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> Over-rated Tourist Destinations, and their alternatives
purplebuggy
post Nov 12 2009, 10:46 PM
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I ran across this article that I found really interesting, it didn't just list the so-called over-rated places but it gave some interesting alternatives.

http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/9-overrated...t-destinations/

I'm not sure I agree with all of them (Egypt I don't think is over-rated but instead maybe that people only stick to the same places there so of course they cop the tourist route.) However, I did think Paris was completely overrated...

What do you think - do you agree with the author's thoughts?


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jeremystravels
post Nov 12 2009, 11:18 PM
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Lets see.. of the ones I have been to:


Niagara Falls - The area around Niagara Falls is beyond touristy. I would have appreciated it if it was more in the middle of nowhere and just massive falls. Still, it is worth seeing if you are in the area. I would probably not make a special trip for it though.

The Bahamas - I don't think they do the Bahamas justice. Sure, if you are going on a cruise, then yea there are many other islands out there to see. But the Bahamas is hundreds of islands, so it would seem like you should just go to a non cruise port and it'll be a lot better.

Paris, London, Rome in the summer - Really? That is not a good reason at all. If the only time I could go was summer, then I'd deal.

Las Vegas - The article lost all significance to me by putting Vegas on here. This is one place I *would* make a trip purposefully to see. And I'd go back.

Egypt - You know, the Pyramids and St Catherines Monastery are packed with tourists. The rest of the country is regular tourist flow and is more manageable. I would not go as far as to say it is over rated, but it is over crowded. I do like their alternative for this one, but I would recommend it as a supplement to Egypt rather than by passing it all together.



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starlagurl
post Nov 13 2009, 10:18 AM
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QUOTE(jeremystravels @ Nov 12 2009, 11:18 PM) *
Lets see.. of the ones I have been to:


Niagara Falls - The area around Niagara Falls is beyond touristy. I would have appreciated it if it was more in the middle of nowhere and just massive falls. Still, it is worth seeing if you are in the area. I would probably not make a special trip for it though.

The Bahamas - I don't think they do the Bahamas justice. Sure, if you are going on a cruise, then yea there are many other islands out there to see. But the Bahamas is hundreds of islands, so it would seem like you should just go to a non cruise port and it'll be a lot better.

Paris, London, Rome in the summer - Really? That is not a good reason at all. If the only time I could go was summer, then I'd deal.




Oh come on, the kitschy part of Niagara is all part of the fun. If you don't give in to spending way too much money on arcade games and haunted houses, it's hilarious to walk around...

Totally agree with you on the Bahamas and European cities in the summer.

The Grand Canyon... I thought it DID live up to the hype, it was amazing!




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laorfamily
post Nov 13 2009, 11:01 AM
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I think that article is silly.
What's overrated?

Sure, if you've been it's overrated but if you haven't then it's not.
There is a reason all those places are popular.

Niagra Falls is good for a long weekend every 10 years or so.

Vegas - once every ten years or so as well but for a week.





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mmbcross
post Nov 13 2009, 02:46 PM
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Terrible article......

How can anyone say the Grand Canyon is a dissapointment?

The Bahamas aren't even in the Caribbean, so what's she complaining about.

Would you prefer to see Paris, London and Rome in the sunshine or in the rain?

etc....

I feel she is just writing the article to show off how worldly she is, whereas in fact, she just comes over as a whiner.


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laorfamily
post Nov 13 2009, 03:00 PM
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QUOTE(mmbcross @ Nov 13 2009, 02:46 PM) *

Terrible article......

I feel she is just writing the article to show off how worldly she is, whereas in fact, she just comes over as a whiner.

Amen brother.


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kathryn77
post Nov 13 2009, 03:15 PM
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The article is over a year out of date. The alternatives described are probably now over-rated by the author!

Dublin is not the third most expensive city any longer - the recession hit badly here, and clicking on the link in the article, Dublin is now in 10th place. I do agree that there's a lot of good Irish alternative places to see, but Dublin is a great place to live and to visit, it depends what you want from your trip - and it is getting cheaper - finally!


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purplebuggy
post Nov 13 2009, 07:16 PM
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Kathryn77, I know it's out of date but I thought it would be an interesting conversation starter.
After reading all your comments, I'd have to agree with laorfamily and want to know the authors defintition of over-rated. I took it as being a place that once you got there you sort of went, oh... kind of expected more.
...but I still stand by Paris, lol! (hey, we're all allowed a travel spot we didn't enjoy)


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kathryn77
post Nov 14 2009, 06:35 AM
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QUOTE(purplebuggy @ Nov 14 2009, 12:16 AM) *

Kathryn77, I know it's out of date but I thought it would be an interesting conversation starter.


Which it was and is. I didn't notice the date myself until I got to Dublin comment in the article, which I read, thinking "that's not true" and when I went to find the date I understood why, so that was my input to the conversation, in response to that part of the article, because the date did matter for that one

Then I 'tongue in cheek' commented that the author probably thinks the alternatives they suggested are 'over-rated' now, since it's been over a year since they wrote it, because I know my own opinions change...

I think 'over-rated' is your own opinion because everyone has different interests. What's over-rated to me I know could be #1 for many people, so I'd never write an article like that in the first place


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kili-kelly
post Nov 29 2009, 03:03 AM
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Niagara Falls reminds me of my favorite quote from baseball great Yogi Berra: "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded."
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starlagurl
post Nov 30 2009, 01:48 PM
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Haha! That's not true! It's packed there every summer! When's the last time you've been?


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purplebuggy
post Dec 2 2009, 10:31 PM
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QUOTE(kili-kelly @ Nov 29 2009, 03:03 AM) *

Niagara Falls reminds me of my favorite quote from baseball great Yogi Berra: "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded."


One of my friends said a similar quote about a place in Australia (though I forget where) but she said "Nobody goes there because everybody goes there." It was one of those, I know.. Wait. What? moments.


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andrewjerome
post Jul 16 2011, 05:06 AM
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I agree with a few of these.

I would actually say the Grand Canyon is over-rated, as Yosemite National Park is so much more striking.

I wouldn't say Egypt is over-rated but I do hate Cairo and the surrounds a lot. This is still the place I was hassled the most, to date. The pyramids and Egyptian Museum are worth seeing but I've seen them twice now, and wouldn't return. Aswan in the south is much more likeable than Cairo.

I hate Las Vegas and have never understood why it remains popular. Feh.

Kuta in Bali, Indonesia is rubbish

Malta is wonderful but Paceville is one of the worst places I have ever stayed.

Pisa is one of the ugliest towns I've visted too

Cancun is drab at best
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