# Most disappointing travel destination or tourist attraction \[Edited thread title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 5, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581 "2011-03-05T15:26:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/121 "2011-03-08T14:11:10Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > For me it was Bali. I hated, hated hated Bali. Just one big tourist trap and drunks on spring break. I should note that I lived in Indonesia for two years, so its not like I wrote off the whole country, but Bali sucks. There was a nice island about 1 hour away from us by boat that had quiet beaches, no hawkers, and no drunk college kids vomiting into the sea. We went to Bali once and that was one time too many for me. Heh, I went to Bali (admittedly many years ago now) and loved it - the secret is to go inland. Hang out at Kuta Beach, all you see is drunken Australians (not that there is anything wrong with that, if that’s what you are into!) Inland, there is lots of great stuff to see … I particularly enjoyed climbing Mt. Batur. The whole area is freaky - a volcano _inside_ a gigantic volcanic calendra … Still, I must admit I liked Prambanan and Borobodur on the island of Java the best. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/122 "2011-03-08T14:35:38Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Well, I don’t have to travel there, but … Salem, MA. You think “Witch craft trial” and “Olde New England village with concentrated quaintness and maybe a stock on the town green.” What you get is a small, congested, somewhat down-at-its-heels city with a lot of extremely tacky witchcraft museums and occult stores. I can second that. I posted elsewhere here about how disappointed we were with our trip there. People were lining up for hours for the witch museum, which turned out to be the cheesiest, hokiest waste of time and money I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/123 "2011-03-08T15:39:14Z")
Wow - so many good ones are already taken. The Alamo and Athens are right on. I remember seeing Stonehenge for the first time and thinking “This must be a model of it for the handicapped people who can’t do the hike to the real one which is 10x the size and must be just over that hill.” Nope - that’s the real thing. Apparently moving some six foot tall boulders is a big deal because everyone was three feet high back then. Yet somehow you all missed: Helsinki, Finland. Oh yes, I took a cruise on the Baltic and we stopped for a day in Helsinki to do a city tour. Every other city in other countries where we only had a day felt like you barely scratched the surface. With Helsinki, there was literally NOTHING to see and they ran out of that nothing in less than half a day. But we did see…ugly grey square buildings that made Russian slums look nice…and lots of saunas. Seriously, how is that a site? But let’s not forget their Olympic stadium, with a giant statue of some Finnish runner no one has ever heard of, followed by a trip to a park to see a bunch of pipes welded together in honor of some Finnish composer you’ve also never heard of. We ended in a random church between some rocks that was also nothing worth seeing. What the hell? For a country that invented the cell phone and has an amazing ship building industry, did they not bother to invent any culture along the way? Next door in Sweden and Norway, there was amazing stuff. How did Finland miss the boat? Yeah, I know the Nazis and Russians probably bombed them back to the stone age, but no one bothered to re-build anything like the rest of Europe? ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/124 "2011-03-08T16:00:26Z")
Helsinki is, in my opinion, a very nice town and if you have never heard of [Paavo Nurmi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paavo_Nurmi), [Jean Sibelius](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_sibelius) or the [Temppeliaukio Church](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temppeliaukio_Church) I honestly think it says more about you than of them. 😉 As for myself I don’t think I have ever been disappointed by a place, country or whatever as I never have any pre-made expectations. I just go around exploring things. ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/125 "2011-03-08T17:03:40Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > Helsinki is, in my opinion, a very nice town and if you have never heard of [Paavo Nurmi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paavo_Nurmi), [Jean Sibelius](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_sibelius) or the [Temppeliaukio Church](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temppeliaukio_Church) I honestly think it says more about you than of them. 😉 > > As for myself I don’t think I have ever been disappointed by a place, country or whatever as I never have any pre-made expectations. I just go around exploring things. Sorry, I’m just not up on my Finnish runners from the 1920s, composers with such well known works such as…uh…um…, and the Church of (something that sounds like you order it at a sushi bar) :D. On the plus side, Sibelius does kind of resemble a bad guy from a James Bond movie in his later years… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/126 "2011-03-08T17:28:13Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Ralph-I take it you’re a New Yorker. :rolleyes: While aren’t as WONDERFUL as NYC, we do have our world-class universities, and great museums, and the ocean. Are you feeling OK, dude? This is an opinion forum. Some of the opinions may differ from yours. Tough titty. Suck it up and stop throwing little tantrums. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/127 "2011-03-08T17:59:59Z")
Jamaica. Probably 90% of the island consists of ramshackle slums. You are strongly advised to not leave the resort, except as part of a tour group. It’s hard to enjoy yourself when right outside the resort walls people are living in squalid poverty. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/128 "2011-03-08T18:00:39Z")
> [@Yarster](#): > > Sorry, I’m just not up on my Finnish runners from the 1920s, composers with such well known works such as…uh…um…, _Finlandia_. I’ve never heard of the other two guys either, but Sibelius is a pretty well-known classical composer. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/129 "2011-03-08T19:55:19Z")
> [@Sakuma\_Drops](#): > > Fisherman’s Wharf is where there’s usually a big pile of sea lions on that one dock. If you’ve never been to coastal California and have never seen anything like that, then I guess it’s something for the itinerary. Oh, I forgot about the sea lions. Yeah, they are actually really fun to see. I went to Alcatraz (for the first time!) a few years ago when I had a friend visiting and we enjoyed seeing the sea lions a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/130 "2011-03-08T20:02:51Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Ralph-I take it you’re a New Yorker. :rolleyes: While aren’t as WONDERFUL as NYC, we do have our world-class universities, and great museums, and the ocean. Someone not liking Boston means they are a New Yorker? 😕 Just what is wrong with you that you’ve now had two bizarre outbursts in just this thread alone? ---
**Author:** ![Kotka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@Kotka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kotka)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/131 "2011-03-08T20:04:06Z")
New York, but that was probably our own fault. We were there for about four days, and the only fun thing we did was the Body exhibit. The rest of our time was spent cruising police stations to find a place to get fingerprinting done for Canadian immigration, and going to a restaurant in New Jersey. I tell you, underwhelming! Belgrade, Serbia, though I guess it’s not really a big tourist destination, in 1999, with a big pile of garbage burning in front of the train station. That was just a travel low point for me. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/132 "2011-03-08T20:04:21Z")
Meteor Crater in Arizona is kind of a let down. Don’t get me wrong…it is impressive. But it is in the middle of nowhere and is basically a hole in the ground (albeit a big one). You stare at it for several minutes and then kinda wonder how much longer you need to stare at it to make it worth the effort. If you happen to be driving past anyway because your route took you past it then I’d say stop and see it. In no way is it really worth a special trip though. Four-corners is similarly boring. You lie down and are in four states at once. Whoo hoo! (not) ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/133 "2011-03-08T20:07:50Z")
It’s odd to see people listing the Mona Lisa as a tourist destination. I mean, it’s just one painting, and you pretty much ought to know what it’s going to look like (although you might not have anticipated the glass). But the thing’s in the Louvre, for Pete’s sake. If you can’t find something in the Louvre that takes your breath away, you’re probably dead. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/134 "2011-03-08T20:17:51Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Someone not liking Boston means they are a New Yorker? 😕 Just what is wrong with you that you’ve now had two bizarre outbursts in just this thread alone? Ever hear the one about the Westerner who visited Boston? A Native gave him a tour of the cultural, historic & educational highpoints of that fine city. The Westerner was duly impressed & said that Boston was definitely the Omaha of the East! ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/135 "2011-03-08T20:46:30Z")
I live in Seattle, and I’d have to wrack my brains for reasons to visit here. Um, we have the Space Needle? And…well, that’s all I’ve got. It could be worthwhile to go out to the Olympics or Cascades if you like to see moss and trees, or go out boating in Puget Sound, but the city itself? ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/136 "2011-03-08T21:07:47Z")
> [@Docta\_G](#): > > Yes, Seattle _sucks_. It rains too much, and everyone there is a heroin addict. None of you would like it, and you should spread the word about how horrible of a place it is. Remember: _do not move to Seattle_. It _sucks_. Rains ALL THE TIME. Do not visit unless you like LOTS OF RAIN. RAIN. RAIN. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/137 "2011-03-08T21:11:52Z")
**Lemur866** - most people think Pike’s Place Market is pretty impressive. There are other interesting sites and museums around the space needle as well. That said, I hate constantly rainy cities with shitty weather, so you and London have that in common in terms of great cities that are otherwise ruined by having to do everything inside. Yes, yes, I know if I visit Seattle in August when it doesn’t rain it’s amazing and that’s true. Except you can visit San Diego anytime and you’re virtually guaranteed to have great weather. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/138 "2011-03-08T21:14:59Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > I live in Seattle, and I’d have to wrack my brains for reasons to visit here. Um, we have the Space Needle? And…well, that’s all I’ve got. It could be worthwhile to go out to the Olympics or Cascades if you like to see moss and trees, or go out boating in Puget Sound, but the city itself? Well, according to the folksong … > **[Old Settler's Song (Acres of Clams)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Settler's_Song_(Acres_of_Clams))** > > "Old Settler's Song (Acres of Clams)" (Roud 4746) is a Northwest United States folk song written by Francis D. Henry around 1874. The lyrics are sung to the tune "Old Rosin the Beau." The song also goes by the names "Acres of Clams", “Lay of the Old Settler,” “Old Settler’s Song,” "Puget Sound," while the melody is known as “Rosin the Beau,” "Old Rosin the Beau," "Rosin the Bow," "Mrs. Kenny," "A Hayseed Like Me," "My Lodging's on the Cold, Cold Ground." The Sacred Harp song "338 Sawyer's Exit" a... > [@](#): > > And now that I’m used to the climate, > I think that if a man ever found > A place to live easy and happy, > That Eden is on Puget Sound — > That Eden is on Puget Sou-ou-ound, > That Eden is on Puget Sound — > A place to live easy and happy? > That Eden is on Puget Sound! > > No longer the slave of ambition, > I laugh at the world and its shams > As I think of my pleasant condition, > Surrounded by acres of clams — > Surrounded by acres of cla-a-ams, > Surrounded by acres of clams, > As I think of my happy condition, > Surrounded by acres of clams! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/139 "2011-03-08T21:33:35Z")
> [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](#): > > For me, most medium-sized cities are pretty disappointing. Dublin, Portland Oregon, places like that. that might just be personal preference though. Places like Portland seem to have all the inconvenience of a large city but few of the cultural pluses. > > Las Vegas was a little bit boring. > > Generally unimpressed with California. San Francisco seemed to revolve around tourism a bit too much – it seemed hollow, rather than a real city. > > Japanese tourist sites are boring concreted monstrosities (thinking of places like Hakone). I also think Kyoto is horribly overrated. There are some nice places there, but hidden away amongst the concrete. In fact I’d put Japan as a whole. So much of the ‘historic’ sites are concrete reconstructions. > > New York was a bit boring if you didn’t want to spend lots of money. I always tell European friends if they can only visit once city on the East Coast, make it Washington. > > pdts Tough customer: bored by Vegas, SF and NYC! ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581/140 "2011-03-08T21:44:47Z")
FWIW, I enjoyed Seattle’s “underground city” tour. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-disappointing-travel-destination-or-tourist-attraction-edited-thread-title/573581.md?page=8)