Most overrated destination you’ve visited?

[Hairbrush123]

For me, it was Paris. Not an AIBU, I know

@emotinium

I've never been anywhere I was really disappointed with. Maybe I'm just good at researching places before I travel or maybe I'm just not bothered by a bit of dirt or graffiti or whatever in a major city.

No me neither! The only place that I didn't particularly enjoy was Barbados, but we literally walked down a street, got hassled loads, looked in a few shops and then walked back to the cruise ship. I wouldn't write it off just from that one experience. Pretty much everybody else I know who has been absolutely love the place.

Malta.
Some bits looked ok but we weren't staying there. It was awful

Dublin

There was a junk I glimpsed with red sails one evening but although completely different to my expectation I felt strangely let down

The Aqua Luna- the only traditional junk left. Junk now basically means motor powered pleasure cruiser. Still a lot of fun but more for residents than tourists.

New York, Miami, Barcelona. Galway perhaps.

Istanbul. Ripped off or at least an attempt to at every turn and just disgusting. I wouldn't go back if you paid me.

I've been to a lot of these places and (apart from Dublin) I'm really surprised and I genuinely can't believe anyone could be underwhelmed by Venice. Venice exceeded my very high expectations by a mile.

But then Paris is also one of my favourite places so what do I know?

@Newgirls

Centre parcs - a portacabin in a wood with burger chains.

Never again. Just book a cottage in a pretty rural area and go to the local pool, much calmer and cheaper.

This! We'd paid for 3 nights and didn't make it past 2! I never thought there would be so many spiders in the so called luxury lodge and we were next to the dog shit disposal area. Never again!

Bored in Dublin. Abandoned in NY. Robbed in Paris.

Give me London or Hong Kong for vibrant cities, Rome (when the weather is cool) for knockout history and art, Edinburgh for atmosphere. Anywhere for romance 😉

I think a lot of places in the US you need to have connections to enjoy it. Just going to LA will be a disappointment or NYC. If you were to stay with someone in the hllls and go to various people's house and restaurants etc with people in the know it would probably be incredible. Just slopping around the main streets is missing the point!

Grand Canyon, 2 nights there as part of a longer trip

Helicopter was great, rest of time very underwhelming - especially compared to Yosemite where we’d been a few days before

Paris.

Florence - didn't get all the hype

Another vote for Nice.

Paris for me too. I used to really love it. Had a brilliant (pretentious) trip when I was in my twenties, popping out for croissants in the morning, art galleries in the afternoon. But last time got money stolen, and more than one person I know has been pick pocketed on the underground travelling from the Gare Du Nord. Seems seedy to me now, and I guess I've seen everything I want to. I would like to like it again.

Paris - been several times a s every-time come back with the impression that it’s an overpriced, dirty shit-hole. I speak French and the native Parisians are rude to the point of ignorance to visitors.

Yeh i know i didnt see what makes ny great. We were wandering around lost half the time. We needed a guide. A human one!

I expect the world to be kind of globalised now though. If a norwegian small city is like kingston i wouldnt be too shocked

Monaco
Nice
Hong Kong
Harare
Seefeld

I was really disappointed with Amsterdam. I wanted tulips and happy Dutch people. I got a grungy dirty city that was nothing like the pictures. Ditto Durban.

I was also underwhelmed with Lisbon. Just didn't get the vibe and found it very run down. I think it's supposed to be better now though.

The first time I went to Paris I couldn't see the appeal at all. The second time I loved it and have been back a few times.

Disappointing to read about Naples. I watched it on Travel Man with Richard Ayoade and thought it looked interesting.

I just saw someone mentioned Pisa, I'd forgotten how much I was underwhelmed by that. Dirty, not very attractive and nothing much to see once you'd looked at all the tourists doing the obligatory pose at the Tower.

Went on to Sienna the next day and that was stunning.

Oh and Toledo! Was really looking forward to seeing it, just the kind of place I love, but it somehow felt completely dead and without atmosphere.
Found Cuenca the next day and that took my breath away it was so lovely.

South Africa

@Dinosauraddict

Naples. Definitely Naples.

YES - Absolutely agree!

NYC but I lived there for 5 weeks in August with 2 kids so not the best time (too hot) still found it unfriendly and claustrophobic though.

Paris.
Much prefer Lyon.

Paris-yes, it is dirty and can be too touristy but you just nerd to know what you are doing. It can be highly enjoyable if you just walk around small streets and try small food markets in the morning. Some really nice restaurants.
-New York I haven't been since pandemic, perhaps it needs more time to recover..otherwise, again, avoid time square etc, but fantastic food, great bars, fabulous hotels

• Istanbul is literally the best city break imaginable. I have never felt harrased. So much history mixed with modern culture. Beautiful bosphorus

Mauritius is indeed underwhelming

Paris does smell of wee! There are just not enough public toilets, and quite a high chance of having your bag/mobile snatched. My DH saw someone snatch a mobile and just run out of metro carriage just as the door was closing. Then there’s the indignity of someone pushing behind you as you go through the metro turnstile, to get through without a ticket themselves.