Most overrated destination you’ve visited?

[Hairbrush123]

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

Vienna, great song but dull city, nothing much there.

It's such a shame people are saying Edinburgh, it used to be the most beautiful city but recently, Princes Street has become so tacky. A lot of the architecture is gorgeous and there is so much history. Lots of lovely little delis etc away from the city centre. I'm from Edinburgh and I'm the first to admit it's not what it was. I used to absolutely love it but I don't like the way some of it has gone.

Benidorm!

Also, Athens and Goa.

I went to Edinburgh in summer a couple of years back and would say its great, a lot to see.

@PrincessNutella

After reading this thread I feel depressed and disgusted. How sad that so much money and so much jetfuel has been wasted on giving lucky people so much to bitch about.

I don't know would I go that far, but there is certainly something in what you say. In terms of the span of human history, anyone who has gotten to travel outside their own country is enormously priveleged. There is a definite feeling that with some posters, (I stress some) there is no awareness of that privelege and that it is entirely wasted on them. They have travelled far but there THEY are, bitching and moaning. To dismiss some of the greatest cities in the world, whole bloody counties (Spain! Turkey! Japan!l) is pretty breathtaking. When I think of my grandparents who never left Ireland, may never even have been in the much maligned Dublin, they would be aghast at how spoilt we have become, myself included. Some have gorged on travel and made both themselves and the planet sick.

Benidorm and strangely, Bruges. I was told by everyone what a fantastic place you will love it.... but I just didn't. It was 32 degrees though and the mosquitos were relentless.

wow amazed Mauritius is getting so many mentions as it was one of my best holidays.

agree with nyc tho

@Sheis

Malta. Uncomfortably humid. People unfriendly. Not very clean.

I go to Malta every year and find the people friendly in the main.

I've had two separate week long holidays in Naples and loved it.

If you go to developing countries don't be surprised if you get hassled. Anywhere where there are tourists/poverty/male-dominated/restrictive local laws /no-welfare state is going to get you hassled... unless you stay inside a gated heavy security resort. And they aren't great for locals... it's why I haven't gone somewhere like that for about 10 years. You can't judge a holiday on whether you were hassled if you didn't research it first. The last time I was scammed was Turkey and I walked right into it, so only have myself to blame. It has put me off going again. There's a lot of places I won't take my teen daughter. There's plenty of places I can go.

I agree PrincessNutella. Think peoples expectations have got entirely skewed. Travel is such a privilege. We need to scale it right back. And what exactly were people expecting?!

Still blown away by Venice being described as “boring” dear god.

I also found Dublin completely meh. I was there with DC for something else, so couldn't spare time for whole day trips down the coast and couldn't do anything alcohol related.

Cannes for a work conference was a huge disappointment.

As a Londoner I love NY and Paris and Rome, although I gather NY has had a rough few years and Paris does indeed smell of wee.

Most baffled by the poster upthread who didn't think Bruges was especially pretty. There are many arguably valid criticisms of Bruges: fake, shallow, lacking authenticity, over priced. But surely everyone has to admit it's pretty? It's like criticising Dubai for not being warm enough.

@Lucia23

I'm Irish and I was underwhelmed by Dublin. It struck me as very similar to many other Metropolitan cities. It didn't have as much character as I expected.

Also very expensive!

Dublin has never been known as the most beautiful city, but it used to have great character and 'craic'.

However, since the 'Celtic Tiger' years it's become rather bland and soulless, very overpriced and with poor public transport.

@cheekychaplin

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.

Right.. gently, this is about you not Paris, it’s a a perfectly normal city.

@transformandriseup

Lands End. Judging by the amount of people who were just using the car park to turn around, I wasn't alone.

I could cry for what Lands End has become, it was amazing in the 90's. Locals don't have to pay the £7 car park fee and I still won't go. Last time we went we took our young baby to the little farm and when we we went to buy tickets we were told we needed to pay for the baby too!!

I visit Sennen and St Just a lot so will happily walk the coast path to Lands End and a bit further round, but I've never felt the need to go into the arcade or visit the buildings there. I feel the beauty of the spot is the ruggedness which is best appreciated from a quiet cliff top viewpoint.

Cape Cornwall is my happy place. Determined to buy a cliff top cottage along that stretch when I win the lottery.

I love Marseilles and DH is from around there, so it's easier to navigate, but yes, it's a big, bustling working city. Not particularly touristy and possibly unfriendly, like all big cities, if you take a few wrong turns.

If you're expecting any kind of a 'Year in Provence', type atmosphere - it will sorely disappoint you.

@PrincessNutella

After reading this thread I feel depressed and disgusted. How sad that so much money and so much jetfuel has been wasted on giving lucky people so much to bitch about.

A bit of this, though lots of it is humour, and the OP did ASK. But there is a notable lack of openness in some posters - If it’s not what I expected I don’t like it. And a lot of fear of what are often perfectly normal cities.

In reality, if you are open to letting an experience be what it will be, everywhere is interesting for a few days etc. So yep, a bit depressing on that front.

A luxury all-inclusive in Kos last year. We usually stay in AirBnBs in Spain but opted for a package deal as the Covid tests were included.
It looked so gorgeous online and we were so excited.

The main public areas were beautiful but the bedrooms were completely different and inferior to the online photos, the food was mediocre and seemed repurposed from the previous night, and everyday just seemed the same.

Also the rest of Kos seemed very poor and almost barren in comparison which didn't sit easily with us (all the staff were from mainland Greece).

@Infinitemoon

Whitby. I really wanted to love it but it’s just vampires and chips.

Quote of the day!

It’s now on my list !

Paris - dirty and dog shit everywhere, it stank.
Tintagel - overrated and tacky
Ditto Glastonbury, Lands End and many other ‘tourist’ spots including Bath
Anywhere that’s full of tourists really!

Merthyr Tydfil

Los Angeles

The Eden Project:
Totally overrated, it is a great idea but there is f-all to see and really learn from. Many of the tropical plants grow like weeds in North Africa so seen them on holiday in Morocco or S Spain.
Some are in gardens in Bournemouth!
It is expensive for a family for 2 hours max.
If you want good gardens I went to Canford Cliffs Poole.

@KaiKanWhenever kos & corfu are both like this! Really poor and dirty.

@DaveGahansRealWife For me it was the random dead bodies lying in the street that nobody appeared to notice and we were just expected to side step and carry on walking. Oh and the packs of rabid stray dogs and the two occasions I was bundled into the back of a tuk-tuk in a kidnapping attempt. Bloody hated that place. Couldn’t get home fast enough after that. Much preferred Africa.

San Francisco = hilly Blackpool