Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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:
GreyhpundGirl · 05/09/2023 19:36

Sydney. utterly bland and expensive.

Dubai was terrible too. Anywhere where you can see the main sights- which all seem to be the world's biggest this, the world's biggest that- in about 2 hours isnt my sort of place.

anotherside · 05/09/2023 19:42

Most US cities are a bit shit. I guess the beauty of the US probably mostly lies in its small towns and natural areas. Charleston is beautiful though (of the US cities I’ve visited).

anotherside · 05/09/2023 19:49

@Amazongirl9
Valencia, graffiti absolutely everywhere.

that’s just factually incorrect. 😂
New York has graffiti. Berlin. Rome. But Valencia?

Delatron · 05/09/2023 19:50

anotherside · 05/09/2023 19:34

Barcelona. Had a strong sense that they don’t like tourists. And it’s a nice city, but I prefer the vibe most other places in Spain. I’ve been to about a dozen Spanish cities and that’s the only one I’ve no desire to go back to.

New York. I can see why it was the centre of the world - once. But now it struck me - for the most part- as just a noisy, dirty, somewhat rundown metropolis with not very friendly people.

Maybe that was the vibe I got from Barcelona and hence why I didn’t warm to it. I didn’t find it friendly at all.

Whereas the people in Berlin were lovely and friendly.

BoobyDazzler · 05/09/2023 19:51

Toomuchtrouble4me · 05/09/2023 19:07

Pompei - total shithole

I assume you have no interest in history at all?

BirdiePlantaganet · 05/09/2023 19:52

I hated all the begging in Barcelona. It was a pain to be sitting having a meal with a constant stream of people standing by your side.

anotherside · 05/09/2023 19:53

@sHREDDIES19

Someone said the whole of France another the whole or Ireland. Do you know how ridiculous that makes you sound. It’s embarrassing. By all means we have different things we look for in a holiday destination but to write off a whole country is an absolute nonsense

that's true.

helpplease01 · 05/09/2023 19:54

What was it about Malaysia you didn’t like?

BoobyDazzler · 05/09/2023 19:57

Whereas the people in Berlin were lovely and friendly.

Berlin is lovely - clean, organised and bike friendly as there’s barely any traffic but it’s offset by the fact that the food is bloody dreadful and there was no diversity at all which felt a bit jarring when you’re used to London & Birmingham. It’s the whitest city I’ve ever been to.

nomadmummy · 05/09/2023 19:58

I agree with San Francisco and Rome. I didn’t like Marrakech. Athens was a disappointment. I lived in Los Angeles twice. There are nice areas but no plans to go back its gone south. I also don’t understand the love of NYC?!

But hating Paris???? Where the bleep did you stay? What happened?? Lived there too. It can be rough but hating visiting???

PinkPondQueen · 05/09/2023 20:02

Toomuchtrouble4me · 05/09/2023 19:07

Pompei - total shithole

I assume you are joking?! But if not, what exactly about an ancient city decimated by a volcano disapppinted you?

RojoCarlottaValdez · 05/09/2023 20:05

BoobyDazzler · 05/09/2023 19:57

Whereas the people in Berlin were lovely and friendly.

Berlin is lovely - clean, organised and bike friendly as there’s barely any traffic but it’s offset by the fact that the food is bloody dreadful and there was no diversity at all which felt a bit jarring when you’re used to London & Birmingham. It’s the whitest city I’ve ever been to.

What a racist you are - judging people and the value of a city on the colour of their skin - "whitest city" indeed.

explainthistomeplease · 05/09/2023 20:05

@PinkPondQueen all that DUST and desolation. I mean they could have cleared it up for the tourists

JuvenileEmu · 05/09/2023 20:06

Purpleshoesplease · 05/09/2023 17:58

Bali went in 1999 which was bad enough but dread to think what it’s like now

Ha, yes. I was there in 1994. I always love the "but it was amazing 25 years ago!". Nah, it was full of drunk Aussies careering around on (and crashing) their rented motorbikes and stalls selling fake "rolex" watches that broke after a day and batik print harem pants.

Zoejj77 · 05/09/2023 20:07

Turkey as package holiday destination. Tried it twice over a ten year period as so many people love it. Crap shops everywhere, food is terrible. My local Turkish however is amazing - very weird

helpplease01 · 05/09/2023 20:07

London
I was in London recently, I couldn’t wait to leave.
Camdon was a dump! Lots of tat. So crowded. Watched a man on a bus dropping half eaten sandwich, bottle of coke on the floor of the bus before getting off. The place was so dirty and tacky, stuffed full of people. Honestly it was horrible.

timetochangethering · 05/09/2023 20:16

Dubai definitely

But, 100% Blackpool. I was expecting a bit of a down at heel seaside resort with a funfair. I went for a walk on the beach in the morning and couldn't move for used condoms 😮. And the funfair was closed.

mightymam · 05/09/2023 20:18

Has anyone mentioned Paris yet- grotty AF and fucking dangerous- I was told by my French friend to keep my eyes down on the Metro and not engage with anyone unless I wanted to be beaten up/raped... I managed to take some lovely photos though!

Crikeyalmighty · 05/09/2023 20:19

@BoobyDazzler clearly you never ventured into Kreuzberg then as it's stuffed full of Turkish families- it's great area too !!

timetochangethering · 05/09/2023 20:20

anotherside · 05/09/2023 19:53

@sHREDDIES19

Someone said the whole of France another the whole or Ireland. Do you know how ridiculous that makes you sound. It’s embarrassing. By all means we have different things we look for in a holiday destination but to write off a whole country is an absolute nonsense

that's true.

You can say the same about most big cities. They all have "shithole" areas, you pick a cheap air bnb in a poor area and you will have a bad experience.

masterblaster · 05/09/2023 20:21

I am SO pleased I’m off to Bali in a few weeks.

PinkPondQueen · 05/09/2023 20:25

explainthistomeplease · 05/09/2023 20:05

@PinkPondQueen all that DUST and desolation. I mean they could have cleared it up for the tourists

🤣🤣🤣

GameOverBoys · 05/09/2023 20:25

Las Vegas
Dubai
Ibiza

OhcantthInkofaname · 05/09/2023 20:33

Miami FL

OhcantthInkofaname · 05/09/2023 20:37

GraysPapaya · 04/09/2023 18:51

I want to love New York and feel like I'm missing something, but it is SO built up, makes London seem like a rural village! Just not for me, I don't get it.

The Cloisters north of the city is beautiful.