The Most Disappointing Travel Destinations on Earth
It’s easy to be excited about a place you have never visited before. But it’s also very easy to be misled about how cool or worthy of your time and money it is. A quick Google search usually suggests the most popular sites. Unfortunately, they can actually be the ones you want to avoid.
Times Square—New York
People go to see glaring lights. But every big city in the world has similar sites. There is nothing unique about Times Square. The area is so crowded all day long that it takes minutes to walk one block. If you like being pushed around and spending a lot of money on something you can buy anywhere else, then visit. Snap a few photos and never go there again. No doubt you will find a better place in a city of five huge boroughs and 8.4 million people.
The Four Corners—New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona
Can you really be in two, three or four places at the same time? No. So what’s the point of going all the way out there, in the middle of a desert with nothing else to do, to play Twister and bend four ways so you can touch a tiny area of four states? Spend your time more wisely and take your family to an adventure in any of the four states.
The Prairies—Nebraska
You’re just going to see how Nebraska looked decades ago. You’re surrounded by nothing but space and land— the “big ｃountry” with no visible end. There are no significant landmarks to explore. You’ll be bored after 10 minutes at most. You’ll most likely have more to do and better panoramas to view at your local urban park.
Madame Tussauds’ wax museums—anywhere
You don’t always see the most famous celebrities. Another reason the waxworks would be a waste of time and money is because they simply look creepy. The photos of the figures you see online must have been photoshopped because, when seen in real life, they don’t look like anything but shiny dolls. It also depends on whom you want to see. The museum in Hong Kong focuses mostly on Chinese stars, while the one in London on British celebrities. The most famous figure there is, arguably, David Cameron, a former prime minister.
Dubai—UAE
If you want to visit one of the hottest places on the planet, then you won’t be disappointed. Other than that, Dubai offers lots of dust, sand, skyscrapers, and glass—all of this kind of makes it look fake. The most thrilling adventure is catching spectacular views from the top of the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa. Also, Dubai is simply too expensive. You don’t have to go all the way there to break the bank.
Equator—Ecuador
There is no doubt that it will be very cool to be right on the Equator, even if just for a few seconds, but you won’t get that experience where Ecuador says you can. A modern GPS unit shows that the actual Equator lies about 780 feet north of the indicated line. The land near it is crossed by a ravine and it is not suitable to hold a monument, so the builders chose a different location for the line, according to Amusing Planet.
Loch Ness
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands. Tourists go to buy souvenirs or to go on a boat ride to “catch” the monster. Nessie’s existence has never been proven. Scientists have yet to find anything. So you’ll basically be spending a lot of money for nothing. Since you’re already in the Highlands, why don’t you explore the famous the mountain range, which is one of the most beautiful on Earth. See the spectacular unspoiled nature with rugged massifs, deep blue creeks and empty valleys where Red Deer rule the hills, and see what the fuss is all about.
The Blarney Stone, Ireland
Kissing Ireland’s Blarney Stone is a centuries-old tradition. It is supposed to give a person the gift of articulateness and persuasiveness. But in order to get there, you have to climb up over 100 steps and then back down. Not to mention, that kissing the stone is just asking to get sick your lips are touching something thousands of others have kissed. Do you really want to spend hours of your life getting there, waiting and then going back to get everyone else’s bacteria, lipstick and saliva?
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City is known for its threats to safety, constant traffic and air pollution. According to womenfitness.net, “government figures suggest that tens of thousands of people die prematurely because of health problems related to the toxic cocktail of smog that envelops the city for much of the winter period from November to May.”
Great Pyramid of Giza
One of the most beautiful places on the planet is, unfortunately, one of the most disappointing. Travelers arrive with very high expectations, and then many of them end up complaining that this ancient site is way too close to the chaos of the city.
Jamaica
Next time you are considering a tropical vacation destination, think twice about Jamaica. Yes, the scenery is beautiful, but, according to many, the beaches are filthy. The public beaches only have a few garbage pails, leading to an abundance of trash on the beaches.
Lagos, Nigeria
The ｃountry’s richest city is dangerous, crowded and, according to visitors, not particularly attractive. According to a review on reddit.com, there is “constant tension in the ｃountry, armed guards everywhere, and the traffic... Can take you 4 hours to drive less than a kilometer. I'd rather go to Liberia again during another Ebola outbreak.”
The Mall of America, Minnesota
The Mall of America is home to more stores than any other mall in the ｃountry – but let’s be honest, it’s still just a mall. For some visitors this is enticing, but for others it’s overwhelming and difficult to navigate.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame, California
The Hollywood Walk of Fame, also known as a sidewalk with some stars in a rough part of town, is not as exciting as it may seem. According to a review on reddit.com: “I've been all over but nothing is more overrated than Hollywood. It's cool to see for a day or two, the walk of fame and the studios and all that. But it's full with overpriced hotels and bars/restaurants surrounded by hundreds of super-aggressive homeless people.”
Article Source: https://www.theactivetimes.com/travel/world/most-disappointing-travel-destinations-earth
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VOCABULARY WORDS:
1. Mislead (v.) ~ cause (someone) to have a wrong idea or impression about someone or something
2. Glaring (adj.) ~ giving out or reflecting a strong or dazzling light
3. Panorama (n.) ~ an unbroken view of the whole region surrounding an observer
4. Break the bank (idiom) ~ to use all or most of the available money or resources to do something
5. Ravine (n.) ~ a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides
6. Massif (n.) ~ a compact group of mountains, especially one that is separate from other groups
7. Chaos (n.) ~ complete disorder and confusion
8. Filthy (adj.) ~ disgustingly dirty
9. Enticing (adj.) ~ attractive or tempting alluring
10. Overrated (adj.) ~ have a higher opinion of (someone or something) than is deserved.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. How do you decide on which place/s to visit when you are planning a trip?
2. Have you ever been in any of the places mentioned above? Is yes, how was the experience? If no, is there any place you would like to see?
3. When you travel, would you rather go to a popular tourist spot or find a relatively unknown destination? Discuss your option.
