Most overrated destination you’ve visited?

[Hairbrush123]

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

@halfsiesonapotnoodle

Venice.

Blimey. Venice was magical for me. Over 40 years ago so perhaps it's gone downhill (as it were :-)) since then.

@SwedishEdith I live just outside Oxford. Whenever I tell people that they say “oh Oxford is lovely”. I really don’t see it although there are some good points. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s because a lot of what’s raved about isn’t in Oxford itself.

Paris for me too

Swansea- I watched Twin Town and was expecting a vibrant lively party town full of cool interesting people, but it was just so disappointing. Full of funny sounding English people who spat words and called everyone son or clart (whatever that means).
I would never go back.

Think Koh Phangnan in Thailand for me. It was sold as untouched paradise but it was full of oddballs escaping real life and there was nowhere to go for dinner.

I think people are expecting too much of Dublin. If you’re coming from the UK it’s probably similar to somewhere like Manchester or Glasgow, as in they’re strong cities but you wouldn’t expect them to blow your socks off. It’s a better place to live than visit as you have the coastline and mountains at your doorstep, as well as the benefits of the city.

@ANameChangeAgain

Amsterdam. We're spoilt with our capitals I think, London and Edinburgh knock the socks off most European cities, except for Rome, of course. I was disappointed with Tunisia, we found the people outside of the hotel really difficult, either very hostile or over attentive.

Seriously? London better than Amsterdam? OK then

@CaliforniaDrumming I wondered how long it would take to be pulled up how unequal society was back then. I agree, but the tourist industry today is not much better tbh or do you just stay in the resorts?

Berlin. It was about 14 years ago now so it may have changed a lot but I just thought it was a grotty dump with horrible vegetarian food.

I had to laugh at the comments of places disliked because of " rude locals " ! How dare they not leave their home area to provide somewhere peaceful ! !
" How dare they not be grateful I'm here " !

Fair enough if you backpack solo and lives as the locals do.

@Brainwave89

Venice- a city which in effect is largely a tourist trap with no people in the centre. As a consequence, restaurants and hotels are very expensive and the food is poor.

That's it. It has a certain dead quality to it, possibly because nobody actually lives there now?

Bruges. Ghent is much, much nicer.

I quite like chaotic, grimy, workaday cities so suspect I’d love Naples. We actually really liked Pisa, and Milan, which is another one that often gets classified as ‘grimy and industrial.’ As a rule I much prefer ‘real’, lived and worked-in cities to tourist honeypots. Stayed in Genoa a few years back and loved it, but like Naples suspect it would be dismissed by many as too edgy and dangerous.

Biggest recent disappointment has probably been Florence. Been a few times, mostly in the early 2000s and always in winter - loved it. Returned just for the day in August a few years ago and was horrified at how much busier and tackier and more of a theme park it was - people urinating in the streets and pushing in front of you in queues, selfie sticks, con artists everywhere… Felt really sad for the few remaining actual residents.

Think we were lucky with San Francisco as we went back in 2010, before it really went downhill. Wasn’t impressed by Los Angeles, which felt very sterile and soulless, although Santa Monica was OK.

Agree with lots of others about Cornwall. Such a slog to get to, only to be met with traffic gridlock, fog and mostly underwhelming, overcrowded beaches. Only been once and not in a hurry to return - I’d much rather do Dorset, Northumberland or Norfolk for a U.K. seaside holiday. Trying to get dinner in Penzance after 8pm was an experience in itself!

@Cheshiresun

Should have added Marmaris/Turkey. Letchy men cat calling and touching you, allegedly 5 hotels really 2, bitten to death by mozzies. The whole place ran by male workers; women hidden away.

Totally agree with this re Turkey. Also didn't like NYC.

Went on a road trip with my parents as a teen and absolutely hated San Francisco. Felt genuinely scared leaving the hotel.

Where the hell were you lot all going in SF?! Scared to leave the hotel?!

I’ve plenty of great holidays there, even lived there for a while, and I’ve never had this feeling scared vibe.

'Lol about Dublin. This thread isn’t doing much for Irish tourism'

Dublin certainly has had a kicking on this thread! I'm Irish living in UK and I have had a good time every time I have visited. Haven't been there for about 10 years mind you. I do think it's one of those places that suffers from a wildly overhyped reputation, especially about how friendly and welcoming the locals are. That's true of the whole of Ireland actually. In reality, it's just like anywhere else - some people are v friendly, some people are really not

Paris - mice and rats everywhere, once was more than enough
Pisa - have told people not to bother, if they still go they agree
Sharm-el-Sheikh - men are creepy even to those no longer young and it's boring
Fuerteventura - windy and boring

Mexico was good but is now too dangerous to go back.
Would happily see more of Costa Rica.
Cant understand anyone not enjoying the Scottish Highlands.
Cape Town not my favourite part of South Africa and white South Africans can be pretty racist - but the country is beautiful.

Dubai - docklands with hot weather and very very boring if you aren’t mad on wall to wall shopping malls and it’s very expensive and the food is shit

Egypt— Er just no- we all had terrible shits and there were barbed wire fences around the resorts.

Cornwall— I do like the odd place like St Ives but on the whole I can’t see the appeal over Dorset , most of it looks like a dull dump , stupidly pricey and much far further to drive

Monaco- horrible place full of revolting people and dog shit

On the other hand unlike others I loved Istanbul, (fascinating mix of east meets west) Madrid, Malaga and Marbella and Stockholm. I live in copenhagen at the moment , it’s pricey but a lovely city so long as you dont mind very mixed weather, I also like LA and California coast ( best if you know it well) and New York and Dublin is what it is— I think it isn’t helped by the fact it rains a lot and it’s hard to remember anywhere fondly when it pisses down the whole time.

@Infinitemoon

*This is why I just stay at home ! I’ve had all sorts of holidays, but I’ve come to realise that nothing beats my own bed and walking my dog around my home town.*

I am with you on this. Being a tourist is pretty ridiculous. I wish I had been alive in the 18 century and had gone on a Grand Tour of Europe. I can take it or leave it now tbh.

I think travel has climaxed It just isn't as enjoyable now the masses are on to it and with climate change etc

In the early 90s we went on a day trip to Rome from Sorrento. At the Fontana de Trevi I was able to sit on the edge of the fountain and have my photo taken. It wasn’t uncomfortably crowded. We went back to Rome recently and it was heaving. Could barely get near the fountain and was barked at by a security man when I tried to sit on the edge. We tried going late at night and it was still the same.

Shadappayourface. Been to Zanzibar airport also. It isn't really an international airport but was scammed there at checkin.

Whitby. I really wanted to love it but it’s just vampires and chips. (I know there’s more to Whitby, but it just wasn’t what I was hoping for.)

The Gilli islands off Bali, grubby, the coral is blown to shit and the cruelty to the horses boils my piss.

Dublin cost us a fortune and left me cold. We stayed in lots of lovely places around island but Dublin was disappointing.

I have to say, some people are so sweeping in their dismissal of multiple places, most of which I thought were great, that I have to wonder are they the common denominator. Or maybe they just don't like travel? And that's ok, it's not mandatory! I've travelled a reasonable amount and can't say that I've ever had such a visceral reaction as many here have - there are aspects of places I haven't liked or places I liked more than others but there is ALWAYS something of interest and value, even if it's challenging or not my thing at all. But I only go to places that are somewhat within my comfort zone - I'm pretty sure I would be horrified by Dubai so I wouldn't go there.

Oh and I won’t be popular saying this but apart from the Clifton area I really don’t like most of Bristol — (and we lived there for 2 years ) before moving up the road to Bath - Bristol was dirty, a pain in the arse to get about and full of drugged up twats and aggressive cyclists

York. The shambles are lovely and interesting, but that's it. you walk down one street of overpriced stuff and youre done.

I agree with Paris OP. I was terrified when I went to Paris. Men watching my every move as I wandered about the shops and a guy tried to rob me at the Eiffel Tower. The begging on the metro (I know this happens in London too but not on the same scale) and people were so rude and bargy.

Never again.