a complete dive, not sure if the rest of it is like that but I don't want to find out.

Skegness

Dubai - bad traffic, no scenery, chain restaurants (but good water park)

Vienna - too grand and formal

Las Vegas - litter, drunks and desperation

Dubai

The Bahamas
Paris

Reading through this thread, I've realised that I must be very undiscerning, and easily pleased 😁

There is only one place I've ever visited and really disliked, and I couldn't even tell you why- just a weird energy. And that place was...

Bideford. Sorry Bideford.

Oh and I agree about Vancouver as well

I shocked by this one! I too have always imagined a lovely little historic village!

Anywhere that is jungle.