Most overrated tourist attractions in the world
Nov 27, 2012, 10:32 am
#812
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,694
Altoid
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 198
I must say I was a bit let down by the size of the Mona Lisa. Amazing to see in person but it was like a postage stamp! I pictured it as huge in my mind.
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 198
I must say I was a bit let down by the size of the Mona Lisa. Amazing to see in person but it was like a postage stamp! I pictured it as huge in my mind.
Dec 13, 2012, 8:02 am
#813
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: Starwood, Delta, American Airlines, USA, United
Posts: 223
Four Corners Monument in the U.S.
Dec 14, 2012, 2:50 am
#814
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Castro, San Francisco, California
Programs: UA, DL, AA, Aegean Air, Cal Alumni (go Bears!)
Posts: 594
I'm going to throw out quite a controversial one here I think, and nominate Japan as a country as being very underwhelming. Maybe you need to be an asianphile or something, but its not so interesting a place. the most shocking thing to me was the Gad-awful architecture and ugly streetscapes.
Dec 14, 2012, 2:57 am
#815
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Castro, San Francisco, California
Programs: UA, DL, AA, Aegean Air, Cal Alumni (go Bears!)
Posts: 594
Another one. Death Valley. When we were in California in the summer of 2001 my Dad asked me if I wanted to go with him (We were staying in Three Rivers) and I was all excited. Once I get there (after we got out of the car each time the temperature went up) I'm thinking to myself "Is this it?????? Just sand and a visitor center. I would go back again and maybe go back to the lowest point in the US (Didn't have time to stop there) but I wouldn't make a special trip back. I'd rather go to Yosemite which I have yet to get to.
Dec 15, 2012, 8:44 am
#816
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, MR Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 926
Death Valley is beautiful. The Sonoran/Mojave Desert is just stunning. If you don't like the desert then that explains it. To me the sculpturing of the rocks and canyons by water and wind is just wonderful. Then to have the below sea level hot desert only 10 miles from 11,000ft. Alpine mountains is simply incredible. I'd go back every year if I could.
Dec 20, 2012, 8:57 pm
#818
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: HH Diamond, IHG Plat, SPG & Marriott Gold, CC Silver
Posts: 541
I visited Walt Disney World as a teenager, but it wasn't until I actually took my kids to WDW and Disneyland that I learned to appreciate these parks most. Disney Parks offer amazing experiences for children. No question.
When the kids are old enough to appreciate it, we'll go to Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, DC, NYC, London, Sydney, etc. For now, though, Disney is best.
When the kids are old enough to appreciate it, we'll go to Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, DC, NYC, London, Sydney, etc. For now, though, Disney is best.
And you don't have to wait - I was taken to many landmarks as a child. In fact, my love of travel probably comes from the fact that my family traveled on most school breaks when I was a kid. Don't wait for them to "appreciate" it. They'll appreciate it in retrospect as an adult, no matter how many times they ask to just hang out in the hotel pool.
Dec 21, 2012, 10:55 am
#819
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,820
I kind of agree. I'm an architect and I went to Japan for 2 weeks in April/May 2012. I thought the urban fabric was horrendous. It is so ugly. Ginza was fancy but ultra sterile. City after city from Kagoshima to Hirosaki were just an urban planners nightmare. Admittedly, most cities have been destroyed by earthquakes or WWII bombing and hastily rebuilt. But the zoning laws must be non-existent,
Japanese cities look best after sundown..... Actually, I find the urban ugliness part of the appeal in a bizzaro kind of way.
Dec 23, 2012, 9:44 am
#821
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Europe
Programs: AClub, SPG, Ritz Rewards, Hyatt, Hilton
Posts: 7
I'm going to throw out quite a controversial one here I think, and nominate Japan as a country as being very underwhelming. Maybe you need to be an asianphile or something, but its not so interesting a place. the most shocking thing to me was the Gad-awful architecture and ugly streetscapes.
What disappointed me wasn't the architecture though but the general way of life. It seems to me that often everything about Japan is idealized. I have never felt as lonely anywhere on a trip as I did in Japan and I would say this wasn't a communication issue but many japanese do too. Emotions are supressed, the group counts not the individual. Everybody behaves exactly like society expects them to. There seems to be a lot of pressure on people. It was kind of depressing.
After a while I was missing "real emotions" even if it's a grumpy clerk
Still a unique (and strange) experience but I certainly wouldn't want to live there and disagree about Japan being the ultimate "fun place" as many anime-fans/japanophiles seem to think.
Dec 23, 2012, 4:38 pm
#823
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
I kind of agree. I'm an architect and I went to Japan for 2 weeks in April/May 2012. I thought the urban fabric was horrendous. It is so ugly. Ginza was fancy but ultra sterile. City after city from Kagoshima to Hirosaki were just an urban planners nightmare. Admittedly, most cities have been destroyed by earthquakes or WWII bombing and hastily rebuilt. But the zoning laws must be non-existent,
Dec 23, 2012, 4:57 pm
#824
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,820
So far I would agree, even though I have only been to the Kansai Region/Osaka. I will surely visit Japan again.
What disappointed me wasn't the architecture though but the general way of life. It seems to me that often everything about Japan is idealized. I have never felt as lonely anywhere on a trip as I did in Japan and I would say this wasn't a communication issue but many japanese do too. Emotions are supressed, the group counts not the individual. Everybody behaves exactly like society expects them to. There seems to be a lot of pressure on people. It was kind of depressing.
After a while I was missing "real emotions" even if it's a grumpy clerk
.
What disappointed me wasn't the architecture though but the general way of life. It seems to me that often everything about Japan is idealized. I have never felt as lonely anywhere on a trip as I did in Japan and I would say this wasn't a communication issue but many japanese do too. Emotions are supressed, the group counts not the individual. Everybody behaves exactly like society expects them to. There seems to be a lot of pressure on people. It was kind of depressing.
After a while I was missing "real emotions" even if it's a grumpy clerk
.