You see it all the time.
“Share your most overrated travel destinations!”
“What’s the most overrated city you’ve ever been to?”
“Tell us about an experience that turned you off on a destination.”
We love a good travel fail story. I have plenty of stories that have made me quite experienced in navigating illness, luggage delays, and mudslides if we wanted to throw in a natural disaster or two.
Discussing whether a place is overrated or not hits a little differently, though.
It means we’re judging places based on some kind of value placed upon that destination by entities unknown.
Magical travel fairies aren’t out there dubbing this and that spot a destination of note, or on the other side of the token, calling this and that spot hot garbage.
I’m here to tell you to be cautious about even playing that game.
Are overrated tourist destinations even a thing?
I came upon this idea with what I figured was a pretty innocuous tweet back when I was still on that hellscape of an app. It had a kissy-faced emoji and everything:
It got some attention.
All I meant was that there are folks out there who will always want to go somewhere because that place is well-known. That’s on top of the fact that it’s pretty crappy to crap all over someone’s plans because of the value you place on that destination.
A destination you deem not worth exploring may actually mean something to someone else.
Who are we to do that to people?
Where does placing value on destinations in this way even come from?
Honestly, who knows? This bird sure doesn’t, no matter how contemplative he seems.
I tried searching around for it for a while — look, I’m not paid for these words of wisdom, but they do come from the heart — but all I could find was more of the same.
All the big glossy travel magazines and travel bloggers alike were competing with listicles on what they felt were garbage destinations. They were looking for clicks on their latest take on THE most overrated travel destinations, year after year after year.
OVERHYPED OVERRATED TOURIST TRAPS TO AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
50 MOST OVERRATED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE WORLD!
29 OVERRATED TRAVEL DESTINATIONS PEOPLE WENT IN X YEAR!
You weren’t even there, bro, and you’re judging other people’s trips?
These are all real. The blogger who wrote that last one called The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen overrated because the mermaid didn’t even sing.
Consider whether you’re sharing helpful information.
Everybody knows that Paris is a popular place to visit, often finding itself among overrated places to visit when the topic comes up. It also tops many people’s bucket lists.
Some save for years to afford their dream vacation to the City of Light.
Fun fact: That dandy nickname comes from both the city’s participation in the Age of Enlightenment and because they were one of the first European cities to use gas street lighting on a large scale. You’re welcome.
When those same people see Paris on all of these lists because of rude waiters or the dog poop on the sidewalks, it can make their dreams and lifelong bucket list wishes feel silly.
It can be based on nothing more than the writer’s personal belief system that there are other, better places to be.
By the way, do you ever wonder whether the French are actually rude or only a little surly because they have to deal with millions of tourists hitting their borders annually? Some have better manners than others, I’m sure.
I’ve only been treated kindly in France, so just sayin’. In fact, we loved Paris enough to move next door.
READ MORE: Yep. Here are some surprising things we’ve learned since!
Anyway, rather than poop on their plans and join the doggie doo on the Parisian sidewalks, why not offer helpful tips about travel to said overrated travel destination? Rather than crush this person’s dream, why not make sure they go there more informed?
They’re more likely to have that spectacular trip they’ve been dreaming of if they know how big the Mona Lisa really is, or if they have a list of cute bistros with friendly service.
Consider people’s unique experiences.
More broadly, share how to make a visit to a city, country, or those well-traveled national parks better rather than changing someone’s mind about going to that destination.
Realize that you don’t know why they’re going to that destination in the first place.
Maybe they read about it when they were little and have been drawn to that place ever since.
Perhaps they actually love those photos where people are holding up a monument or leaning tower. They find it absolutely hilarious and want a pic of their own.
Maybe their dad just died and they want to see why he always talked about this place as his favorite in the world.
Note: Things got dark right there, I know, but I’m making a point.
You don’t know where a person is coming from with their travel choice.
Here’s another.
Let people have their own experiences, and decide how they feel about a place on their own.
Maybe it’s about minding our own business a little more.
Your overrated may be someone else’s dream destination.
Imagine wanting to visit somewhere all your life, a dream you’ve been chasing since you were a kid. Then you come upon someone that’s likely more well-traveled than you giving you the what-for about why your dream destination sucks.
First of all, gross.
Imagine planning your first trip abroad. You know where you want to go and it may be the only time you’re able to travel for a long time after.
You’ve put a lot of thought into this trip because it’s all you think about while you’re putting in the hours at your thankless desk job.
Then you get a “UGH, that place is SO overrated,” from someone who fancies themselves a hype squad on underrated travel destinations and off-the-beaten-path travel.
That would feel pretty awful, right?
People’s preferences don’t have to match your own.
I know people who basically revolve their lives around the Disney theme parks. I mean, I enjoy a visit from time to time, particularly when a log flume ride’s involved, but it isn’t my identity.
Do I get upset because it brings you joy, though?
Of course not!
Put those Mickey Mouse ears on and get yourself that Dole Whip, girl.
I’ll even like it on Instagram if you strike that pose holding the treat out for all to marvel. You all know the Instagram poses i’m talking about I’m sure.
For some, an all-inclusive resort is their jam.
Again, it hasn’t been mine. Typically, I have to get out there and see what’s what.
When I was a kid, though, my favorite place was the Wisconsin Dells, the waterpark capital of the world.
Note: That may be self-proclaimed. Again, I only search the web so far.
Do I consider it a spectacular place to be today, one of the best travel destinations out there, when I’ve broadened my travel experiences?
I mean, not especially.
When the time came around for me to express preferences about where I wanted my bachelorette party, though, I was up in the Dells sunning my buns on Lake Delton.
But some places do suck, though. They’re overrated.
Do they, though?
Who says?
You?
Let’s look at a real-world example from when I was a little too high and mighty about people’s travel choices.
Brian and I didn’t have the best time in Mexico City. He got his phone stolen, and it was during some kind of city-wide teacher protest that led to a heavy police presence and essential shutdown of any fun.
I assume it’s not always like that, though.
Did I share my negative experience with others looking to go to Mexico City at the time?
I sure did.
Mexico City was having a real moment, which is why we went in the first place. It was one of the coolest travel destinations out there per my online research at the time. In my mind, after our trip, it was just another one of those overrated travel destinations.
I wanted my friends to know it.
I’ve since come to terms with the fact that that’s a really jackwagon thing to do to people. Everyone should be able to go see Teotihuacan.
It’s awesome.
Fun fact: It’s unclear whether the ruins were built by the Aztec or Mayan people. While the Aztecs most certainly gave the site its name, its origins otherwise are a fun little mystery.
Everyone should have their first guacamole cricket experience in a place like Mexico City, very much a legit place to do so.
Everyone should also watch their belongings on public transit no matter where they are, and that’s a lesson learned.
What I’m saying is, go to Mexico City, people.
You’ll likely have a much better time than we did!
That sounds bitchy too, though. Just go, guys. I probably won’t meet you there, and that’s OK.
Calling places overrated is overrated.
Your version of overrated likely means very little to someone else. It’s almost become cool to brag about discovering this or that, and heading so far off the beaten path that you make it impossible to follow you.
If more and more influencers are hitting up these secret spots, are they really all that special anymore?
Do locals want you traipsing over there anyway?
That’s a story for another day.
I have some work to do myself around being less judgmental about people’s travel choices.
In this moment and the moments after, can we just be happy when people are traveling, no matter where they’re going?
Can we just be happy for ourselves when we find a place we love, even if it’s been suggested that place is on all those dreaded lists of overrated travel destinations?
I think we’d all be well served to find our own bliss and allow others to do the same.
Do you have a favorite “overrated” destination?
I’ve been to lots of destinations considered overrated by outside forces. New Orleans, Mount Rushmore, New York City, and Niagara Falls all appear on these lists, on top of my personal favorite, Paris.
While we don’t love everywhere we visit, we’d never judge someone’s plans to visit them to see for themselves. At least, I wouldn’t do so to their faces. We’re all a work in progress.
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Ah, SO TRUE! I find in general, about travel and most things in life, it’s better to think twice when my first thought is to be judge-y. We’re all coming from different places with different experiences and different goals, so who am I to judge anyone’s dreams or preferences?
I have had to do some WORK in this area myself! The pandemic definitely helped me realize that hey, maybe can people can do/go where the heck they want??
This is really true! My favourite “overrated” destination is Florence; people complain about the crowds there so much but the tourists are there for a reason. It’s spectacular!
Good reminder not to judge others on their chosen / preferred destinations.
Oh gosh, FLORENCE! Definitely worthy of so much of your time. :)
I really try my best not to go to overrated places, especially ones that are very touristy because I know I probably won’t like them. I found Stonehenge to be overrated and I was so upset because it had been on my bucket list for ages.
But you wouldn’t have been able to form that opinion unless you went! :) There’s value in all of it, I think.
The title of your post intrigued me. I expected to find a selection of overrated destinations and instead found some sage advice about putting our experiences in perspective, looking for the beauty of a place, and not shattering the travel dreams of others. And climbing down from our travel expert pedestals and dispensing with the judgemental attitudes. Great post!
Thanks, Anne! I’ve definitely had to work on myself being less judgey about people’s travel plans…because why should that affect me, especially after the year we’ve had!
You make very valid points. What really stuck with me is that we don’t know the motivation that people have for choosing to visit a specific destination. So who are we to judge? And I agree, that rather than criticizing their choice and perhaps making them feel bad about it, perhaps offering some positive suggestions on ‘what not to miss’ may be a better approach.
Yep, I had to do some soul-searching on this myself! There’s some mind-your-own-business that needs to happen sometimes in the world of travel. :)