What is the most overrated destination you have ever been?

[Meltinthemiddle]

Mine is Dubai l.

Hollywood -

Hebei province, China. I wouldn't recommend it!

Barcelona

Why yes am clearly mad as I saw things there which you did not. 🙄

Barbados. Shit service, average beaches and the wildlife park had nothing in it other than a lot of shagging tortoises.

The wildlife in Barbados is incredible. You are sub-tropical. Tree frogs, fireflies and hummingbirds. I mean that's before we go under the water and see all the tropical fish etc...The botany is fascinating. I agree the beaches have taken a hit with climate change and are narrow in the west.

The people I stayed with were incredible - kind, helpful and warm. They gave me a beautiful present when I left.

I love Barbados. I would go back tomorrow if I could. I really think you went with your eyes wide shut.

Honestly that is exactly how I see Bristol.

Cape Town - there I've said it. I've been 3 times and still don't get what's so great about it.

Really? I loved it.

Did you ever take a stroll up and down Long Street? Just window shopping and looking at the architecture is amazing.

Hop-on hop-off bus takes you everywhere, up to the cable car for Table Mountain, Robben Island tour, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, out to the wine country.
South Africa is an amazing country. Love it.

Did a bike tour around Soweto. Stayed in a hostel there. No problems at all. Just a great time.

Did everything as a solo traveller. Even I was amazed to meet two solo women tourists driving around by themselves. 19 and 21 years old.

You have to be open to chat to people though. I am. 😊

Dubai is essentially a concrete playground for the rich with a beach

That’s exactly it. So many of these seem to be complaints about things that I just don’t understand people being surprised by.

Vegas was tacky, Iceland was cold and smelled of sulphur, Hawaii was Americanised, the Lake District was wet, Bali wasn’t an unspoiled paradise. 😂😂😂

This question reminds me of something I once read “For some people given a rose they only see the thorns, for others a wild flower is the most beautiful flower they have ever seen”. Truly travelling (much like life) is what you make of it. Getting off the beaten track / finding the joy and beauty in every place. I agree lots of places if only sticking to the tourist areas can be rubbish but that’s certainly not fair to say for massive areas such as imho New Zealand / France / san Fran etc. ✌🏻

Vienna & Los Angeles

We had an awful holiday in the Rhine Valley. I never enjoy London much unless there is an objective, we loved The Globe theatre. I like country holidays and small friendly places.

I've been there dozens of times and we returned there back in May, lovely place! Stay on the West coast as the sea is calmer and if you're looking for quiet areas then don't book a hotel near St Lawrence Gap as it's near the nightlife (unless that's what you're looking for)

We stayed at the Colony Club, a gorgeous, old world former gentlemens club...I sometimes think when people say they don't like somehere it just comes down to personal preference, although what everyone says abou LA and San Fran is sadly true.

Agree with this. Not glamorous at all! The lesser known Manley Beach was much nicer.

It's interesting so many are saying Paris. I've been a few times and each time I think, I've not quite 'got' it yet. I like the cobbled streets, the shopping, the churches, the museums and yet it feels like something is missing. I'm just going to keep going until it clicks for me!

Unlike PPs I loved Valencia, Venice and Pompeii.

I thought Rome was over-rated but DH loved it. Ditto with Milan.

Dublin was underwhelming. Belfast was great and what I'd expected Dublin to be.

Agreed.

I agree about San Francisco. I did go in January though, so should expect fog. But every time we stopped walking someone came up to us asking for money. The hotel we stayed at restaurant was closed but that wasn't mentioned on the website. Then we got a flat tire - no it felt like we just were not welcome!
Disney World is tired and all about the money honey.
Blue Mountains in Australia. It was OK, but no wow factor.

Gasp! I’m so desperate to go. What didn’t you like if you don’t mind my asking?

Yep La Paz Bolivia - definitely tripping over the uneven broken pavements….while avoiding the packs of marauding dogs…

I was there the other day and thought it was lovely. Felt safer then I thought it would and so much to see and do.

Mexico

I feel like some of these are as if the person has stood on a roundabout in Peckham and said “nope, don’t like London” 😁

Bourton on the water. My in laws raved about it, but when I went I thought there were nicer places up the road from us. My in laws don't get out much

Totally agree, what a total let down!!!

I'm also going to moan about the lake district as although it rains there ALL THE TIME there is nothing to do in wet weather.

Spent too much time traipsing in the rain while some smart Alec says something about there being no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes!

I'm also always grumpy at centre parts. Way overpriced and inconvenient, full of smug families on bikes trying to ignore how much they're being ripped off.