Most overrated destination you’ve visited?

[Hairbrush123]

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

Bondi Beach compared to a vegetarian Largs

I love this thread (but also prefer Manly tbf).

Milan

Loved Morocco though. The sites and sounds were incredible.

London is awful now, truly.

When my foreign friends from far flung countries want a holiday here, I tell them to spend one day in London to see what they want ot really see, then get to King's Cross, straight on the train to York, then Durham, then Newcastle, then Edinburgh then up to the North of Scotland. All of them have thanked me for pointing them to these great places, all on one fast train line, stopping a few days in each.

I feel sorry for people who live in the south of England and think that's what Britain actually is.

Corsica

@Blossomtoes

You will be disappointed in modern India. Nobody is interested in being spiritual any more. They are more interested in building tech startups which employ people.

Surely that depends where? It’s a massive country and it seems unlikely that thousands of years of culture has changed in a couple of decades.

Yes. I am just a bit annoyed by all these exotic generalisations about India. It's very E.M Forster and A Passage to India.

It is such a large country that comparing one end of it to the other is like comparing Moscow to Madrid. Parts of it are very safe- certainly safer than inner London- parts of it have women who are not subjugated, parts of it are not smelly.

Just like all of Japan is not full of leering groping men.

Can we have another thread for "not expecting much but absolutely blown away!" 😂

@UniBallEye

I have travelled to many of the places listed here, lived in some of them, and have been multiple times to quite a few and I have never been disappointed by any place.

I travel to see and experience difference. I research before I go and I go with an open mind, there's always something to enjoy!

I just don't understand some of the views on here as they are so utterly opposing to my own experiences.

We have been to so many of the places slated here and adored them - Dublin, Venice, Paris, Lisbon, Budapest, Toronto, Sydney, New York, Florence, Rome, Berlin, Prague, London, Amsterdam etc etc

They each have their own distinct characteristics and there is so much to see and do in each place.

While some of the comments have inadvertently made me laugh 'Paris a stinking shithole'; 'Bruges distinctly average'; 'every Dublin pun smelling of bleach'; and so on, it is also a bit depressing to read all of this and it sort of makes me wonder about the people who travel to these places and why they choose to go there in the first place?

I see lots of references to cities being too crowded and hot - I would rarely (if ever) choose to go on a city break in the height of summer as it stands to reason that it will be hot and crowded. Spring or Autumn are usually far more comfortable times to visit, so it seems unfair to blame the destination for poor holiday planning.

In each of the places we've been to I could recommend 10 amazing things to experience / visit that will make you realise you're not at home. In some cities you have to travel further between things but that's surely all part of being in a large city...

Agree completely with you and there's definitely something in the whole 'wherever you go, there you are'. I think the fact that people can dismiss multiple cities and countries says more about them than it does about the destinations. And I don't even mean that in a bad way. I genuinely think the cultural norm has become that travel is good and more of it is better but some people genuinely are not suited to or don't get enough from it to justify the expense and trouble. If I went on a series of trips and found myself constantly hating places, having terrible experiences, I'd think 'maybe I prefer to stay home or go back to the places I actually do like'.

@tootsierubs

Can we have another thread for "not expecting much but absolutely blown away!" 😂

Yes please. Jersey.

Jamaica.

@tootsierubs

Can we have another thread for "not expecting much but absolutely blown away!" 😂

We should. I had such a lovely weekend in Hull once. I’d been told to expect Terrible Things.

@OperationRinka

Gutted by what I've heard of San Francisco (not just from this thread). I was there twenty five years ago before the internet boom and it was the loveliest city - the only place in the USA I wanted to live - though I'm sure it had its problems even then

I agree. I spent 6 months there in 1996. Truly the most beautiful place on the planet (and I didn't have any expectation of even liking the place). The topography is fantastic, the people wonderful, the possibilities endless, the climate beautiful. Swimming in the morning, giant redwood forest walk in the afternoon. Huge nature reserves galore, sharks seen swimming under the Golden gate bridge.

I hear now from friends who live there that is turning into a dangerous third world city like Los Angeles.

Hollywood!

When I was going to the West Coast, someone warned me not to stay there, so we didn't, but we went for a day, and it is a DUMP. Lots of strange people around (crazy) and Burger King had armed guards. It all felt very dangerous.

@Kelly7889

London is awful now, truly.

When my foreign friends from far flung countries want a holiday here, I tell them to spend one day in London to see what they want ot really see, then get to King's Cross, straight on the train to York, then Durham, then Newcastle, then Edinburgh then up to the North of Scotland. All of them have thanked me for pointing them to these great places, all on one fast train line, stopping a few days in each.

I feel sorry for people who live in the south of England and think that's what Britain actually is.

I live in London. It's brilliant. I'm grateful I live here nearly every day

Los Angeles, polluted strip mall

New York features heavily on here. I have to say I found it a bit in your face to start with, but I ended up loving it.

I agree. I spent 6 months there in 1996. Truly the most beautiful place on the planet (and I didn't have any expectation of even liking the place). The topography is fantastic, the people wonderful, the possibilities endless, the climate beautiful. Swimming in the morning, giant redwood forest walk in the afternoon. Huge nature reserves galore, sharks seen swimming under the Golden gate bridge

I hear now from friends who live there that is turning into a dangerous third world city like Los Angeles

I visited in 1993 and it was amazing. This is so sad to hear.

@Kelly7889

London is awful now, truly.

When my foreign friends from far flung countries want a holiday here, I tell them to spend one day in London to see what they want ot really see, then get to King's Cross, straight on the train to York, then Durham, then Newcastle, then Edinburgh then up to the North of Scotland. All of them have thanked me for pointing them to these great places, all on one fast train line, stopping a few days in each.

I feel sorry for people who live in the south of England and think that's what Britain actually is.

Seriously? London is one of the greatest cities in the world and no matter what your interest, you'll find it there - culture, history, architecture, food, sport, parks, I could go on. I envy anyone with access to it and one of my dreams in retirement is to do a houseswap or something and spend a long period of time there

I went to San Francisco when I was 6 so mid 80s and I remember it being my favourite place. My parents did a tour around the US for 7 weeks and the place I remember being scarey was New York. My Dad got called a son of a bitch for not knowing that he should tip this man who took our luggage to the yellow taxi- my parents didn't ask him to, he just grabbed the luggage!

I don't know why people are surprised about Brighton, have none of you ever heard of the film, Brighton Rock, it has always been a bit dark and threatening and people that are on the edges of society. I live in Brighton but people who live here are in certain community clusters that are generally around certain schools and parks. That life is the supposed more attractive life and a far cry from brawls and hen parties on West Street!

@JohnBetjeman

Slough

Brilliant! Thanks JB.

Havana. I was so excited to go, but I felt really unsafe there.

I found Loch Lomond to be so much better than Loch Ness, they must’ve got them mixed up.

I’ve only ever had one bad holiday in Marmaris, that was before I knew any better.

I’m surprised by some of these underwhelming countries. Mexico, Bali, (you obviously lost the fight with the monkey), HK, NZ, Malay, CR, Lanka, Thailand? Try visiting more than one place, either by booking 3-4 hotels, get a driver to show you the best non touristy places, or use the many forms of public transport.

Paris, definitely.

@Goldenbear

I went to San Francisco when I was 6 so mid 80s and I remember it being my favourite place. My parents did a tour around the US for 7 weeks and the place I remember being scarey was New York. My Dad got called a son of a bitch for not knowing that he should tip this man who took our luggage to the yellow taxi- my parents didn't ask him to, he just grabbed the luggage!

I don't know why people are surprised about Brighton, have none of you ever heard of the film, Brighton Rock, it has always been a bit dark and threatening and people that are on the edges of society. I live in Brighton but people who live here are in certain community clusters that are generally around certain schools and parks. That life is the supposed more attractive life and a far cry from brawls and hen parties on West Street!

It’s changed a lot. I would say SF and New York (at least Manhattan) have switched. I’d feel much safer in New York.

Cornwall - nearly died of boredom

Edinburgh - been four times, always leave disappointed. I can't really explain why, it's a city which just should be much more than it is

On the other hand I loved NYC so it's great we're not all the same 😊

Seriously? London is one of the greatest cities in the world and no matter what your interest, you'll find it there - culture, history, architecture, food, sport, parks, I could go on. I envy anyone with access to it and one of my dreams in retirement is to do a houseswap or something and spend a long period of time there

I think it depends how much money you have though. I lived in London in the early 90's, and my Mum was a Londoner, so we were always there visiting family. The areas my family lived - and myself later on - were dirty, dangerous, full of gangs and mobsters (my own cousin was in a mafia type ring) - because we lived in the poorest areas. I'm sure you'd have a very different experience if you could afford to live in an expensive area.

I now live near Edinburgh, and the contrast between London and Edinburgh is stark. Edinburgh is friendlier, cleaner, less dangerous, easier to get around, and you can live pretty cheaply on the outskirts. For eg. my house is about 25 minutes from the centre (on the train), and it is 5 bedrooms with a sea view. It is worth about £250k. This house in London would easily be a few Million. I wouldn't move back to London if you paid me.