What is the most overrated destination you have ever been?

[Meltinthemiddle]

Mine is Dubai l.

Hong Kong

Don’t go in the summer. In winter/early spring it’s beautiful.

London

A classic example of a beautiful, historic place which has been ruined and turned into a theme park by mass tourism.

Like Amsterdam....

Dubai.

Singapore. Found it really unfriendly.

This thread is also great for the environment. 😃

@TattoedLady @explainthistomeplease

Yes… to clarify Glasnevin, Howth, Dun Laoghaire and Kilmainham are all in County Dublin. Outside of the city itself, which is what people are referring to.

Surprised so many people don't like NYC. I loved it. So much to do and I didn't get to do it all.

Somewhere that surprised me was Alicante. For some reason I thought it might be a bit like Blackpool but hotter. It's not at all and is very nice.

True, I realised this prior to trip which is why I didn’t go there to even see it 😂

NYC, Venice and Paris seem Marmite places that people either love or hate. I love them all. Also have only positives to say about certain other unpopular destinations mentioned: Florence, Rome, Vienna, Pisa, Niagara Falls and the US state park, Dublin and its surrounding area. I also love Bergen, Tromso, Alesund, Stockholm, Istanbul, Maine and Arcadia State Park, Chesapeake Bay, Cape Cod, and Montreal.

Places that felt intimidating, dirty or otherwise unappealing for me include Miami, Kay Largo, Cairo, Alexandria, Naples, Thessaloniki. Agree about Brighton and Blackpool!

I've visited 50 countries or so and have lived in several cities Inc. London, Naples & Barcelona (which I love but aren't for everyone). Most places I find a lot to like as I love exploring, but I didn't much like LA or Dublin - found both a little boring for different reasons. I didn't love Quito in Ecuador either (cold & unfriendly feel). Marrakesh I didn't have the best experience and felt constantly hassled but I think I'd still go back and stay in a different area.

I don't think I'd like Dubai so won't go there out of choice.

I also hated Rome!

I am shocked by people who have said Venice, Rome and the whole of France are overrated! Some stunning architecture, history and scenery in all of them. If you just stick to the touristy areas, it can be overpriced and inauthentic but venture out a bit and they are full of wonders, in my opinion.

I can’t quite get the obsession with the US. Apart from natural landscapes (which, to be fair, many other countries have much more to offer), it’s full of fakery and consumerism. I went to New York and a Miami for work and couldn’t see anything real in either place: mostly shopping and modern buildings.

Many places in England are hugely overrated by tourists, especially all the castles and manor houses which all look very much the same and a display of obscene wealth pillaged by the Empire.

St Lucia

I love Krakow, especially in the snow.
And Lisbon is brilliant. Far exceeded my expectations.

I was really letdown by Marbella. I felt like I’d heard so much about it and it was such a glamorous party place etc. In reality I felt like there were hardly any bars/clubs compared to Ibiza and even the day drinking round a pool bar etc was a bit of a let down. Just wasn’t what I expected at all

Where in Mexico did you go? Cancun by any chance? It’s an absolutely gorgeous country with such a rich culture and natural beauty. I couldn’t rate it high enough (although it can be dangerous in places)

You obviously haven't been to Coventry or Birmingham or Portsmouth or .....

I’ve loved most places I’ve been to, including many mentioned over and over again on here - NYC, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Venice, Rome, Paris, Naples (even though we were staying in a hotel close by the station 😂). And London’s my favourite city.

But it’s the places I’d built up in my mind into something exceptional that disappointed, because they just couldn’t live up to my expectations - LA, Rio and Bondi Beach, for example. Barcelona didn’t wow me and so many people I know have been robbed there, one twice in a week. We were totally ripped off wherever we went in Budapest, which coloured my view of the place. And I once spent a day in St Moritz that ranks as one of the most boring of my life.

I totally agree with this. Lived in Mexico for a couple of years and love it. Apart from Playa Del Carmen which is god awful.

I couldn't agree more. It was a combination of give me your money and fuck off. Vile people.

What? All of Mexico? With such amazing culture, history, traditions, art, architecture?

Mexico City, Puebla, San Cristobal, Oaxaca, Merida - all overated?

New York City is crowded and terrible. You constantly feel cheated, because you often are. Upstate New York and Long Island east of the Hamptons are quite nice. Upstate is like Vermont, but less pretentious.

Yup.