Some places you would like to see turn out to be unloved. Here are 10 tourist towns with a disappointing side.
HOLLYWOOD, USA
If you dream of seeing Hollywood, it’s best to keep dreaming. The reality is less glamorous and shabby than you might expect, and how much excitement can you get from a big white sign and nameplates on a sidewalk?
No wonder the Walk of Fame is often ranked as one of the world’s most disappointing tourist attractions. Instead, visit Los Angeles’ six top-rated museums and laid-back beachfront Santa Monica. To see discoverlosangeles.com
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PISA, ITALY
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The architecture of Pisa is beautiful, but no more beautiful than in many other Italian cities.
If you think a leaning tower can provide hours of entertainment, Pisa is definitely for you. Why not join a million other tourists taking unoriginal Instagram photos of yourself while supporting it?
Hurrah! Of course Pisa’s Renaissance architecture is beautiful, but no more beautiful than in many other Italian cities – such as Lucca, just 20 kilometers away and a much more pleasant city. To see turismo.pisa.it
PAPEETE, FRENCH POLYNESIA
French Polynesia is beautiful, but the gateway is a transit hub and, given the often late arrivals of flights, an annoying nighttime necessity.
It has a lot of tropical lushness, but also a lot of concrete and traffic. Food markets are the highlight, but your best bet is to rush out of the city — or better yet, to other islands — as fast as you can to find that Polynesian beauty. To see tahititourisme.com.au
NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA
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The view of the Horseshoe Fall, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Niagara Falls’s natural feature is phenomenal, and you absolutely must see it. However, the city of Niagara Falls is a tacky tourist trap of fat motels, gift shops and bizarrely old-fashioned tourist attractions.
Who else needs a waxwork from Justin Bieber? Stay on the miles of beautiful riverside boardwalks to see the best bits of Niagara city. As for the American side of the border, forget it. It falls to pieces. To see niagarafallstourism.com
PATTAYA, THAILAND
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Pattaya has plenty of neon-flashing cocktail bars.
Pattaya, in places, is an overdeveloped clash of concrete resorts, neon-bright cocktail bars and tacky restaurants serving beer and bland Thai curries. And yes, this is a fun party town – but not necessarily the kind of parties that give tourists a good reputation.
Head to North Pattaya for a quieter, more cultural stay and some of the most beautiful beaches, such as Naklua and Wong Amat. To see amazingthailand.com.au
NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Nassau estimates it will receive more than four million cruise visitors by 2023, which is 16 times its permanent population. While the Bahamas is lovely, the rugged, overpriced capital really isn’t.
Beach vendor scrums make sunbathing less than relaxing. Unlicensed taxi drivers are vermin. And who needs so many duty-free shops? Head to Harbor Island or The Exumas to enjoy the best of the Bahamas. To see bahamas.com
DELHI, INDIA
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A pond at the India Gate monument.
Okay, you should visit Delhi for its Red Fort, Jameh Mosque, layers of history and colorful chaos of street life. But you’ll have to accept that Delhi’s well-worn sights come with horrendous heat and pollution caused by a cocktail of agricultural burn-off, traffic fumes and dust.
If watery eyes and a cough don’t get you, the incessant beeping of car horns will drive you crazy. To see delhitourism.gov.in
CANNES, FRANCE
Sure, a film festival gives Cannes glamour, but where’s the content? The rest of the year it’s just a few big hotels, the same luxury shops and palm trees.
You have to pay to use the private beaches, the old town is ordinary and there isn’t much to do unless you own one of the super yachts moored in the harbour. Many towns on the French Riviera are much better, such as Antibes further up the road. To see cannes.com
CANCUN, MEXICO
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Cancun is one big beach town.
The beaches are plump and the surrounding Mayan ruins are amazing – you should definitely visit the Yucatan region. That said, Cancun is a major seaside town born in the 1970s, that era of unfortunate architectural aesthetics.
It’s also an excellent party destination for American college students bent on bad behavior abroad. Not disappointing at all, if you’re 22 and think cheap booze is the best reason to travel. To see visitmexico.com
SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA
This city is increasingly making cruise ships, although it’s hard to understand why. Sihanoukville is half built (or half demolished) and has potholed roads.
You long to see something nice, but all you get is concrete condominiums and bling-laden casinos. The plus? Sihanoukville is a transit hub for independent travelers on their way to beautiful nearby islands. Proof that you can get beyond disappointment and enjoy lots and lots of happy travels.