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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 3 of 3)
sim Nov 4th 2010 2:01PM
The tourists are pretending to hold up the leaning tower so will not lean any farther not further
DJ Nov 4th 2010 12:34PM
I agree with the Atonium. I lived there for 3 years and have to say you can skip the entire city! boring!!!!!!!! Go and have some beer and chocolate and LEAVE.
Have been to Oktoberfest, also. Way too crowded and a lot of drunk Americans. It's more fun to go to the local village celebrations. The Germans know how to have fun without being obnoxious. I was embarassed when I saw all the passed out and vomiting Americans! As for Paris, they used to have a huge ferris wheel (don't now if it's still there) and it had by far the best view of Paris you'd ever want to see.
Clint Nov 4th 2010 12:56PM
The Atomium rocks! It is so much more fascinating than the silly little "Mannakin Piss" statue. I saw the Atomium on a gorgeous day with deep blue skies and puffy white clouds and every shiney metal orb looked like a brilliant globe of an earth-similar world. The metal had just been refurnished for the anniversary and it was so stunning. But I'm also fascinated by science and the macrocosm vs. microcosm nature of the structure enchanted me.
kaisatsu Nov 16th 2010 7:15PM
I agree. I didn't even think the Manneken Pis was worth the 5-minute detour required to walk over and look at it. At least the Atomium is visually interesting enough to hold my interest for more than the 10 seconds it took me to wonder what on earth the fuss over the Manneken Pis was all about.
sam hall Nov 10th 2010 6:16AM
Didn't like Cancun!?! You went to the wrong one! We spent 12 days there 2 yrs. ago, and loved it! We agreed that if we had stayed 2 more days, we may not have come home. The one time we went out to "the Island", with it's Miami Beach high-rises and luxury shopping was when we took a wrong turn. We stayed in town, in what may be a half-star hotel, w/palm filled courtyard, heavy, dark cieling beams, big white arches, free wi-fi, attached restaurant, $135 for 5 nights. (Yes, that is correct.). We toured Mayan ruins, ate in little local cafes (got recipes from a couple of owners), drank $1 margaritas (not $7.50 Rum Bamboozlers), met friendly, outgoing people, prowled street markets for sausages, crafts, produce, souveniers: hand-blown glass coffee mugs ($6), fiesta paintings on bark-cloth (4/$20), now framed in a guest room.. Right now, we're arranging airfare & hotels for 16 days this spring; VIVA CANCUN!! (The mainland.)
Helen Nov 4th 2010 1:04PM
I disagree about Niagara Falls. It was one of my most enjoyable vacations. I think the neon lights look beautiful. There are a lot of great restaurants and things to do.
bert Nov 4th 2010 1:44PM
no one will admit it but the louvre is boring .
Mike Nov 4th 2010 2:01PM
I live near Citywalk, and that is pretty ghetto. But Universal Studios can be interesting.
The Eiffel tower is worth it.
Stonehendge, is really interesting. Plus there are a lot of tours that will do a group stoe, Westminster, the Roman Bath Houses (Amazing), and Stonehendge. It is worth a full day trip. Plus, that highway is just a road. And it can only bee seen by looking at it from one direction.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is interesting. There are no cables and yes there are a ton of people acting like they are holding it up. It is both fun to watch and funny to do. There are also other places to go there too.
ray Nov 4th 2010 2:06PM
Catherine needs to click off the internet and go outside. Walk into the woods down the road and discover the road to a ferry used in the Civil war or waterpowered mill site. Our country is full of out of the way historic locations of some import and we are losing them at record speed. Saying stonehenge is a bad visit is ridiculous and only represents an attitude that thinks studio 54 is more relevant to history than the Tower of Pizza.
Dee Nov 4th 2010 4:00PM
I have been to Stonehenge and it really bothered me not to get up close to it. It still was something I will remember for the rest of my life. Also, We took a great picture from an angle you very rarely see. The day was beautiful! I still recommend it to everyone.
AnnyMsMm Nov 4th 2010 5:40PM
OK shows you what a travel illiterate I am. I never heard of Hoi An, Vietnam or The Atomium, Brussels and I never thought of Universal Studios as a top ten place to visit. Unless this article was written as a plant from the travel company that goes there. Who knows about the press these days? But seriously, the Eiffel Tower was completely worth it. And not on the list, the Pyramids in Egypt. Big lines? Check. Cheesy people trying to sell you stuff? Check. Pollution, crime, whatever you hate when traveling? Check, check, check. But the PYRAMIDS. (PS the Sphinx is in Giza, too.) My advice to anyone who wants to travel? GO. It's amazing. Even if it sucks, you still learned something. Don't listen to snobby travel writers who apparently have absorbed too much of Europe and the famous European disdain for everything. TRAVEL.
Patti Nov 6th 2010 3:23PM
@Ms. Bodry:
I don't normally pick at someone's spelling, however, if you're going to do a piece about places to see or not to see, the least you can do is spell it right. It's Hofbräuhaus.
ctjbush Nov 19th 2010 3:01PM
Eiffel Tower and Paris are both amazing places. I wouldn't go to Europe without a stop in Paris. Notre Dame looks good from a distance.
Oktoberfest: I don't want to be with a bunch of drunks.
Cancun and its surrounding area are fantastic. Check out the ancient sites, go to Isla de Mujeres and Cozumel and Chichen Itza of course. The gorgeous blue water is not like other US beaches.
Niagara Falls, Ontario is a very cool place. Liked it
I don't care about the Universal City walk, but LA has a lot to do. Go to Hermosa Beach or Redondo and definitely take a trip up U.S. 101 to San Francisco.
Tor Mar 23rd 2011 7:21PM
I would add just about ANY venue in Jamaica to this list. We have experienced many wonderful vacations in Jamaica in the past, especially at resorts around the Negril area on the northwest coast.
We will not be returning again, after what we've observed over the past two or three years. Why bother? There are many other Caribbean islands where tourists and other vistors are welcomed, and sometimes even appreciated.
Virtually any site on Jamaica has swarms of "folks" who demand your money, not for services or products, just for the Hell of it. Its a cultural t'ing you see, Mon.
Kingston has been wretched for many decades, and now most of the ports on the north side of that beautiful/tragic isle are way out of control. Crime of all kinds are common pretty much everywhere. Battalions of super-agressive "vendors" of shoddy junk and ganja appear everywhere; except behind the gates of the well guarded "all-inclusive" resorts.
Even then, the ever-charming "vendors" manage to sneak in along the beach, in order to pimp their wares . . .
No problem, Mon. NOT!
anhhh Apr 8th 2011 5:15AM
They are all famous and beautiful places that can attract million of tourists. I don't think they are overrated. In my opinion, each place has its own beauty that can not be compared. Even when you visit the same place for the second time, you may have different feelings in comparison with the first time. If you come to Vietnam, I can recommend some other famous places such as: Halong bay, Sapa, Nha Trang, Phong Nha, etc.