After last week’s dose of underrated US cities, this week we’re flipping things on their head. It’s time to talk about those over-hyped destinations. Flight Finder Kash took to our JFC Facebook Community to grill members on the places they wish they’d skipped, and rounded up top tips on destinations they never imagined would be so good while she was at it.
Overrated: Bali, Indonesia
A dreamy paradise, or the Magaluf of Asia? Locals say that Eat, Pray, Love was the best thing that happened to the economy, but the absolute worst thing to happen to the soul of the island.
Underrated: Peucang, Indonesia
If only one article pops up on a quick Google search, you know you’re onto something good!
To reach the island, your best bet is to either book an eco-tour or make your way to the villages of Carita or Sumur, where you can hire a speedboat.
2–3 hours later, and you’ll be face to face with true paradise, and maybe a Rhino or two. For more tips, this TripAdvisor thread is surprisingly detailed.
Overrated: Naples, Italy
Ah, Naples, you were the city of firsts for me.
The first time I tried the BEST pizza in the universe. The first time I saw a gun, a baby on a motorcycle, and the first time a hostel I stayed at got raided.
It was also the first time I ended up couch-surfing on a US naval base because I felt entirely too sensitive for this city.
Pompeii was nice, though.
Underrated: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Oh Slo, how easy it was to fall head over heels with you. With your moody mountain peaks, medieval castles, and quirky riverside cafés, my 2-week trip turned into an 8 month Ljove affair.
With an obscene amount of green space per resident, this is another one of the spots on our list that calls out to nature-lovers.
Riding a train through the largest cave system in the world, kayaking down the emerald waters of the Soca Valley orrrrr border hopping to Italy, it’s no wonder why our members sing high praise for Slovenia.
Not to mention, DRAGONS.
Overrated: Pyramids of Egypt
Expectations adjusted. Thanks, Nicola!
We’re curious – would comments like this put you off from travelling to Egypt to see the pyramids?
Underrated: Sarajevo, Bosnia
OK, first things first, kick your misconceptions to the curb. It’s no secret that Bosnia has got baggage. But decades later, it’s back on the map in a big way, and countless members seem smitten.
Dubbed as the “green paradise of the Balkans” this entire country packs a serious punch for nature lovers in the know.
In the capital, you’re bound to collide with the country’s profoundly heartbreaking past, mainly through walking tours, war museums and personal accounts of those willing to share their story.
Sure, as a tourist it might be easy to ignore the dark and painful stain on history, but to truly embrace the indestructible soul of Sarajevo, you shouldn’t look past it.
Our Team Recommends…
"I found Mérida in Mexico to be a bit “meh”. I arrived with high expectations, but left feeling underwhelmed and very sunburned, happy to skip off to the highlands. Same thing with San Miguel de Allende, it felt like a giant, gentrified theme park.
Instead, I recommend Guanajuato City, especially if you’re looking to cram as much culture and color into your trip as possible. I went for a day trip and ended up staying for half a year, it was that gorgeous. It even inspired my article about Mexico’s lesser-known spots!
For outdoorsy types, Drake Bay in Costa Rica is probably the closest thing you can get to a remote paradise, I’ve seriously never seen anything like it. It’s a pain in the ass to get to, but that’s part of the fun, and I promise as soon as you climb out of the boat and wade your way to shore, you’ll see what I mean by paradise.
National Geographic calls this place the most "biologically intense place on earth" and I'd have to agree. I guarantee your entire camera feed is going to be taken up with hundreds of pictures of monkeys, toucans and scarlet macaws. You can even take nighttime trekking tours through the jungle too.”
“I totally agree about Paris, it's fun for a day trip, but I preferred staying further outside and getting the train in. That way, we could see way more of Hauts-de-France.
There are some great châteaux! The ones I particularly enjoyed were Chantilly—also the home of Chantilly cream (delicious!)—and Pierrefonds.
There are also some lovely historic towns to see in the area, Soissons has an amazing ruined abbey and cathedral. We stayed in a campsite near Soissons, and it had water slides, a man-made beach and tons of stuff to keep the kids entertained, much better than any in the UK, if you ask me!”
“8-year-old me would say Lapland is seriously underrated. My mum took my brother and I to meet Santa, and it's still one of my best holiday memories with its ice mansions, real life reindeer, it was just magical!
For me, Dubai felt quite overrated! I struggled with how materialistic it was. I know it's renowned for its luxury shopping and glitzy restaurants, but it was never ending, and I found it quite hard to relax.”
Read more…
What do you think? Did any of your favourite places get a raw deal? Are there any glaring omissions? Let us know via [email protected].
