Most overrated destination you’ve visited?

[Hairbrush123]

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

i know this isn't what you asked but Hong Kong was the total opposite for me. I'd heard so many negative things and I absolutely loved it. I wanted to move there after the first time I visited

Hong Kong is near the top of my list as a lone traveller/adventurous couple. Near the bottom of my list going back with a young kid!

@RhythmOfTheLight

Shanghai - babies piss and shit in the street wearing crotchless baby grows.

Beijing and Xian too. I liked Pingyao but only for the hot onion patties and the good massage I had.

It's all so grey.

Babies piss over grids everywhere in China I think they toilet train at the age of 6 months !! I wonder how they guess when the baby needs to go ??

Cornwall - a county comprising mainly of tat shops.

Rome. And absolute shit hole, full of rubbish (do they never use bins?) and beggers. Didn't help that a lot of the works of art/buildings were being done up and were covered in scaffolding.

The beggers literally threw themselves at you, and one spat in my face for not giving her money.

The food was shite too

Ulaanbaatar, as it's a sprawling mess. Absolutely loved rural Mongolia though - highlight of our 3-week trans-Siberian trip.

Amsterdam has been mentioned a few times. The centre is pretty awful, but slightly out of the centre is lovely, lots of cafes, gorgeous architecture, canals - postcard stuff. I love it there, could walk for miles.

I'm not well travelled enough to have visited most of the places mentioned here and don't really have anywhere I hate. Although I went to Manchester a few months ago, haven't been for years and used to love it. But it was depressing, lots of empty businesses, stank of weed, dirty, people hanging about and I didn't feel that safe, predictably it also rained.

@TatianaBis maybe BEFORE Florence not after. We loved Florence and Sienna. But Pisa was just incomparable, in a not good way.

@supermoonrising you summed up Dublin perfectly. I love going up for a mooch around

Paris for me. I was last there 30 years ago and nothing has made me want to go back

I was in Paris 32 years ago on honeymoon. I loved it. We’ve been back several times always staying in our honeymoon hotel.

Definitely New York, I couldn't wait to get home.

@LesLavandes as the theme of the thread is overrated places, so not sure what you expected of Nairobi airport! For the worst hell on earth I have been to on a trip I would cite Kinshasa and most especially the airport, but I wasn't expecting any better so can't classify it as overrated! (Wasn't really there on a holiday, DH was working there). One of the scariest 30 minutes of my life until i heard my name being shouted from deep within the throng outside the door and DH materialised and fought off the crowds trying to steal my bags and feel me up.

I'm pretty sad to hear Japan isn't good I really wanted to go for a long trip for my 30th birthday and see as much as I can next year !

I went to Florida just before the COVID pandemic loved Miami thought Key West was a load of overhyped, over expensive shit. I didn't like Orlando either thought it was a shit hole. I might try Tampa/ St Petes Clearwater next time or just drive and figure out where to go love having a hire car in the USA. Is New Orleans a shit hole ?

Jeez, you lot are hard to please!

Don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed by anywhere to be honest. Yes some places I prefer more than others, but generally in most places you can find somewhere interesting or fun, or some amazing food somewhere.

I wasn’t super keen on Tobago, found it difficult to get decent food, but found a great beach bar which served great seafood for lunch and the beaches were lovely.

Lol, as an American, I can honestly say that I really do not get the appeal. "Unlimited" overly salty soft breadsticks and freezing bowls of wilted salad are the draw, sadly.

However, the food is no worse than the pseudo-Italian slopped up by the likes of Prezzo, Zizzi, etc in this country. And a better value.

I had no idea Naples was such a popular destination till this thread!

Nairobi Airport - hell on Earth

Yet I've heard it's the best place to visit 😁 It's hardly a destination!

@Nowayoutonlydown I've come to the conclusion that Americans tend to rave about really underwhelming things. NYC, corndogs, Gatorade, twinkys, hersheys, twizzlers, their pizza. All of these have disappointed me.

Is the cheesecake factory overrated or actually good?

@dorkfink

Nairobi Airport - hell on Earth

Yet I've heard it's the best place to visit 😁 It's hardly a destination!

Nairobi is nothing compared to Zanzibar airport. Basically felt like somebody's garden shed.

I’m pretty forgiving when it comes to aesthetics, things to do etc…‘holiday destinations’ are living and breathing places with beautiful and ugly sides. It is the atmosphere that makes or breaks a place for me. Paris feels sinister overall, however beautiful some bits are.

Not getting the ‘hate’ for Cornwall. You don’t go there for the gift shops, but hey keep on hating , makes my trips there calmer and quieter !!!

@veevee04 New Orleans was one of the most amazing places I have ever been, but that was in 1990 and I believe it is not the same since the hurricane.

For me, probably Venice.

I did a trip that involved 5 days in Florence (fabulous!) and then driving to Venice (or to the ferry to Venice, that should say!).
Then 3 days in Venice. Got bored before the 3 days were up - and that included a trip to Murano to see the glass blowing workshops that hadn't initially been planned, but we were so Bored we needed to find something to do!

It was pretty and all, but Florence was waaaay better.

Anywhere is over-rated if you arrive in a foul mood at the wrong time*. But equally, anywhere can be fabulous if you're timing is right and you arrive optimistic.

• local summer is pretty much the worst time to go anywhere. I much prefer Spring and Autumn. The weeks either side of October half-term is the perfect season for travelling in Europe.

Shanghai felt fine to me though. Never unsafe.