Places you've been underwhelmed by

[HannaPintura]

I just love going away and have really loved most places. One place in particular really Underwhelmed me...Gibraltar...just like Britain in the sun! I'm sure it has so much to offer, but I couldn't wait to cross the border back to Spain!

I was a bit disappointed in Melbourne, people kept telling me how alternative and European the city was, I felt like it was quite commercialised and everyone was a bit self obsessed and cliquey albeit in an arty way. Plus the grid system layout - yawn. I had much more fun in Sydney, it was much friendlier and interesting place. Apparently you can only like one of them

Cornwall. It is so grey and made me feel really depressed.

I totally agree about `Dublin. I am from an Irish family, live in a big U.K. city, spend 8/10 weeks a year in Ireland and cannot abide Dublin. It's too expensive, too busy and too full of shillelaghs and shamrocks. For the last 4 years my DS has lived and worked in the Dublin suburbs so I visit regularly but avoid the city centre like the plague. The only two redeeming features for me are the Lemon pancake restaurant and Counter burger bar.

@Oliversmumsarmy

New York. Dirty with piles of bin bags everywhere.

This is true, but somehow when we were there last it didn't detract - I think I just thought "it's a very crowded place & they can't pick up all the crap at once" (but if it was my own town I'd hate it! Funny...)

Apart from the bin bags it is amazing though

I loved and hated Yosemite in equal measure. Going during the week in spring it was beautiful and felt an epic wildness. Watching the sun rise at tunnel view just me and my other half was awesome. Went back into the main valley at the weekend and hated it, it took 3 hours to drive inescapable one way 6 miles into the park and get parked. The entire place was over run with Chinese tourists and fucking selfie sticks. They couldn't give a shit about any of the scenery or anyone else apart from getting their perfect selfie. Countless bus loads turning up, pouring out and taking a few selfies, back into their bus and up to the next sight.

I loved San Francisco but did think at first it looked a dump on the drive from the airport. Getting out on foot and cycling really brought the best out for me.

Other places I found underwhelming:

Florence - Dirty shithole
London - Far too busy and selfie central

Loved:
Portland, Oregon
Seattle
Vichy/Clermont-Ferrand
Caen/Normandy

Dublin. Cork. Depressing, ugly, overpriced and very conservative.

Paris. Hated it.

Mauritius (rough, dirty sea, rude staff in hotel)
LA- couldn’t find a good bit
Gran Canaria (grim)

I feel I should clarify I'm not writing off entire cities or countries, just was underwhelmed by Venice Beach, as many were (and this was late 1980s when it was still 'happening'). I guess it's about expectation not living up to harsh reality. Loved Santa Monica and even got an odd thrill from the filth of Hollywood. In fact, had a memorable night in a piano bar singing while Jeff Goldblum played piano Barbados was just a helluva long way to travel for a beach and not much else.

Barcelona, other than the museums, was hot, packed and oppressive to me. Love Venice and Capri and still adore Paris, no matter the decline.

Interesting to see people write off Mexico, one of the largest countries in the world, with over a hundred languages, every climate in the world and umpteen cultures, in a sentence.

Oh well, a lot of people travel but keep their eyes wide shut.

Las Vegas. Always wanted to go but didn't enjoy it anywhere near what I thought we would. To be fair the temperature didn't help as it was 46 degrees and too hot to do much.

Manhattan NYC - first time, loved it, as in 'jaw-drop at magic' loved it. Second time, 3 years later - overwhelmed by sheer concrete jungle-ness, city grime and lack of greens.

There were couple of places I found very depressing and had good cry in hotel room afterwards, but I can't think of underwhelming 'Is that all? What was the fuss about?' Land's End in Cornwall fits that description easily - we were forewarned, but we had fun with kids anyway going on open-deck bus.

Cotswolds - so beautiful.
Glasgow - so friendly and lots of history/art/cultural places to pass time in
Orkneys - amazing in its variety of historical attractions from prehistoric settlements to WW2
Iceland - great, but expensive, place with some great taking attractions
Myanmar (Burma) - stuck back in Middle Ages. Ghastly Buddhist temples smothered in gold while the population lived hand to mouth

I have to stick up for Cambridge. It is beautiful - but sleepy? There are dozens of groundbreaking research going within the small space, fascinating projects, brilliant minds, that are shaping our entire world, it’s just no one shouts about it. And you can bike everywhere.

Raffles- if you are ever in Jordan again, Jerash is more appealing than Petra with more to see and it's never that busy.

Feel at people not liking Amsterdam and Barcelona. I liked Venice, but can see why others wouldn't.

Liked Milan because I like big cities generally. I like to wander about, eat something cake-ish in a nice cafe and ride about on the bus or train, looking out of the window. I am very easily pleased, tbh.

Tenerife is great as long as you turn right at the airport exit.

I'm boggled at the idea of anybody finding The Grand Canyon underwhelming . Same for the Alhambra- it's breathtaking!

I love lots of the places mentioned here, especially Paris, Venice, and Dublin. Perhaps you need to be really interested in the history of a place to "get it"? I don't know, but I can't imagine not being moved when visiting places where people fought and died, and key events took place.

Loving the poster who says Mexico is like a hot Benidorm! Do you have any idea how big Mexico is? I assume you went to Cancun; in which case what the hell did you think it was going to be like?

Sinister I don't really get the Melbourne fascination either. I mean, the food is great, really really great, but it's a bit ugly. I find Sydney vibrant and colourful and the coastline is stunning.

PP mentioned Ilfracombe... it's not meant to be overwhelming, tis just a standard small seaside town. Do you mean the Verity statue? I am from Devon, there are lots of places you might like more than Ilfracombe.

Celtic manor hotel in newport

I didn't find the Statue of Liberty all that enjoyable. From the ground on Ellis island it was cool but the windows were too small and dirty to see through and we were herded through like cows.
I can't believe the person who didn't like Christ The Redemer though. It is enormous and it can be seen from anywhere in the South of Rio and other parts too. Sitting outside in a cafe or bar on a warm evening and seeing the statue in the background is cool.

ThenTaj Mahal was very, very underwhelming in my opinion, I have come to the conclusion since then that buildings look the same in real life as photographs. What has always impressed is the physical geography, landscapes, etc for me.

BitOfFun I found the actual Canyon breathtaking and like being in a Road runner cartoon certainly not underwhelming, but the nature of the place is ruined by the plastic tourist tack that took away the feeling of nature and soul for me!
I know somewhere else that let me down, the New Forest, there's about 5 trees but mostly large areas of scrub/heath. Not what I was expecting. It was just like Richmond Park or suburban Poole, nice but it's not as wild as it's made out to be.

Ah, I see what you mean...bloody tourists!

Interesting what you say about the New Forest- I have fantasies of seeing wild ponies there, but perhaps I'm misinformed.

There are ponies but too much human contact has taken the wildness out of them. They are just ownerless ponies. I've seen them eat from people's hands, wild ponies won't go within a mile of people. They are lovely though.