Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What is the most overrated destination you have ever been?

809 replies

Meltinthemiddle · 04/09/2023 18:24

Mine is Dubai l.

OP posts:
Barbadossunset · 04/09/2023 22:12

What's sad is that so many of these places were pretty fabulous 20 or so years ago. Population growth and mass tourism has definitely spoilt the cities in particular.

Yes and I don’t know what the answer is.
I have read on here and heard from friends that Bali was once the most magical place but no longer.
We are thinking of going to an island in the Philippines as apparently much of the country is unspoiled by tourism - unlike Thailand with Vietnam hot on its heels.
But then if we travel anywhere, we too are tourists.

Lauraa7 · 04/09/2023 22:12

San Francisco- went in the early 90’s and then again this year. The change to the place is staggering and the level of homelessness is shocking to see.
also LA and Amsterdam.

the most amazing pace I’ve ever visited is Ningaloo Reef in remote WA, Australia. Truely breathtaking, especially at night when you see the Milky Way!

Minniliscious · 04/09/2023 22:13

Limerick is without a doubt the biggest shithole I have ever visited. I feared for my life - the people were vile. As someone that loves Ireland and the Irish, it was shocking.

Takoneko · 04/09/2023 22:14

DameEtna · 04/09/2023 21:58

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

Hawaii- as per above. Really Americanised.

Surely you weren’t surprised by Hawaii being Americanised? I mean, in danger of stating the obvious… it’s America. 😂😂😂
It also seems a bit unrealistic to an expect unspoiled paradise on Bali, which is more than two and a half times as densely populated as the U.K.

spuddel · 04/09/2023 22:14

I've found something to love in most everywhere I've been but my least favourites are LA (as someone else said, didn't like the vibe at all, very menacing undercurrent) and Barcelona was lovely for sure but I wouldn't rush back. I'll never tire of Paris though. Or Venice. Arrived there at midnight by private water taxi to live orchestra and dancers in ballgowns in St Marks Square. Our hotel, the Danieli, was lit entirely with candles. Magical.

MCOut · 04/09/2023 22:15

Rome. It was pretty, but I found people were quite mean.

DoctorTeeCee · 04/09/2023 22:16

Surfers Paradise

🤣🤣 Absolutely agree! Especially during ‘schoolies week’ 🤮🤮

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 04/09/2023 22:16

@DameEtna you know Hawaii IS American, right?

IcedPurple · 04/09/2023 22:17

Bs0u416d · 04/09/2023 22:07

Bali and Dubai here!

Isn't Bali kind of like an Aus version of Magaluf?

Sunnydays41 · 04/09/2023 22:17

Paris.

Willyoubuymeahouseofgold · 04/09/2023 22:17

New York

Robinni · 04/09/2023 22:18

@Bongosbanjo “Dundee has something for everyone” are you mad?! I went to go look at the Uni and all Dundee had to offer.
What I grasped was cold weather, a good Uni, Tesco and Debenhams. Which is now gone…

What on earth is there in Dundee?!

Masterofhappydays · 04/09/2023 22:19

I quite liked Dubai when I spent 4 years living there! I’m clearly in the minority!

I dislike the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney in Australia. I live quite close to the Gold Coast and I hate going there, feels so tacky and dirty.

In England, for me it was Brighton. I didn’t get the hype.

Aside from that, I’ve travelled loads and have loved a little piece of everywhere.

Dazedandmore · 04/09/2023 22:19

New York :)

MissDollyMix · 04/09/2023 22:20

Effitall · 04/09/2023 22:05

San Fran
Washington DC
Glastonbury (festival and town)
Cornwall

Niagara Falls is good for a few hours, but about 30 mins away (Canadian side) Niagara on the Lake is a much nicer stay

I love NYC, but was lucky enough to have a great bus driver the first time I went who told us where to go as locals with kids rather than the tourist traps

I was just coming on to say that I agree Niagra is a dump but Niagra on the Lake is very quaint and a good place to be based for visiting the falls.
Ive travelled to a lot of the places mentioned on this thread and can usually find something to like. I do agree to a certain extent that I find Paris overrated- that’s not to say I actively dislike it, I just don’t get the fuss, it feels very dirty and I have yet to feel that ‘Parisian vibe’ that you see in all the movies! 😂 I’m willing to give it another shot sometime though, I do generally like France.
My own totally overrated place is The Lake District. Been so many times but it’s just SO overcrowded. The towns are depressing. The holiday accommodation ludicrously overpriced. The scenic walks aren’t scenic because you have to share them with 1000 other people and the roads are mostly impassable. I told DH all of that and he refused to believe me and begged to go so we went and now he believes me.

IcedPurple · 04/09/2023 22:21

Robinni · 04/09/2023 22:18

@Bongosbanjo “Dundee has something for everyone” are you mad?! I went to go look at the Uni and all Dundee had to offer.
What I grasped was cold weather, a good Uni, Tesco and Debenhams. Which is now gone…

What on earth is there in Dundee?!

The statue of Desperate Dan and a tiny branch of the Victoria and Albert museum.

And that's pretty much it.

JuvenileEmu · 04/09/2023 22:21

Onelive · 04/09/2023 21:49

Casablanca
La Paz

La Paz in Bolivia? I thought it was amazing - the weirdest city I've ever been to. Felt like I was permanently tripping (I wasn't...)

MissDollyMix · 04/09/2023 22:22

In contrast to overrated I actually loved Tenerife - booked it because it was a good deal and promised warm weather. Went with very low expectations and was blown away by how interesting and enjoyable it was. Appreciate a lot of people don’t share my opinion though (we did stray down to Playa Americas one day which was fairly traumatic!)

windmill26 · 04/09/2023 22:23

Barcelona
Bournemouth

JosieGrossie · 04/09/2023 22:23

Barcelona. The Gaudi houses were fantastic to see but the city itself didn't win me over. DP loved it though!

OneCup · 04/09/2023 22:23

I must be easily pleased as I liked most of these places.
I didn't feel safe in Morocco though.

Nottogetapenny · 04/09/2023 22:24

New York

Longagonow96 · 04/09/2023 22:26

MermaidEyes · 04/09/2023 18:57

I quite liked Rome, but I felt like this about Florence. When you've seen one painting you've seen them all.

Show quote history

If you're a complete phillistine. Both Rome and Florence were wonderful and there is so much more to see and experience than art galleries/churches.

acapulco · 04/09/2023 22:27

I live in LA and it’s so underwhelming. I had visited and did know this but needs must.

Stunning places to visit in the rest of the CA State though - if you don’t mind driving for hours on end.

Essaouira for me - did go nearly 18 years ago and just didn’t like the place. Loved Marrakesh though.

EvilElsa · 04/09/2023 22:27

Paris for me too. Never again. In addition I took the kids to Disneyland Paris which was also just awful. Dirty, full of rats, rude people and smokers in the queues for rides. Grim. Came back with a burn on the underside of my arm from being used as an ashtray in the line for Ratatouille. Actual shoving and elbowing to get on buses to hotels. Couldn't wait to leave.
Loved other parts of France though; the Loire Valley was beautiful.