most overrated "popular" major travel city?
Sep 1, 2009, 5:44 pm
#46
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People seek out different things when they travel, so these type of threads gets filled with "I hate X" and people responding with "it is inconceivable to hate X".
Personally, I don't really care that much about shopping opportunities or nightlife (A/B list clubs) or whatever people tend to do in LA so I would put LA (really the LA area b/c the downtown is an empty wasteland) at the top of my overrated list. I do tend to seek out foodie and wine stuff, and compared to the other big cities in the world, LA is lagging behind (there are some exceptions for Mexican, Korean and Japanese food). The sightseeing and historical items are lacking as well. Having lived there for four years, I rarely have a desire to go back to visit.
Personally, I don't really care that much about shopping opportunities or nightlife (A/B list clubs) or whatever people tend to do in LA so I would put LA (really the LA area b/c the downtown is an empty wasteland) at the top of my overrated list. I do tend to seek out foodie and wine stuff, and compared to the other big cities in the world, LA is lagging behind (there are some exceptions for Mexican, Korean and Japanese food). The sightseeing and historical items are lacking as well. Having lived there for four years, I rarely have a desire to go back to visit.
Sep 1, 2009, 6:03 pm
#48
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My 2cents...Milan. For a fashion capital, I was surprised that there wasn't much to do there other than clothes shop and eat. I was quite bored there and saw the Duomo and the nearby tourists sites in half a day.
Sep 1, 2009, 6:08 pm
#49
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For a fashion capital, I would only expect to eat and shop for clothes.
Sep 1, 2009, 7:44 pm
#51
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Beautiful women, great food, pretty city, cheap prices, oh and beautiful women.
My overrated city: London.
Rosebud: London?
Avi: London.
Avi's Colleague: London?
Avi: Yes, London. You know: fish, chips, cup 'o tea, bad food, worse weather, Mary ....ing Poppins... LONDON.
Sep 1, 2009, 7:51 pm
#52
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Looks like tempers are already flaring over controversial choices like New York. Something tells me this thread is not long for this world.
Sep 1, 2009, 7:53 pm
#53
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Sep 1, 2009, 9:17 pm
#54
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Getting ready to duck for cover...
But I think Honolulu is way over-rated. I feel bad for people who visit Honolulu and Waikiki and think they've seen Hawaii. The shopping is stinky. It's the exact same shops as in any decent sized suburban mall on the mainland. Oh, woohoo a CHEESECAKE Factory! Wow....drive by 3 every day on my way to work!
I also didn't care for Florence, IT. The noise level from the vespa's was astounding. After the museums, what?
I also didn't care for Florence, IT. The noise level from the vespa's was astounding. After the museums, what?
Sep 1, 2009, 9:39 pm
#55
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But my number one is Tokyo - it is one of the worst ways to experience Japan and Asia. I travel there frequently. Once you get over the novelty of living in a very crowded beehive, there is very little under the surface. Other than the food (which you can certainly get elsewhere in Japan), there is no good reason to visit Tokyo.
Sep 1, 2009, 10:11 pm
#56
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Sep 1, 2009, 10:19 pm
#58
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Having never been there, I have heard that Rio is a disappointing city. Its legend is outdated and it isn't what people expect of it when they arrive.
For me, it's LA, Las Vegas, Toronto, Dallas, St. Petersburg.
I didn't have a good time in Rome, but I am giving it the benefit of the doubt, as it was the week the Pope was being buried.
My favorite capitals (in the way they are defined here) are NYC, London, Sydney, Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona.
For those who don't like NYC, I can see where you are coming from. NYC has a ton of downsides (inefficient portions of its public transit system is what drives me nuts the most), but it has so may things to offer that the net outcome is that it's still great. It's midnight on a Tuesday and I can roll out of bed, go out to the Lower East Side and find a band playing at a bar that is packed. I think there are just some people who are made for NY and some who aren't.
For me, it's LA, Las Vegas, Toronto, Dallas, St. Petersburg.
I didn't have a good time in Rome, but I am giving it the benefit of the doubt, as it was the week the Pope was being buried.
My favorite capitals (in the way they are defined here) are NYC, London, Sydney, Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona.
For those who don't like NYC, I can see where you are coming from. NYC has a ton of downsides (inefficient portions of its public transit system is what drives me nuts the most), but it has so may things to offer that the net outcome is that it's still great. It's midnight on a Tuesday and I can roll out of bed, go out to the Lower East Side and find a band playing at a bar that is packed. I think there are just some people who are made for NY and some who aren't.
Sep 1, 2009, 10:22 pm
#59
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I usually find something/someone interesting anywhere I go. The only places I really ever hated were New Orleans and Las Vegas. And we know what happened to NO, don't we?
Sep 1, 2009, 10:29 pm
#60
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I found Cairo to be fascinating - but I did have a personal tour guide - a British Lady living there which helped me get a great feel for the city.