Most overrated tourist attractions in the world
Jun 24, 2014, 11:57 pm
#946
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Can you explain what disappointed you ? By the way you did not see Big Ben, that is the bell you can hear, in the House of Commons Clock Tower.
Jun 25, 2014, 12:02 am
#947
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I would respectfully add Topkapı Palace in Istanbul as being highly overrated. It's generally included on tours of the city. I've visited twice and was completely un-impressed. On both visits, the tour guides said you could 'spend the entire day' there. We were in and out in about half hour; and that largely due to the enormous lines while visiting during the summer. The one selling point was the views from the balconies facing the Bosphorus (although they were closed last visit a few weeks back).
I would also say the island of Capri, in general. During the summer, the crowds are absolutely horrid, the food totally un-inspired and the lodging ludicrously expensive. One can get the same experience on similar islands in the area for a much smaller price. The Blue Lagoon was a total waste of time.
I would also say the island of Capri, in general. During the summer, the crowds are absolutely horrid, the food totally un-inspired and the lodging ludicrously expensive. One can get the same experience on similar islands in the area for a much smaller price. The Blue Lagoon was a total waste of time.
The Blue GROTTO takes a little time but well worth it.
It is touristy on this little island but get off the main drag and its wonderful, I do agree there are many other excellent islands and Amalfi close by but I find Capri a special place.
Jun 25, 2014, 6:15 am
#948
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Amsterdam.
Went there past weekend with the family and was pretty underwhelmed. If you're into drinking, the Red Light district, or consuming "special" cookies, brownies, and lollipops, then it may excite you. Otherwise, besides the canals and the I Amsterdam sign, there's not much to look at. Museums were eh and food was alright. I think London is MUCH more vibrant.
Went there past weekend with the family and was pretty underwhelmed. If you're into drinking, the Red Light district, or consuming "special" cookies, brownies, and lollipops, then it may excite you. Otherwise, besides the canals and the I Amsterdam sign, there's not much to look at. Museums were eh and food was alright. I think London is MUCH more vibrant.
Jun 25, 2014, 5:28 pm
#949
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Amsterdam.
Went there past weekend with the family and was pretty underwhelmed. If you're into drinking, the Red Light district, or consuming "special" cookies, brownies, and lollipops, then it may excite you. Otherwise, besides the canals and the I Amsterdam sign, there's not much to look at. Museums were eh and food was alright. I think London is MUCH more vibrant.
Went there past weekend with the family and was pretty underwhelmed. If you're into drinking, the Red Light district, or consuming "special" cookies, brownies, and lollipops, then it may excite you. Otherwise, besides the canals and the I Amsterdam sign, there's not much to look at. Museums were eh and food was alright. I think London is MUCH more vibrant.
There seems to be a pattern in this thread of people citing museums and monuments that aren't really up their alley as being overrated tourist traps. The Louvre? All of London? (both from other posts, above)
As someone who's interested in art, but is not a beach person, I guess I could say that the best tropical islands in the world are overrated. I think it would be more accurate to say that they just don't appeal to me.
Jun 25, 2014, 6:30 pm
#950
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Doesn't it depend on what you're interested in? I'm definitely not into the drinking, sex, and dope scene, but if you're interested in Dutch art from the golden era of the 17th century, the Rijksmuseum is not "eh." Similarly for the Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum, if those are your interests. Otherwise, of course, they wouldn't be too appealing.
There seems to be a pattern in this thread of people citing museums and monuments that aren't really up their alley as being overrated tourist traps. The Louvre? All of London? (both from other posts, above)
As someone who's interested in art, but is not a beach person, I guess I could say that the best tropical islands in the world are overrated. I think it would be more accurate to say that they just don't appeal to me.
There seems to be a pattern in this thread of people citing museums and monuments that aren't really up their alley as being overrated tourist traps. The Louvre? All of London? (both from other posts, above)
As someone who's interested in art, but is not a beach person, I guess I could say that the best tropical islands in the world are overrated. I think it would be more accurate to say that they just don't appeal to me.
Jun 25, 2014, 7:31 pm
#951
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I can say I didn't think the Louvre was a particularly pleasant place- way too many people trying to see way too many paintings that seemed pretty haphazardly placed, climate control that they wouldn't run to keep the big name galleries to tolerable temperatures, and randomly closed galleries where you didn't know about the closure until you'd hiked a quarter mile through other less interesting spots to get there. I wouldn't call it overrated, but Orangerie and d'Orsay, while smaller, were tightly curated and you didn't have the sense that they were just throwing stuff up on the walls and seeing what stuck in the minds of patrons, and I ended up liking those two more than the Louvre.
I'll save the overrated tag for the Pompidou Centre (l'habitrail des hommes) which was cutting edge architecture when it opened but hasn't really stood the test of time.
I'll save the overrated tag for the Pompidou Centre (l'habitrail des hommes) which was cutting edge architecture when it opened but hasn't really stood the test of time.
Jun 25, 2014, 7:31 pm
#952
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) here, but though the real "star" Van Gogh paintings are elsewhere, the Van Gogh Museum offers the chance to really trace his development as an artist. He's not my favorite painter, but I find it interesting to trace his evolution. And, if I'm not mistaken, the museum does have The Potato Eaters, The Bedroom in Arles, and the rather chilling Wheatfield with Crows, all of which are pretty significant works.
Jun 25, 2014, 8:51 pm
#953
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I'm getting a bit OT (and pedantic ) here, but though the real "star" Van Gogh paintings are elsewhere, the Van Gogh Museum offers the chance to really trace his development as an artist. He's not my favorite painter, but I find it interesting to trace his evolution. And, if I'm not mistaken, the museum does have The Potato Eaters, The Bedroom in Arles, and the rather chilling Wheatfield with Crows, all of which are pretty significant works.
) here, but though the real "star" Van Gogh paintings are elsewhere, the Van Gogh Museum offers the chance to really trace his development as an artist. He's not my favorite painter, but I find it interesting to trace his evolution. And, if I'm not mistaken, the museum does have The Potato Eaters, The Bedroom in Arles, and the rather chilling Wheatfield with Crows, all of which are pretty significant works.
Jun 25, 2014, 9:08 pm
#954
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Starry Night is at MoMA | Museum of Modern Art New York but you can't see it for the huge mob of cell-phone flashing patrons about 12 deep. Admittedly it was a free Friday night, but still. They totally ignored the other Van Goghs. It is kind of fun to walk through the exhibits and try to guess what drew the crowd. I'll check out the Rijkmuseum at the end of July.
Jun 25, 2014, 9:18 pm
#955
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Gosh this thread is a depressing read...is there anywhere good to travel to? 
That being said I'm going to throw my hat into the ring.
1) Madame Tussaud's Wax museum. I was in the one in London but I understand there are quite a few of them. Why you would travel to see something fake like this is just beyond me...
2) Waikiki Beach. Just a mediocre crowded beach with terrible imported/reconstructed sand, and loads of hotels. Short drives/bus trips reveal MUCH better beaches on Oahu (Kailua, Waimea, Kawela, Waimanalo, just to name a few off the top of my head), let alone those on other Islands (Maui
)
I can't understand the people here nominating entire cities/countries/states. Surely this means you just didn't do good enough research before travelling?
That being said I'm going to throw my hat into the ring.
1) Madame Tussaud's Wax museum. I was in the one in London but I understand there are quite a few of them. Why you would travel to see something fake like this is just beyond me...
2) Waikiki Beach. Just a mediocre crowded beach with terrible imported/reconstructed sand, and loads of hotels. Short drives/bus trips reveal MUCH better beaches on Oahu (Kailua, Waimea, Kawela, Waimanalo, just to name a few off the top of my head), let alone those on other Islands (Maui
) I can't understand the people here nominating entire cities/countries/states. Surely this means you just didn't do good enough research before travelling?
Jun 25, 2014, 11:08 pm
#956
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Goa, India. It is BY FAR the most overrated beach destination in the world. I was there with my wife for New Years Eve and I found the beaches to be atrocious, dirty, and most definitely not well maintained. The water clarity was probably a notch higher than the Mississippi River. If you're going to fork over a few grand for a tropical vacation, avoid this place. India has many wonderful places worth seeing but this certainly isn't one of them.
Jun 26, 2014, 6:31 am
#957
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The chapel is 134 feet long, 44 feet wide and 68 feet high. Who has a 6K sq. ft, 400K cu ft. office? That's bigger than two decent sized multi-floor houses. Were you at the right place? It's been 20 years and I still vividly remember laying on one of the benches and staring at the cieling for a good 5-10 minutes. This was just after the restoratiion, and it was stunning.
But I disagree with many of the above - to each his/her own.
I'll add the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Yes, impressive for it's achievement for when it was built, but 30 minutes in line to stand in the front 1/6th of the building among a throng of people just isn't that impressive.
The Louvre is impressive for it's size and quantity of content, but a bit numbing after about 30 minutes looking at the umpteenth piece of Egyptian pottery. I'm sure it's great for a knowledgeable art fan. And La Joconde /Mona Lisa wasn't even the best item in the room in which it was located.
And India.
But I disagree with many of the above - to each his/her own.
I'll add the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Yes, impressive for it's achievement for when it was built, but 30 minutes in line to stand in the front 1/6th of the building among a throng of people just isn't that impressive.
The Louvre is impressive for it's size and quantity of content, but a bit numbing after about 30 minutes looking at the umpteenth piece of Egyptian pottery. I'm sure it's great for a knowledgeable art fan. And La Joconde /Mona Lisa wasn't even the best item in the room in which it was located.
And India.
Jun 26, 2014, 8:20 am
#959
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Doesn't it depend on what you're interested in? I'm definitely not into the drinking, sex, and dope scene, but if you're interested in Dutch art from the golden era of the 17th century, the Rijksmuseum is not "eh." Similarly for the Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum, if those are your interests. Otherwise, of course, they wouldn't be too appealing.
There seems to be a pattern in this thread of people citing museums and monuments that aren't really up their alley as being overrated tourist traps. The Louvre? All of London? (both from other posts, above)
As someone who's interested in art, but is not a beach person, I guess I could say that the best tropical islands in the world are overrated. I think it would be more accurate to say that they just don't appeal to me.
There seems to be a pattern in this thread of people citing museums and monuments that aren't really up their alley as being overrated tourist traps. The Louvre? All of London? (both from other posts, above)
As someone who's interested in art, but is not a beach person, I guess I could say that the best tropical islands in the world are overrated. I think it would be more accurate to say that they just don't appeal to me.
Jun 26, 2014, 2:51 pm
#960
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 226
Pamukkale,Turkey-an interesting landscape ruined by the worst behaved tourist crowds I've encountered. I don't think it is well known in the US, but apparently is everywhere else.
Key West, FL I know many people who love it, who own vacation homes there and go frequently. I just don't get its appeal at all. I can't think of one good thing there.
Key West, FL I know many people who love it, who own vacation homes there and go frequently. I just don't get its appeal at all. I can't think of one good thing there.