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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:
AnIndianWoman · 04/09/2023 20:50

Goa. It’s still INDIA. Brown people (and especially brown people they suspect are from India) get zero privileges - lol my hotel even tried to downgrade my room when I booked with my Indian credit card. I didn’t get attentive service as it was assumed I wouldn’t tip and while the private beaches are nice, public beaches have very few amenities.

floofball4 · 04/09/2023 20:51

Kent 😂When I went to live there for 1 year for a job. Everyone told me it was the garden of England. Turned out where I was living was just cabbage fields as far as the eye could see.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 04/09/2023 20:53

The pyramids are a funny one because they themselves are just as impressive in real life as they look in pictures (unlike Stonehenge which is almost universally disappointing) but the experience of visiting them is horrible.

feellikeanalien · 04/09/2023 20:53

I'd also say Niagara. I was surprised it was in the middle of town. That said, the falls themselves were amazing but the town was pretty tacky.

GCAcademic · 04/09/2023 20:54

explainthistomeplease · 04/09/2023 19:15

Las Vegas tacky? I thought that was the point of the place!

Yes, exactly. It's not on my list of overrated destinations because I had very low expectations of it, and was not disappointed.

OvaHere · 04/09/2023 20:56

Jevwaypock · 04/09/2023 20:19

I said France, as I said when I replied to someone else, I have travelled France vastly, for work, weddings, family gatherings. Some places are indeed beautiful, but in MY opinion its over rated, there are plenty of other beautiful places across the world which I personally prefer.
I don’t get the obsession with France generally on MN. But if you like it then that’s absolutely brilliant for you! You can get good food and bad food just like most countries, people are friendlier in other countries thats for sure.
For example I didn’t like Berlin my DH did, he wasn’t keen on Prague and I loved it. Each to their own!

Show quote history

I spent a week in Berlin. The first couple of days I wasn't sure I liked it, maybe because it wasn't quite what I expected. By the end of the week I loved it and didn't want to leave.

I love Germany in general. If I had to pick another European country to live in I think that would be the one.

illiterato · 04/09/2023 20:56

Ohmylovejune · 04/09/2023 20:21

I've never been but don't quite understand Dubai.

It seems, from photos, to be an expensive location simply for a hotel in the sun with option to do extreme luxury shopping, sky diving and desert jeep tours.

Is there anything else?

I can't see how it could generally trump five star European hotels at half the cost and half the flight time. Unless being used as a long haul stop over.

They have an absolutely epic water park if that’s your thing. Apart from that I find it quite interesting just in terms of what it is- a huge city built in the desert in an incredibly short timescale. i find the sheer scale and immaculateness of it fascinating. It probably is also a unique place in that 90% of residents are not citizens. It’s the closest the modern world has to a gold rush town.

I understand why people don’t like it but I personally don’t find it uninteresting.

SpeedReader · 04/09/2023 20:56

I can understand complaints about Sydney - architecturally, it has some amazing highlights (Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House), and there are some nice beaches, but that's about where it ends. Melbourne is much better as a tourist destination - no matter what your interests (sport, culture, food, shopping), Melbourne has it, and all within easy walking / tram distance.

I wouldn't rush back to Venice. I didn't find it romantic - just throbbing with tourists.

punnetofcherries · 04/09/2023 20:59

Dubai

ElleDeeCB · 04/09/2023 20:59

Paris - it’s grotty, food is crap and expensive, and it feels dangerous (pickpockets, taxi touts etc) in a way that you don’t experience in Central London.

Delatron · 04/09/2023 21:00

New York - I had the misfortune of spending 3 weeks there one August. Horrific and the people were so unfriendly.

I like LA though! Hiking in the hills, the beaches, the food.

I’ve never warmed to Barcelona.

PurpleFlower1983 · 04/09/2023 21:00

LA - had some fun times there but it’s a hugely disappointing city.

Takoneko · 04/09/2023 21:01

whatchagonnado · 04/09/2023 20:41

Iceland
Ruinously expensive. Smelly. Dark and dank. Cold. Saw one tiny whale fin on a three hour whale watching trip. Very busy round the main attractions and big crowds to watch a not that impressive geyser.

I mean the expensive bit is fair enough but surely you knew to expect the dark, dank and smelly bit? Reykjavík is the most northerly capital city in the world and the smell of sulphur is to be expected. It’s not a secret.

But “a not that impressive geyser” made me laugh. 😂😂😂

Zomb · 04/09/2023 21:01

This is interesting - I love (parts of) Bali (Kuta and Seminyak not good) and also loved Barcelona and New York.

Can confirm Sydney is boring and surfers paradise is a sh*thole.

Didn’t like Positano/capri (but loved other places on Amalfi coast) and didn’t like Rome, even though impressive, so crowded.

Didn’t like LA. Not easy to get around as a tourist and didn’t like the vibe.

WanderingWitches · 04/09/2023 21:02

Cancun, Mexico
We all got food poisoning in a 5 star hotel. The hotel was nice but the resort is just so boring and a little bit sinister, especially at night.

Delatron · 04/09/2023 21:03

Ohmylovejune · 04/09/2023 20:21

I've never been but don't quite understand Dubai.

It seems, from photos, to be an expensive location simply for a hotel in the sun with option to do extreme luxury shopping, sky diving and desert jeep tours.

Is there anything else?

I can't see how it could generally trump five star European hotels at half the cost and half the flight time. Unless being used as a long haul stop over.

I have no desire to go..

But it’s very popular to go as a Feb destination in the half term with kids. Warmer than Europe, guaranteed heat, waterparks, flight not too bad, no jet lag . It wouldn’t replace a European summer holiday for those that go…

CurlyhairedAssassin · 04/09/2023 21:03

Redlarge · 04/09/2023 19:23

Oh yeah LA too. Pretty much everywhere ive been in America wasnt amazing tbh.

Don't you like any of national or state parks?

MissAmbrosia · 04/09/2023 21:03

The only place I can think of that really disappointed me was Porto - which seemed very dull. Mind you this was probably about 25 years ago. It might have improved. I had a trip planned to Sorrento when Covid hit and after being in a FB group for there I'm not sure I'd bother now. I'm not crazy on Vienna as I think it lacks atmosphere, but many love it and I am not sure I would call it overrated.

Haretest · 04/09/2023 21:04

KnickerlessParsons · 04/09/2023 18:55

Barbados

How?!

Applesaarenttheonlyfruit · 04/09/2023 21:04

PrincessHoneysuckle · 04/09/2023 19:46

The Egyptian pyramids

😂

Mumuser124 · 04/09/2023 21:05

I can't really think of any where I hated, but I wouldn't go back to New York - waste of money and London is much nicer. If I had to say a place I wouldn't be thrilled about visiting again, it would be Edinburgh. It was so grimey and dirty. Loved the buildings but the P*ss and spit all over the floor made me just want to run away, probably the most dirtiest place I have been.

Tonightsthenight91 · 04/09/2023 21:05

Another for Bali. Shocked at Dubai 😮 it’s got everything you could ever want! Endless things to do and see

Ohmylovejune · 04/09/2023 21:05

@illiterato

Ahhh like me and Disney. Seriously uninterested but ended up being absolutely fascinated by commerciality on steroids.

Toddlerteaplease · 04/09/2023 21:06

Edinbrugh

Cucucucu · 04/09/2023 21:06

London , Cyprus , Athens . All overrated