Long time watcher / subscriber - Dubai was the biggest waste of my time. After seeing the buildings - everything was just shopping. No soul. Just western consumerism. Kinda sad.
@@liamfoley9614 Being an Indian , we get lot of work opportunities in Dubai , never would go there it's all about materialism and show off , so artificial and lacks soul.
@@kithu1231 and it is so American in style. The worst kind of urbanism. Also the slave like working conditions of some and the cheap people in expensive clothes are such a painful contradiction. I will never understand why the golf states, who literally pump up money from the ground, don't just create a city that resembles the beauty of Arab cities during Islam's golden age. I would love to see something like that.
Pisa is a place you go for a day trip, not a full vacation. When I did a week in Italy, it was broken into thirds between Rome, Florence, and Venice with Pisa as an excursion.
Cannot agree. I was expecting that and found the town itself quite charming. The tower complex itself is surprisingly beautiful. But you have to go there when there are not so many tourists, that is true. We were there early on a weekday morning in February and were able to enjoy it.
A great nearby alternative to Vancouver is Vancouver Island. Victoria is a lovely little city and the nearby national parks are jaw-droppingly stunning, it almost looks like Lord of the Rings. And it's cheaper than Vancouver, too!
Vancouver Island is beautiful but Victoria is highly overrated and very boring. Even worse, Victoria was so unethical to the environment. Until 2021, Victoria dumped 23 million gallons of raw, untreated sewage every day into Salish Sea waters that are shared with the U.S. It's terrible that only with considerable Washington State pressure did Victoria reluctantly do the right thing.
Southern Nevada is a pretty good destination for hardcore Fallout: New Vegas fans though. There's an annual Fallout festival in Goodsprings on the 11th of November.
And the tourist places are American-ish overcommerciallised. People constantly approaching and yelling at you if you want to buy their sh*t. Beaches are fenced and guarded and can only be entered after paying a small fee.
All a matter of what you go for. If it's gambling, you get the same games in any city that allows casinos. If it's the shows, they've got some great stuff, but just know they aren't cheap.
I was myself, really shocked by Las Vegas, I was doing a tour of Southern Cal, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, don't really gamble and came within a whisker of removing it, but I really enjoyed it. I think other than Bangkok I don't think I have been anywhere that I have unexpectedly enjoyed as much. Now Orlando and indeed the whole of Florida I wouldn't go again, beyond overrated, although perhaps I can blame my dad for Orlando when I was a child he used to spend quite a lot of time working in Florida and visiting Disney World and when you are at that 9-10 year old age and your dad has all these stories about how amazing it is the first time you visit yourself as an adult, its going to be crushingly disappointing! That being said I couldn't help but feel Florida itself is a lot like the US version of Milton Keynes from the UK.
@@jalfredl Last time I went to Vegas we hung out off the strip the entire time and it was awesome. The little off strip casinos and towns were a blast.
The "Tone" on your videos has changed a bit since hitting 1 million, I really like it, more "Truth in Travel". Keep it up, it's more interesting. Mike.
i was honestly surprised when this video popped up on my feed. I couldn't imagine that he was going to complain about places. But, he does it perfectly. He isn't insulting. Just honest. Great video.
We call Aruba the Jersey Shore of the Caribbean. I agree with your assessment of Vancouver, but one of my favorite places in the world is nearby Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. The most incredible museums, architecture, gardens, culture, nature, and people!
@mattball2700 Our visit was a few years ago when we were in Seattle. We were going to go to Leavenworth WA for a few days too but, due to forest fires, needed to make some changes to those plans (flexibility is key to keeping travel fun) and chose the fast ferry from Seattle to Victoria and got a good deal at the Fairmont Empress right on the harbor. What an incredible place to go: Victoria was truly amazing.
...and there is a pub/restaurant that serves Scotch eggs that are made with salmon instead of beef. So amazing. The miniature world museum was also aces as was the botanical garden and the "castle." Even spent a couple of hours at Capitol City Comic-con.
Highly agree re: Victoria. Butchart Gardens is truly a slice of heaven. Whistler is also a great place if you enjoy outdoor adventures. We "ran" a high-elevation obstacle course among the trees (so much fun!) and ziplined several times over gorges (even more fun!).
Sadly, Vancouver like many West Coast cities has gone to shit. I spent a few days there after a cruise last year and besides Granville Island and Stanley Park, the city is in ruins. Our Uber driver refused to take us to Chinatown so we re-routed, but he drove us through it and we saw over a mile of strung out drug addicts worse than LA's Skid Row.
I've got mixed feelings on Vancouver. Being a Canadian, I think it's a good city with lots of greenery, but I can see his point that somewhere like Seattle might be better for the West Coast experience. Vancouver is pricey and getting around can be a hassle, especially with its bridge network.
@@BestOrlandoEvents Outside of the Chinatown/Hastings area I find Vancouver has less homeless than Seattle. Vancouver seems to keep them all in one area.
@@erranzimmermann1207I found Vancouver easier to get around with their public transit than Seattle. SkyTrain and bus system are fantastic. Getting to North Van is a bit time consuming but the SeaBus is neat as a tourist.
Disney World is my number one for being an unpleasant experience. The heat, the crowds and the lines are the worst. I grew up in Florida, both my Dad and brother LOVE Disney World. I never understood it. I went as a child and my Dad took me and my kids when they were younger totally on his dime. I used to feel bad and ungrateful having to psyche myself into pretending I was excited and having a good time. After a couple of trips I was able to successfully excuse myself and just send the kids.
Once I went to Disneyland, I will never be satisfied by WDW again. I can’t explain it, but Disneyland is just easier. Easier to get into the parks, easier to get between parks, easier to go to/from hotel, easier to make reservations. It’s just easier.
@@barbarawissinger You can spend quite a lot of time more than that if you like museums. Hotels are extremely expensive during most of the year though. I considered it a really pleasant city, but they need to fix the housing situation for the locals and also build more hotels.
Still is. I use it as my Hub to fly into Europe via AerLingus, an affordable flight from my local city. Why not? Plus, the PreCheck while flying back is fantastic. Faster than any line at JFK or Newark.
I don't know HOW the vlogger could just ignore LV yet pick on Dubai which is THE SAME SHIT minus gaming. My only guess (and I hope i'm wrong) is he wants to keep getting RFB comps from the big name hotel/casino operators...
@@racingphotographer8251I mean at least Vegas advertises as the “sin city”. Dubai pretends like they’re pious, but with a bit of money you get pretty much everything you can do in Vegas.
I think it's like he said at the beginning though; Vegas is exactly what it is. You don't go there expecting anything else, and you know what you're getting so you're not going to leave feeling like you got cheated. I can totally see people going to Dubai thinking they were going to get some cool Middle East experience, when really it's just shopping, concrete and windows
LV is known for three things from a tourism POV: Gambling, Shows/Events, Dining. The Gambling is pathetic, the shows/events and dining is world-class. Don't get caught up in the facade..
Austin, Texas. I have many friends who visit Austin as tourists, and, as someone who lives near Austin, I cannot figure out why. Many years ago, it was OK to visit if you lived within a one-day drive or if you were heading to something else nearby -- the Texas state capital and some of the museums are good to see. However, now it is just too crowded and too expensive to make it worth visiting -- do not get me wrong, there are some cities in the world that are that crowded and expenses and *are* worth visiting, but there is nothing in Austin to make it worth dealing with the crowds and expense. This is especially true if you happen to end up there during one of the big music festivals like SXSW or ACL -- you DEFINITELY want to check the dates of those events and make sure you NEVER go to Austin during one of those festivals (even if you would otherwise want to go to the music festival -- Austin is too much of a mess during those festivals to allow people to really enjoy the festivals the way they should be able to do so for what they're paying to travel there and be there).
I agree. My sister lives in San Antonio, which is so much nicer. Not only the city, but the location. Fredericksburg, Canyon Lake, etc. are so accessible.
I've lived in Austin most of my life and agree that our city is extremely overrated both as a place to visit and live. Make sure you have a native friend in Austin to show you around - they can show you the good stuff and avoid the tourist traps. And, yes, don't come here during SXSW or ACL Festival unless you don't mind ridiculously expensive accommodations and complete gridlock (our public transportation is awful).
I stayed with someone in Hutto and yeah Austin is dead and dangerous at night. Better off visiting the surrounding areas. Like I went to Fredericksberg and it was a nice place. Went to the state park. Spent a few days in San Antonio too during Cinco Di Mayo and that was a great place to be and nice to have some Texan history. If it wasn't such a big state, I would have gone to Big Bend country because I grew up on Western/Cowboy films. So it would have been good to see.
@@aaronclift I'm still pissed they shut down the trail from the Bee Creek parking garage to Zilker for ACL. Used to be a fairly low-key spot to park and avoid most of the madness.
you can still enjoy most of those overrated destinations, but also depends on what you wanna do there, here some examples: - Barcelona -> just stay outside the gothic quarter (like Bogatell beach) and its much quieter, same goes for many big cities -> stay outside the touristy area/season and you're fine - Orlando -> if you like amusment parks its great, go in autumn or spring, its much quieter, stay in Clearwater beach, its not far from Orlando - Abu Dhabi/Dubai -> like Orlando, its cool if you like amusement parks or have fun like in Las Vegas (outside of gambling), also go in winter or else you will suffer in the heat - Venice -> cool as a day trip, its easy to avoid the touristy areas though
I also second that Vegas is overrated. You're paying a ton of money for mediocre food, or getting a second mortgage for good food. Then the resorts nickel and dime you to death.
I absolutely love Southern California. But I agree. I hate Los Angeles, horrible City. As for Austin, Texas. I was very let down. I live in the salt lake valley and it didn't really feel much different from salt lake City. And that's not a good thing if you have a city and you claim it's weird.
Agree with what you talk about regarding the type of places and what to expect. A lot of times when someone says a place is overrated, it turns out it wasn't their thing to begin with but they didn't research the city beyond social media or colleagues telling them it was a must see.
@JayandSarah I saw tons of female trekkers, including many solo. Hunza Valley isn't as conservative as a lot of Pakistan, many local women don't cover their hair, most are educated and have jobs.
I was listening attentively, and what he was saying made sense. But then he pulled out "Orlando, Florida", and I am stumped! As someone who suffers from extreme social anxiety, and as someone who HATES driving in traffic, Orlando was really not that bad. Dallas and Chicago? Those two cities, for examples, are living hell for me. Traffic, crowds, cramped spaces, just too many people and nowhere to breathe. But Orlando was amazing. It was by far the best vacation I've ever taken. The place I want to go back to the most. There's Disney's Epcot. There's Disney'd Animal Kingdom. My boyfriend and I went to both of these, and they were wonderful and amazing for us two adults. We went to an alligator zoo and had a blast. We went to so many amazing restaurants; the food did not disappoint. The airport was just fine, the only trouble was that it took a while to find where our rental car's booth was. We did go to the beach as well. It may not have been IN Orlando, but we drove to Clearwater beach 2 hours away. I guess for some people who have frequent access to beaches, they may not want to travel that far, but as a Kansan who had never been to one before, it was more than worth it, and I did not find it to be an inconvenicen. The scenery was so beautiful that there was never a dull moment on the drive. I felt very comfortable in Orlando, and there was an endless amount of things to do. We want to go back in a year and do the board walk, go to food trucks, check out more restaurants, do Epcot again, maybe go to Legoland! We'll consider doing the go karts, sea world, zip lining, universals studos, or even just shopping around. We could spend months there without a dull moment.
I would totally say, as a Canadian, everyone here considers Toronto by and far the most overrated city in North America. There’s simply nothing if your not a hockey fan. Little nature, completely flat, uninspiring islands. Cool lots of different cultures, buts it’s a concrete jungle, which isn’t all that friendly, interesting or culturally. Truly I’d rather be in Vancouver or Montreal ANYYY day.
When I heard him say Vancouver, I scratched my head and said "Obviously he's never been to Toronto or Calgary where the best thing to do is an hour and a half drive away [Niagara Falls or Banff]"
I would go back in a heartbeat. Loved it. Drove a Ferrari on a racetrack. Jumped off the Stratosphere. Saw an amazing show. Loved exploring the resorts. Saw the Vegas skyline from on top a mountain at night. Loved it.
It’s cool to see driving in at night. I imagine its quite the spectacle for tourists. Two days is the absolute limit for me, but I’ll only go if I want to see a show. Other than that, it’s horrendous. When they finish the train, it’ll be easy to take a day trip for food and/or a show.
@@michaelp.3485 The things you mention are not unique in the world. You can do these kinds of activities anywhere in the world, also close to each other. Except for the skyline of Las Vegas of course
If you're forced to go to Orlando for Disney/Universal, force your party to go to St Augustine. Bonus points if you can stretch them up to Savannah and Charleston.
I live in Vancouver, and while the city is not the most exciting, it's a healthy lifestyle and close proximity to nature, and the temperate climate that is so attractive imo. Cities like Montreal may be better city-wise, but the landscape is more boring, so it depends on what your priorities are.
Yes, but living somewhere and visiting as a tourist aren’t the same thing. I live in Calgary and there’s lots of reasons why it’s a great place to call home (plenty of not so great too, of course). But I can’t imagine why anyone would want to come on a vacation to the actual city.
@@gnomealone-gu6kr They don't, they went to Calgary enroute to Banff because there is nothing in Calgary that you don't find in every other major city. It's the closest airport to the Rockies, otherwise it's just a tier 2 Canadian city. The exception is that 10 day window for Stampede.
New Orleans the "Big Easy' ain't what it used to be, too crowded too expensive, crime ridden, too humid, too many rude drunk people pissing and puking everywhere
I loved New Orleans! But then again, I went there in november and avoided staying in french quarter after sunset so I might not be a reference. But I do agree that the city has a cleaning problem but I thought people were charming when not drunk!XD (and Highly respectful drivers towards pietons, in particular after being in Greece)
When I was in Dublin, I stayed at Trinity College. I was studying abroad but I believe you can get accommodations there even if you are not a student. It wasn't the best place to stay (Though, I liked the way the campus looked) but at least I was able to cook and easily walk to a lot of places. I went to Galway and Cork for day trips. I would go back for sure.
When I think of an overrated place, Agra, India immediately comes to mind. Sure it has the Taj Mahal, but the rest of the city and region around it is a tourist hellscape. It has gotten so oversaturated with tourism (and the worst kind of tourism) that it is almost not worth going. If you're going there because of the Taj Mahal, then don't do it, it'll feel more like an obligation rather than an adventure. Instead I'd recommend Aurangabad. Aurangabad is a lesser-know (but colorful) city that is a base to visit some truly jaw-dopping world wonders. Ellora is a series of temples excavated from a hillside, think Petra but way more intricate. Ajanta is a jewel box of early Buddhist cave temple art and is home to frescoes as old as the Colosseum. Lonar meteor crater lake is a geologist's dream, it's home to an entirely unique ecosystem and some truly mesmerizing natural surroundings. Aurangabad is also home to its own version of the Taj Mahal and a fortress that features a moat that was built by shaving away the sides of a massive hill, how they did that back in medieval times, I cannot comprehend. Aurangabad just might be the most underrated city in India.
Thanks for the insightful recommendations! I saved them in my Google Maps in the hope I could some day see the places in person. I've been looking for that fortress with moat carved from the hill, but can't seem to find it in Aurangabad. Would you happen to know the name? Thank you.
I went to Dublin, unfortunately in August as my travel companion had no other options. I truly enjoyed it overall, especially because we took the time to check out the more honest attractions (the Little Museum is worth a half-day). But my joke has always been that we met everybody in the world there but the Irish. The place feels like a gigantic tourist shop. The locals are amazing when you do scare one up, really excellent friendly people and they made the trip for me. I wanted to move there just because of how friendly everybody was. (Then we hit Scotland a few times over a few years and now I want to move to Inverness instead 😋
I would add Los Angeles as a destinations that's overrated (mostly thanks to Hollywood). The city is expensive, seedy, hard to get around, and overall has a really weird, rundown vibe. There are some great cultural amenities there, but there are much nicer places on the West Coast that can give you a similar experience like San Diego or Seattle.
Its never crossed my mind to visit LA. If I fly to the US and pay these prices I csn think of about 3256 places I'd visit before going to LA. No offense - I'm sure the climate there is lovely but idk what I should do there. Beaches are boring.
@@JohnSkyLeywas in San Diego and LA earlier this year. SD has nowhere near the level of homelessness and seediness as LA and is much easier to get around
Brazil or Greece are my two favorites. I would say Dominican Republic was over rated. One thing that I can't stand more then anything is people trying to sell you things or beg for money. So if I'm sitting at a beach and every 2 minutes I am being bothered It would really make not like the place.
Miami is overated. A bunch of overpriced food and drunk tourists. I rather rent a car and drive down to the keys. The keys are the best part of Florida.
I’d actually agree. There’s not a lot to do in Miami if you’re not into clubbing, shopping or the beach. (I like those things… but I can do all of those in Europe and better 🤷♂️)
1000%, most of Florida absolutely sucks for tourists and the Keys are the sole exception IMO. To me it's always a bad sign when a city's only claim to fame is having amusement parks nearby, just like how Wolter feels about "the Paris of wherever" cities.
Insanely priced hotels and bars these days. They even have dynamic pricing for the pints down Temple Bar (absolute definition of a tourist trap, no locals stray down there).
If you want a nice experience in the ABC islands right next to Aruba: check out Curaçao! The culture there is not americanized at all. Its capital Willemstad feels like Holland with its colourful buildings, Klein Curaçao is a fantastic day trip, and the snorkeling pretty much everywhere on the island is simply divine! The island is also not just about tourism, there is a lot to learn about the local culture and economy and it is also very safe to explore. We loooved our trip there! It is a very unique island that feels very different than the rest of the Caribbean...and it's out of the hurricane belt as well.
Only time we usually go is off season and if we REALLY want to, we take a tues or wed off work. MUCH easier to navigate on a random Tuesday in early November than Saturday in August
@@Outmind01 the authentic stuff is delicious. Anything thats toxic waste green or overly lime-y isn't it, the hole in the wall spots are exactly where to go
Spot-on!! That’s just like us Miami natives that don’t go anywhere near South Beach 🤮 full of tourists and tourist traps 😂 nasty 😂 we stay on the other side of the bridge and if we wanna go to the beach, we’d rather go further north into Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach County 💯
Galway guy here. Delighted to see you were here and enjoyed it! I wish more tourists would get themselves away from Dublin. Anywhere along Ireland's west coast is great. People don't experience the 'real Ireland' in Dublin.
@@steve94galway I used to love Dublin, even went there during St. Patrick's Day/Week many years ago and had a blast going from bar to bar with Irish people and American people with ancestry from Ireland but there are just way too many tourists there now. I blame social media and overpopulation lol
As someone who lives in Seattle and loves living here, I was surprised Vancouver is considered overrated! I’ve only visited one time and I can agree there is not a huge list of activities that seemed available, but I was blown away by my weekend visit and consider Vancouver to have everything Seattle has x10. Larger downtowns, larger mountains, more people, and then pretty similar vibes. I’m honored Mark would suggest people come to Seattle instead.
I love the Blacks Hills of SD. Maybe Mt. Rushmore isn’t for everyone, but west of the Badlands, awe inspiring in their own right, is truly beautiful country. I wouldn’t mind living out there, snowfall what it is. Cheers!
Never been but from what I've seen it's quite nice. It definitely should be apart of a road trip and not something you specifically travel to and then back to the airport.
I have just returned from a vacation in São Paulo after not leaving the US in over a decade and it was so so fun and fascinating. Traffic was intense at times but as I’m a New Yorker who currently lives in LA, it was nothing I wasn’t used to. I fell in love with the city and the Brazilian people
Literal hell on earth with the weather and people to match. And this is from a Disney nerd. Ill hapily keep Anaheim and Tokyo. Orlando is Walmart in the hood.
As someone who was born in LA, I can understand why someone who is not from here would think it is over-rated. I love it here and there are so many hidden gems to discover.
The museum at La Brea Tar Pits (tons of ice age fossils) and California Science Center (specifically the space shuttle Endeavour) are really cool places. The Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame, Venice "Barbie" Beach, those are stupid.
Don't forget that Orlando is only an hour or so away from cocoa beach...... Which is known for...... Being one of the absolute best beaches anywhere in the world 😵💫
Strongly disagree on Vancouver….. the surrounding mountains are amazing. Food is awesome, Stanley park has 28km of walking and I has the biggest seaplane base in the world. And even though Vancouver has its problems, it’s MUCH safer to live than Seattle……
I was disappointed with Seattle. It probably wouldn't have been great to visit or live in the 1990's but my mind had hyped it up that the reality was disappointing. Seattle was still ok, but more time in the surrounding forests would have been better.
Went to Aruba in 2000. Had a great time. Friend went back a few years later. Said it really became commercialized. Bonaire is the go-to for the ABC Islands IMO. Not many chains when I went in 2011. Met a lot of very nice people. Was low key. Great place to dive or snorkel.
It's about managing expectations. People should do their homework before spending their valuable vacation time. I loved Orlando for the amusement parks when we were into that sort of thing, but I wouldn't go there for any other reason.
And it doesn't matter if it's Orlando or anywhere else: If you go for theme parks, DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Study the park, watch reviews, etc... Most bad experiences at those parks are related to long queues. Info like knowing what rides are best to hit as soon as the gate opens can save you hours on queues. Avoiding them on July and August also can help you have a better day at it.
Yes, the most important thing: find out beforehand, if your expectations meet the place! If you want Disney without the extreme costs, go to Las Vegas, enjoy the rides and shows. Avoid the areas behind the strip. If you want "locals" in Dubai, avoid the city center, stay in a hotel in the outskirts (huge rooms, not expensive), eat in places the locals go to, take your rental car and go to the desert. The same applies to most of the places.....
I’m from São Paulo and I like the town, the thing is, the foreign tourists tend to go to the wrong áreas specially the old downtown..but I agree the smallest towns in Brazil are the best
Just got back from a trip to Dubai (Unbearably hot in August). There's actually more there than just shopping -- some interesting museums, the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, going up in the Birj Khalifa, but you're right that it is actually soulless. Shows you what can happen with too much money.
I’m from Ireland & Dublin is definitely overrated. It’s fine as 2 or 3 night stop on a bigger excursion to the country but don’t go for a “weekend trip” because I meet way too many people who didn’t enjoy Ireland & it turns out they only had 3 nights in Dublin. It is our capital on doing a 1 or 2 week tour to Ireland, a visit there can colouring to the rest of the country but don’t let it be the vanguard of your experience in Ireland
To be honest, I extremely enjoyed both Dublin itself and its museums. I can only afford going there in the extreme low season though, because otherwise hotel prices are absolutely ludicrous.
@@patrickreuvekamp totally, we were looking at doing a weekend there for my moms birthday but we ended up booking Liverpool instead (from Shannon & cheaper than the train). Sad really because it’s only across the water. Dublin is great to learn about the country but I find it’s getting more and more generic and more and more expensive
the big tourist cities are fine as long as you don’t herd. skip tram 28 in lisbon, pay for the early entry at the vatican, walk two blocks off the main drag to eat, go to a different museum (the louvre is not the only museum in paris )
Tram 28 in Lisbon is worth going with, just go there in early morning..it will be nearly empty. And take a Tuk-Tuk for the way back, they are not more expensive than a taxi and offer great sights (and a nice chat with the driver, if you speak some spanish or portuguese)
I fly into Orlando to visit family, the best part of it is that it's central to other more interesting places in Florida. And the best part of Florida is you get the northeast's June weather in February.
Good vid. So pleased that you included Dubai and Orlando! I didn't think that you would...! Brussels is great through Mark, honestly. I just don't get why you're so down on it, there's loads to do there!
It's also somewhat funny how he says Brussels is overrated, when within Europe Brussels is practically 'terra incognita'. Most people tend to have no idea what to expect when going there ( nearby Paris, Amsterdam, London).
@@parkergiele totally agree. If anything, Brussels should be in the 'hidden gem' section! It's wonderful, and I've been on multiple occasions. Sure, look out for pickpockets, but that's the same in any big city. Brussels is wonderful!
@@sollyolly9547 I actually moved to Brussels a year ago, and though the city really can be quite rough around the edges, it has a certain beauty and almost mystical 'vibe' that has totally entranced me. There's this wonderful 'book' (+/- bande dessinée) by François Schuiten, 'Bruxelles: un rêve capital/Brussel: hoofdstad der dromen' (Brussels: capital of dreams) which really encapsulates it's unique essence. I don't think there's an English translation though... still, for the drawings alone it's worth looking up!
@@parkergiele We definitely agree on this. The book sound very interesting! I guess that you must also have seen the Christmas Market in Brussels...one of the best I've been to outside of Deutschland!
As an American, you say that you would rather go to Seattle than Vancouver. As a Canadian who has visited both cities, I stand by Vancouver. You can day trip out to amazing places within the area. Vancouver is tons of fun, just depends what you like to do while travelling.
This will probably generate some hate replies, so bear in mid this is just opinion and others experience may vary. Overrated: Canberra, Australia. When I first went to Canberra to work very briefly (thank goodness) 30 years ago now I was hard pressed to find someone my age who was actually born there. However even rarer was finding someone that planned to live out their retirement there. That alone speaks volumes. To me it is one big dormitory for government workers. Parking fees are everywhere, even in places like shopping malls. Sure it has lots of museums and galleries, but that is not a reason for a long detour from seeing better places.Overrated: Melbourne, Australia. Great Coffee, Best shopping in Australia, Lots of sport, however if none of these appeal there is little else. Go to Great Ocean Road instead.
I hired a car when in Dubai and got to see some cool things. Old Dubai, The Miracle Garden, Sheik Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the spice and Gold souks. We went in an old abra along the canal. It was lovely. We went to Sharjah and found a lovely little nature reserve and witnessed call to prayer during Ramadan. We drove through a mountain range to the other side of the Emirates. We saw plenty of Emiratis, we simply went to the places they frequent. We went during Ramadan, so the places were quiet, but the evenings were busy and bustling. We had a great time.
Cancun is beach and party, yes. But lots of places in Mexico do it much more affordably and without all the gross people and hotels. Los Angeles is also very overrated, so much of it is like a ghetto. San Francisco too. Agree about Dubai, Dublin and Orlando. Also cities in Switzerland if we're talking about costs.
I respectfully disagree. Beautiful city with many incredible sights. If you're not a fan of big cities you won't enjoy it. Park Guell is amazing as all the Gaudi architecture, of course, if you're not a fan of that style you will be unimpressed. Madrid is amazing as well but I liken Madrid to a beautiful town where Barcelona is a city and acts as such.
There are so many nicer places in Spain....if you need to see the Gaudi things, go to Barcelona for 1-2 days, than leave for ANY other town, not only Madrid or Granada, but also Santiago, Malaga, Valencia, Cordoba..........
Orlando is overrated if you go without little kids, absolutely. For me, though, the most overrated place I've ever been is Las Vegas. It's cool, but it's insanely expensive and the whole place feels superficial and hollow to me. Good food though.
Agree. I told my doctor that the two places in the US that I steer clear of are Orlando and LV. Both cities for those fascinated with superficiality. He and I are on the same wavelength.
@ulrichsd I loved Las Vegas. I drove a Ferrari around a race track, jumped off the Stratosphere, saw an amazing show, saw a beautiful view of the Vegas skyline at night, loved exploring all the hotels, had some great food. Yes, it is expensive; so is a lot of travel destinations. But I would go back in a heartbeat. Guess me and millions of others are stupid, right?
Some really good places on this list. I've always thought Vancouver was overrated and someone finally said it. Lots of glass and steel skyscrapers, but very drab architecturally.
I'm not really a beach person but a couple of days at most beaches I've been to has been pretty nice. But Hilton Head, S.C. was the most boring beach town I've ever visited. Apparently locals love boring and mandate it but it wasn't for me. I live in S.C. so it's not a big deal to go there so it wasn't like I traveled three thousand miles and was disappointed based on the time and effort versus the reality. Orlando is very much overrated as well if you don't like theme parks. But in most places it very much depends on what you're into and were looking for as to whether it's overrated or not.
Aruba has plenty of things to do besides going to the beach... and not all of the island is westernized, just the areas where tourists concentrate, like Palm Beach.
Yeahh I agree, Aruba has a lot of nooks and crannies and underrated local culture. It's not unsafe like Jamaica or overly expensive like some islands. People are genuinely kind and helpful to tourists. I find it strikes a good balance.
Apart from Orlando and Vancouver, nothing particular comes to mind but I have been to some places that were worth seeing once but I am not likely to return. Barcelona was beautiful but just too crowded in my experience. I agree with your comments on Orlando although I would add that the transit network there was not that bad really. As to Vancouver, yeah, it is much more interesting to visit Seattle really, and I speak as a Canadian. While Vancouver may be improving, the street crime and the sheer numbers of strung out drug addicts is really off the charts. There are many other places to visit on the Pacific coast that are more interesting.
I would place Cartagena in this list. It was my last stop visiting Colombia and outside of the old town, the place was uninteresting compared to many of the places I visited there.
@@edlawn5481 for me a lot of tourists It’s not a problem. I just wasn’t impressed. Per example by the Sagrada Família, like I was with the Colosseum and the Fontana do Trevi in Rome. Park Guell was a very big disappointment. I just liked the batlo house and the palace of catalan music.
I get what your saying but being Irish I will gravitate to Irish bars where I travel because there always be someone from home that will give a good steer on what is good and not so good in a region to see/do.
@@pattralee Yeah, but the Irish are more adventurous travelers than Americans, so they likely had some information worth sharing. Wherever I’ve been in the world I’ve met Aussies, Norwegians, and Irish in the damnedest places. Most Americans stick with the canned adventures and consumerist comforts of home.
Your comments about Aruba were exactly why we didn't go there earlier this year. We had already booked the flights/hotel/tours but then after doing more research it looked like we were going to another US state. So we cancelled the entire trip. Maybe Curacao should be our goal...
@@Cta2006 TY. Not sure why Bonaire rarely comes up in conversation but maybe that's a good thing in terms of going to a place that's not over-touristed.
When I told my sister that my son was taking his family to Curacao, she drew a blank. I told her "the ABC islands". Again, nothing. I explained further. She asked why he was going when all her friends went to Aruba. Bingo! Right answer. BTW, even the 7 year old loved Curacao.
![[Live สด] การออกรางวัลสลากกินแบ่งรัฐบาล งวดวันที่ 16 ธันวาคม 2567](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dNTiBBthKgQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Long time watcher / subscriber - Dubai was the biggest waste of my time. After seeing the buildings - everything was just shopping. No soul. Just western consumerism. Kinda sad.
I went to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha in 1982 - they were so fascinating. no interest in going back now they've been ruined.
The state of todays tourism 😔
To me it's always seemed Iike a place to go in order to just get pictures of yourself there, which is really depressing to me.
@@malthuswasright what was it like back then? Could you already see in these cities the massive wealth the UAE and Qatar had under the ground?
You are right
I'll tell you what's underrated: Wolters World. Best travel channel period.
@@johnshort5830 AGREE
Amen
you are too kind :)
There's a million places in Europe, including a rural crossroads in eastern Poland that i'd rather visit before Dubai.
@@liamfoley9614 Being an Indian , we get lot of work opportunities in Dubai , never would go there it's all about materialism and show off , so artificial and lacks soul.
@@kithu1231 and it is so American in style. The worst kind of urbanism.
Also the slave like working conditions of some and the cheap people in expensive clothes are such a painful contradiction. I will never understand why the golf states, who literally pump up money from the ground, don't just create a city that resembles the beauty of Arab cities during Islam's golden age. I would love to see something like that.
This video needs a part 2. It’s good to have realistic travel discussions
I agree
Pisa. Literally two (barely) noteworthy buildings to see and hordes of tourists.
Pisa is a place you go for a day trip, not a full vacation. When I did a week in Italy, it was broken into thirds between Rome, Florence, and Venice with Pisa as an excursion.
I took the train from Florence to Pisa. It's a good half a day trip but thats pretty much it.
You literally take a train, visit the Pisa tower and go away to another place. With the Frecciarossas, its very easy
Cannot agree. I was expecting that and found the town itself quite charming. The tower complex itself is surprisingly beautiful. But you have to go there when there are not so many tourists, that is true. We were there early on a weekday morning in February and were able to enjoy it.
Day trips from Florence to Lucca or Siena are definitely a better option than Pisa
“Anything that is the something of something is really the nothing of anything “ Lisa Simpson
Here in Colorado we have a "New York Bagels" that are not New York bagels.
A great nearby alternative to Vancouver is Vancouver Island. Victoria is a lovely little city and the nearby national parks are jaw-droppingly stunning, it almost looks like Lord of the Rings. And it's cheaper than Vancouver, too!
I came on to say exactly that as well👍
@@alexlindquist2986 and Butchart Gardens are phenomenal.
@@tomfontaine4960yes! Butchart Gardens is amazing
Victoria is disgusting and highly overrated because every day they dump 23 million gallons of RAW, UNTREATED SEWAGE into local Salish Sea waters.
Vancouver Island is beautiful but Victoria is highly overrated and very boring. Even worse, Victoria was so unethical to the environment. Until 2021, Victoria dumped 23 million gallons of raw, untreated sewage every day into Salish Sea waters that are shared with the U.S. It's terrible that only with considerable Washington State pressure did Victoria reluctantly do the right thing.
Vegas…greed on steroids. Won’t be back.
Southern Nevada is a pretty good destination for hardcore Fallout: New Vegas fans though. There's an annual Fallout festival in Goodsprings on the 11th of November.
Jamaica is incredibly dangerous outside the tourist areas I would not recommend
Loved Jamaica, Negril area and SW coast were awesome, just do not travel to dangerous areas…
And the tourist places are American-ish overcommerciallised. People constantly approaching and yelling at you if you want to buy their sh*t. Beaches are fenced and guarded and can only be entered after paying a small fee.
My personal opinion, Las Vegas is definitely overrated. anything outside the strip and downtown is completely dead.
All a matter of what you go for. If it's gambling, you get the same games in any city that allows casinos. If it's the shows, they've got some great stuff, but just know they aren't cheap.
I was myself, really shocked by Las Vegas, I was doing a tour of Southern Cal, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, don't really gamble and came within a whisker of removing it, but I really enjoyed it. I think other than Bangkok I don't think I have been anywhere that I have unexpectedly enjoyed as much.
Now Orlando and indeed the whole of Florida I wouldn't go again, beyond overrated, although perhaps I can blame my dad for Orlando when I was a child he used to spend quite a lot of time working in Florida and visiting Disney World and when you are at that 9-10 year old age and your dad has all these stories about how amazing it is the first time you visit yourself as an adult, its going to be crushingly disappointing! That being said I couldn't help but feel Florida itself is a lot like the US version of Milton Keynes from the UK.
When I went, I spent more time in the desert than anything
@@jalfredl Last time I went to Vegas we hung out off the strip the entire time and it was awesome. The little off strip casinos and towns were a blast.
I think two nights in the strip is enough to enjoy everything, then after a day or two going to hoover dam or the national parks is fine
The "Tone" on your videos has changed a bit since hitting 1 million, I really like it, more "Truth in Travel". Keep it up, it's more interesting. Mike.
I agree 100%
Yes this video was pretty much a full on rant and very enjoyable to listen to! I loved it! I want to see more like this!
Agree!
i was honestly surprised when this video popped up on my feed. I couldn't imagine that he was going to complain about places. But, he does it perfectly. He isn't insulting. Just honest. Great video.
The trick is to talk really fast doesn't matter what he says just talk fast.
We call Aruba the Jersey Shore of the Caribbean. I agree with your assessment of Vancouver, but one of my favorite places in the world is nearby Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. The most incredible museums, architecture, gardens, culture, nature, and people!
Victoria is amazing. We went for Butchard but loved the city as a whole
@mattball2700 Our visit was a few years ago when we were in Seattle. We were going to go to Leavenworth WA for a few days too but, due to forest fires, needed to make some changes to those plans (flexibility is key to keeping travel fun) and chose the fast ferry from Seattle to Victoria and got a good deal at the Fairmont Empress right on the harbor. What an incredible place to go: Victoria was truly amazing.
...and there is a pub/restaurant that serves Scotch eggs that are made with salmon instead of beef. So amazing. The miniature world museum was also aces as was the botanical garden and the "castle." Even spent a couple of hours at Capitol City Comic-con.
@carlfromtheoc1788 ❤️ miniature world too.
Highly agree re: Victoria. Butchart Gardens is truly a slice of heaven. Whistler is also a great place if you enjoy outdoor adventures. We "ran" a high-elevation obstacle course among the trees (so much fun!) and ziplined several times over gorges (even more fun!).
Completely agreed on Dubai! It's so soulless and is basically a rich person's playground. You'll barely encounter a local Emirati there too.
I think people should be warned that the Waffle House in Yeehaw Junction never has any grape Jelly
I prefer strawberry jam, anyway.
I prefer strawberry.
Who eats grape jelly?
@@Caderic I agree. I prefer grape jam, if I have to choose.
LOL. I have driven past that place. No jelly? Well, I'll never stop now.
People don’t go to Vancouver for the city it is for the mountains!
Sadly, Vancouver like many West Coast cities has gone to shit. I spent a few days there after a cruise last year and besides Granville Island and Stanley Park, the city is in ruins. Our Uber driver refused to take us to Chinatown so we re-routed, but he drove us through it and we saw over a mile of strung out drug addicts worse than LA's Skid Row.
@@BestOrlandoEvents East Hastings looks like Philly's Kensington Street
I've got mixed feelings on Vancouver. Being a Canadian, I think it's a good city with lots of greenery, but I can see his point that somewhere like Seattle might be better for the West Coast experience. Vancouver is pricey and getting around can be a hassle, especially with its bridge network.
@@BestOrlandoEvents Outside of the Chinatown/Hastings area I find Vancouver has less homeless than Seattle. Vancouver seems to keep them all in one area.
@@erranzimmermann1207I found Vancouver easier to get around with their public transit than Seattle. SkyTrain and bus system are fantastic. Getting to North Van is a bit time consuming but the SeaBus is neat as a tourist.
Disney World is my number one for being an unpleasant experience. The heat, the crowds and the lines are the worst. I grew up in Florida, both my Dad and brother LOVE Disney World. I never understood it. I went as a child and my Dad took me and my kids when they were younger totally on his dime. I used to feel bad and ungrateful having to psyche myself into pretending I was excited and having a good time. After a couple of trips I was able to successfully excuse myself and just send the kids.
@@slm6261 I haven't been to Disney World since 1976 and I have no desire to go back
Once I went to Disneyland, I will never be satisfied by WDW again. I can’t explain it, but Disneyland is just easier. Easier to get into the parks, easier to get between parks, easier to go to/from hotel, easier to make reservations. It’s just easier.
@@jacocharo I agree I have been to both.
And let’s not forget, you are very close to kishittee
So you still consider yourself a child. You just dump your kids on him?
Dublin was a great city for flying into to see the rest of Ireland
I agree. Dublin can be done in one day, then visitors can move on to better places in Ireland. Surprisingly, we enjoyed Tralee most.
@@barbarawissinger for us it was Killarney
@@frednich96031. Tralee 2. Dingle 3. Killarney.
Last 1. Cork 2. Limerick 3. Dublin
@@barbarawissinger You can spend quite a lot of time more than that if you like museums. Hotels are extremely expensive during most of the year though. I considered it a really pleasant city, but they need to fix the housing situation for the locals and also build more hotels.
Still is. I use it as my Hub to fly into Europe via AerLingus, an affordable flight from my local city. Why not? Plus, the PreCheck while flying back is fantastic. Faster than any line at JFK or Newark.
Overrated: Las Vegas. Comically expensive and 80% of what you see is sad people feeding money into slot machines like robots
I don't know HOW the vlogger could just ignore LV yet pick on Dubai which is THE SAME SHIT minus gaming. My only guess (and I hope i'm wrong) is he wants to keep getting RFB comps from the big name hotel/casino operators...
If you’re a drunk maniac it isn’t overrated
@@racingphotographer8251I mean at least Vegas advertises as the “sin city”. Dubai pretends like they’re pious, but with a bit of money you get pretty much everything you can do in Vegas.
I think it's like he said at the beginning though; Vegas is exactly what it is. You don't go there expecting anything else, and you know what you're getting so you're not going to leave feeling like you got cheated. I can totally see people going to Dubai thinking they were going to get some cool Middle East experience, when really it's just shopping, concrete and windows
LV is known for three things from a tourism POV: Gambling, Shows/Events, Dining. The Gambling is pathetic, the shows/events and dining is world-class. Don't get caught up in the facade..
My husband is from Rio. To quote him, “Sao Paulo is terrible”. We live in Orlando now. It’s terrible.
My thoughts and prayers are with you
Just got back from São Paulo. It's fine for a few days at most. Traffic is insane. The Batman murals and Japanese neighborhood were cool.
@@katielemos8590 haha that's kinda funny but sorry
😢
How do you guys feel about Rio? I always wanted to vacation there.
Milan! Dull, expensive. Once you've seen the Sforzesco Castle and the Duomo, get the hell outta there. Much nicer places to see in Italy
Nicer places to see in Italy:true. Only duomo and castle to visit:false. Expensive:true😂
Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, Last Supper, Pinacoteca di Brera, nearby Monza Cathedral.
I liked Milan. Seemed like a place in Italy you could actually live.
you forgot the traffic jam which is there 24/7
Austin, Texas. I have many friends who visit Austin as tourists, and, as someone who lives near Austin, I cannot figure out why. Many years ago, it was OK to visit if you lived within a one-day drive or if you were heading to something else nearby -- the Texas state capital and some of the museums are good to see. However, now it is just too crowded and too expensive to make it worth visiting -- do not get me wrong, there are some cities in the world that are that crowded and expenses and *are* worth visiting, but there is nothing in Austin to make it worth dealing with the crowds and expense. This is especially true if you happen to end up there during one of the big music festivals like SXSW or ACL -- you DEFINITELY want to check the dates of those events and make sure you NEVER go to Austin during one of those festivals (even if you would otherwise want to go to the music festival -- Austin is too much of a mess during those festivals to allow people to really enjoy the festivals the way they should be able to do so for what they're paying to travel there and be there).
I agree. My sister lives in San Antonio, which is so much nicer. Not only the city, but the location. Fredericksburg, Canyon Lake, etc. are so accessible.
I've lived in Austin most of my life and agree that our city is extremely overrated both as a place to visit and live. Make sure you have a native friend in Austin to show you around - they can show you the good stuff and avoid the tourist traps. And, yes, don't come here during SXSW or ACL Festival unless you don't mind ridiculously expensive accommodations and complete gridlock (our public transportation is awful).
I stayed with someone in Hutto and yeah Austin is dead and dangerous at night. Better off visiting the surrounding areas. Like I went to Fredericksberg and it was a nice place. Went to the state park. Spent a few days in San Antonio too during Cinco Di Mayo and that was a great place to be and nice to have some Texan history.
If it wasn't such a big state, I would have gone to Big Bend country because I grew up on Western/Cowboy films. So it would have been good to see.
San Antonio and austin suck
@@aaronclift I'm still pissed they shut down the trail from the Bee Creek parking garage to Zilker for ACL. Used to be a fairly low-key spot to park and avoid most of the madness.
you can still enjoy most of those overrated destinations, but also depends on what you wanna do there, here some examples:
- Barcelona -> just stay outside the gothic quarter (like Bogatell beach) and its much quieter, same goes for many big cities -> stay outside the touristy area/season and you're fine
- Orlando -> if you like amusment parks its great, go in autumn or spring, its much quieter, stay in Clearwater beach, its not far from Orlando
- Abu Dhabi/Dubai -> like Orlando, its cool if you like amusement parks or have fun like in Las Vegas (outside of gambling), also go in winter or else you will suffer in the heat
- Venice -> cool as a day trip, its easy to avoid the touristy areas though
I would never stay outside zones 1/2 in London, its pricey and time consuming to get in. I hated it when we stayed in zone 6
I loved Galway. Dublin was a nice day, but I enjoyed driving all over Ireland and visiting cities like Galway and Killarney. ❤
I was living in Panama when I went to the Bahamas. It was boring, and I already had beaches I loved back home.
I also second that Vegas is overrated. You're paying a ton of money for mediocre food, or getting a second mortgage for good food. Then the resorts nickel and dime you to death.
"Here's a room a this fancy hotel. Starting at $27. Now we'll add on the $250 resort fee."
I feel this video but man, I love Vancouver. 😆 Different people just appreciate different things. Great video!!
Austin Texas and Los Angeles are the overrated places I have visited.
I absolutely love Southern California. But I agree. I hate Los Angeles, horrible City. As for Austin, Texas. I was very let down. I live in the salt lake valley and it didn't really feel much different from salt lake City. And that's not a good thing if you have a city and you claim it's weird.
Agree with what you talk about regarding the type of places and what to expect.
A lot of times when someone says a place is overrated, it turns out it wasn't their thing to begin with but they didn't research the city beyond social media or colleagues telling them it was a must see.
Most underrated: Hunza Valley, Pakistan. Insane scenery, surprisingly affordable, great food, friendly people.
Very cool
Not good if you bring your wife.
@@JayandSarah Curb your bigotry
@@dr.winstonsmith you are supportive of taliban rules given its a cultural or religious thing that should be tolerated?
@JayandSarah I saw tons of female trekkers, including many solo. Hunza Valley isn't as conservative as a lot of Pakistan, many local women don't cover their hair, most are educated and have jobs.
I was listening attentively, and what he was saying made sense. But then he pulled out "Orlando, Florida", and I am stumped! As someone who suffers from extreme social anxiety, and as someone who HATES driving in traffic, Orlando was really not that bad. Dallas and Chicago? Those two cities, for examples, are living hell for me. Traffic, crowds, cramped spaces, just too many people and nowhere to breathe. But Orlando was amazing. It was by far the best vacation I've ever taken. The place I want to go back to the most.
There's Disney's Epcot. There's Disney'd Animal Kingdom. My boyfriend and I went to both of these, and they were wonderful and amazing for us two adults. We went to an alligator zoo and had a blast. We went to so many amazing restaurants; the food did not disappoint. The airport was just fine, the only trouble was that it took a while to find where our rental car's booth was.
We did go to the beach as well. It may not have been IN Orlando, but we drove to Clearwater beach 2 hours away. I guess for some people who have frequent access to beaches, they may not want to travel that far, but as a Kansan who had never been to one before, it was more than worth it, and I did not find it to be an inconvenicen. The scenery was so beautiful that there was never a dull moment on the drive.
I felt very comfortable in Orlando, and there was an endless amount of things to do. We want to go back in a year and do the board walk, go to food trucks, check out more restaurants, do Epcot again, maybe go to Legoland! We'll consider doing the go karts, sea world, zip lining, universals studos, or even just shopping around. We could spend months there without a dull moment.
I would totally say, as a Canadian, everyone here considers Toronto by and far the most overrated city in North America. There’s simply nothing if your not a hockey fan. Little nature, completely flat, uninspiring islands. Cool lots of different cultures, buts it’s a concrete jungle, which isn’t all that friendly, interesting or culturally. Truly I’d rather be in Vancouver or Montreal ANYYY day.
When I heard him say Vancouver, I scratched my head and said "Obviously he's never been to Toronto or Calgary where the best thing to do is an hour and a half drive away [Niagara Falls or Banff]"
Las Vegas 100%
If I could go there for free for a whole week, I probably wouldn’t
Went there once to see Donny and Marie at the Flamingo, don’t care to ever go back
I would go back in a heartbeat. Loved it. Drove a Ferrari on a racetrack. Jumped off the Stratosphere. Saw an amazing show. Loved exploring the resorts. Saw the Vegas skyline from on top a mountain at night.
Loved it.
It’s cool to see driving in at night. I imagine its quite the spectacle for tourists. Two days is the absolute limit for me, but I’ll only go if I want to see a show. Other than that, it’s horrendous. When they finish the train, it’ll be easy to take a day trip for food and/or a show.
@@michaelp.3485 The things you mention are not unique in the world. You can do these kinds of activities anywhere in the world, also close to each other. Except for the skyline of Las Vegas of course
Totally agree. Been there for 4 days at a time for conferences. Would rather drink some mild poison than return.
If you're forced to go to Orlando for Disney/Universal, force your party to go to St Augustine. Bonus points if you can stretch them up to Savannah and Charleston.
I live in Vancouver, and while the city is not the most exciting, it's a healthy lifestyle and close proximity to nature, and the temperate climate that is so attractive imo. Cities like Montreal may be better city-wise, but the landscape is more boring, so it depends on what your priorities are.
Yes, but living somewhere and visiting as a tourist aren’t the same thing. I live in Calgary and there’s lots of reasons why it’s a great place to call home (plenty of not so great too, of course). But I can’t imagine why anyone would want to come on a vacation to the actual city.
@@gnomealone-gu6kr They don't, they went to Calgary enroute to Banff because there is nothing in Calgary that you don't find in every other major city. It's the closest airport to the Rockies, otherwise it's just a tier 2 Canadian city. The exception is that 10 day window for Stampede.
New Orleans the "Big Easy' ain't what it used to be, too crowded too expensive, crime ridden, too humid, too many rude drunk people pissing and puking everywhere
I loved New Orleans! But then again, I went there in november and avoided staying in french quarter after sunset so I might not be a reference. But I do agree that the city has a cleaning problem but I thought people were charming when not drunk!XD (and Highly respectful drivers towards pietons, in particular after being in Greece)
What was it before? I thought it was always like that, minus the expense.
New Orleans like many Americans cities needs to be cleaned up.
Nah I went to Nola when I was 18 and I loved it.
Not sure it ever was. I was there in the 90s and it got pretty old after a couple of days. I was never much of a drinker though.
When I was in Dublin, I stayed at Trinity College. I was studying abroad but I believe you can get accommodations there even if you are not a student. It wasn't the best place to stay (Though, I liked the way the campus looked) but at least I was able to cook and easily walk to a lot of places.
I went to Galway and Cork for day trips. I would go back for sure.
When I think of an overrated place, Agra, India immediately comes to mind. Sure it has the Taj Mahal, but the rest of the city and region around it is a tourist hellscape. It has gotten so oversaturated with tourism (and the worst kind of tourism) that it is almost not worth going. If you're going there because of the Taj Mahal, then don't do it, it'll feel more like an obligation rather than an adventure. Instead I'd recommend Aurangabad. Aurangabad is a lesser-know (but colorful) city that is a base to visit some truly jaw-dopping world wonders. Ellora is a series of temples excavated from a hillside, think Petra but way more intricate. Ajanta is a jewel box of early Buddhist cave temple art and is home to frescoes as old as the Colosseum. Lonar meteor crater lake is a geologist's dream, it's home to an entirely unique ecosystem and some truly mesmerizing natural surroundings. Aurangabad is also home to its own version of the Taj Mahal and a fortress that features a moat that was built by shaving away the sides of a massive hill, how they did that back in medieval times, I cannot comprehend. Aurangabad just might be the most underrated city in India.
Thanks for the insightful recommendations! I saved them in my Google Maps in the hope I could some day see the places in person. I've been looking for that fortress with moat carved from the hill, but can't seem to find it in Aurangabad. Would you happen to know the name? Thank you.
@@Justinian21c great, I do that as well. The fort is Daulatabad
देवगिरी किल्ला. Hope you can visit Aurangabad one day.
Might be easier to list which tourist hotspots aren't overrated. Carnivalization has ruined a lot of good destinations.
I went to Dublin, unfortunately in August as my travel companion had no other options. I truly enjoyed it overall, especially because we took the time to check out the more honest attractions (the Little Museum is worth a half-day).
But my joke has always been that we met everybody in the world there but the Irish. The place feels like a gigantic tourist shop. The locals are amazing when you do scare one up, really excellent friendly people and they made the trip for me. I wanted to move there just because of how friendly everybody was. (Then we hit Scotland a few times over a few years and now I want to move to Inverness instead 😋
Gigantic tourist shop. Yes!!
I plan on going to Seattle, Washington, next week. What do you recommend I do? I wish to go to the space needle when I am there.
I would add Los Angeles as a destinations that's overrated (mostly thanks to Hollywood). The city is expensive, seedy, hard to get around, and overall has a really weird, rundown vibe. There are some great cultural amenities there, but there are much nicer places on the West Coast that can give you a similar experience like San Diego or Seattle.
Its never crossed my mind to visit LA. If I fly to the US and pay these prices I csn think of about 3256 places I'd visit before going to LA. No offense - I'm sure the climate there is lovely but idk what I should do there. Beaches are boring.
San Diego and Seattle are both dumps too. Looks like you haven’t been to both those places
Couldn't agree more
@@JohnSkyLeywas in San Diego and LA earlier this year. SD has nowhere near the level of homelessness and seediness as LA and is much easier to get around
Brazil or Greece are my two favorites.
I would say Dominican Republic was over rated. One thing that I can't stand more then anything is people trying to sell you things or beg for money. So if I'm sitting at a beach and every 2 minutes I am being bothered It would really make not like the place.
NYer who honeymooned in Aruba! We love it! It wasnt overrun with NYers 28 years ago.
Miami is overated. A bunch of overpriced food and drunk tourists. I rather rent a car and drive down to the keys. The keys are the best part of Florida.
Or Everglades National park (better in Winter)
I’d actually agree. There’s not a lot to do in Miami if you’re not into clubbing, shopping or the beach. (I like those things… but I can do all of those in Europe and better 🤷♂️)
1000%, most of Florida absolutely sucks for tourists and the Keys are the sole exception IMO. To me it's always a bad sign when a city's only claim to fame is having amusement parks nearby, just like how Wolter feels about "the Paris of wherever" cities.
@@GeekyMediaEurope is awful. Boring and bad people
@@JohnSkyLey You got what you gave.
So sad to learn that Dublin turned into a tourist trap. I loved going there years ago.
Insanely priced hotels and bars these days. They even have dynamic pricing for the pints down Temple Bar (absolute definition of a tourist trap, no locals stray down there).
Spent 40+ years of my life in Florida and I was so happy when my children grew up so we stopped going to Orlando.
So true. I heard people are leaving Disney world and Disney land for Dollywood instead ☺️
So they are trading one tourist trap for another. I love Dolly, but really?
No WOKE Disney for my family.
Not quite, people are trading Disney World for Universal Studios as it's not as much of a rip off in terms of hotel prices and the perks you get
@@2pugman So where do you go?
Hi Mark! Thanks for the Quebec City reference at 2:51!
If you want a nice experience in the ABC islands right next to Aruba: check out Curaçao! The culture there is not americanized at all. Its capital Willemstad feels like Holland with its colourful buildings, Klein Curaçao is a fantastic day trip, and the snorkeling pretty much everywhere on the island is simply divine! The island is also not just about tourism, there is a lot to learn about the local culture and economy and it is also very safe to explore. We loooved our trip there! It is a very unique island that feels very different than the rest of the Caribbean...and it's out of the hurricane belt as well.
I would recommend only 3 days max. Longer than 3 days, it gets extremely boring really quick.
@@kevinsaviro2708 Really? I stayed a week and it wasn't enough!
You are right, for the "dutch" feeling Curacao is much better, but for snorkeling I would always prefer Aruba, there is much more to see under water.
Times square as a native New Yorker there are so many cooler things to do in the city -
Like get stabbed?
But I love getting harassed by fake Elmos.
@@anthonymeade7345 😂😂😂😂
FL resident here we locals don’t go anywhere near Disney and I-4 . See the parks once I’m over it. Siesta Key beach is the best!
Only time we usually go is off season and if we REALLY want to, we take a tues or wed off work. MUCH easier to navigate on a random Tuesday in early November than Saturday in August
I really want to try some key lime pie someday.
@@Outmind01 the authentic stuff is delicious. Anything thats toxic waste green or overly lime-y isn't it, the hole in the wall spots are exactly where to go
"The Blond Giraffe " in Tavernier Florida. Used to be in Key West.
Spot-on!! That’s just like us Miami natives that don’t go anywhere near South Beach 🤮 full of tourists and tourist traps 😂 nasty 😂 we stay on the other side of the bridge and if we wanna go to the beach, we’d rather go further north into Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach County 💯
Galway guy here. Delighted to see you were here and enjoyed it!
I wish more tourists would get themselves away from Dublin. Anywhere along Ireland's west coast is great. People don't experience the 'real Ireland' in Dublin.
Dublin was my least favourite part of Ireland. My favourite was my friends village in Donegal.
I heard parking is bad in Galway...that's all
@@steve94galway I used to love Dublin, even went there during St. Patrick's Day/Week many years ago and had a blast going from bar to bar with Irish people and American people with ancestry from Ireland but there are just way too many tourists there now.
I blame social media and overpopulation lol
I suppose it's the same for the capital/largest city of any country, much like Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Brussels in Belgium or Paris in France.
I love Dublin.
My family had a miserable time at Disney. Then we went to Daytona Beach. With a Lightning McQueen obsessed son, so much fun and relaxation.
Next time go to Mecca Saudi Arabia you can wear what you like.
As someone who lives in Seattle and loves living here, I was surprised Vancouver is considered overrated!
I’ve only visited one time and I can agree there is not a huge list of activities that seemed available, but I was blown away by my weekend visit and consider Vancouver to have everything Seattle has x10. Larger downtowns, larger mountains, more people, and then pretty similar vibes.
I’m honored Mark would suggest people come to Seattle instead.
I've never been, but anytime I see these kinda lists, Mount Rushmore always seems to be near the top
Mount Rushmore is awsome and located in the beautiful Black Hills.
I love the Blacks Hills of SD. Maybe Mt. Rushmore isn’t for everyone, but west of the Badlands, awe inspiring in their own right, is truly beautiful country. I wouldn’t mind living out there, snowfall what it is. Cheers!
Never been but from what I've seen it's quite nice. It definitely should be apart of a road trip and not something you specifically travel to and then back to the airport.
I've been and I agree...It's pretty boring. Crazy Horse was better.
I have just returned from a vacation in São Paulo after not leaving the US in over a decade and it was so so fun and fascinating. Traffic was intense at times but as I’m a New Yorker who currently lives in LA, it was nothing I wasn’t used to. I fell in love with the city and the Brazilian people
Orlando: Amazing as a kid, nightmare as an adult
Literal hell on earth with the weather and people to match. And this is from a Disney nerd. Ill hapily keep Anaheim and Tokyo. Orlando is Walmart in the hood.
@@waxifari5528 🤣🤣🤣
Orlando is way better than Anaheim
Great video and really appreciate the alternative destinations you mentioned in each case. Well done (as usual).
In my mind, one of the most overrated destinations in the U.S. and possibly the world is Los Angeles.
As someone who was born in LA, I can understand why someone who is not from here would think it is over-rated. I love it here and there are so many hidden gems to discover.
The museum at La Brea Tar Pits (tons of ice age fossils) and California Science Center (specifically the space shuttle Endeavour) are really cool places. The Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame, Venice "Barbie" Beach, those are stupid.
@@ElizabethBSoCal I love L.A. It isn't everyone's cup of tea but there is so much to see and do. It has everything.
@@Travelbug71 it sure does have it all.
@@Travelbug71 Including lots of homeless and insane traffic.
Don't forget that Orlando is only an hour or so away from cocoa beach...... Which is known for...... Being one of the absolute best beaches anywhere in the world 😵💫
Strongly disagree on Vancouver….. the surrounding mountains are amazing. Food is awesome, Stanley park has 28km of walking and I has the biggest seaplane base in the world. And even though Vancouver has its problems, it’s MUCH safer to live than Seattle……
Agree. Vancouver is way nicer than Seattle and Montreal. I don't think it is overrated at all. The food and coffee is amazing too.
@@user-fb6ns4zq2r Vancouver has some amazing chocolate shops, which are basically non-existent in Seattle
I DISAGREE with Sâo Paulo. I found it one of the most enthralling cities I've ever visited.
I was disappointed with Seattle. It probably wouldn't have been great to visit or live in the 1990's but my mind had hyped it up that the reality was disappointing. Seattle was still ok, but more time in the surrounding forests would have been better.
Went to Aruba in 2000. Had a great time. Friend went back a few years later. Said it really became commercialized. Bonaire is the go-to for the ABC Islands IMO. Not many chains when I went in 2011. Met a lot of very nice people. Was low key. Great place to dive or snorkel.
It's about managing expectations. People should do their homework before spending their valuable vacation time. I loved Orlando for the amusement parks when we were into that sort of thing, but I wouldn't go there for any other reason.
And it doesn't matter if it's Orlando or anywhere else: If you go for theme parks, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
Study the park, watch reviews, etc... Most bad experiences at those parks are related to long queues.
Info like knowing what rides are best to hit as soon as the gate opens can save you hours on queues.
Avoiding them on July and August also can help you have a better day at it.
Yes, the most important thing: find out beforehand, if your expectations meet the place! If you want Disney without the extreme costs, go to Las Vegas, enjoy the rides and shows. Avoid the areas behind the strip. If you want "locals" in Dubai, avoid the city center, stay in a hotel in the outskirts (huge rooms, not expensive), eat in places the locals go to, take your rental car and go to the desert. The same applies to most of the places.....
I’m from São Paulo and I like the town, the thing is, the foreign tourists tend to go to the wrong áreas specially the old downtown..but I agree the smallest towns in Brazil are the best
Definitely Lisbon - the crowds, the scams. We enjoyed Porto a lot more…
Just got back from a trip to Dubai (Unbearably hot in August). There's actually more there than just shopping -- some interesting museums, the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, going up in the Birj Khalifa, but you're right that it is actually soulless. Shows you what can happen with too much money.
I’m from Ireland & Dublin is definitely overrated. It’s fine as 2 or 3 night stop on a bigger excursion to the country but don’t go for a “weekend trip” because I meet way too many people who didn’t enjoy Ireland & it turns out they only had 3 nights in Dublin. It is our capital on doing a 1 or 2 week tour to Ireland, a visit there can colouring to the rest of the country but don’t let it be the vanguard of your experience in Ireland
To be honest, I extremely enjoyed both Dublin itself and its museums. I can only afford going there in the extreme low season though, because otherwise hotel prices are absolutely ludicrous.
@@patrickreuvekamp totally, we were looking at doing a weekend there for my moms birthday but we ended up booking Liverpool instead (from Shannon & cheaper than the train). Sad really because it’s only across the water. Dublin is great to learn about the country but I find it’s getting more and more generic and more and more expensive
Do you know anything about a fee that the UK and Ireland are going to charge to tourists? I thought I saw something the other day on that.
the big tourist cities are fine as long as you don’t herd. skip tram 28 in lisbon, pay for the early entry at the vatican, walk two blocks off the main drag to eat, go to a different museum (the louvre is not the only museum in paris )
I loved the Musee D'Orsay!
So true. I remember going to the Uffizi in Florence in the late afternoon on a cold December day and having the place almost to myself.
Tram 28 in Lisbon is worth going with, just go there in early morning..it will be nearly empty. And take a Tuk-Tuk for the way back, they are not more expensive than a taxi and offer great sights (and a nice chat with the driver, if you speak some spanish or portuguese)
I fly into Orlando to visit family, the best part of it is that it's central to other more interesting places in Florida. And the best part of Florida is you get the northeast's June weather in February.
Good vid. So pleased that you included Dubai and Orlando! I didn't think that you would...! Brussels is great through Mark, honestly. I just don't get why you're so down on it, there's loads to do there!
It's also somewhat funny how he says Brussels is overrated, when within Europe Brussels is practically 'terra incognita'. Most people tend to have no idea what to expect when going there ( nearby Paris, Amsterdam, London).
@@parkergiele totally agree. If anything, Brussels should be in the 'hidden gem' section! It's wonderful, and I've been on multiple occasions. Sure, look out for pickpockets, but that's the same in any big city. Brussels is wonderful!
@@sollyolly9547 I actually moved to Brussels a year ago, and though the city really can be quite rough around the edges, it has a certain beauty and almost mystical 'vibe' that has totally entranced me. There's this wonderful 'book' (+/- bande dessinée) by François Schuiten, 'Bruxelles: un rêve capital/Brussel: hoofdstad der dromen' (Brussels: capital of dreams) which really encapsulates it's unique essence. I don't think there's an English translation though... still, for the drawings alone it's worth looking up!
@@parkergiele We definitely agree on this. The book sound very interesting! I guess that you must also have seen the Christmas Market in Brussels...one of the best I've been to outside of Deutschland!
As an American, you say that you would rather go to Seattle than Vancouver.
As a Canadian who has visited both cities, I stand by Vancouver. You can day trip out to amazing places within the area. Vancouver is tons of fun, just depends what you like to do while travelling.
This will probably generate some hate replies, so bear in mid this is just opinion and others experience may vary. Overrated: Canberra, Australia. When I first went to Canberra to work very briefly (thank goodness) 30 years ago now I was hard pressed to find someone my age who was actually born there. However even rarer was finding someone that planned to live out their retirement there. That alone speaks volumes. To me it is one big dormitory for government workers. Parking fees are everywhere, even in places like shopping malls. Sure it has lots of museums and galleries, but that is not a reason for a long detour from seeing better places.Overrated: Melbourne, Australia. Great Coffee, Best shopping in Australia, Lots of sport, however if none of these appeal there is little else. Go to Great Ocean Road instead.
Nah, most people find Canberra to be a snooze.
Dont worry no tourist outside Australia goes to Canberra, they have not even ever heardbof it. Rather Sydney or Melbourne
I hired a car when in Dubai and got to see some cool things. Old Dubai, The Miracle Garden, Sheik Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the spice and Gold souks. We went in an old abra along the canal. It was lovely. We went to Sharjah and found a lovely little nature reserve and witnessed call to prayer during Ramadan. We drove through a mountain range to the other side of the Emirates. We saw plenty of Emiratis, we simply went to the places they frequent. We went during Ramadan, so the places were quiet, but the evenings were busy and bustling. We had a great time.
Cancun is beach and party, yes. But lots of places in Mexico do it much more affordably and without all the gross people and hotels. Los Angeles is also very overrated, so much of it is like a ghetto. San Francisco too. Agree about Dubai, Dublin and Orlando. Also cities in Switzerland if we're talking about costs.
Orlando traffic is awful. It's much better if you can stay in the on-site hotels for the theme parks.
SEATTLE ?!!!!! Been there lately ?
Barcelona is overrated: other cities in Spain like Madrid Seville and Granada are much nicer
I respectfully disagree. Beautiful city with many incredible sights. If you're not a fan of big cities you won't enjoy it. Park Guell is amazing as all the Gaudi architecture, of course, if you're not a fan of that style you will be unimpressed.
Madrid is amazing as well but I liken Madrid to a beautiful town where Barcelona is a city and acts as such.
There are so many nicer places in Spain....if you need to see the Gaudi things, go to Barcelona for 1-2 days, than leave for ANY other town, not only Madrid or Granada, but also Santiago, Malaga, Valencia, Cordoba..........
Orlando is overrated if you go without little kids, absolutely. For me, though, the most overrated place I've ever been is Las Vegas. It's cool, but it's insanely expensive and the whole place feels superficial and hollow to me. Good food though.
I hated Las Vegas, even food/service is overpriced for what you get.
Agree. I told my doctor that the two places in the US that I steer clear of are Orlando and LV. Both cities for those fascinated with superficiality. He and I are on the same wavelength.
Absolutely agree on Las Vegas: Superficial and overpriced (horribly so)
@ulrichsd I loved Las Vegas. I drove a Ferrari around a race track, jumped off the Stratosphere, saw an amazing show, saw a beautiful view of the Vegas skyline at night, loved exploring all the hotels, had some great food.
Yes, it is expensive; so is a lot of travel destinations. But I would go back in a heartbeat. Guess me and millions of others are stupid, right?
@@paulkoza8652 Well yes and no, Orlando is great if you have kids. Not so much if you are a group of adults.
Hong Kong is pretty overrated: pricey meals + bad service, small hotels, a bunch of shopping malls
Also lots of people definitely call Amsterdam the Venice of the north unfortunately.
Some really good places on this list. I've always thought Vancouver was overrated and someone finally said it. Lots of glass and steel skyscrapers, but very drab architecturally.
I agree with Orlando. I work in that city and it’s a nightmare. Way too expensive and stressful
We were there the first time two years ago, staying with friends in Davenport. Just the traffic put us off😳. It was never ending.
Just got back from Galway two weeks ago. What a fantastic town!
(And I lived in Orlando for 20 years!)
Cool! Its such a fun town
@@woltersworld Galway is a city not a town. Please learn how to pronounce it properly.
@@annfrancoole34 Technically yes, but it feels more like a town than a city.
If you come to Orlando and want to get away from the theme parks, I would also recommend checking out one of the many beautiful springs in the area.
I'm not really a beach person but a couple of days at most beaches I've been to has been pretty nice. But Hilton Head, S.C. was the most boring beach town I've ever visited. Apparently locals love boring and mandate it but it wasn't for me. I live in S.C. so it's not a big deal to go there so it wasn't like I traveled three thousand miles and was disappointed based on the time and effort versus the reality. Orlando is very much overrated as well if you don't like theme parks. But in most places it very much depends on what you're into and were looking for as to whether it's overrated or not.
Aruba has plenty of things to do besides going to the beach... and not all of the island is westernized, just the areas where tourists concentrate, like Palm Beach.
Yeahh I agree, Aruba has a lot of nooks and crannies and underrated local culture. It's not unsafe like Jamaica or overly expensive like some islands. People are genuinely kind and helpful to tourists. I find it strikes a good balance.
Apart from Orlando and Vancouver, nothing particular comes to mind but I have been to some places that were worth seeing once but I am not likely to return. Barcelona was beautiful but just too crowded in my experience. I agree with your comments on Orlando although I would add that the transit network there was not that bad really. As to Vancouver, yeah, it is much more interesting to visit Seattle really, and I speak as a Canadian. While Vancouver may be improving, the street crime and the sheer numbers of strung out drug addicts is really off the charts. There are many other places to visit on the Pacific coast that are more interesting.
I would place Cartagena in this list. It was my last stop visiting Colombia and outside of the old town, the place was uninteresting compared to many of the places I visited there.
I was disappointed with Barcelona. Found it overrated
Yes.
100%
It was great maybe 10-15 years ago, but now it's way too overcrowded and touristy.
If you can’t appreciate Gaudi I can’t respect you.
@@edlawn5481 for me a lot of tourists It’s not a problem. I just wasn’t impressed. Per example by the Sagrada Família, like I was with the Colosseum and the Fontana do Trevi in Rome. Park Guell was a very big disappointment. I just liked the batlo house and the palace of catalan music.
I’ve been dying to visit Vancouver. Kinda bummed to hear it on this list! I’ll still have to check it out
I lived in Vancouver for 3 years and loved it.
There’s a big difference between living in a city and being a tourist and doing tourist things.
I completely agree with your thoughts on Vancouver. I lived there for 7 years and found it to be dreary, expensive, and pretentious.
These days: most of them. People fly 10,000 miles just to use their phones in a different Starbucks.
I get what your saying but being Irish I will gravitate to Irish bars where I travel because there always be someone from home that will give a good steer on what is good and not so good in a region to see/do.
@@pattralee Yeah, but the Irish are more adventurous travelers than Americans, so they likely had some information worth sharing. Wherever I’ve been in the world I’ve met Aussies, Norwegians, and Irish in the damnedest places. Most Americans stick with the canned adventures and consumerist comforts of home.
What's your opinion on Nova scotia and newfoundland?
Or Prince Edward Island
underrated
Myrtle Beach South Carolina is the biggest tourist trap I have been to.
Why? I’ve never been.
@@JamesHorton-fo3yv yup…one of them, very cheap though at least…
Panama City, FL
I live in São Paulo and I agree with you. There s too much traffic!
Your comments about Aruba were exactly why we didn't go there earlier this year. We had already booked the flights/hotel/tours but then after doing more research it looked like we were going to another US state. So we cancelled the entire trip. Maybe Curacao should be our goal...
@@artmann7684 Bonaire is also an option.
@@Cta2006 TY. Not sure why Bonaire rarely comes up in conversation but maybe that's a good thing in terms of going to a place that's not over-touristed.
Curacao and Bonaire all the time. Unfortunately all the cruises are destroying downtown Willemstadt, we used to go on non cruise days
Definitely visit Curaçao if you get the chance to. Friendly people, amazing food and beautiful beaches.
When I told my sister that my son was taking his family to Curacao, she drew a blank. I told her "the ABC islands". Again, nothing. I explained further. She asked why he was going when all her friends went to Aruba. Bingo! Right answer. BTW, even the 7 year old loved Curacao.