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31 Of The Worst Tourist Traps Around The Globe, As Shared By Members Of This Online Community
Even in our crazy and constantly changing world, there is one constant thing - people's passion for travel. Since the end of the pandemic, tourism, both domestic and international, has been growing for the third year in a row. No wonder - people want new experiences.
Today, almost the entire globe is available to travelers - the only question is money and the right choice of destination. Moreover, you may realize that some incredibly popular places of interest are actually greatly overrated. The corresponding online threads come to help tourists. Such, for example, as this thread in the AskReddit community.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Amazed I haven't seen this mentioned yet but isn't Las Vegas' whole shtick being a tourist trap
#2
Hollywood Blvd is pretty junky. I always feel bad for people who make the trip to Los Angeles and end up there. They must be like wtf?
Panda-sized Potato 11 months ago
There is nothing to really to do on Hollywood, unless you go for a specific reason. If you want more of a Hollywood experience, Universal Studios Hollywood is literally over the hill.
#3
Don't go to England just to see Stonehenge. You will be bitterly disappointed. That being said, if you are in England, and you do want to see Stonehenge, spend time in Salisbury as well., enjoy the scenery on the way there and back. Spend time exploring the area around Waterloo station in London.
Be a traveler, not a tourist.
Couragetcd 11 months ago
Very good advice. There are other standing stones that aren't so...trapped by tourists?
It will soon be two hundred years since Thomas Cook from England organized the first event that could be called a full-fledged tourist trip, and since then there have been many people who make money not only from organizing tourism, but also from rating various attractions and hotels, restaurants and other places that surround them.
#4
Disneyland
Janelle Collard 11 months ago
Disneyland USED to be worth it. Now, not so much. If you like LOTS of people hampering your every move + waiting hours for rides, it's fine. Oh yeah - and spending piles of money.
#5
If you come to San Francisco, Pier 39 is a tourist trap. It’s just a long outdoor mall filled with useless tchotchkes. Instead, opt for the golden gate bridge, golden gate park, ocean beach, or one of our various arts and science museums.
Couragetcd 11 months ago (edited)
And get ready for shin splints no matter where you go. Walking in SF hurts. If someone tries to encourage you by saying it will be downhill on the way back, they lie. There will still be uphill in that direction too.
#6
That big a*s fake Noah’s Arc thing in Kentucky. It’s b******t stacked on b******t, that is stealing money from old folks and idiots. I’m good with them ripping off the idiots, but there’s lines of busses from retirement homes lined up there daily.
Edit: thanks folks, I was off a state. It’s still horrible
Couragetcd 11 months ago
I agree, but at least they are getting something out of their money. That, to me, makes it slightly less disgusting than the Evangelists that these same people are sending more than they can afford because they say that they dreamed God told them to get a new private jet.
“People have always loved travel stories, which were often incredibly detailed in the smallest detail,” says Valery Bolgan, a historian and journalist, editor-in-chief of Intent press agency in Ukraine, with whom Bored Panda got in touch for a comment here. “After all, the famous travel notes of the great travelers, starting from Marco Polo or Ibn Battuta, contained not only descriptions of unknown lands and customs of other peoples, but also detailed stories and assessments of lodgings and cuisine at inns.”
“Today, almost any popular place on Earth can, to one degree or another, be considered 'a tourist trap'. Firstly, because people tend to try to take advantage of the slightest opportunity - so any beautiful or memorable place will soon be surrounded by numerous cafes and souvenir stalls, like the bottom of the ship is overgrown with shells and algae."
“Secondly, people’s tastes and opinions differ greatly, so if one of your friends or some popular blogger didn’t like this or that place, it’s far from a fact that you won’t like it either. In the end, many Parisians literally hated the Eiffel Tower for several decades and sought its immediate demolition - and today it is the true pride of all of France. So the best thing is to form your own opinion about everything, to see with your own eyes. If, of course, the budget of your trip allows it," Valery summarizes.
#7
Mount Everest, garbage and dead people everywhere, extremely expensive too
Tucker Cahooter 11 months ago
Best to tackle it outside of the official climbing season when it is less crowded (pack some extra thermal underwear as it can get a bit chilly)
#8
I've traveled to over 30 countries and all 50 states. It's less about a city and more about specific areas within one. You can find local chill areas anywhere just as you can tourist trap areas.
Example New Orleans: tourist trap - Bourbon Street. Local spots - magazine, garden district, Frenchman (though tourists are starting to find it).
Example Orlando: tourist trap- I drive, the parks, basically anywhere south of downtown. Local - milk district, Mills, winter Park, etc.
Example Dublin Ireland: tourist trap- Temple bar. Local- Stoneybatter, kilmainham, etc.
You get the point
Couragetcd 11 months ago
Yep, very good observation. We try to avoid the group tour activities and find the local mom and pop places for an actual original experience.
#9
I don't think people understand what a "Tourist Trap" is. You can argue that Times Square is a tourist trap, but it's ridiculous to say that the entire city is a trap. The London Eye could be a trap, but not London.
Heather Evans 11 months ago
True .. but the views / perspective is incredible. I was on the fence about the eye but hubby insisted, and I'm so glad he did!
Yes, many popular places on our planet today are totally overcrowded, but that, in the end, is the price to pay for popularity. Unfortunately, the level of service around such attractions sometimes decreases - because some owners and staff are often guided by the principle “you will still come here and visit us!” However, market competition also does its job, and over time, negligent business owners will be forced out of the best places.
#10
The pyramids is a very uncomfortable experience you get f*****g harassed beyond belief
Heather Evans 11 months ago
True .. and the KFc across the road was a real ????? moment! But we got to go inside one of the great pyramids of Giza!! Absolutely mind blowing.
#11
Myrtle Beach. It’s the most expensive trailer park by the beach. Everything is so expensive. But you’re surrounded by trailer park people. People harassing you to buy c**p.
#12
Magnolia Market in Waco, TX. It's basically a giant gift shop for Chip and Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper. Wife dragged me there and it was so busy you couldn't even do anything. It sucked.
Be that as it may, the list of places and locations in this collection is truly worldwide - from small towns to huge metropolises (although some do not agree that an entire city can be dubbed 'a tourist trap'). However, this is also a reason for additional discussion, so please feel free to join the comments section, but not before you scroll this list to the very end. Perhaps some of the opinions expressed here will be useful to you, saving you time and money, and maybe your own opinion will help someone too.
#14
In Canada, the Capilano Bridge was rated as the country's worst tourist trap. Private park in North Vancouver with a swaying drooping pedestrian bridge across a small canyon. $80 admission. There is a similar bridge for free on a public park nearby. For that price I'd rather visit the Peak-to-Peak gondola ride between mountain tops in Whistler.
Heather Evans 11 months ago
Agreed! This is literally in my backyard and used to be $10. Now they send out brochures to locals offering free season passes to bring our 'out of town' friends (who pay full admission prices).
#15
If there is a rain forest cafe and a madame tousards, it’s a tourist trap.
#16
Mount Rushmore is small.
Elladine DesIsles 11 months ago
More importantly, it destroyed sacred Indigenous land. Bigger would not makr it better.
#17
Times square for sure
Cassidy 11 months ago (edited)
For sure don't hang out there (go for lunch, shopping, etc) but still interesting to walk through if you're in the area! It's also the place I first kissed the love of my life so I'm a little biased.
Keith Lancaster 11 months ago
The last bit of your comment made my heart flutter. Hope you are still together.
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Soleil SanMao 11 months ago
Time Square smells like urine and the stench that came from the subway, hell-nah
aubergine10003 11 months ago
Times Square is the WORST. Avoid at all costs! Love, a native New Yorker
Daddy’s Girl 11 months ago
I love walking around Times Square. But don’t eat there, too expensive. Find a side street like we did. We found an exquisite Japanese restaurant with the best Japanese food I’ve ever had. Go off the beaten track it’s worth it.
That One Weird Lesbian 11 months ago
I'm gonna have to agree a bit, but there are places in manhattan that are also super cool! Central Park has some cool places and it's pretty, one of my favorites in the city
Big Chungus 11 months ago
I went there for like a minute just to say I went there...it is way too busy and packed. Hells Kitchen is a lot of fun though
#18
Plymouth Rock. It’s likely not actually from 1620 and it’s a pretty small rock.
Couragetcd 11 months ago
They probably just picked a rock at random when there was enough history to it to make it interesting. The people who landed there and their children were too busy surviving to pay attention to a rock, no matter the significance.
#19
Branson.
Take everything fun out of Vegas and put it in the middle of nowhere midwest. It’s a magnet for old people and f***y pack dads.
#20
Gatlinburg, TN.
That place is a tourist hell-hole. Good luck actually finding historical buildings and monuments.
#21
Nashville. Come on down and see the one street just to get s**tfaced and listen to washed out, s****y country in a shoulder-to-shoulder honkytonk. Sure, there is plenty more to see and do down here but that seems to be the main attraction to a lot of folks
Brett Layton 11 months ago
I found Nashville to be very pleasant, the people were friendly, the prices were fair, and yes they do play a lot of country music in the country music capital of the world. I'm not sure why that one was surprising at all.
#23
Half of the "attractions" in the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville area in Tennessee. Outside Dollywood, there's not much worth a damn.
seana lammers 11 months ago
Um hellooo … the Great Smokey Mountains and cultural history are some great ‘tourist’ suggestions.
#25
Istanbul! As a woman alone is a complete nightmare, you will get harassed and stalked. If you’re a male alone you have 90% chances of being scammed.
Istanbul is amazing but not a place for solo travel! Beware and mind your surroundings. Trust no one.
#26
Fisherman’s Wharf in San Fran.
Thousands of better things to do in San Francisco than see this unremarkable stupid wharf of pointless shopping.
Edit: Fisherman’s Wharf not Pacific Wharf.
And yes the seals/sea lions are def it’s only saving grace
#27
Wisconsin Dells. But it’s actually a fun one.
Suck it Trebek 11 months ago
As a Wisconsinite I totally disagree. There's tons of awesome stuff to do there.
#28
Certain parts of the city center of Amsterdam is the worst tourist trap s**thole I've been to.
Tanja Jonk 11 months ago
Truth! And we don't like that many tourists in one place. It has nothing to do with dutch culture. Visit The hague, Rotterdam, Maastricht, Volendam, the Zaanse Schans, the Efteling themepark, Alkmaar, Egmond aan zee. Anything but Amsterdam.
#29
SF Giants game in SF.
You can tell who isn’t from the city because they are all heading to the store to buy hoodies and jackets half way through the game when the cold/fog/rain rolls in after it’s been warm and sunny all day.
Kim Kermes 11 months ago
Candlestick Park was freezing, and I'm from Minnesota. Went to the first NFL Christmas Day game in the outdoor stadium. When I was stationed at the Presidio, we used to go to the Wharf to watch the tourists get off the busses in shorts and t shirts and turn blue.
#30
Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Elladine DesIsles 11 months ago
If you want to actually see and experience the falls, you need to be on the Canadian side, the view is infinitely better. But it is also true that the touristy, casino/attraction-focused part of the city is incredibly tacky. It is perhaps more forgivable if you keep in mind that it is probably the closest Canada gets to Vegas or Atlantic City. But really, once you have viewed the falls, there are so many lovelier things to do in Ontario's Niagara region outside the city.
#31
F*****g Paris. The Eiffel Tower is ao crowded. People pushing and shoving.
Go to nicer quieter areas outside of Paris where you can chill and breathe.
What do you think ?
Sugar Shack 11 months ago
If the reason that something is a tourist trap is that it is crowded, go in the off season. The Greek islands, for instance, are infinitely more enjoyable in May or October. Forget July and August.
Steve Hall 11 months ago
I grew up in Cental Florida, if it isn't a "tourist trap", it isn't worth going to see.
ElDiablo_562x666x3 11 months ago
If Hollywood Walk of Fame and Disney are on the list, Venice Beach / Santa Monica pier should be included also.
Teufel Wulf 11 months ago
When I first moved to LA in 1991 the pier was fun, no too expensive, and the 3rd street was full of quirky shops and not chain - used book stores, record shops, etc.
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David Jeffery 10 months ago
Bondi beach. It's ugly, dirty, s****y crowds and the surf is atrocious. Go to Dee Why, or somewhere along that coast for some spectacular surf.
Daniel Atkins 11 months ago
I think the ROn Jon surf shop in Cocoa Beach FL t shirts and cheap souvenirs mainly. Cocoa Beach in general the beaches to the south are less touristy.
Sugar Shack 11 months ago
If the reason that something is a tourist trap is that it is crowded, go in the off season. The Greek islands, for instance, are infinitely more enjoyable in May or October. Forget July and August.
Steve Hall 11 months ago
I grew up in Cental Florida, if it isn't a "tourist trap", it isn't worth going to see.
ElDiablo_562x666x3 11 months ago
If Hollywood Walk of Fame and Disney are on the list, Venice Beach / Santa Monica pier should be included also.
Teufel Wulf 11 months ago
When I first moved to LA in 1991 the pier was fun, no too expensive, and the 3rd street was full of quirky shops and not chain - used book stores, record shops, etc.
Load More Replies... David Jeffery 10 months ago
Bondi beach. It's ugly, dirty, s****y crowds and the surf is atrocious. Go to Dee Why, or somewhere along that coast for some spectacular surf.
Daniel Atkins 11 months ago
I think the ROn Jon surf shop in Cocoa Beach FL t shirts and cheap souvenirs mainly. Cocoa Beach in general the beaches to the south are less touristy.
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