18 Bucket List Places That Are Totally Not Worth the Effort
Some destinations are sold as must see, glittering gems of culture and natural beauty but not all of them deliver on the promise. Sometimes these places drain your time, money and patience, and then they just fall flat on delivery.
Below, we’ve rounded up 18 spots that are frequently touted as dream destinations that many travelers find disappointing or even frustrating. This list will help you rethink some of the most highly touted vacation spots and steer clear of an underwhelming adventure.
The Louvre, Paris, Mona Lisa
In photos, the world’s most famous painting may be impressive, but in person it’s a different story. It is smaller than you think, behind a thick pane of glass, and surrounded by a huge crowd. It’s like trying to appreciate art while you’re jammed into a concert crowd. If you’re looking for a quiet moment with Mona, you may leave more frustrated than inspired.
Los Angeles, Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame sounds glamorous, until you get there and it’s crowded, grimy and nothing like the movie scene in your head. This stretch of Hollywood Boulevard is usually anticlimactic for tourists hoping for a taste of showbiz, between tourists snapping selfies, street performers, and even a bit of questionable cleanliness.
Stonehenge, England
Stonehenge is a mystical relic, getting up close to those famous rocks is harder than it looks. The site is roped off, so your up-close experience is really a distant walk around a circular path. It’s fascinating and quick, and on busy days the crowds can make it feel less like a serene historical site and more like a tourist conveyor belt.
New York and Ontario
Niagara Falls is impressive, no doubt, but until you’re in a wall of tourists and paying high prices for the view, it’s not so impressive. The Falls are powerful, but the tourist traps around them (casinos, arcades, chain restaurants) subtract from their natural beauty. The falls, of course, are excellent, but coupled with the phony commercialization,” the falls can seem contrived.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is iconic, but it’s a one trick pony. After you take the classic “holding up the tower” photo, there isn’t much else to do. Pisa is a nice town, but it doesn’t have enough to justify a long journey to snap a novelty picture. Too many travelers come home feeling as if they wasted precious travel time.
Bondi Beach, Sydney
Bondi Beach in Australia is a favorite with influencers, but for travelers, it can be a disappointment. The beach is always crowded, and you will have a hard time finding a place to relax. Locals tend to stay away from it because of the tourists, and many seasoned beachgoers say there are far better, less crowded beaches nearby.
Times Square, New York City
Times square is bright, bustling, and full of enormous LED screens, and that’s about it. It’s always packed shoulder to shoulder with tourists and it can feel more like a chaotic circus than a magical city moment. It’s avoided by locals, who leave it to visitors, who quickly learn that the dazzling lights don’t match the hype.
Santorini, Greece
Santorini’s sunsets are famous, and this Instagram hotspot can feel like a mirage. Prices are high, crowds are intense, and you’re unlikely to find an unspoiled view. Oia’s narrow paths feel claustrophobic and they are often full of people hunting for the best sunset shot.
Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah
Photos of the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai are stunning, but it’s underwhelming to visit. The view is nice, but there’s nothing else to do besides shopping and eating, which you can do anywhere. The island is so expensive that many tourists feel it is more of a novelty than a destination.
The Blarney Stone, Ireland
A famous Irish tradition is to kiss the Blarney Stone, but to get to it you have to wait in line, climb a narrow staircase and kiss a stone that thousands of others have kissed before you. It’s an odd experience for something that’s supposed to grant the gift of eloquence and many visitors leave wondering if it was worth the wait and the germs!
The Blue Lagoon, Iceland
The Blue Lagoon might look like a natural geothermal paradise, but it’s a man made spa with an entrance fee that makes it one of Iceland’s most expensive experiences. The lagoon can get very crowded with tourists and the spa atmosphere isn’t as relaxing as you may think. Many visitors find it doesn’t justify the high price tag, but it’s a fun experience.
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
The Pyramids are undeniably great, but the experience feels overwhelming — and daunting — due to the heat, the crowds, the street vendors. People often describe it as a “once and done” visit, as many people feel they’ve seen enough after one short visit. There’s little grandeur or mystery to be found between the high tourism and constant haggling.
Machu Picchu, Peru
To get to Machu Picchu, its breathtaking views are dulled by the grueling journey there. Travelers have to book permits, deal with unpredictable weather and high altitudes. When you get there, the site can be crowded and it can be hard to capture those epic photos. It’s a stunning destination, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal is beautiful, but visiting the Taj Mahal can be anything but peaceful. It’s easy to miss this marble marvel between the crowds, the heat, and the constant flow of people jostling for photos. The serene beauty that many travelers come away feeling is overshadowed by the chaos.
Nepal Mount Everest Base Camp
Mount Everest is alluring, but for many, the journey to Base Camp is disappointing. Everest is a physically demanding and expensive undertaking to trek to, and some say the scenery along the way overshadows the destination itself. Plus, there are lots of climbers, so you’re never alone, which can take away from the feeling of solitude that draws people to the mountains in the first place.
Venice, Italy
Of course, Vernice is famous for its canals and charm, but it’s also incredibly crowded too. In peak season, it’s more like a theme park than a historic city. The small streets are packed, and the prices in tourist areas are sky high. It’s a bummer, but some travelers leave feeling like they’ve spent more time dodging selfie sticks than they have gondolas in Venice.
Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands
Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands are paradise on a postcard, but in reality, they’re crowded and commercialized. Tourists overrun many resorts, and it’s hard to find a quiet beach. The high prices don’t match the experience for some travelers, who end up thinking they could have seen similar beauty in a less traveled destination.
Bourbon Street, New Orleans
Bourbon Street is known for its lively nightlife, and for many it’s a crowded, noisy, and even smelly place. New Orleans’ unique charm can be hard to appreciate when the mix of bars, street performers, and tourists combine. This chaotic strip is often avoided by locals and many visitors find that the city has much more to offer than this.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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10 Best African Photo Safaris You Must Experience
Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.
But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
10 Best African Photo Safaris You Must Experience
