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We firmly believe that traveling is one of the best parts of being born a human being. We have the sort of freedom to go on life-changing, cultural, and educational adventures like nobody else in the animal kingdom. (Except for birds, of course—they can go anywhere, any time, and they always fly first class. Yes, we’re jealous!) However, what you see in those bright and brilliant travel ads isn’t always what you get.

Underwhelming, disappointing, and a waste of time—that’s how some members of the wildly popular, 6.5-million strong r/travel community felt after going to these ‘must-see’ and ‘must-visit’ tourist attractions. And today we’re featuring their candid comments about what they felt was overhyped so you don’t fall into the same trap… or at least so you manage your expectations.

Pack your bags and get your scrolling muscles warmed up, Pandas, because we’re about to go on a trip into the Land of Disappointment (featuring the Valley of Over-Hyped Stuff and Paris Syndrome). Got any horrible travel stories to share with the class? Do you disagree with some of these redditors’ opinions? You can spill the tea (and/or beans) in the comments.

One of the moderators helping run r/travel, u/SiscoSquared, was kind enough to answer our questions. Bored Panda also got in touch with entertainment, pop culture, and lifestyle expert Mike Sington, who's known as Hollywood's Ultimate Insider. He was happy to share what first-time visitors to Los Angeles should definitely see and what they should probably steer clear of if they don't want to be disappointed. Check out both interviews below.

#1

The Dead Sea. You're in Israel. In the desert. It's blazing hot, like 115°F. You think you'll go take a dip in the Dead Sea to cool off, right? Wrong. First, you have to pay to go through a spa to use their towels, pools, etc. Then you take the wagon/shuttle that drives you from the spa down to the shore. The wagon/shuttle goes about 5 miles per hour in the scortching sun. No breeze. Next, you get to the shore of the Dead Sea. You the proceed to run over the sand that's so hot you're sure your feet will burn off. You tentatively step into the water....and it's like the hottest bath you've ever taken in your life. The water is maybe 1° away from boiling. But you figure you've made it this far, might as well get the full experience. So you submerge. It's a mistake. Every pore on your body is burning from the salt. If you have shaved any part of your body within the last three years, you will feel the salt seep into the little micro cuts and burn you from the inside out. You find cuts on your body you didn't even know you had. Even your asshole is burning because you have pooped and wiped within the last week, so your skin is raw there. And the worst part is, when you decide you have had enough of this boiling body of water, you practically have to crawl out because you're too bouyant to stand. And in the process of crawling out, you scrape your knees on the bottom where the salt rocks have crystalized which sets off a whole new round of pain. So now you're hot, sticky from the salt, and every inch of your body burns.

_Emerald_Eyes_ Report

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In moderator u/SiscoSquared's opinion, there are two ways to go about avoiding disappointment when traveling anywhere. The first is to go in with little (or better yet, no) expectations. The other thing you can do is put in a bit more effort and do more than just read the promotional material. Consider asking someone you know who's experienced it all before, or find a guide or a blogger with similar interests as yours. That way, you can get a more nuanced opinion on whether or not a location's worth visiting.

"I think the more popular a place is, the more easily it is to become overhyped and a letdown," they pointed out that the sense of disappointment, culture shock, and unmet expectations is commonly known as Paris Syndrome. (Naturally, it isn't just Paris that can let you down—Hollywood can do the same, as entertainment expert Mike told us, but hang on for a bit for his insights.)

The r/travel mod believes that all of us are unique and how we enjoy our vacations is entirely up to us. Nobody should feel forced to do something that they hate. "For many people, learning the local culture, on a surface level or maybe more makes for a fun trip, for others sitting at an all-inclusive resort at the beach is ideal. How you enjoy your vacation is up to you. Thankfully, we're not all identical and boring as a result."

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#2

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Dubai. It's the most soulless, cultureless, and artificial city I've been to. The shameless and obscene display of bling-bling only adds to this vibe, and the supertall skyscrapers and mega malls get old sooner or later.

To top it off, all of this is built overnight on what is essentially slave labor.

PacSan300 , Nacho Pintos Report

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Dan Padgett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I completely concur with this. Been many times due to a relation working there. You forgot to mention the sheer amount of abandoned skyscrapers that ran out of cash.

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#3

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences While the Louvre is wonderful, the Mona Lisa was a huge disappointment.

The painting itself is tiny and there are always hordes of people around it.

There are a million better things to see at the Louvre.

lenachristina , Paul Beattie Report

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find it good that people are attracted by that painting as it means that the other rooms containing magnificent works of arts are not that crowded! So yay! When I went to the Louvre I stayed for two minutes in that room, mostly getting amazed at the hoard of people that were desperate to get in front and to take a picture. That was quite a show. And then I continued my tour in the other amazing rooms. (I am not saying the Mona Lisa painting is not beautiful, it really is a work of art, great portrait, nice and subtle touches, I knew beforehand that it is regular size portrait. I agree with OP that it is overhyped by ignorant tourists)

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Redditor u/SiscoSquared boasted about their fellow moderators who have "done an excellent job of setting up a very comprehensive automod." That means that a small handful of moderators can take care of the entire massive subreddit. "We each just do it in our spare time, maybe when we're bored at the airport or train station! Most of the work is filtering posts that don't follow the subreddits posting guidelines and responding to reports."

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Hollywood isn't like it is in the movies, folks. It's likely to not meet your expectations. "There’s one popular, supposedly must-see attraction that’s way overhyped in Los Angeles, and that’s Hollywood. Everyone has heard of it and everyone wants to see it, but once you arrive in the real Hollywood, you’re sure to be disappointed," entertainment expert and LA local Mike shared with Bored Panda.

"It’s very crowded, and there’s hardly anything to see except the stars in the sidewalk. Once you do that, and you have to dodge the crowds to even navigate the sidewalks, that’s it. I’d suggest passing on Hollywood itself, and taking one of the professionally run studio tours all the major movie studios offer," he stressed that Hollywood itself doesn't have much to offer.

#4

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Disney Parks. Want to eat? Be ready to Shell out $50 a person per day. Oh, you came for the rides? Enjoy the four or five you make it on unless it's a busy day, those days enjoy the two or three

flipamadiggermadoo , Moto "Club4AG" Miwa Report

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Sarah Jane
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate Disney. Husband and I went with his parents. They paid for our room, tickets, and dinner (thank God!). I started just sharing my husband's breakfast plate because $40+ every morning was going to put us in the poor house. It was hot, too many kids running around, and not enough places to cool down. Huge waste of money.

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#5

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Hollywood. The most disappointing garbage and pee covered place on earth

existentialism91342 , Hans Splinter Report

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Mohammad Ammar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What even is Hollywood? A part of a city? Residential area or what?

Kate
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a area of Los Angeles -- the area surrounding Hollywood Boulevard from La Brea to about Wilton or so. It includes the Hollywood Bowl, the Chinese Theatre, the Pantages, the Walk of Fame, etc, along with various other shops and business, many with apartments in the upper floors.

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ERIKA H.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hollywood Blvd. Is super disgusting and I'd advise everyone to avoid if you're visiting. Los Angeles County is huge and there are a ton of other really good places to see if you come and visit. Also Northern, Central, and Southern California are like visiting 3 different states/countries, so figure out what vibe you're going for.

Just a ray of f'ing sunshine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also LA is nothing like the San Diego area so there's a Southern California and a More Southern California.

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Stephanie A Mutti
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then you haven't been to the French Quarter in New Orleans around Mardi Gras... If all you can smell is pee, you are inhaling it.

Who Panda 420
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

NYC used to be like that too. I don't know if it's changed but I went on a tour to New York City way before 9/11. All I can remember is burned out cars sitting on blocks and the smell of p**s everywhere. The city itself was beautiful don't get me wrong it was just certain parts of it I guess and like I said I was just going through. So please no hate for my New York City people as I said it was a long time ago too. Every city has bad areas and lovely ones.

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Paul Beebe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So true. Funny story here: Had a girl friend's brother come visit. He was a "Rocker". Took a trip to LA and after awhile he was real quiet in the back seat while driving around. Why you ask? He was disappointed because he didn't see any Movie/Rock stars just walking down the street. He expected to see famous people everywhere. Had a really good laugh at his expense...

Amy Taylor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL!! He should've gone to The Valley or Malubu.. lol You'd never see anyone famous wandering around Hollywood unless they're at the studio.

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RobINLA
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For the uninitiated, I would recommend the miles and miles of beaches on Pacific Coast Highway, a walk down to the end of the Santa Monica Pier, the rotating bar at the top of the Boneventure Hotel in downtown, a Dodger game, Canters Deli, sushi in Little Tokyo, Museum of Modern Art, the Planetarium at the Griffith Park Observatory where you can take a look thru a telescope and admire the deco architecture. Behind it is the Rose Garden with colors I didn't know existed, the Hollywood Bowl for a summer concert, a play in one of the many small theaters on Santa Monica Blvd, mexican food and so many ice cream places. LA is also filled with homeless encampments, smog on a bad day, traffic and crime. The trick is, do some homework. It's neither as bad or as spectacular as you have heard. Know where you want to go, There's so much to do! And it can get cold in the winter so pack a jacket and the summer is getting hotter every year, so dress accordingly.

Data1001
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you - like any city, there's good and bad. Having lived in Hollywood for many years, I get tired of people painting the entirety of LA as a hellhole. There are plenty of really nice spots in greater LA, and plenty of great places to live. You've just got to do some research.

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Debbie Barnes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's really disappointing to hear. I always imagined Hollywood to be a glamorous place (like in the movies). I guess some places change and not for the better..

Amy Taylor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh lord no!! I work in Hollywood, and while there are some cool places like The Hollywood Bowl, the rest is a depressing, dirty mess. It seriously looks like a giant landfill now.

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Dia Carmignani
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was in hollywood. I experienced it. I enjoyed my experience. I love eveery city i visit coz i get something diff from every single one..

Maryanna Baldridge
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am from there. I have never understood the hype. I understand the glamour from the 1940s, but the current state is yucky. If you want to visit be very specific about your choices. Pantages, yes. Warner Brothers studio tour, yes. Graumens, not worth it.

Cuppa tea?
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually like it. Quite little village at the foot of Wicklow mountains, sheep's gazing at lush pasture with iconic sign on hill. Well, I'm speaking about Ireland, not that cheap copy in Yankland.

Kristina Cowan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to think, when I was young, that Hollywood was like seeing famous people everywhere and giving autographs or photo ops, etc like Disney cast members... 😏 LOL It sounded cool in my head.

Alex Olinger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is, unfortunately, true. I lived there many years ago and it was very disappointing.

GramDB
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lived in Hollywood as a child in the 40's … it was so beautiful, clean & glamorous then. After the war in started a slow downgrade. It breaks my heart to see it now … so I don't. As a child growing up my mom and I went to everything by bus & streetcar… Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park The Farmers Market We saw radio shows, the Derby, Santa Monica Beach The Coconut Grove: from the outside. Los Angeles County Museum of Art All the big movie studios … MGM & Universal Studios etc. We went to a new movie every week at, The Paramount, The MGM & Grumman's Chinese Theaters etc.. It was magic! We shopped on Hollywood Blvd. We visited the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, The Knox Berry Farm, The Motion Picture Museum, Beverly Hills & Mulholland Drive" We had a boarding house on Magnolia Blvd. all during the 2nd. WW.

LMS
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are parts that are fine and famous spots to view, but its like any other big city.. The main downtown is crowded, traffic filled and there are some homeless

Josh Coker
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i live in portland, or. been in and outta here for going on 15 years? it's slowly becoming the next sh*thole...next to LA. camping, trash, syringes homeless...people standing on the on ramp/off ramp with a cardboard sign with or without their pet...port a potties....roads that have so many potholes you look like you're a drunk driver...rent is INSANE...

SmokeyPJs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LA locals refer to it as Hollyweird and we avoid the area at all costs... unless we want to people watch, lol. For a better Hollywood experience, take one of the many studio tours available. You'll get a behind the scenes glance at some of your favorite shows, as well as see how the same outdoor areas are used and converted for different sets, and even see some cool props!

Natasha
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went to Griffith Observatory and I could see the Hollywood sign and I took a photo, but I didn’t see the point to go much closer.

Deb M.F.
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nasty smog-filled air and in the summer it's awful. It's disgusting...not a nice tourist spot at all

The IRS
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hollywood itself isn't great. The hike and view from the sign is good.

Onie McG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This description is so right on. My 13 year old wanted to check it out last time we drove through LA and I just couldn't talk her out of it. I've been there many times growing up but only because we were visiting family. Hollywood is technically a place but honestly it's more of an idea. An idea that smells of pee and looks like assorted garbage and scattered newspaper. A place to visit on your way to somewhere else, don't plan a trip around it.

Tiffany Sauter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure why anybody would go there on vacation. Do they think they are going to meet celebrities?

Colleen Hindson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hollywood has come to mean the movie industry in southern California. You should have figured this out by now.

Linda Powder
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I spent a week there back in 79 when I was a teen. Great times

David Gripon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't disagree about the city, but I remember the first time I saw the sign. It was like seeing a celebrity.

Amy Taylor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That list below by Mike and his "must sees"?? Most of those are a hard NO, lol

Amy Taylor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ohhhhhh how I try to tell friends or family that come to visit me. I'm an LA native and tell them all the time theres nothing to see in Hollywood. Especially these days. I work in Hollywood and it's like driving through a landfill now.

Hisoka
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As someone who lives in LA I can agree. The city is so dangerous and disgusting.

Joyce Brazel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stars on the sidewalks...The Chinese theater...the Hollywoood sign...That's about it yup!

Tanja Jonk
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I second that! Worst place to spend more than 2 hours in, I was there for two weeks. Hell!

Mac 🇺🇦
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same with San Francisco...what used to be an exciting, unique and fun city is now a disgusting, s***hole garbage dump.

Rudy Amaral
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find all of the city of Los angeles like that. But it could be worse, youcould be visiting Phoenix, Denver or some of those kinds of southern and midwesterner cities that are totally shitholes

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#6

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences The London eye. It's so overly expensive, and you have to wait in a long line for your turn. If you want a good view of London, I'd recommend checking out St. Paul's Cathedral (even if you're not religious). It's a lot cheaper, and if you're able to climb the stairs you can go all the way to the top and take in an even better view

iPixiee , bvi4092 Report

According to Mike, it's important to manage your expectations when coming to Los Angeles. "Because the city is often pictured in the movies and on television as some glamorous place, that’s often all that visitors are expecting. Sure, Los Angeles is beautiful and diverse, and the weather is spectacular, but keep in mind it’s a very big city, so it has all the problems and urban sprawl of most big cities," he said that some visitors expect only the upsides and don't foresee the downsides.

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"As a longtime resident of Los Angeles, I’m very familiar with what’s worth seeing, and what’s not. Here’s my personal list of the actual 'must-see' places for a first-time visitor:

  • Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
  • Getty Center 
  • Runyon Canyon
  • Santa Monica Beach
  • The Grove
  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art
  • The Broad
  • Universal Studios
  • Walt Disney Concert Hall
  • Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 
  • Beverly Hills
  • Mulholland Drive"
#7

Machu Picchu. I respect the Incas for building it, the real issue I have with it is the current management. It’s flooded with people (they let in over 3x the cap sto make money) being annoying and it’s very expensive, they bus people up a huge hill all day and we are required to have a tour guide and only spend 3 mins at certain areas. It’s misrepresenting the history of the Incas to people with selfie sticks. Not my fave

You are WAY better off seeing the Inca capitol, Cusco because it’s where they actually lived and thrived. See Sasqsyhuaman and the Qoricancha sun temple. Go on a backpacking trip and you will find Inca and pre Inca stuff Everywhere. With no idiotic tourists families. I highly recommend it.

¡Viva Perú!

ccut Report

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Wang Zhuang
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Despite this review, Machu Picchu remains on my travel bucket list. I'd like to visit Cusco as well

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#8

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences I didn’t get anything out of Las Vegas. It was cool to see the themed hotels but besides that it was just an overpriced cultureless soulless city designed to entertain you

viktor72 , billy kerr Report

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Mir Adwari
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um, well yes... If you wanted something else out of your visit, pick a different part of the country 🤷‍♀️

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#9

Sydney Opera House. The tours are expensive and the inside is kind of underwhelming. The outside is free and is also the best part. ALTERNATIVE: Just walk around Sydney harbor. It's free and gorgeous.

CaligulaAndHisHorse Report

The r/travel subreddit is an online community that unites travel enthusiasts from around the globe. They celebrate people’s desire to explore the world, and members, in turn, share their photos, and stories, and ask others for advice. Community members are encouraged to put in effort, be descriptive, and add details to their posts. Low-effort posts aren't the way to go.

It’s all friendly, educational, and done in the spirit of adventure. The sub has a handy FAQ for any new redditors joining just now. And the moderators advise members to search the community for specific questions and topics before asking a question. It’s to see if someone’s already answered it before. That way, you get to rely on the community’s collective experience and save everyone’s time by avoiding repeating questions (or asking stuff that you'd easily find on Google).

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It’s very important to manage your expectations when doing anything. If you’re overhyped about visiting a place, seeing a work of art in person, or going to a (supposedly) great restaurant for a meal, you might end up disappointed even if the actual experience is objectively fine.

For sure, it’s hard to meet expectations if they’re sky-high. Being realistic and avoiding being overly excited can, paradoxically, make your trip far more enjoyable. That way, you get to be pleasantly surprised instead of disappointed that things aren’t as wonderful and ‘perfect’ as you imagined them to be.

#10

If you go to the Great Wall of China, I'd suggest not going to the section right there in Beijing. Very rebuilt and touristy.

Take a van ride a ways out of the city, to the Simitai section. Now there's some uncrowded, old-school Great Wall.

DownUpOverAndBack Report

#11

Japan has such a romanticized view of France that they actually have a term, "Paris Syndrome", for the sudden shock suffered by Japanese tourists when they see that France isn't how they imagined

onlysane1 Report

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Anna Banana
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved Paris but I think it helped that I was there as a poor student. You naturally avoid most of the tourist attractions (except museums, but they were discounted) and instead spend long hours walking around the city, having supermarket wine and cheese by the Seine and finding little local places to eat. I am working now, but I still prefer to travel this way.

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#12

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Naples. I did a big trip through Europe after college and spent about a month in Italy. Naples was easily the worst place I visited. It was seedy, rundown, trashy, and unsafe. I would never go back

wanna_meet_that_dad , Pug Girl Report

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Yili Lai
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's it's charm though, check it the history of Pompei, it's basically a red light town.

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Aside from your expectations, it’s also vital that you put in the effort and do your research before heading out. For example, Professor Christine Vogt, the Director of the Center for Sustainable Tourism at Arizona State University, told Bored Panda some time ago that people should learn about their destination’s culture, customs, and language before packing their bags.

“More than likely that is what draws a person to visit a certain place. The more local knowledge a traveler has, the more a traveler can feel like a local and fit in," she explained, adding that the locals appreciate foreigners putting in the effort.

"Local customs can include how a traveler dresses, eats, uses a cell phone, etc. When a traveler is out in a community such as walking in a downtown area or eating in a restaurant, these local customs can come into play,” the professor said.

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“For example, in Buddhist countries, a woman who has not covered her shoulders or legs may not be allowed into temples or even a restaurant. Learn as many local customs as you can and a few key words to enhance your experience.”

#13

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Egypt, all the beauty and awe of the ancient civilisation is completely outshone by how absolutely horrible the modern civilisation is. Think of all the worst parts of India and then add sand to it

PublicOccasion , David Stanley Report

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Kai
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found it to be full of very friendly people, tasty food, and a chance to fully immerse into a culture.

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#14

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Casablanca, Morocco. I think it's the least interesting place in a fascinating country. It felt like a dumpy business district on the coast. Other than one obscenely expensive mosque built by a previous king, there's nothing to see. But the rest of Morocco? It's one of the most beautiful places I've seen. Fez, Essaouira, the High Atlas Mountains, and Marrakesh were all gorgeous

Manhattan , Nicolas Vigier Report

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#15

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences The Guinness brewery tour in Dublin. It was an absolute tourist trap. They don't even brew beer at the storefront any more.

super_salamander , Cityswift - Ireland Report

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T.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's more like a museum than a brewery. Neevertheless I thought ut was worth the visit, albeit being crowded.

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Meanwhile, you should also keep in mind that the Covid-19 pandemic isn’t over yet. There are some restrictions still in place, depending on where you travel. You should definitely read up on them while planning your trip to avoid some nasty surprises.

For instance, investor and author Rick Orford, who has traveled all over Europe, recently shared with Bored Panda the headache of a system that was in place in the Southern part of the continent.

He’d planned to sail to Greece from Italy on a cruise ship, but the rules regarding Covid tests caused a lot of stress. In short, the rules were inconsistent with what’s happening on other forms of transportation.

#16

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences The Skybridge at the Grand Canyon was definitely a bad experience, and an overpriced one. I don't understand why so many tourists do this. There's the entire freakin' Grand Canyon right there for you to access for free. The park offers thousands of breathtaking views all over. And exploring the trail with its ledges and views is thrilling enough. Walking the Skybridge is a far cry from the best experience you can have there

SalamandrAttackForce , l0da_ralta Report

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Kerry Coetzer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It saddens me that beautiful natural wonders cannot be left untouched without adding a tourist trap of some kind to monetise it. Humans have spoilt so much of the natural world as it is, it would be amazing if we could just leave some parts of it to just be.

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#17

The Taj Mahal (Agra). It's surrounded by 10-meter-high walls, and the entrance fee is ludicrously expensive compared to any other attraction in India. If you're in Agra and want to see the Taj Mahal, go across the river. There are some gardens almost directly across from it, and there's a great spot by the river with a brilliant view of the Taj Mahal, particularly at sunset. This experience is totally free, and you won't have to deal with crowds

Nevermind04 Report

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Paul Ellis
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went there years ago and loved it. It was being renovated and I came across an artisan cutting pieces of marble to replace lost or damaged areas. We talked for hours, and at the end of our convo he gave me three pieces of the original Taj marble he had replaced. I have them still, my own piece of this extraordinary symbol of love.

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#18

Bali.

It's just drunk Australians all over the place.

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Fish Boden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Australian and find the Sigha singlet wearing 'drunk aussie' to be the absolute worst. They are a national embarrassment.The Balinese hate them, and for good reason.

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"We must have a negative Covid test to get on a cruise ship. On a plane, at a hotel, restaurant—[it's] not needed. But on a cruise ship... it's mandatory," he said.

"What I find really fascinating is that one can visit a hotel, or a restaurant, or take a train or a plane here in Italy, and nothing is required. Yet, to get on a cruise ship, one needs to prove vaccination, and give a negative Covid test within 48 hours of sailing," he stressed that the rules aren’t always consistent and that they might fit someone’s understanding of common sense. In short, do your research, check the rules.

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#19

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Niagara Falls. I didn’t expect the falls to be in a city. I expected something more like a national park, but the whole falls and its surroundings just felt like a giant shopping mall

youburyitidigitup , Jorge Láscar Report

#20

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Calanque de Sormiou in Marseille, France. Called one of the best beaches in Marseille, I expected a wonderful, spacious, and quiet white-sand beach with crystal-clear blue water. But what I found was a packed, small, and polluted strip of sand. Turns out you can't always trust the idyllic photos of a destination

thisismostlyfine , JeroSig Report

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Saint Thomas
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyplace that is named "the best" is bound to be submerged by tourists, though. No big surprise there.

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#21

The glass bridge over the grand canyon.

Total rip-off tourist trap.

It takes HOURS to get there from Vegas

They charge you $20 to park in an empty desert

They charge you $30 per person to take the bus from the parking to the attraction (it's like walking from parking into a mall - no distance at all!)

Then they charge you $30 per person if you actually want to walk on the bridge

You cannot take pictures or bring a camera onto the bridge, but they will sell them to you, of course.

There is one overpriced place to eat where they sell you canned food heated up in a microwave for big money... or you could drive 5 hours back to Vegas...

Go there to get scalped.

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John Murray
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The drive is only 2 hours and if you had read their web page and checked out reviews, you would've known about everything you just listed. Teachable moment is read up on places before just jumping in the car and going for it.

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#22

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Plitvice National Park in Croatia was a disappointment. I expected a stunning natural wonder, and hoped it would be a little crowded on a random Monday in September (not peak season, not a weekend). The reality: a perfectly pleasant national park that was absolutely jam-packed with the world's pushiest, screaming, selfish visitors. I was basically trapped on a boardwalk shuffling along desperately just trying to get a space to see the waterfalls

AF_II , fraganda Report

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blondine
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup. I was in July, same experience. Krka national park is not so famous but more beautiful.

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#23

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Ha Long Bay in Vietnam was a bit of a letdown. Based on the photos, I was so excited to visit, but there was so much garbage in the water it felt extremely polluted. Our junk ship operators were visibly annoyed with us because we didn't want to buy any of the touristy trinkets they were pressuring us to purchase on board. I’m glad I went and experienced Ha Long Bay, but I wouldn't go back

keysey224 , Not So Dusty Report

#24

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences The Temple Bar area in Dublin. Sure, walking the streets is nice, and there are some neat shops and street art to see. But going in a pub in Temple Bar? Unless you like overpaying for drinks and listening to some guy sing a cover of 'Wonderwall,' I wouldn't recommend it

travelerahoy , Chad and Steph Report

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#25

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland. It's very artificial, and these days it's just a place where tourists like to get drunk in dirty water. There are tons of natural thermal pools scattered all around Iceland that are far nicer and authentic.

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LW
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol. Of course it's artificial. It's the wastewater from the nearby geothermal plant! But I do agree that if you want a good soak, there are plenty of other pools and natural springs to pick from.

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#26

Pisa.

Besides the small square with the tower where everyone is taking the same stupid joke pic. And guys tryna sell you toys.

The rest of the town is pretty lame. You're in Tuscany, go to ANY small town and you'll enjoy it far more

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Roxanne D'souza
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disagree. Spent almost two days there and it was great. Visited the tower during sunset on the first day. It was beautiful with almost no crowd. They usually let people stay on top for an hour but I easily sat there for 2 hours, listening to music. Walked back to my hostel later that night. The view of the canal with the stars was mesmerising. Next day I rented a cycle and cycled around, searching for Keith Haring's mural. Made it back to the tower by noon, ate a sandwich, took a nap on the grass, read a book, and then headed to the train station to my next destination.

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#27

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences I wasn't a fan of Lake Bled, Slovenia. The photos make it look so majestic, surrounded by nature in solitude. In reality though, the whole shoreline is covered by hotels, businesses, overpriced restaurants, and touristy shops. You'll spend a lot of money to take a little row boat out to the island, wander around for a few minutes, eat your hundredth cone of gelato, and then row back. I'd say to visit Lake Bohinj instead because it's far more peaceful

deleted , hideraldo dwight leitão Report

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Nadine Bamberger
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm amazed that tourists complain about tourist locations being too touristy. What do you expect?

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#28

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Central Restaurant in Lima, Peru was a big disappointment. Ranked the fifth best restaurant in the world, I was expecting an amazing meal, especially for the hefty price. It was admittedly a very impressive meal in the sense that it was full of unusual ingredients prepared in interesting ways and plated beautifully, but taste-wise, everything was just OK. It was not nearly as good as many other, less acclaimed restaurants I've eaten at

Kier_C , Elvert Barnes Report

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Zephyr Anthem
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where I live there's a famous restaurant that is always packed, a queue two hours before opening and no possibility of reservation. The main dish is always the same : entrecote and potato gratin, and a little desert choice. It's a place to see but pretty disapointing, which is sad because this city is renowned for its gastronomy

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#29

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Masaya Volcano National Park in Nicaragua. I had wanted to see it in person ever since seeing photos on Google and YouTube videos, but it really didn't live up to the hype. I feel bad saying it, but I wasn't impressed

claireinmanchester , Brian Johnson & Dane Kantner Report

#30

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Mount Rushmore was horrendously underwhelming. Years ago, my family drove across the US. For hundreds of miles as you drive you see huge signs counting down the distance to Mount Rushmore. For days the excitement builds...and then you get there. It is four faces on mountains. There is nothing else there. Just four faces you've seen time and time again in pictures and textbooks and movies

deleted , U.S. Department of the Interior Report

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#31

The Liberty Bell. Wait in a long line to look at... a bell. That looks exactly like it does in all the Philly souvenirs. They don't even let you lick it

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#32

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences The Palace of Versailles in France. I know that many would disagree, but I didn't really enjoy my day trip to Versailles. Don't get me wrong: It's stunning and so impressive. But in terms of a travel experience, it fell flat. I booked a ticket ahead of time, but I still had to wait in line for over an hour. And once inside, the palace was so packed with tourists that I felt like I couldn't really take in the beauty without being rushed or pushed around. The gardens were really beautiful, but I would prefer to walk around Luxembourg or Tuileries Garden in Paris. If you want to take a day trip from Paris, I'd personally recommend Monet's Garden at Givency over Versailles

Hannah Loewentheil , Alvin Yu Report

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Mir Adwari
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't remember a long wait. Or it being packed. Though I would deliberately avoid the busiest seasons and bank holidays etc. What would you expect otherwise?

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#33

Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California. If you've seen photos online that make this beach look appealing, I can assure you they've been photoshopped. There was probably a time when it looked like the Google Images, but I've been told people have been stealing glass off this famous beach for years. Sadly nowadays it's just a dirty, grayish-brown beach with little of the sea glass that made it famous. Save yourself the time

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Kusotare
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True dat. There's little glass left on Glass Beach. Plenty of cigarette butts, though.

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#34

Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. The whole place seems designed to take your money. You can't purchase anything edible on site that doesn't have an additional 15% gratuity added. The food is already so expensive, and the quality certainly doesn't warrant [it]. The waterpark is OK, but then again it's $200 to touch a dolphin

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#35

Pat's and Geno's in Philly. These are regarded as the two famous spots for Philly Cheesesteaks that all tourists must try, but both were so overrated. No one from Philly actually eats there, and there are better cheesesteaks almost everywhere else. Skip Pat's and Geno's. The easiest place to get a pretty good one IMO is Reading Terminal Market

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#36

Times square on new years. If you know, you know

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Mama Penguin
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Times Square any day of the year. It's so hard to walk around and everything is so flashy and expensive.

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#37

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Split, Croatia. I thought it would be a lovely historic city with beautiful architecture and nice beaches. The beaches close to the city were the dirtiest I’d ever seen and packed with people in May. Old Town Split was okay, but nothing special really, not much to do other than Diocletian’s Palace, and outside the walls the rest of the city seemed really dirty and grungy, finding parking was a nightmare, and the people were the least friendly of anywhere I’ve travelled. I know lots of people loved Split though, so maybe it was just a fluke.

neemz12 , alchen_x Report

#38

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Venice, Italy. It felt to me like an overpriced, touristy, floating mall with mediocre food at an inflated price-tag

Lost_sidhe , Björn Behrendt Report

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#39

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Multnomah Falls in Oregon's Columbia River Gorge. Don't get me wrong: This giant waterfall was really beautiful, but it was so crowded it was hard to enjoy it. This probably has to do with the fact that it's so easily accessible. You just pull off the side of the highway, park, and walk a few hundred feet on a paved road to view it. I'm glad I saw it, but I enjoyed other waterfall hikes in the gorge so much more. Wahclella Falls, for example, is right near by but felt so much more secluded

Hannah Loewentheil , John Fowler Report

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#40

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Palawan in the Philippines. It’s constantly called one of the best islands in the world, and judging by the endless stream of crowds people have caught onto the idea, but I have to disagree. Palawan was alright but definitely overhyped, IMO. The coral reefs were just OK compared to what I've seen elsewhere, it’s overcrowded, the beaches were just fine, and the prices were hardly a bargain

ReallyShouldTrustMe , . Ray in Manila Report

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Wang Zhuang
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm actually strongly considering retiring in Palawan, I've heard so many great things about it. But I'm gonna visit and see it for myself beforehand, of course

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#41

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences I absolutely hated Milan. Went at the height of summer which may have contributed but it just wasn't a very interesting city. Suuuuper touristy, overly expensive everything (I only had 25 euros left by this point because it was the last stop on my trip, so you can see the conundrum here haha).

[deleted] , Curtis Poe Report

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Debbie Barnes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I visited Milan and while I agree on how disappointing the area was, I thought the cathedral alone was worth the visit. It really is beautiful.

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#42

The Bahamas. Basically one giant tourist trap.

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#43

India. The sanitary conditions and constant gastroenteritis pretty much traumatized me. There was also a malaria outbreak and massive flooding while I was in Delhi.

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Swastik Kanwar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in India and there a lot of places u can visit that are amazing and beautiful

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#44

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Jamaica. Terribly dirty, poor, violent, dangerous, and chock-full of rude and loud British and American tourists. You have to spend a fortune to get a nice holiday out of it, by heading to a decent resort.

I_AM_A_IDIOT_AMA , Trix and friends Report

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Anna Banana
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Of course it's poor, most Caribbean countries are. If you don't like it then you can choose to stay in an isolated resort built by a rich person from a rich country who uses the local resources and capitalizes on the local environment without paying taxes, or indeed, a fair wage to the workers. Or you can treat it as a learning experience and read up more about the history of the place and how it came to be this way.

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#45

Tegalalang Rice Terrace in Bali. I was told by everyone and every travel blog that it's a must-see in Ubud. And these lush terraced hills really were stunning, but they also felt like they had been transformed into a destination for influencers to post on Instagram. There were a bunch of scenic overlooks that were literally designed for taking photos (and you actually had to pay to photograph them!), and the whole place just lost a bit of its magic because of all the tourists dressed to the nines trying to snap the perfect photo.

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Usernames
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know a lot of hidden gems in Bali, but I will make it secret. I don't want people to flock around.

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#46

The peak of Mount Everest. People just pay sherpas to carry all their gear, and navigate the dangerous areas. Many have heated tents. The line to wait to get a picture at the top can be extremely long, and dangerous because people aren’t used to the altitude

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#47

I was terribly disappointed in Zanzibar. The private beaches were fine, but the food was marginal and the overall "culture" of the entire island was very conservative and not welcoming to females or non-heterosexuals. Stone Town was underwhelming, too.

I also didn't love Ibiza, the summer crowds in Rome, and virtually anywhere in India. I've been to India three times and perhaps enjoyed one or two days out of 25+.

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Mir Adwari
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then why go back time number three? I know it is vast and varied, like most big countries, but if you didn't love it the first two times maybe it isn't for you.

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#48

Iceland. Now, before the rage starts, I'll preface this with an obvious caveat. I only spent 24 hours there. I know it's not enough, you know it's not enough, you need 7-10 days. I booked a cheap flight on Icelandair to Switzerland before I knew of their stopover program. To save 10 bucks, I booked on orbitz, and Icelandair couldn't extend my stopover. Rookie mistake.

We charged into Iceland not really knowing too much. Landed, got to the car rental agency, and bought a map. Pointed the car toward some waterfalls. I was blown away by how much trash there was EVERYWHERE. Now, this isn't the Icelandic people's fault, but rather the exponential increase in tourism. There just isn't the infrastructure to keep up with it. We didn't want to do the Blue Lagoon because the price was a little absurd, so we hiked to some hot springs. Every hot spring we hiked to was completely trashed. People's clothes everywhere, rotting food, shattered glass bottles, the works. There were idiots camped where NO CAMPING was prominently displayed, and idiots hiking where NO HIKING was obvious.

This was early April. I can't even imagine what peak summer is like.

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Milliniky
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an Icelandic, who loves my country and the nature, I am always so sad to see this.. dont get me wrong, I love that people wanna come visit and see our magnificent nature, but why cant people clean up after themselves and respect nature? Also I never go to blue lagoon, I used to in the 90s, no more, cant afford it and its to crowded and nasty.

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#49

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Dubrovnik. It was the final stop of my two-week trip through Croatia, and it was by far the most touristy place I visited. I had previously stayed in a lot of small towns and rural, less-populated places, so ending my trip in a place that was saturated with so many tour agencies and souvenir shops on every single street was a bit sad. It's still a beautiful place, but it was a bit of a disappointment from the unspoiled city I was envisioning from the scenes of Game of Thrones.

thewanderingblonde , Luca Sartoni Report

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Serial pacifist
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live an hour's drive from it. It is a beautiful city, but everything is overpriced x10. If you visit, I recommend you go to restaurants outside of the city walls, the further from the walls you go, the cheaper it gets. If you want to take a swim, go to the nearby Mlini - a 20-minute drive, or 15 minutes by boat, you'll find a beautiful beach with a lot of shade and much, much lower prices.

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#50

The Terracotta Army in Xi'an, China was pretty underwhelming IMO. The carved warriors themselves are cool to see, but the location adds nothing to the experience. It had an overwhelmingly touristy feel to it. Looking back, I could have just watched a documentary about the sculptures and saved myself the visit

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#51

Shanghai.

I found there wasn't much to do as a tourist except for visit different buildings, walk E. Nanjing St, and see the Bund. The whole city had a very business-focused vibe (which is fair, it is China's financial capital) and not much else.

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#52

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Antelope Canyon in Arizona. You've probably seen the iconic images. Don't get me wrong — it was pretty cool to see with my own eyes, but it was way more touristy than I expected (I guess I was being naive). As soon as I got down into the canyon, I was ready for the tour to end

deleted , Christian Keller Report

#53

Beaches in the south of France. The water is cold, the sand is coarse, and the wind makes you feel like you are in a sand blaster.

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#54

Bangkok: Nightmare traffic (this is after Cairo) and way too many people.

Angkor Wat: Again, way too many people.

Oh and I got robbed in Penang.

So yeah it's safe to say that SEA does not agree with me. I'm hoping Vietnam will break the pattern.

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lenka
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you don't like too much traffic or too many people... you are probably not going to like Vietnam. lol.

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#55

Frankfurt. Maybe we didn’t look hard enough (and it was a good 2 days of rest after traveling for weeks), but just seemed like a generic downtown anywhere. Kept trying to look for cool local things to do and all we came up with was some apple cider that was described as, “even the locals don’t like it”.

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Jiminy
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Frankfurt is not a beautiful sightseeing city. But perhaps opening a travel guidebook would have shown you where it actually is beautiful or just really interesting. And if you went to drink Äppler even the Frankfurters don't like, perhaps you should have chosen a better place... You don't go around bitching about bad wine after you drank some out of a 5 liter tetrapak, don't you?

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#56

Costa Rica. It was just such a one dimensional place. I love nature, but honestly, it's the only thing they've got... And for a highly inflated price that is! Monteverde national park was about 25 dollars, and it's just 4km of paths.

Everything is geared towards scared american families with money. There are no nice villages/any form of culture or history. All houses are fenced with razorwire. The cuisine is shit and everything is overpriced.

It's the only country I ever got bored in.

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Caroline Sinclair
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having visited 42 countries, Costa Rica is my favourite. Not just the rainforest and the wildlife, but lovely, lovely people. However I haven't been there since 1984...

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#57

Havana, Cuba

Based on all of the reviews, I expected a "time capsule" with beautiful old cars and cigar smoke/live music wafting trough the streets.

What we found was a horribly run-down version of the French Quarter in New Orleans. Constantly being panhandled, bland food, mediocre mojitos, and sewage smells. The old cars were beat up and not well maintained. Big disappointment.

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Disgruntled Panda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had to stop reading after a few. It's just a list full of people who seem very surprised that other people also visit very famous locations 🤦‍♀️

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#58

30 Disappointed Tourists Share Their Underwhelming Travel Experiences Prague. This might be controversial, but I was underwhelmed. While Prague definitely boasts beautiful architecture, I felt that was pretty much the only draw. There was not much to do there as a tourist. I visited four other countries on the same Eurotrip and had some incredible food, but I found the food in Prague to be very lackluster. In fact, we didn't have a single good meal in three days there. IMO, you don't need much time there because you can see the whole city in 48 hours

GeneraLeeStoned , Yannick Loriot Report

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Łukasz Markuszewski
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been to Prague and I loved it - so much great architecture! I am wondering what you expected to see in such a trip, that you didn't like it. Also I heard from several people that to have a really awesome Chech food you should find some hospoda outside of the city center full of tourists. Ask Czech people where they eat their food.

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