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Top ten overrated international travel destinations
Laurel brought us the US's top ten overrated travel destinations, and we thought it was time to go global. Here are ten international sites, in no particular order, that just aren't worth a two-hour wait in line, fighting the crowds, or covering long distances to get there: 1. Eiffel Tower, Paris
Seriously, your photos of Paris are going to look much better with the Eiffel Tower in them. If you feel like getting high, Notre Dame is a much cooler spot.
2. Oktoberfest, Munich
If getting drunk with a bunch of American college student is your idea of a good time, then be sure to hit up the Hofbrauhaus tent.
3. The Blarney Stone, Ireland
Don't do it. Stay away from the nasty, germ-infested piece of rock. Surely no luck can come of kissing that stone cold sore, right?
4. Cancun, Mexico
Crammed with spring-breakers and holiday makers, Cancun is party-central and really no different than, say, any other beach city in the States.
5. Niagara Falls, Ontario
The volume of water thundering over Niagara's limestone cliffs is arguably amazing, but the neon lights under the falls and Vegas-like cacophony built up around them are over-the-top.
6. Stonehenge, United Kingdom
Crowds jostle for space not to get close to the monoliths, but to capture them on film from a distance. That's right; you can't even get up close anymore. And amajor highway runs right by it, ruining any ambiance that might remain.
7. Hoi An, Vietnam
This little town popped up again and again among the Gadling crew as one that has shoved out any local culture in favor of coddling tourists - if "coddling" can also encompass aggressive selling.
8. The Atomium, Brussels
Another Gadling un-fave, the Atomium is, in the words of our esteemed editors, "boring." There's no real reason to visit it other than to take a couple of pics and say you've been there.
9. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
Here you'll find a tower thatis cabled up so it won't lean any further, and tourist posing for photos where they pretend to hold it up. It's not worth the journey.
10. Universal City Walk, Los Angeles
Not much more than an attempt to dazzle with bright lights and big screens, Universal City Walk is three blocks of cheese. There's shopping for "memorabilia" and whatnot, and lots of families vacationing. Skip it and spend the day at Disneyland.
Did we miss any? What places do you think are overrated?
[Photo Credit: Flickr user Al Ianni]
The volume of water thundering over Niagara's limestone cliffs is arguably amazing, but the neon lights under the falls and Vegas-like cacophony built up around them are over-the-top.
6. Stonehenge, United Kingdom
Crowds jostle for space not to get close to the monoliths, but to capture them on film from a distance. That's right; you can't even get up close anymore. And a
7. Hoi An, Vietnam
This little town popped up again and again among the Gadling crew as one that has shoved out any local culture in favor of coddling tourists - if "coddling" can also encompass aggressive selling.
8. The Atomium, Brussels
Another Gadling un-fave, the Atomium is, in the words of our esteemed editors, "boring." There's no real reason to visit it other than to take a couple of pics and say you've been there.
9. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
Here you'll find a tower that
10. Universal City Walk, Los Angeles
Not much more than an attempt to dazzle with bright lights and big screens, Universal City Walk is three blocks of cheese. There's shopping for "memorabilia" and whatnot, and lots of families vacationing. Skip it and spend the day at Disneyland.
Did we miss any? What places do you think are overrated?
[Photo Credit: Flickr user Al Ianni]
Filed under: Asia, Europe, North America, Vietnam, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Mexico, United States
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
candyperfume4475 Nov 4th 2010 8:19AM
Orlando, FL. I just got back 2 days aga, and I doubt I'll be going back. I'm a big fan of Disney but it's beyond overkill.
ManicD Nov 4th 2010 1:44PM
Candy...4475, You went to Disney.....they gave you DISNEY, and now you think it was too much Disney??? You were expecting, what? Less DISNEY???? Some people just CAN'T BE PLEASED. So next time, do us (the folks who work our butts off to see you ENJOY your "Disney Experience") a favor. Go to Mexico, I hear Cancun is stunning. You may even survive to complain about it. Looking forward to NOT SEEING YOU at the Parks.
AnnaM Nov 4th 2010 8:24AM
We stayed at the JW Marriott and the beach and water were picture perfect and beautiful. The other beach that I love is in Punta Cana - Bavaro Beach.
I would like the writer of the article to share what beach in the US is a pretty as these?
jerry l Nov 4th 2010 8:38AM
Maybe not international for US tourists, but Disney in Orlando is certainly a mega commercial bore.
Will Nov 4th 2010 10:11AM
Disney is exactly as advertised. Big, Loud, Crowded, and made for children. Sure some of the other Disney resorts that aren't the magic kingdom are nice for adults, but Disney World itself is a waste if your over 9 yrs old.
Lynne Nov 4th 2010 9:34AM
Visit Stonehenge the night of the summer soltice. You can get right up to the stones and there is incredible energy around you. Amazing to feel part of festivities that have been going on for 5 millenia in one form or another. Just hope for sun!
Jennifer Nov 4th 2010 9:49AM
I think that they are wrong about the Leaning tower of Pisa... I just went to Italy and it is NOT cabled up everywhere like they say. Sure it is surrpunded by tacky street vendors trying to sell you any and everything but it is just amazing to stand there and realize that it hasn't fallen in all this time. Pisa does have more to offer than the Leaning tower. The church is full of amazing history and beautiful as well - Galileo discovered the pendulum there. That Church actually leans as well. The Baptistry is beautiful and Pisa is very close to the sea, worth the extra 20 minutes drive to go there as well. If you go to Italy, it is something you have to see, simply because you will probably never see it again and EVERYONE knows what it is. Sidenote: They have the cleanest bathrooms in ITALY in Pisa, that alone is something amazing!
SUSAN Nov 4th 2010 9:55AM
We travel alot and have been to many on the list. Paris is so much more than the Eiffel Tower. Stonehenge was a 2 minute look see for me. I went to the gift shop while my husband took endless pictures. Same thing with the Grand Canyon.
Cancun is nothing but a good place to fly into and then you can head south or west to the various historical sites. Niagara Falls was worth a 3 day trip. Munich is a clean city. We don't go to beer festivals anywhere. Las Vegas has some good shopping and sites the rest is boring and irritating. Same with Orlando. We don't do Disney. Many places have 1 site to see. I may never see them because it is not worth a trip to see something for 20 minutes in the middle of nowhere and then leave for a long journey.
Chainsaw Nov 4th 2010 9:56AM
As a pre-teen in a family of 6, we happened to be transfered to England for 3 years, as my father was in the Air-Force.
I went to school on the base.
During that time the school sent us out on many field trips and saw just about every tourist spot there was to see.
However, they didn't send us to Stonehenge, so the family loaded up in our '68 Chevrolet station wagon and went there,
No crowds, no rules, and there was only two other families there and we walked among the stones, took pictures, etc.
A truly awesome experience that had, London Tower, The Cutty Sark, The Greenwich Time Line, Windsor Castle, British Museum of Natural History, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, all paling in comparison. I will put the Stonehenge trip at the top of my 'never forget' list.
Gilbert Parks Nov 4th 2010 10:10AM
What about that "Big Rock" out in the middle of Australia?
Maybe the worst in the USA-Don't miss "Walled Drug"
walthamdan Nov 4th 2010 12:10PM
You are so right about Wall Drug. All those stupid billboards ruining the landscape just to advertise a large store selling a bunch of kitsch and having some poorly made kiddie attractions.
Tuula Nov 4th 2010 10:08AM
Overrated.. whose opinion is this, why then millions of people visit these places every year. I have been more than once in each of them, and many more to come..being Scandinavian, it is bit easier to get to these places as it vould be from the USA.
Cooper Nov 4th 2010 10:38AM
"The Beach" is without a doubt the most overrated vacation spot ever. Any beach. I've always said that whoever first sold people on the idea of beaches as vacation/leisure destinations was a master of marketing. I can't think of any place more hostile and UNinviting to spend a day than at a beach. It's hot. No shade. Sand. Salty water. Crowds (often). And, a host of creatures just waiting to bite, sting, pinch or eat you. (I guess on the upside, there is the bikini-watching to make up for all the downsides. . . )
warren Nov 4th 2010 10:47AM
The tower at Pisa is not held up by cables, but it is held together at strategic points by cables to keep it from falling apart. Great care was taken to keep most of the cables out of sight. Yes, many efforts have been made to stabilze the soil under the tower to keep if from leaning more and/or falling over. (Have you heard about the Redneck newlyweds who wanted to take their honeymoon trip to Italy and see the Leaning Tower of Pizza and the Sixteen Chapel?)
Ron Nov 4th 2010 11:28AM
Think twice about kissing the Blarney Stone. Locals urinate on it after hours just for the tourists.
looky loo Nov 4th 2010 12:46PM
Hmmm. I gotta disagree with a lot of this. I really enjoyed taking the tacky photos of my friends holding up the leaning tower and I enjoyed the Eiffel Tower, but I don't really recall why.....maybe he is right about that one. I would DEFINATELY do the Blarney Stone, germs be darned. As for Niagra Falls....haven't been there in eons, but I recall a nice vacation there with my family when I was a child.
Ray Nov 4th 2010 11:53AM
you forgot Sedona, Arizona. Red Rock formations are beautiful, but the town is the definition of Kitsch.
Jennifer Nov 4th 2010 1:16PM
I love Sedona. It was a great get away when I lived in the southern end of the state and now that I am back in Northern California, I still go just for the beauty and tranquility. My 15 and 19 year olds even love it!
Fred Nov 4th 2010 12:28PM
Sometimes, I think they post this stuff just to get a reaction. In any case, AOL and all it's links seem to be kind of arrogant know-it-alls and set themselves up as arbiters of everything without any credentials for being a sound judge.
Jennifer Nov 4th 2010 1:21PM
Of course they did, but at the very least it is a pleasant subject. It definitely is better than seeing slide shows of the neighbor's vacation trip!!