Travel is something I fantasize about all year long. I only get to take a break from work a few times a year, and like most travelers, I hoard my cash and vacation days to plan one big getaway that I hope will be unforgettable.
But what happens when you spend your time and money on a vacation that you would like to forget? If you’re like other disillusioned travelers out there, you’ll share your story on the internet for all the world to see.
If you haven’t been on a disappointing vacation yet, you will want to keep it that way — heed the warnings of other travelers who have gone before you. According to experienced travelers, these 10 popular getaways are a bust.
1. Bolivia
Image: Pixabay
The 2013 World Economic Forum (WEF) report ranked Bolivia as the most unfriendly tourist destination in the world.
2. Detroit
Image: Pixabay
After the recent economic downturn coupled with a rise in crime, “Motor City” is considered the worst place to visit in the U.S. Detroit was listed as number one on EscapeHere’s “10 Worst Cities to Visit in the United States.”
3. Disney World
Image: Pixabay
Walt Disney World may be a rite of passage for most kids, but don’t get your hopes up just yet. Taking into account the exorbitant cost for a family trip, Disney World ranks among the 10 Most Disappointing Destinations in the World according to Smarter Travel.
4. Dublin
Image: Pixabay
Seasoned European travelers (a.k.a. Redditors) call Dublin an expensive tourist trap that doesn’t live up to the hype.
5. Gibraltar
Image: Pixabay
This destination made the list on Reddit world travelers’ thread, where one tourist describes his experience in detail. “It really is just a big rock and not the country it technically claims to be. The hotel sucked. A car had washed up into the swimming pool. That was despite a very clear sign that you weren’t supposed to throw your car off a cliff into the ocean. The food was disgusting, and I wasn’t the only one who refused to eat it. Everyone who decided to eat it anyway got sick. I also got peed on by a monkey.”
6. Leaning Tower of Pisa
Image: Pixabay
Another Reddit tourist says, “It is so tiny compared to what you would have expected from pictures. The buildings around it are a lot nicer. It is overall very lame.”
7. Los Angeles
Image: Pixabay
The City of Angels remains the fourth most popular travel destination in the U.S. yet was named the number one most disappointing travel destination on earth by Yahoo Travel. Why? Despite its glamorous reputation, the city has been called rundown and uninteresting.
8. Mount Rushmore
Image: Pixabay
Prepare to drive miles into South Dakota’s Black Hills to view a set of tiny heads from a long distance over a viewing deck. According to another Redditor, it is, in a word: underwhelming.
9. Niagara Falls
Image: Pixabay
Before you make the trek up north, know that Canadians have the better view of the falls. The American side of Niagara Falls is only so-so. One Reddit commenter says, “What a complete dump.”
10. Paris
Image: Pixabay
Many travelers claim that the stereotypical rude, anti-American French attitude still exists and can be an obstacle when visiting the beautiful city. Unsurprisingly, Paris made CNN’s list of the “World’s 10 most hated cities.”
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