Where is the most overrated holiday destination you’ve been?

[phoanymoany]

Where have you been on holiday and thought “wow, that was a waste of my time and money”.

Mine was travelling to a fairly remote tropical island where people were supposed to be so friendly. Unfortunately we found the people we interacted with in the hotels and restaurants to be anything but nice. It piddled down with rain and then we almost got scammed.

Dubai has appears to have become a favourite hangout/hideout for criminals from my neck of the woods.

It feels like every other court report has a line about Mr x travelling to dubai after someone was shot/police raid etc

We are all different. My husband would probably divorce me over a trip like that — it would feel like you don’t get a chance to actually just be in a place and get to know it.
Personally I love Rome and it is easy to find things relatively off the beaten path. Last time we were there, we went down to the catacombs and that was fascinating (and we were the only people there!). Also “discovered” the Capitoline Museums which are sensational and not at all crowded. The trip before that, we went out into the countryside to go truffle hunting. A short train ride out and it’s a different world. Another time, we did a cooking course with a family in a nearby village. All of this is in Rome or within an hour from it, so if you have booked a trip where you are in Rome for a week and find it overwhelming, you don’t have to go to another crowded city (Naples) to get away from it. Or unpack your suitcase in a new place every night.

It helps that we both speak some Italian but that’s only because we have prioritised that.

Re Barcelona, it's so overhyped. Sagrada is quite the sight but beyond that there's no real beauty. Las Ramblas is a road with a pedestrianised middle with tat shops or metro entrances. Nothing more to it. El Born is the most interesting quarter, bit more picturesque than anywhere else. It's definitely a place for Gaudi fans, which I'm not. The metro system is good.

Edinburgh is my favourite city. Beautiful, friendly and lots of interesting stuff to do. Love most of these places mentioned, especially Morocco, Paris and Switzerland. Would confirm about the racism in some parts of Australia, that’s my experience of living there though and not just passing through.

I really like Edinburgh (and adore Scotland in general). We spent this year’s Christmas in Scotland! (We’re based in Switzerland.)

But Scotland is a popular (and beloved) destination in Switzerland.

and whenever I am in Scotland I encounter so many Scottish people (more than in any other Anglo country!) that have been to Switzerland. Be it for work, holidays, university… maybe it’s some mutual S-country appeal 😂

Two groups of people I know (completely separate trips) experienced muggings/attempted muggings in Barcelona and it always comes up on threads like this. It has completely put me off going which is a shame as I love other areas of Spain and would like to see the architecture. I know muggings happen everywhere, but Barcelona seems a real hotspot.

It’s common there. My DB’s MIL got pickpocketed on the shuttle bus from the airport to the city centre. We were all with her!

Actually I thought Lisbon was great and massively underrated.

Mauritius
Capri
Budapest
Dublin

I had my card holder pick pocketed on the Barcelona metro but I had stupidly not zipped up my bag. Realised as soon as I got off the train and was able to cancel my cards immediately online. The next time I went I took a better bag and was vigilant.

Melbourne.
"Ooh...look at our lovely coffee!"
"Ooh...look at our lovely coffee!"
"Ooh...look at our lovely coffee!"

And that's it.

Melbourne.
"Ooh...look at our lovely coffee!"
"Ooh...look at our lovely coffee!"
"Ooh...look at our lovely coffee!"

And that's it.
Eh? That certainly wasn't our experience!
Melbourne is fabulous!!

Bangkok. Been several times, I just get a horrible melancholic feeling of despair there for some reason. Some parts are lovely (the Jim Thompson house, the temples) but a lot of it is so so seedy. Old western men with so, so young Thai girls everywhere. Thai's are generally lovely but I felt an unpleasant undercurrent in the city - and the amount of times people tried to rip us off.

Still haven't heard from ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea why I can't put Malta and Gozo in the same destination category. Explain please, Shiny.

@pollyglot
It was the whole thing as I explained above with the London-Birmingham thing . Of course if in practice you find yourself at a destination you aren't enjoying it makes total sense not to waste your time there but to do some trips out to other places . However the premise of the thread was 'over-rated designations' not 'how to cope with a disappointing holiday' . Your reply just made me laugh - in the context of the thread.

I had my purse taken out of my back pack going down the steps to the metro . Felt them do it, turned round and a few seconds later it was thrown back to me - I think they were disgusted as to how little was in there .... or perhaps they felt sorry for me! Didn't take the cards out either .

But yes I always wear my back pack side on now with the zip towards me.

I felt unsafe the whole weekend, feel like we were always being watched.
A guy ran up behind me and snatched my bag, then another guy pretended to chase him then caught up with me to return my bag (minus phone & cash). My friend realised he was an accomplice and was looking for a reward!

I saw an American tourist have her passport taken out of her bag in broad daylight next to the basilica. (I only realised what had happened after as a man dropped his keys next to her bag on the floor) she was hysterical 😥

I have visited Australia a number of times and have really loved parts of it. Sunshine Coast, Perth etc.

One disappointment was Margaret River - the actual town. I was expecting idillic and upmarket, but it was pretty sad and down at heel. Lovely places nearby and stunning vineyards though.

Two groups of people I know (completely separate trips) experienced muggings/attempted muggings in Barcelona and it always comes up on threads like this. It has completely put me off going which is a shame as I love other areas of Spain and would like to see the architecture. I know muggings happen everywhere, but Barcelona seems a real hotspot.
I've been to Barcelona 9 times and I've never witnessed or been involved in a mugging, pick pocket or robbery.
I always have the same 'keep safe' behaviours where ever I am in tbe world . Obviously nothing is foolproof but with 40 years of solo travel so far I've been OK.

I have never been mugged or robbed and have travelled very widely. I think I am scruffy and look skint! I travel solo too.

Kimberley, South Africa. I'd read that it was the quintessential "boom town", full of the energy and diversity of the most adventurous people from every corner of the world with diamonds the size of one's fist just lying in the street. The reality failed to live up to the hype.

Also, both the Blarney Stone and Plymouth Rock are much smaller than one might imagine.

The thing that surprised me with Australia was the amount of sex shops everywhere. Like you can be walking down your average street of shops and suddenly there is a sex shop. Not a criticism just found it odd.

Surfers Paradise was a massive let down. And the beach is in shade all day more or less from the tall buildings.

Bondi beach!

I was trying to think of where I really wouldn't go back to and it was Dubrovnik. I bet it was fabulous about 20 years ago but when we were there last year it was hideously expensive and rammed with tourists despite us going on a day when there was only the one small cruise ship in. The centre was full of 'Game of Thrones' shops, ice cream shops and overpriced restaurants. Walk the walls? That'll be over £100 for your family of four. Five minutes in a cable car up a mountain? Same (roughly). Bog standard pizza? £15. Boat trip back to your nice wee resort? Another 80 euros. I have never spent so much money in just one day on basic stuff.

The swifts flying around the Sponza Palace were mesmerising though.

I visited Florence about 40 years ago - don’t remember it being particularly crowded but all the graffiti on the beautiful buildings & statues really upset me. It was like the residents just didn’t care about their city.