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Hyped up attractions and tourist traps

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starlagurl	May 8 2008, 10:25 AM Post #1
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 14509 Joined: 5-November 07 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 103914	This topic is for introducinlyric Which attractions have you been to that are so hyped up, it has ruined the experience for you? For me, it's this place in South Carolina called "South of the Border". There are a bazillion billboards on the highway leading up to it, and then when you finally get there it's a total letdown! Amidst the dust and grime, there are sad looking arcade games, a myriad of cheap toys and souvenirs...wow...it's just terrible... Link to South of the Border online: http://www.pedroland.com/ -------------------- My most recent blog: A trip to Toronto that turned into a trip to Niagara

Replies(1 - 14)

jacquesl	May 8 2008, 10:41 AM Post #2
Journeyer Group: TP Staff Posts: 3475 Joined: 12-September 06 From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada. Member No.: 17335	South of the Border what a dud... it's pretty much all hype...at least it was fun reading all the billboards but the place itself was not worth it at all and I think that I would list that as my biggest dissapointment ever . -------------------- support@travelpod.com Can't figure it out ...we can! Just ask us!

starlagurl	May 8 2008, 10:43 AM Post #3
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 14509 Joined: 5-November 07 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 103914	Hahaha Jacques you got sucked in too! Hilarious! I guess it's a fun place for its own cheesiness... -------------------- My most recent blog: A trip to Toronto that turned into a trip to Niagara

introducinlyric	May 8 2008, 05:38 PM Post #4
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 5348 Joined: 24-May 07 From: Sydney, Australia Member No.: 56605	this one's for me yay you must of read a earlier post of mine hehehehe i dont even know where to begin really i will get back to this topic -------------------- Do You Want The Truth or Something Beautiful?

cheli	May 12 2008, 03:21 AM Post #5
Pathfinder Group: Members Posts: 383 Joined: 16-April 07 From: Melbourne, Australia Member No.: 48561 Nominate me as a Local Expert	Um...the Mona Lisa. I'd been warned she was small, but I wasn't prepared to 'meet' her from the back of a large crowd. You're now seperated from her by a barricade set about 2 metres from the painting and given I'm short sighted that doesn't allow for a particularly good art appraisal. I walked to the other side of the room and looked at one of Leo's other female portraits and got a much better squizz with less trouble -------------------- Happiness isn't a destination; it's a means of travelling

jacquesl	May 12 2008, 06:45 AM Post #6
Journeyer Group: TP Staff Posts: 3475 Joined: 12-September 06 From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada. Member No.: 17335	QUOTE(jacquesl @ May 8 2008, 11:41 AM) South of the Border what a dud... it's pretty much all hype...at least it was fun reading all the billboards but the place itself was not worth it at all and I think that I would list that as my biggest dissapointment ever . I used to drive down to Florida to see my inlaws...they were snowbirds and wintered in Florida...so it gave us a good base to go and visit Florida...Disney etc...but everytime we saw the billboards for a hundred miles each way we could not help but think that it must be an amazing place and one year we made plans to stop over and ...well you know the rest...dudsville! I guess they had to come up with a great billboard strategy because that is the only good thing about it! -------------------- support@travelpod.com Can't figure it out ...we can! Just ask us!

starlagurl	May 12 2008, 10:13 AM Post #7
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 14509 Joined: 5-November 07 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 103914	QUOTE(cheli @ May 12 2008, 04:21 AM) Um...the Mona Lisa. I'd been warned she was small, but I wasn't prepared to 'meet' her from the back of a large crowd. You're now seperated from her by a barricade set about 2 metres from the painting and given I'm short sighted that doesn't allow for a particularly good art appraisal. I walked to the other side of the room and looked at one of Leo's other female portraits and got a much better squizz with less trouble Yeah, you're absolutely right about the Mona Lisa...totally overhyped, but the Louvre itself, definitely not overhyped. So...I wouldn't advise not going to save money. You're there anyway, you might as well stop by Ms. Lisa. -------------------- My most recent blog: A trip to Toronto that turned into a trip to Niagara

starlagurl	May 12 2008, 10:13 AM Post #8
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 14509 Joined: 5-November 07 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 103914	QUOTE(felix_the_cat @ May 11 2008, 08:15 PM) I stayed in the South of the Border campground once, it was pretty horrible. It's also pretty unnerving to get up at 3AM to use the restroom, unzip your tent, and see a life-size statue of "Pedro" staring at you... I don't really think of South of the Border as an attraction, more of a tourist trap. Haha, WHY did you STAY there??? -------------------- My most recent blog: A trip to Toronto that turned into a trip to Niagara

kjonline	May 12 2008, 09:07 PM Post #9
Globetrotter Group: Members Posts: 283 Joined: 19-December 06 From: BC, Canada Member No.: 30901 Nominate me as a Local Expert	No longer living in Alberta I get asked fairly frequently about West Edmonton Mall. People are always "Oh it's the biggest mall in the world it must be awesome I so want to go there I'd spend all day there" and I'm always "It's a pool, a playground, and a couple hundred clothing stores sharing one roof. I get bored after the first half hour." But then I guess the novelty wears off when you work there. Suppose I'm the anti-hype for this one... -------------------- Just pretend I wrote something clever and witty here.

starlagurl	May 13 2008, 08:45 AM Post #10
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 14509 Joined: 5-November 07 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 103914	You're right I haaaaaaaaate the West Edmonton Mall... They even have DUPLICATES of the same store in that mall... Someone tell me what's the point of that? -------------------- My most recent blog: A trip to Toronto that turned into a trip to Niagara

outwardbound	Jun 4 2008, 07:01 AM Post #11
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 4-June 08 Member No.: 193203 Nominate me as a Local Expert	Cuba.. Everyone who has not been there says how they would love to go.. I now tell them not to bother unless they are into third world travel. I know there ARE some lovely bits.. but the corruption, poverty and constant beating off folk that want hand outs can wear you down. (I appreciate 100% they are doing it as they are poor - but it takes the edge off enjoying a walk anywhere as you know you will be pestered every five steps). Also the old american cars that everyone raves about are becoming rarer (most that I saw are beat up old wrecks). Re old Habana - it did have some charm - but it is being rennovated (albeit slowly) but not for the locals - but to line the pockets of those who are in bed with Castro. (Whilst there - visiting some friends who are residents - so know the ins and outs - 30 families were being evicted - and no chance of finding a new home - Just so a german beer house could be set up selling beer to the tourists at a whopping 3 dollars a glass - when as you know.. the monthly wage of a local - if they are lucky enough to have a job - is 9 dollars a month). The only folk I know who have enjoyed their time there are the ones who go to the upmarket, security enclosed and everything five star resorts (which is not my cup of tea either!). I never intend to return again! PS - I do not normally have a downer on a place - but this ranks with Dakar, Sengal where I found myself temporarily stranded en-route to another location.

starlagurl	Jun 4 2008, 09:18 AM Post #12
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 14509 Joined: 5-November 07 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 103914	Hmm, interesting... I have heard great things about Cuba, but you're right, this is from the people who do not leave the confines of their four-ish star resort... Maybe if you dressed more like you didn't have money, you wouldn't get bugged for money? Or do they just bug everyone who is from away? -------------------- My most recent blog: A trip to Toronto that turned into a trip to Niagara

outwardbound	Jun 4 2008, 11:49 AM Post #13
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 4-June 08 Member No.: 193203 Nominate me as a Local Expert	"Maybe if you dressed more like you didn't have money, you wouldn't get bugged for money? Or do they just bug everyone who is from away?" Hi Star.. Sadly I don't blend in easily in foreign climes - being a 'large lady' and white and all that.. I usually dress pretty casual/down anyway.. But it would seem anyone targeted as 'a new face in town' will get harrased (IMHO). Oddly I often get mistaken for a German or an American sj * PS to this/other 'worst experiences' - Turkey is known for guys harrasing women travellers as they are seen as 'an easy lay'... Don't get me started on this one lol'

starlagurl	Jun 4 2008, 12:21 PM Post #14
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 14509 Joined: 5-November 07 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 103914	Oh yah, I've heard of that! Let's start a new topic on that one! Update: found it here: http://www.travelpod.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7452 -------------------- My most recent blog: A trip to Toronto that turned into a trip to Niagara

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