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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Most overrated destination you’ve visited?

999 replies

Hairbrush123 · 27/01/2022 21:21

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

OP posts:
Infinitemoon · 28/01/2022 11:07

Same to all of this and all of these places. I wonder what so many of these people are expecting when they go to cities where normal people live? Like a pp, I'd never go to Dubai because I expect it to be fake and geared towards shallow money-making.

I agree the same as LA everyone lives in mansions in the hills with connections. No one walks around looking to be entertained . People who live there enjoy it because they have money, connections and the climate suits this purpose.

entropynow · 28/01/2022 11:08

If you get 'bored' in a city with hundreds of years of history there is something seriously wrong with you.

saturdayhelicopter · 28/01/2022 11:08

Naples is spectacular. But it isn't a sanitised, everything shiny sort of city. Someone said it was like Southampton - well it is still a working city and doesn't have a lot of wealth in parts so 🤷🏼‍♀️.

I'll defend my motherland by marriage til the end of days, then I'll retreat there to eat pizza and gelato with the dirty dangerous people 😂😂😂

thereisonlyoneofme · 28/01/2022 11:08

Athens very disappointing and overcrowded

PizzaCrust · 28/01/2022 11:10

@WhatScratch

For cities, it can make a huge difference if you go out to bars or restaurants with friends who live there. I have very happy memories of Dublin Grin
I agree. I live “close” enough to Dublin where I can drive under 3h and be there and I love it. I am Irish though so it will always feel more like home, and therefore safer, due to that. I also lived in a neighbouring county for a period of time so I’m familiar with the areas and the roads so even though it definitely has its problems, I know where to avoid.

I’m dying to go again soon. I was last a few months ago and it’s a city I always miss.

Yebbie · 28/01/2022 11:11

I must have bad taste, some of my favourite places are mentioned a few times! Berlin was such an amazing city with so much culture, history and incredible architecture. I left a piece of my heart there. Budapest absolutely stole my heart as well, it was beautiful and so interesting and as lame as this sounds, I loved the vibe. It just had a really good vibe and I never once felt unsafe, loved every second.

There's a few places I've been and expected to not like it, and ended up being surprised. I went to Sibiu, Romania (I didn't choose the destination) and I had such low expectations but it was an amazing city, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would happily go back (I felt like a millionaire out there, it was so cheap). I also had low expectations of Lanzarote after years of hearing it referred to as Lanzagrotty, just went for a cheap beach break for dc, stayed in Playa Blanca, it was brilliant. There are some very brits abroady spots but if you avoid them there are some brilliant restaurants and the beaches were lovely.

Anyway, on the subject of the thread
Places I didn't like

Cancun - felt dirty and intimidating (highly recommend Riviera Maya though)

Amsterdam - Been 5 times for different reasons, loved it at first, but it's become so over commercialised, over priced and full of lads on stags do. Imo it has lost, or is very fast losing its charm. (Rotterdam has a lot of the charm still, so I go there instead now, I also loved Haarlem!)

NYC - Same reasons others have said really (Boston however I loved!)

Hollywood - Dirty tourist trap

Disneyland Paris - Meh, save your money and go to Disney world

Marrakech - Some areas were a bit grim, but even the bits that could be nice were just full of pushy men trying to sell you knock off gear or put cobras on you, take a photo and empty your bank account to pay for it.

Purplewithred · 28/01/2022 11:11

Lands End. To be fair, it was late December on a grey wet windy day. But £5 to get "in", random set of "attractions" that were all closed, £££ to have your photo taken by the signpost.

Good pastie in the pastie shop, but could have got one of those from anywhere.

Very disappointing.

LondonWolf · 28/01/2022 11:12

@JudyGemstone

Dubai must be one of the most morally and spiritually bankrupt places on earth.

The living epitome of the phrases ‘more money than sense’ and ‘just because you can it doesn’t mean you should’.

A monument to consumerism and greed built on modern slavery. Shameful.

I always wonder who people who say this are actually addressing? Is it those "tacky" western influencer types who flock there or is it actually the native Arabs who have found themselves with huge wealth from a natural resource and because there's not enough them, import labour to build what they need/want? There benefits system is second to none, each citizen is given a large lump sum on marriage, their every need is subsidised. It's not perfect obviously. No where is.
Yebbie · 28/01/2022 11:13

Oh and Venice - it was hot and it stunk. Everywhere just stunk like actual poo. Hated it.

CounsellorTroi · 28/01/2022 11:13

@WhatScratch

For cities, it can make a huge difference if you go out to bars or restaurants with friends who live there. I have very happy memories of Dublin Grin
Similarly I had a fantastic time in LA when I visited in my early 20s because I stayed with my DB who was living there at the time.
LondonWolf · 28/01/2022 11:14

Their

dorkfink · 28/01/2022 11:14

There benefits system is second to none, each citizen is given a large lump sum on marriage, their every need is subsidised. It's not perfect obviously. No where is.

Do you qualify for benefits if not a citizen?

ImInStealthMode · 28/01/2022 11:14

Monaco and Marbella but people love both so maybe I just missed something! (They we're both short visits).

bananafish · 28/01/2022 11:14

I was underwhelmed by Berlin - it was very grey and industrial and dour. I was also working so I didn't really get to explore and I expect that coloured my judgement.

Vietnam in general and Halong Bay in particular. Least favourite country in SE Asia - just really hassly and unfriendly and everyone's trying to rip you off. Stayed three days and left. Went there after being in Cambodia which is the complete opposite experience.

alreadytaken · 28/01/2022 11:15

I like Venice, Edinburgh, Cyprus, Stonehenge, Malta is Ok but prefer Greek islands and would never visit the crypt in Mdina again, Rhodes Old Town is interesting. Cotswolds and Bath OK but yes, over-rated.

If you like spooky then do visit the crypt in Mdina, the atmosphere is to die for.

Glowtastic · 28/01/2022 11:15

Love Whitby, but then I love chips and vampires. Smile.
Also love Munich, didn't find it boring at all and beautiful architecture. Thought Milan was brilliant but everytime I've been to Italy the food has been rubbish, regardless of area.

Wasn't keen on lake Garda, of course the actual lake and mountains are spectacular but the town's on the edge area sanitised and soulless, no atmosphere, like places people go to to die.

Geneva is crap, nothing interesting or exciting going on there.

Harlequin1088 · 28/01/2022 11:16

India.

“Oh my God, it’s so spiritual!”

No it’s not, it just stinks.

godmum56 · 28/01/2022 11:19

Norfolk Broads...mind you this was years ago and it might be better now.

CornishGem1975 · 28/01/2022 11:20

Barbados. Nice weather, nice beaches but outside the hotel felt unsafe and I just didn't really get the hype.

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 28/01/2022 11:20

LA. Complete shit hole. Could not get out of there fast enough

DaveGahansRealWife · 28/01/2022 11:21

@Harlequin1088

India.

“Oh my God, it’s so spiritual!”

No it’s not, it just stinks.

Ah yes India is a shit hole- people trying to stick needles in your ears to suck the evil spirits out and watch out for drug needles in the sand.
BiscuitLover3678 · 28/01/2022 11:21

Dublin

BiscuitLover3678 · 28/01/2022 11:22

San Francisco. There were a few nice fake bits but if you actually walk anywhere the homeless streets are worse than I’ve seen in 3rd world countries. Horrific.

LadyEloise1 · 28/01/2022 11:22

Copenhagen.
It just wasn't as lovely as I thought it would be.

PizzaCrust · 28/01/2022 11:22

@Hobbesmanc

Deffo agree with Dubai- why people go there for fun. Also wouldn't rush back to Reykjavik. If you are unlucky with the weather (and we went in August) there's very little to do and it's so expensive.

Malta won't get a return visit either- Greek islands are much better

Shocked about Reykjavík! I loved it, although when I went it was in January and we did a road trip of the ring road around the entire country, so I guess that could skew my view of the place.

I’m also big into medieval history (specialised in Medieval languages at university) so the museums were incredible for me. I just absolutely loved it. We also stayed in 5-6 different Air BnBs during our time there and they were all amazing. City centre apartments with views over the city, wood cabins in the middle of nowhere with log burning stoves, one of these was on a horse farm so I was in heaven waking up every morning to the view of the Icelandic ponies 😊

That being said, it was even £££ in off season so I can’t imagine the price over the summer.

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