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Travel’s great. You get to see new things, meet new people, get some perspective in life, disconnect from your regular life and recharge, in turn making you happier and giving you peace of mind, improving your communication skills and creativity, possibly boosting your confidence along the way, making memories, helping you understand yourself more, perhaps even improving your health… you get the point. It’s awesome.

But there is bound to be a ‘spoiled egg’ of a destination among travelers that just left a bad taste in their mouths, whether because the expectations were overhyped, or the destination was just not that good. Whatever the case may be, people have been discussing this online.

A Redditor by the nickname of u/0_7_0 posted the question “what city disappointed you the most when visiting?” on the r/AskReddit subreddit. This in turn prompted over 6,600 comments with a modest 5,900 upvotes and a handful of Reddit awards.

Scroll down to see the top cities people were most disappointed with and hence do not recommend. And while you’re at it, tell us which cities you were most disappointed with in the comment section below!

More Info: Reddit

#1

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online wric84 said:
Came here to say Dubai. Decided to spend 10 days there while passing through. Had enough of it after 24 hours. Too many f$#&!&# malls. No culture.

Learned all about the ABCs though...

c19isdeadly replied:
Me too!

Horrid place, fancy malls and hotels for the westerners, but the streets are full of the poor / slaves. You really see what misery the whole place is built on.

I went there for work, I can't imagine how people can go there for fun.

wric84 , Nacho Pintos Report

While each city is unique in its own way, with many people on Reddit experiencing the same unique reasons for disappointment, there have been recurring themes among answers.

Most notably, it was things like the city had a certain unpleasant smell to it, or was trashy, whether actually untidy or just very cheap. Or both.

Some other places, like for instance Niagara Falls and Egypt had people feeling weird about the fact that the key attractions in these places, namely the Niagara Falls and the Pyramids, were very close to the cities themselves, and not some distant secret location offering adventure and excitement.

Lastly, yet others found some cities too modern, digital, and “plastic”, with things like casinos and malls creating a sense of unnatural urban development that lacks history and pathos.

#2

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online themeanlantern said:
I hated Las Vegas so very f**king much. So dry, so trashy, so smokey, ugh.


regular6drunk7 replied:
Las Vegas reminded me of being inside a gigantic McDonalds. Everywhere bright colors, artificial happiness and fake smiles and all mathematically calculated to take the maximum amount of money out of your pocket.

The most charm-free place I've ever been.

regular6drunk7 , Abi Skipp Report

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

Las Vegas casinos are some of the most unpleasant places I've ever been, loud, disorienting, joyless, and full of zombies. Back when I was last there, some years ago now, it was also difficult for anyone with mobility issues. I've given it a hard pass since.

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#3

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Hollywood. And am embarrassed for people who travel around the world to see it. What they imagine it to be vs reality. Sorry, it's not what you expected you can have a good time in Hollywood, but do your research and check your expectations. Also, a lot of you seem to think I said the entirety of Los Angeles. LA definitely has plenty of problems, but if you truly think all of LA has nothing to offer, even for a visit, you've probably never step foot in a museum or tried foreign cuisine. The best concerts I've ever been to have all been in LA.

Mondo114 , Hans Splinter Report

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

You mean there are no celebrities in line waiting to greet you??? Noooo!!!! My life is a lie

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#4

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Bali changed so much the last 10 years. It used to be so beautiful and amazing… now it is full of “digital nomad” douchebags and overpriced food and crap. I remember when it was just a cool surf spot with cheap eats

HippoNo9775 , Alan Sung Report

Bored Panda has reached out to Irmante Sungailaite, an avid traveler and tour leader of G Adventures and National Geographic Journeys, to tell us more about what makes cities special for travelers, among other things.

"I have been traveling for 16 years, and I haven't meticulously kept a diary of all the cities that I have been to, as after 80 countries it's too easy to lose the count, but I can tell you that some places tend to steal your heart instantly, and some of them, well, you wouldn't even recommend it to your worst enemy," explained Irmante.

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"As part of my work as a tour leader, I get to go to see many of the top of the 'bucket list' cities that many travelers are dying to discover. I have to admit that Venice has never been my top choice in Italy, but since my friends moved back there I got to see it in a totally different light--so places do change as well as you and your outlook does too."

#5

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Beijing. I arrived at the end of a trans- Mongolian rail trip seeing so many incredible places and I think it was just a huge anticlimax. Was intimidated by the level of armed security everywhere, had to fight off so many scammers, didn't enjoy being touched and laughed at when on the subway (I'm a very white European with curly hair). Overall just found it really challenging despite some amazing sights.

Teapigs1984 , Herry Lawford Report

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

I was there in -99, so a lot has probably changed since then, but I enjoyed Bejing - so many fascinating, historical sites. There were a lot of scammers back then too, but no armed security, so maybe it wasn't as bad. And people kept handing us their babies and taking pictures of us holding them, which was odd, but not in a bad way. No pointing and laughing, even though we were both white (and one had curly hair), but then we didn't go on the subway (didn't know they had one - maybe it's new)

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#6

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Pompeii

The Atmosphere was toxic, the local fair was rather bland, nothing was showing at the local amphitheater, and it seems like everyone you visit is sleeping.

Quiet neighborhood though.

GluttonAsteroth , a rancid amoeba Report

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

Okay, I read toxic atmosphere and thought it to be a satirical post on when Pompeï still was a blast these many centuries ago.. 😅

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#7

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online User_492006 said:
Atlantic City. It's waayyy dirtier and run down than I thought it'd be.

housespecialdelight replied:
NJ resident. Atlantic City is terrible outside the casinos. You have to stick to the casinos outside of the boardwalk (Borgata or Harrahs) if you want to have a more classy experience.

There are some pretty old school amazing restaurants off the grid to venture out to though.

plz-pm-me-your-b**bz replied:
I was so disappointed by this city and my expectations weren't even high. It was just nasty there. The whole experience felt like biting into an apple only to realize it's an onion.

User_492006 , Doug Kerr Report

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

I don't live far from here but I've only visited Atlantic City twice. Once was to bring a boat into a dock there and once was to pick up a bushel of blue point crabs to take back home to cook. There are much nicer/quieter beach towns to see in New Jersey.

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"If you choose a well known destination, there is a really high chance of it having a lot of 'tourist traps' but even then you can dig a little bit deeper and go local," elaborated Irmante. "It's also a lot about reality vs expectations--going to UAE, you have to understand that there will be a lot of malls--and if that's your thing--it will be better than heaven for anyone who is into strolling brightly lit miles of stores. Even in places like Dubai you can find gems that are off the beaten path - like going to Alserkal avenue that is full of art galleries, local artists workshops, quaint cafes, an independent cinema and a scrumptious chocolaterie."

#8

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Dread_Wolf_TakeMe said:
Branson Missouri felt like if wish.com were a place

Frenchy4life replied;
I have heard it called the Christian Las Vegas, couldn't have better described it. However, I did have fun..... went Zip Lining, saw a magic show, had an awesome brunch at the College of the Ozarks. I would rate that trip a 7 out fof 10. Especially since my parents did the stupid time share presentations to get free stuff lol

Dread_Wolf_TakeMe , Counselman Collection Report

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

It is what fundamentalists think is fun. The entire thing is rural wholeomer-than-thou non-amusement park.

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#9

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Miami. I never have allergies and had level 10 allergies pretty much as soon as I arrived. The food was over priced. Clubs were WAY over priced. There were to many plasticy people walking around. The social culture was way to rich for my blood. And I went with a narcissistic jackaloon (unrelated to the city but relevant to my disdain.)

Sure-Succotash-2805 , Mack Male Report

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#10

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online youburyitidigitup said:
Niagara Falls. I didn’t know the falls would be in a city. I thought it would be a national park. The whole place just felt like a giant shopping mall.

SaraAB87 said:
There is a state park to it, that is where the actual falls is. But of course the tourist area is like that. Also you don't want to go outside the tourist area on either the American or Canadian side of the falls, much crime occurs and both sides are extremely run down.

youburyitidigitup , denisbin Report

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

Canadian here. Yep the tourist area with the amusements and food traps is ind of tacky. But it is not aiming for anything else. It is superposed to be an old fashioned loud touristy area. But the falls themselves are amazing and the surrounding Niagara area is beautiful.

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

Absolutely true. The Falls are awesomeh the ferry ride is worth it. You pick & choose the other attractions. Not the best for wheelchair or walker-lot of hills/inclines but doable.

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

I've been to the falls twice. I didn't care about the touristy stuff. I just wanted to see the falls. They didn't disappoint me. I was amazed at how close you could get to them, and the power and roar of all that water was amazing.

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

The falls are AMAZING. Everything surrounding it is tourist crap. Ignore it. Hike along the falls into the woods...

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

Was there few years ago. I dont think it is like a shopping mall. Was there on March though, so it was pretty empty with few small shops open 🤷🏼‍♂️ But the falls are huge and amazing

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

Canadian. Very different from when I was a kid. (Last century) Where the falls are themselves, well, it's a lot of water falling over a cliff. Ok. I do wish I had gone on The Maid of the Mist. It's a small boat that takes you right close to the falls. Looks freaky scary but it hasn't sunk yet! As Nicola Doyle pointed out, the surrounding area is beautiful. Side note, I know I'm going to get downvotes like crazy from Texans, but when I visited The Alamo in San Antonio, I thought it would be way outside the city all by itself. Nope. Downtown San Antonio with a Ripley's Believe It or Not right across the street.

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

I too remember the falls before the casinos and the over building.

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

Niagara Falls is tacky on the Canadian side, but there are beautiful parks and gardens all around it. Also vineyards and fruit farms. I also love Niagra on the Lake which also has the Shaw festival (theatre) in the summer.

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

The falls from the Canadian side are the prettiest. The park surrounding them is great for a hike. Yes there are tourist areas. If you don't like him, just stay out of them.

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

Canadian here: if you want to see the beauty of the Niagara region go see the falls, avoid the tourist downtown and head straight to Niagara on the Lake

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

Canadian side : It IS in a park NIAGARA PARKS COMMISSION. Stay away from tacky. Drive along the Niagara River to Niagara on the Lake enjoy the small town atmosphere ( summer weekends are too crowded with tourists). Visit Fort George. Ride the cable car over the lower rapids, and experience the power of the Falls on the boat Maid of the Mist. Visit nearby Welland Canal and its locks where ships are able to climb the escarpment . **Stroll though the park in the early morning before the crowds arrive. ** I worked at. table Rock House in summers when I was in university and the early walk through that park with the thunder of the water is something I will always remember.

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

Just went here a couple of years ago. Can only comment on the American side, but it felt like a park. There were trails, and the falls were amazing, and I just think some people are hard to please. Would 100% go back if I was traveling near them.

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

My great grandparents were the first in my family to arrive in Niagara Falls, NY. So everyone after them were born and raised there. Both sides of my family were small business owners, so I've seen pictures and stories of how it used to be compared to what it is now. It's sad to see the poverty. Streets run down. Dilapidated houses. Broken down factories. I've romanticized Niagara over the years. I see a lot of potential. They just don't need anymore crooked politicians. And don't even get me started on Love Canal.

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

Anyone complaining about niagra should change their name to Karen and demand to speak to the manager

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

When I went there (American side) everything was abandoned and boarded up. There was a tourist attraction in people charging to take pictures in front of it and music. Other than that, there was a liquor store and one large casino. That was about it, after 7pm that was the only two places to go in the whole town.

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Diana Pahule
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Niagara Falls is one of the reasons the National Park system was created, because it became such an over built tourist attraction.

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Maggie Dinzler Shaw
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved the falls from both sides. Of course, it is a tourist attraction, but still very beautiful. Took my breath away. Nice place to go for a long walk.

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

I went about 2 decades ago. Had some fam/friends that lived in NY that took us. I loved the falls, we didn't stay to see much else. But a box of kittens nearby. 🐱 "Like a huge mall" ugh this article is repeating itself....DUR most tourist destinations will be like that on some level...it's how people that live there try to get a piece of the pie. We definitely had to stay vigilant even stopping for the boat your, but that's how it is in SoCal cities so I'm used to it. I definitely wish we saw more of the State Park itself. The other side of Canada was a very nice visit too. I'd love to go back. Wish I could afford to live there tbh.

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

"I didn't know the falls would be in a city"...Google Maps has existed for quite some time now. Get a clue.

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

I was there last in...1993. Before that in 1986. the falls are incredible. Of course it si toruisty. it is f*cking Niagra falls!! It'S been touristy for over a century. Do the maid of the mist thing, take pics, admire it and then leave.

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

When I was a kid, my family went camping up there from PA. We stopped and camped at the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania (if you want to talk about disappointment), then drove up and camped on the Canadian side, hiking distance from Lake Erie. That's the way you should see Niagra Falls. The town itself is like a million other tourist trap towns, but the falls are super cool.

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

Nagaland the surrounding America side park is beautiful and interesting. I was surprised at the surrounding area being so desolate with massive plants no longer in operation. Still that was better than having the area full of 5 star hotels and casinos.

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

Saw it as a kid in '76 or '77. It was impressive due to it's size, but after you look at it for a few minutes, that's enough. Also, we took the boat ride to both Niagara Falls and Horseshoe Falls (Canada). I got very wet and the water was freezing. Couldn't wait to get off the boat.

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

Come to Argentina to meet the Iguazú falls! You can get an incredible panoramic view from Brasil. Then an amazing adventure from the inside in Argentina. Las Cataratas del Iguazú Misiones 011 5258-7318 https://g.co/kgs/LD4iaL

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

Maybe as more of a day trip then, I went in 2002 and felt captivated by the falls I could have watched them all day. I'd love to go again

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

Niagara Falls runs on income brought in by tourism. As for the "much crime" ....I lived my entire life here and I've never seen crime. Any and every city has crime but I've walked home from jobs since I was young teen at night in tourist area etc and never have I had a problem. It is a great vacation spot with lots of activities. I think travel experience is that of the traveler(s) themselves as it's based on personal opinion, experiences you have there etc. Which is why everyone should have their own opinion and travel to places they want without letting someone elses opinion stop them from doing so. It's unfortunate your experience by the sound of it was not good. Next time you come hopefully you research and find more to do, ie. The beautiful trails to hike, Niagara on the lake, beaches, there's also alot of historical stuff etc.

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

Head a bit out of town on the Canadian side to Niagara on the Lake. Beautiful, history rich town. Also one of the most haunted towns in North America. The haunted night walks are a great tour, even if you're not into the haunted stuff. And The Maple Leaf Fudge Factory is the best thing on the planet.

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

Yeah, this is true, but I would hardly call it the most disappointing city.

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RedOphelia 13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think I can enjoy the view of the falls from a postcard better than I could actually going to see it.

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

One of the reasons we have National Parks is because of the commercialization of Niagara Falls back in the 19th century. Some folks didn't want Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc to turn into another Niagara Falls.

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

"I didn't bother to read anything about it and now I'm upset!". Then why Parisians hate you.

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

I went for the first time ever. We were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. It was so beautiful! Course it was during Covid so not many tourists and we didn’t go to eat or anything. But just seeing the Falls was simply stunning! Took a walking tour and the tour “Cave of the Winds”. So beautiful! Fulfilled every expectation and more!

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

The closer you park your car the more likely you are to get a muddy mist that baked onto your car. But you must get a souvenir so that's okay.

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

I live 5 min from there don’t get caught walking around the city of Niagara Falls at night or u might get s**t. It was like the 8th most violent city at one point

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

I agree with this one, not at all what I was expecting and not at all spectacular. Sadly. Very industrial feel with buildings all around and not a natural wonder. Well, it was a natural wonder at one point I suppose before humans.

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

I live in a dry area, so to me Niagara Falls is amazing. All of the fresh water in the Great Lakes area is amazing.

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

Oscar Wilde called it,"The second great disappointment for the American bride."

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

Was the 1st dissapointment supposed 2 be her wedding night? Lol. cuz u kno back then it was assumed the bride would be a virgin til her wedding night and as we all know, the 1st time, no matter who its with, usually is quite dissapointing if not outright awful lol and its esp dissapointing if that's wen u find out dude has deformed/missized genitals or hes awful at sex (altho if its his 1st time u wont kno if simple guidance/practice etc can fix the issues) or sumthing else dissapointing. Nah, I doubt Wilde, being male, would consider anything like that. Do u kno the answer?

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

A lot of this is true but I do recommend the butterfly and bird aviaries

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

Interesting fact. A European travel article calling out the trashiness of Niagara Falls was in part a motivation for the creation of the US National Park system to protect our natural wonders from crass commercialization.

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

Is that really true?? Wow why am I surprised? All this country ever seems 2 care about is commercialization and destructive capitalism. F**k the natural historic and irreplacable wonder and beauty of our wild country, let's pave over it all and throw some burger kings on top! What's the difference! And if u dont like it then ur an american-hating communist!

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

I was there in 1999 or 2000, and drove around the Canadian side for a little while. I didn't see any run-down areas. Maybe that's changed.

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

Almost all the water is diverted for hydropower. I wish they'd just turn it off for a few hours in the early morning, and then let it rip at full volume for a treat around noon.

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

It always made me laugh when people said they were coming to see Niagara Falls. Like y'all are going to come experience that not so great area to see a waterfall? There are plenty of other waterfalls in much more natural, secluded areas if you do your research.

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Got Myself 4 Dwarves
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Been to Niagara Falls so many time, my mum was born in Ontario but to Scottish parents and came back to live in Scotland, but other family settled there so we would go visit every few years and always went for the day to Niagara Falls. Was always on the boring side - highlight one year was my brother seeing a guy opposite side of the road wearing the same Celtic top - classic bumblebee strip, if someone wearing it you'll see it

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

visited years ago, we stayed overnight in the US but to the Canadian side to have some good fun. US side is dead and sad. BTW on our way there we stopped at Buffalo... also dead... we arrived at 8pm and it was TWD...

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#11

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online I know everyone loves Marrakesh, but i hated it

it would have been amazing before about 2000, but now it just feels like a disneyland version of their culture to cater to western tourists. ali baba costumes pretending to be desert nomads. half of their ‘hand made goods’ are just cheap s**t from china. and u cant walk 20 feet without being aporoached by scammers. like, literally every block

the entire city just feels like a facade to attract dumb tourist money

i get why ppl love it, but that was my take

legshampoo , Stephen Colebourne Report

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

The usual order of things, unfortunately, where you can earn money from tourists. Marrakesh is great, although I prefer Fez.

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According to Irmante, much of one's own experience of a place depends on the travelers themselves. While cities ought to provide a traveler-friendly environment, being able to enjoy the so-called 'tourist trap' is also something that requires a certain kind of skill and appreciation.

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"I always wonder, though, what it was like to visit Barcelona or Dubrovnik 30 years ago and how they've changed, these places adapted to travelers' needs, meaning that sometimes they even tend to drift from their authenticity in order to make people feel comfortable being guests. It takes a seasoned traveler to go to lesser known destinations, but to thoroughly and authentically enjoy 'tourist traps' is also an art. So I would say that falling into the 'tourist trap' is up to the traveler itself. The city must have people that are easy to communicate with regardless of whether there's a language barrier, curious culture, different food, and their transport systems are easy to use."

#12

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online As a Dutch person, I'm actually gonna say Amsterdam. So crowded, chaotic and getting run over by other tourists on bikes they've never ridden before. I feel like it's romanticized a lot because it's our capital but the first time I visited, I was genuinely disappointed. It's definitely dirtier on the streets and the canals have a lot of waste drifting in them.

And the people that are there don't seem to understand. "Honey, you're in Amsterdam, isn't it fantastic?" "I'm living the dream because I'm living in Amsterdam!" "Amsterdam is the heart and soul of the Netherlands!"

Meh. I'll just go to Utrecht or Den Bosch instead.

Marveloes , r.schwarzkopf Report

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James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like Amsterdam. Went there a few years ago for a city break. Really pretty city IMO

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#13

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online DontShootTheFood said:
Austin, Texas. Lived there in the ‘90s and it was pretty great. Now it’s an overcrowded, overpriced douchey mess.

BethG_99 replied:
As someone who grew up in & currently lives in Austin, you are 100% correct. The area is great to visit but horrible to stay in for any long-term period of time. And alot of what made up Austin's "Stay Weird" culture has vanished with the population boom, especially in downtown. Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty in Austin and the surrounding area to have a fun & interesting trip if you're visiting. But don't move here. It's so damn expensive, the population in the city & all the surrounding suburbs has exploded too quickly for infrastructure to keep up, and honestly the snobby attitude of some of the people (especially our local leaders) is becoming increasingly more noticeable. It used to still have the combination of Stay Weird hippy town mixed with Southern hospitality and small town community feel. Both of those have pretty much vanished now. I'm getting out of this area as soon as my boyfriend and I have saved up enough to move.

DontShootTheFood , Stuart Seeger Report

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

I definitely concur. I have family who moved there back when "Keep Austin Weird" was still a mantra, then a prayer, now a history. So many independent stores & restaurants have been replaced by chains. The traffic is horrible. The infrastructure just can't keep up with the growth. Compared to California, Texas is an inexpensive place to live, except for Austin, as so many Californians have moved there for the tech jobs. I still love visiting Austin, but it's not what it used to be. Oh yeah...Crappy Governor Greg Abbott is there, so that's another reason to be disappointed by Austin.

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#14

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Manhattan smells like trash. Constantly. There is very little infrastructure for waste management for a city filled with 100 stories of office buildings, restaurants, and apartments, so on trash day you walk by 8-foot tall walls of trash bags stacked up on the sidewalk waiting for the trash trucks. And on a hot August day, ugh.

The whole city just stinks.

Virtual-Stranger , udo schuklenk Report

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

actually we have a very good infrastructure for waste management, maybe you came during the Sanitation slowdown during the union negotiations. But yeah, that huge wall of trash bags during the day is a lie, they are put out after 6 pm and are picked up over night, further that only applies to residential houses, not stores or apartments. This person is full of BS and probably never was here but saw 1990's Law and Order episdoes.

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#15

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Idontknowthosewords said:
Paris was so dirty, and I was not prepared for the disdain of the French towards a stupid American. I believed the American Rom-Com movie version of Paris.

BlueberryPiano replied:
Don't forget smelly too. And not just one strong smell so you can get acclimated to it either. Fresh bread, urine, perfume, body odour. Yuck.

Idontknowthosewords , Patrick Nouhailler Report

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

Paris is great but people need to manage their expectations and realise it's like any major metropolitan area, as in good and bad. A lot of visitors (especially Americans) have this overly romantic, gooey eyed idea of what they think Paris is so the reality is often a gut punch.

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"Whether the city is disappointing or not it's totally up to the traveler. It's how you feel in the place and how you can transform those feelings, even if the most annoying thing happened, taking a deep breath and turning it all into an adventurous memory. Being open minded, patient, curious and respectful is the key," explained Irmante.

"Plus, going to lesser visited locations even in the countries that have crazy popular hot cities could help adventurers to expand their horizons and also spread the money that is coming in from tourism more evenly in the country. So maybe instead of going to Barcelona, choose Bilbao, and check out Zagreb rather than spending too much time in Dubrovnik. And instead of going to Switzerland, go for Kazakhstan, and instead of Thailand--why not to checkout Sri Lanka?"

#16

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Gjilli said:
Naples, I think the best way I could describe the city center is as a sticky mcdonalds table


Beans20202 said:
Agreed - my family almost got mugged in Naples in the middle of the day. I literally felt unsafe the entire time and we were only there for a day trip.

Gjilli , Francisco Anzola Report

#17

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online pittguzzo said:
Jacksonville Florida is a toilet.

pittguzzo replied:
I lived there for a couple of years for work… couldn’t wait to get out. To me it’s because they don’t let the smaller areas incorporate and become their own towns. This allows two things: 1. The reign as the largest city by land area in US to remain. 2. The tax $s are shared throughout, so there are few “good” and “bad” areas, leaving everywhere being mediocre and uneventful

fartkidwonder , Thomas Andersen Report

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

Jacksonville is a desirable tourist location? This is news to me.

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#18

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online FourSeasons1972 said:
Cairo, what a dump. Poverty-people constantly begging or have something trying to sell, insane traffic-literally horrible traffic. Pollution.

NewSyrup3238 replied:
What really bothered me was how close the city was to the pyramids. I thought the pyramids were in the middle of nowhere but nope, just spitting distance from the city, quite surreal actually.

FourSeasons1972 , Francisco Anzola Report

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

Cairo is tough for tourists for the reasons stated. But I live in Cairo and wouldn't live anywhere else. Once you get past the beggars and scammers, Cairenes are some of the kindest and most generous people in the world.

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#19

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online mediaogre said:
Fresno, CA has entered the chat

JOEYisROCKhard said:
laughs in Bakersfield


ThoughtCenter87 replied:

I think Fresno is just a larger version of Bakersfield lmao. Can't decide which is worse.

I think in terms of air pollution Bakersfield is worse, if you visit that town (or more realistically drive through it to get to LA) it smells like rotten eggs for a while until your nose gets used to the smell lol

mediaogre , Thank You (21 Millions+) Report

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

Why would anyone expect anything of Fresno or Bakersfield? Or go there if they didn't have to?

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#20

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online NotThatKindOfDrDr said:
It pains me to say this, but Dublin. My expectations were so high. That being said, I left my heart in Cork.

Brian_Gay replied:
Lived in dublin my whole life and I would say if you're going to live in Ireland permanently then yeah Dublin is the best shout as it has amenities, plenty of bars, restaurants, clubs etc but if you're going on a holiday to Ireland then donegal, Galway, Cork etc give you a much more "Irish" feel. Honestly I think the best way to do it would be to spend a few days in a few different counties, 3 days in Dublin will do then spread out, Ireland nice and small so it's very doable... Expensive though...

NotThatKindOfDrDr , Sean MacEntee Report

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

I loved Dublin. There was a lot to see, and much of it was lovely. I was bowled over by how many places had baskets of flowers out, it made some of the streets seem like gardens. I'd go back in a shot.

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Lastly, we've asked Irmante what would she recommend as travel destinations, and she had this to say:

"I love Mexico City. For me, it's the most exciting place in the world for excellent food, fun bars, friendly locals and lots of culture. As a traveler, I found Beirut jam packed with culinary delights, beautiful architecture and charming hospitality, and Addis Ababa oozing intoxicating jazz and incredibly rich in history. And look, if going to destinations that are not necessarily the most popular is not your thing, there's nothing wrong with going to visit 'tourist traps'. It's all about how you do it."

You can follow Irmante's Instagram right here, and yes, she's more than willing to share where to get the best macchiatos in Addis Ababa, if you've got a craving and incidentally are traveling there.

#21

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. No offense to the folks that live there but I felt like everybody was angry, the traffic and parking was worse than Manhattan, and it had none of the redeeming qualities of NYC.

YOLO_SWAG_SATAN , Jirka Matousek Report

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

Traffic and parking is bad in a city? Goodness me. Philly has great museums, fantastic restaurants, lots of charm in the old part, a great quirky artistic side, and much of it is walkable. Love it as a tourist.

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#22

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online imatiredwoman said:
Athens. I couldn’t wait to go because I’m Greek. It’s filthy with polluted air and all of the famous ruins are right near city buildings, which are poorly constructed. The place feels very third world. The islands however, are fantastic!

FatManNuke69 said:
As much as I hate to say it, Athens was in pretty bad shape last I went (6 years ago and hasn't changed). The city has a very nice area called Plaka which is right beside the acropolis and is definitely a must if you go to mainland Greece and of course the general attractions like the Parthenon and the museum and of course the presidential building where if you're lucky enough, you'll catch a riot, so if you see people running... RUN.

But overall, outside of Plaka is a sh*thole. If you're going to Athens with the intent to feel like you've been transported into 500 BC then I've got bad news for you.

imatiredwoman , Dario Sušanj Report

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

As a Greek I'll say that of course Athens is not the best to visit in Greece! It's the capital and for sure it's crazy noisy dirty etc! However it has so much history that it's a shame to skip it! I would recommend couple days in Athens and then enjoy one island!

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#23

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Denver. Just a big, hot, expensive city out on the plains. All the cool mountain activities that people move to CO for are 2 hours of driving away unless you can afford to live in the west suburbs so nobody does nearly as much recreation as the would do living somewhere else. Traffic is worse than Chicago to boot.

r00kieNS , Daniel Spiess Report

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

I honestly just want to go to Denver to see The Blue Stallion and the airport.

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#24

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Trenton, New Jersey.

I wasn't really visiting or expecting to go there, just passing through on an Amtrak ride. I awoke from a nap to the train just stopped in what looked like Raccoon City. Trash everywhere, most of the buildings looked abandoned. The sky was cloudy and literally green. Like, sickly yellow-green. And most eerily, I didn't see a single car driving on the street or anyone walking around outside on the barren sidewalks. All the stores and restaurants looked closed and empty. I was actually sort of gripped by fear for a second, in my post-nap haze. Just wanted the doors to shut and the train to pull out of there. Nobody was getting on the Amtrak in Trenton. I didn't even know if there was anybody in Trenton. As the train pulled away and we went through the center of the city, a rail bridge over the river caught my eye. A massive sign was plastered on the side that read "TRENTON MAKES, THE WORLD TAKES."

Surreal and overall grim experience.

tr0nvicious , David Wilson Report

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

If you're disapointed by Trenton, NJ, you must have never heard of it. That's like being disapointed by the cuisine in a dumpster.

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#25

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Bigjay_37 said:
Manila, traffic was horrible and it was so dirty, nice buildings but the entire experience was stressful.


rodroidrx replied:
Don't forget the slums and street children hounding you for money

Bigjay_37 , Deortiz Report

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

As someone from the Philippines, I wholeheartedly say Yes! Although Intramuros is a great place to walk, discover the Spanish colonial past of our country. It’s also a walking distance to the National museum of Fine Arts. But i agree with the traffic and how dirty it is..

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You can read more answers (and opinions) Redditors had in the original post here. Or you can brows even more travel-related articles right here on Bored Panda.

But before you go, why not share some of your travel destinations that left you feeling disappointed in the comment section below!

#26

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online sustainablecaptalist said:
Birmingham, UK. I had a very dreamy idea of it for some reason.

It's probably the shi**iest city in the UK.

Edit: People are asking me why I thought good about Birmingham. To them my only defense is that I'm from India. I didn't know much about Birmingham, name sounded very romantic to me!

Pumpkin-Bomb replied:
I don’t get how the only thing of interest in the second biggest city in the U.K., is a shopping centre. It’s such a grim grey place that’s not interesting at all.

Each other major UK city has its own unique qualities and landmarks that make it worth a visit. I’ve yet to see what that is in Birmingham.

Pumpkin-Bomb , Gideon Report

#27

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Konstantynopolitancz said:
Frankfurt - just kinda seemed like a boring banking / politics city. It's entirely possible I just didn't go to the right parts though. The park by the river was nice.

Soleska replied:
That's what most Germans think about the city, too.

Every bigger city in Germany is some ugly mixture of old and modern. You should go for some smaller ones.

Only exception I can think of is Hamburg. Has its dirty parts, but overall nice city.

Konstantynopolitancz , Chris Yunker Report

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

Wait, you mean these cities are like, actual cities where people live and work? And not some kind of living postcard? What a rip off!

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#28

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online I always give the same answer, Venice.

Beautiful architecture and fascinating history... but dear god is it humid, the water is absolutely filthy, its so overcrowded, and there's gift stands in every corner selling the same cheap wares.

ChibiRedgrave , Pedro Szekely Report

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

Venice is destroyed by tourists so i don't understand why people go there and complain when they are also the source of the problem( I'm not saying to not go at all but you cannot complain)

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#29

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Bratislava. It was further worsened cause I was coming from somewhere amazing (Vienna) before and went to this dump of a city. Nightlife and drinking amazing there though, some cool oddities, but if I was to go back, I'd not spend more than half-day there.

blueveia , Peter MacLeod Report

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

I've been there and even though it's not something wow(i also came from Budapest which was impressive) i have to say that if you research where to go you will enjoy! Didn't regret it! Stayed 2 days and it was fun

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#30

30 Overrated Places That Aren’t Worth A Visit, As Pointed Out By Folks Online Aussie-of-Skellige said:
Rome. From d**kheads trying to steal my suitcase off the train, from my bulls**t hotel room I was lied to about, to the a**face who didn’t want to accept my green card as legit. Amongst other things.

SWLondonLady said:
Came here for this. Not being able to look at any historical monuments without a selfie stick thrust into your face. And so many tourists.

Aussie-of-Skellige , Sean MacEntee Report

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

I will not understand the tourists that go to touristic areas and expect no tourists

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