A lot of people post on these forums asking if it is worth seeing one place or another. Obviously nearly any place can be a valuable place to at least someone, depending on what you are looking for.
What I want to ask is, has anyone been any place that they think is just a complete waste of time? Specifically, I am talking about towns, cities, or even countries - not individuals sites within a place.
I'm probably going to anger someone by saying this, but my vote would go to Stratford-Upon-Avon. It's horribly touristy during the day and completely dead at night. Yes, the theatre is there, but I used to prefer seeing the RSC productions at the Barbican because the seating was better. I'd rather spend the money on a copy of the Complete Works and a decent biography of Shakey.
Some here (including me) think Pisa is well worth seeing, it's not just the leaning tower, see this recent discussion thread for why http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/27380/pisa-isnt-she-more-than-just-a-pretty-leaning-tower.html
"senior nude French women" (mentioned in above post)
I'll put in a vote in favor of senior nude French women. I guess it's all in the eye of, and the age of, the beholder. ;)
I found Brussels to be quite uninteresting but the good thing about that was that we decided to get out of town ahead of our original plan and so had extra time in beautiful Bruges. The only other place that comes to mind at the moment is a city that not many would go to anyway but we went to visit friends there and that is Frankfurt (pace, Jo !) on the Oder River, i.e., Frankfurt-am-Oder, near the Polish border. Dull-as-ditch-water German city, of which I am sure there are very few.
Ah !! that reminded me of my Nice "experience." It was a lovely summer day, and the beach was pretty full. Don't remember too many seniors but there was a lot on display. Everyone was be very polite and all were laying on their backs with their feet towards the ocean. Except for what I assumed were two American males -- who were lying on their stomachs with their heads propped up on their folded hands looking inland. The focus of their attention ?? Two extremely attractive young ladies about ten feet away. And I have the photo to prove it. Why is it that only the American's stare?
I agree with Tom about Skopje. Definitely can skip it.
To me Stonehenge is a pile of rocks that can be skipped.
Glasgow, Scotland. We spent a couple of hours and then went back to Edinburgh for the 2 days we had planned on spending in Glasgow. Luckily, the hostel was able to take us back.
Now this question makes a bit more sense since someone needs to apply a value judgment. My first vote would be Monte Carlo. Unfortunately we have been there three times. While there are a couple of interesting sights, it is last on my list for a return.
Not many people travel here, but I would say, don't go out of your way to visit Skopje. A very ugly city with poor services. The local tourist board's only function seems to be to steer people towards Alexander the Great's Palace Casino.
For me it would be Zurich, Bern, or Basel Switzerland, and Glasgow Scotland.. I wouldn't mind living in these cities (except Glasgow); but wouldn't waste limited vacation time on them. Borderline places would be Dublin, and Brussels.
For me it was Santilliana del Mar in Northern Spain. Possibly it's more appealing in -season and we were there in March but the restaurants weren't that good, the people weren't friendly, the shops on the main street were tacky, they charged a fee to see the inside of the church, and the only thing to visit on a rainy day was the Museum of Torture.
Pisa . To this day I wonder why we made the effort.
Arnold: You must have seen Stonehenge just after Chevy Chase backed his car into the stones, knocking them all down. For awhile after that, it was a pile of rocks, until they got them upright again, now that was some work.
It's a less than average beach with senior nude french women bearing it all.
Paul, did you really mean "bearing it all", and not "baring it all"?
Another nominee, but one that probably requires some explanation: Reutte. I'm going to attempt to read Rick's mind here. As best as I can figure it, he includes Reutte in his guidebook simply as a less touristy, more quiet place to spend the night than Fuessen. The town itself is pleasant enough, but hardly unique for the region. But I think its inclusion in his Germany book may lead some of his readers to believe that it's a worthwhile destination to visit in and of itself.
"It's a less than average beach with senior nude french women bearing it all."I'm guessing Paul meant: bearing the massive weight of all the stares (from us American gentlemen) (who, me?, I'm not staring).
"It's a less than average beach with senior nude french women bearing it all.
Paul, did you really mean "bearing it all", and not "baring it all"?"
Who's bearing what or whom here?
Depends on what you are looking for, doesn't it? If you are obcessed with going to nightclubs and all you see are ruins, then you will think it was a waste of time. If you think, like Rick Steves, that the most important thing is meeting with new "friends", then why don't you just walk down your own street. But if you are open to what ever you happen to experience, then you will probably have a nice time anywhere you go. That seems to be the essence of what Rick wants and I think, like me, he generally has a good time wherever he goes.
Bern and Bsel aren't worth seeing?????? I loved both places.
To this day I just cannot understand why RS wouldn't include Basel in his Switzerland guide book. Never seen a town hall as unique and rich as the one in Basel. We picked only 3 of the over 30 museums of the city and loved every one of them. And I don't think I would have enjoyed and understand the sites in Rome as much if I hadn't seen Augusta Raurica just outside the city limits beforehand. The only place I got a more comprehensive education on Roman everyday life was Pompeii.
Bern is not only the capital of Switzerland but also a great place to be to discover more about Einstein, enjoy over 100 colorful fountains, or visit the Berner Munster which is not only the largest and most important cathedral in Switzerland but also simply beautiful. This is one of my favourite pics of our trip to Switzerland, taken from one of the towers of the Munster.
I find it quite difficult to come up with places that I felt I could have lived without ever seeing. Unless I include cities that aren't in any guide book anyway - for good reasons. Of all the tourist destinations I've been to some may not have lived up to my expectations (Positano is one example for this) but they still felt worthwhile going to. A rare exeption might be Brussels where I spent simply boring days.
I did indeed and captured a few on film. Just wish I was a whole lot younger !!!!
St. Moritz. Unless you are there to ski. We came, we froze our butts off, we left. The train ride from Tirano in Italy up to St. Moritz in January was worth it however. And while I enjoyed myself immensely at a convention in Monte Carlo I agree that it can be skipped, though they have traffic lights unlike any I had ever seen before, one placed at a normal height at the intersection and one placed lower down so the people driving their Ferrari's can see the traffic light without craning their necks.
I think you have to look for what is best and unique about each city/place. In fact I think it would be much more constructive to talk about the one place you would return to again and again.
When you compare Brussels to Bruges, Bruges might win for atmosphere. But Bruges is for tourists. I spent one of my most enjoyable weekends in Europe in Brussels. We choose to go during the Christmas markets and had a marvelous time. There are endless things to in Brussels - so much more than the midday break suggested in the RS guidebook - you just have to dig into the city a little bit more.
I agree with Claire about St. Moritz. I was there in November, a very dead time. You do have to be a skier and go in the winter. However, the train ride to St. Moritz was breathtaking, so I'm glad I went there for that reason alone!
Evey place is subjective. I really liked Nice and Monte Carlo and can't wait to go back.
yet, and this is going to drive a lot of you crazy, if I never go back to Rome, that will be fine. I had such a horrible time when I visited that it spoiled the city for me. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I had to fight off pickpockets, thieves,etc. nearly once an hour. After two days of that, I swore I'd never go back. It was like locust swarming.
Except for once in Florence, I've never had a problem with thieves anywhere else.
I never had a problem with pickpocketers in Rome, but I did in Milan! I had a very close call there, but I didn't let it spoil my trip there. Milan is great, but doesn't take long to see it.
Now, I like Milan and think it is an underrated city with a lot to offer. Where else can you find a McDonalds located directly across from Prada in one of the most exclusive shopping areas in all of Italy? And it is a McDonald unlike any you have ever seen.
The problem with questions like this one is,, when one posts their answer to the question, others post why they are wrong. Its a slippery slope .
I don't agree with everyone else choices ,( although I do agree with some of them),, but the question wasn't about defending ones opinions or tastes. And lets face it, its all opinions and tastes.
I just see questions like this as a bit of fun. And of course it's totally subjective. After all, I am sure we have all had the experience of arriving at some place that has been recommended and thinking "WHY????!!!!!!".
BTW, if someone can explain why tourists all feel the need to see Madame Tussauds in London I would be very interested. Every time I drive past there I see huge queues and wonder why people are paying a small fortune to see some wax celebs when they can see so many better things for free.
No, Pat, you're wrong...I disagree entirely. :0
Laura, I completely agree, paying big bucks to see wax figures baffles me!
Well, that's because you think Wales is the best country in the world ;->
Well all have our own opinions, lol.... but I found Geneva eminently worth skipping. Take all the bad rumors you heard about Paris (which in my experience weren't true), and concentrate them. That's Geneva.
Wales...now there's something worth seeing...especially as they migrate south.
Ok. I love traveling and everywhere I go, I find something special about the place. But on our trip to Alaska our ship made a last stop at Prince Rupert, British Columbia. I can't say anything positive about that place. It didn't have anything to offer. Everyone got right back on the ship and wondered " why are we here".
I agree about Monaco. I wish we had gone to Ez instead. We did win a quick 50 Euro at the slots at the casino - so I feel like I beat "the man" there.
I did love Nice though. It was the end of our trip and we were able to lay on a beach and soak up the sun in October. Loved it! Plus the Marc Chagalle museum is great
But my vote for places I wouldn't rush to return to...Avignon and more specifically the bridge in Avignon. Wasn't for me.
It is NOT worth seeing any hotel near any airport at any time--stretch out your trip on your last night in Europe and stay where you really want to be...then get up in the middle of the damn night, if necessary, take a taxi to the airport, and sleep like a baby on the plane! (:
I am trying to come up with a European sport that wasn't worth seeing, but obviously I've made intelligent or made it was fortunate choices. On the other hand, if I never go back to Tallahassee again I will be a happy woman. It seems that I am always there when the legislature is in session and all the hotels are booked and the restaurants overflowing. Pam
Frank, what's so good about Wales migrating south? I rather enjoy the northern migration... ;)
Andrea...i said that the Wales migrating south was something to see....and I guess they do have to eventually go up north at some point so they go back south. Unless, of course, they do that round the world (or pole in this case) thing but that would be out of the way.
As far as Tallahassee goes, I don't blame you. There's a school that really stinks up the place.
Instead of posting just places "nor worth seeing," how about places that didn't live up to expectations; those places you were really excited about going to or seeing, and once you got there thought..."that's it?" (These places are worth seeing, just not as "mind blowing" as you thought they'd be.)
I'll start...the bridge at Avignon, the leaning Tower in Pisa, Capri, the Mona Lisa,
I've seen all I care to see of Valkenburg, Netherlands. They have a slick website that makes it seems like a great place to visit with lots of things to see and do. To me, it was a couple of streets of store after store selling cheap tourist trinkets. Plus, for some strange reason, most of the restaurants and bars had sand under their outdoor areas spilling out onto the sidewalks. Trying to look like a trendy beach resort, perhaps?
My vote would have to be Hum, Croatia. It's billed as the smallest town in the world, so we were suckered in and proceeded to drive for over an hour on an unpaved road that was more like someone's farm road (complete with chickens), and... there it was. Both buildings.
Rivas, Nicaragua. Dreary, boring, and the only thing possibly worth seeing was the church which was locked! Most of the country is disorganized and has a poor infrastructure. Maybe if they could modernize the country it would be more appealing.
OK, I'm in.... How about Fort Stockton, Texas. Drove for hours after seeing all their billboards and thinking it would be a good place to spend the night. Wrong! It was a Sunday night, the only place to eat was a greasy spoon truck stop. Even the Walmart was a broken down dive. Nothing worth seeing so I holed up to my motel room forj the evening.
Not up to my expectations: Venice. I am waiting for my knocks, but it really is not alive with real people (just tourists and people working for tourists) and that depressed me.
I can find something interesting over most anyplace. Oh, there was Twin Falls, Idaho, one summer with the parents. We drove down a curvy gravel road only to find out they had "turned off" the falls for the summer. Sorry, can't think of anything particularly worthless in Europe (in my recent memory.)
Apparantly, none of you have had the pleasure of a trip to Waterloo. Iowa. During my pre-trip research I discovered that the Grout Museum was the number 1 tourist attraction. I was too afraid to visit the museum, because I think it may actually have been devoted to grout of the bathroom variety. Everyone I met told me they were saving money to leave!
Kathleen: Apparently the museum does not feature bathroom grout, or any other type of grout.Here's what you missed http://www.groutmuseumdistrict.org/
James, I absolutely loved Triberg... but that was probably because the only thing I was hoping to find there was cuckoo clocks (which I did). Everything else was just bonus, which is probably why I enjoyed the place.
Come to think of it, I made a number of jokes about hearing that Triberg had "Germany's highest waterfall". Probably because I had set low expectations, I ended up thoroughly impressed with the falls.
I do think every place has something of interest if one decides to look for it. That said, the only places that come to mind for me are driving across featureless Kansas and the high point was the Giant Prairie Dog statue. And then there is Reno. What a bizarre place! I found it sad in many ways, the color schemes in the hotels were way out in left field, and what's with all the bowling alleys there? Thank goodness they have "Reno 911" to lighten the place up a bit. Could not wait to leave there.
The only place in Europe that comes to mind, is Rüdesheim. The only saving grace is the chair lift that takes you to the most marvelous view of the Rhein. Other than that, it is just one souvenir shop after another, with souvenirs made in China.
I like all the other somewhat under rated cities, like Milan, Brussels, and of course Frankfurt. You have to try just a little bit harder to find the places of interest, then once you do, WOW, the city becomes fascinating. I like finding the odd places. I enjoy going back in our harbor district, especially at night as the lighting is fantastic, or walking the neighborhoods of a city, finding little churches, admiring the interesting balconies or courtyards or old doors, and finding unique stores. I would much rather do that then go to one museum after another. All of these cities have wonderful histories, but you do have to research it a bit.
Living here does give me a different viewpoint, but it makes me appreciate what we have too and I thoroughly enjoy every place we go.
Ok, Frank, the school in Tallahassee does NOT stink up the place. It's all those stinky gators a couple of hours south of there!
And you mentioned the Mona Lisa -- I was surprised at how small it was. Maybe that was because I couldn't get very close since it was surrounded by Japanese tourists. But Winged Victory took my breath away.
I'll agree on the Mona Lisa. You've seen the image probably hundreds, if not thousands, of times already. You can't get close enough to the actual painting to gain any new perspective, and you have to jostle against hundreds of other tourists armed with flashing cameras just to catch a glimpse. I've seen the term "Mona Lisa Effect" to describe the sort of tourism that mindlessly plods straight from one "must-see" to the next, in the process ignoring everything in the immediate surroundings, ie, all the other wonderful but lesser known works of art in the Louvre or other wonderful sights of Europe.
We were in Paris over Thanksgiving one year, and had no problems getting close to the Mona Lisa. Guess we got lucky.
Just thought of another....cheese factories. Don't get me wrong, I like cheese just like the next person, but why are so many producers so eager for folks to watch it get made? I find watching the entire process disgusting! After it's all over they give you a free sample, and think you're going to want to buy more! Kind of like touring a slaughterhouse and selling hamburgers on the way out:)
How about Wall Drugs?
If we are talking in terms of disappointing, I think Bern is on my list. I wouldn't put it in the "waste of time" category, but I definitely enjoyed being out in Interlaken and the surrounding area much more.
For me the waste of time in Switzerland was Neuchatel - but we were only there for a few hours, so it wasn't too bad.
I've personally had more experiences with "places we've spent too long in" rather than "places that were a complete waste of time". Maybe that is another thread! I think I'll start it! :)
Oh, I must have blocked it out of my memory already but I totally agree with Jo on Ruedesheim. What a tourist trap! We spent all but 90 minutes there and I couldn't imagine staying for an entire day or longer ...
Fortunately, it was just a small part of an otherwise fantastic day. We had stayed at the Schoenburg in Oberwesel and our hosts had organized a day where we took the boat up the Rhein to Assmannshausen. From there we walked through the Niederwald, had fun with the Zauberhöhle mit Zauberhütte, enjoyed fantastic views from the ruined "Rossel", listend to the myths about the "Mäuseturm" (toll tower), admired the Germania Monument. Quite a historic monument with a famous inscription:
Lieb Vaterland magst ruhig sein. Fest steht und treu die Wacht am Rhein
Took the chairlift down to Ruedesheim. That ride itself has beautiful views over the Rhine Valley as well while taking you over the vinyards.
We then had to spend 90 minutes in Ruedesheim to wait for the boat to take us back to Oberwesel. Tried to escape the hords by sitting down and having a drink. But we really were happy when we could finally board the ship.
That was one of the best days we had during the week we spent in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. I would certainly recommend a trip like this one. Just try to stay clear of Ruedesheim ...
http://www.welterbe-mittelrheintal.de/index.php?id=170&L=3
Le Havre in Normandy is probably not worth seeing, despite the fact that the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Unless you're interested in 1950s concrete architecture.
Maureen...do you know what a UF student and an FSU student have in common? They both could get into FSU.
But enough of that.
Uh folks, since this is a "Europe" board, perhaps we should keep our answers to places and sights in Europe.
We could also add places that we personally may never visit because we think they are too touristy--or have heard such. My votes:
Madame Tussauds; Stonehenge; Disney Paris; anyplace along the Rhine that sells cuckoo clocks, has a sign that says 'We speak English," and another sign pointing to the rest rooms.
And always remember...YMMV
Oh, what I'd give for a trip to Le Havre! Not to see the city, that is truly forgettable, but to see my friends who live there. We either spend time in their home - or leave the city for places like Etretat or Honfleur which are anything but a waste of time.
Last December we decided to forget about Rick's impression (and other's) on Stratford and head out there for the day. We loved Stratford! Walked all around, and eventually found Anne Hathaway's cottage which was closed by late evening, but it was the walk there that we enjoyed most. The town was decorated beautifully for Christmas and we thought our visit was well worth the bother. Our train had broken down and we lost about an hour waiting for a taxi to come and get us.
This just goes to show that one person would say Stratford is not worth seeing, while another person might see beauty and wonder in the very same place.
I would have to say Paris. The wine is too dry, the cheese too smelly, the food mostly covered with gooey sauces. The shop keepers are snooty and refuse to speak English. All of that out of focus Impressionist art makes my eyes hurt. And what is that hideous pyramid thing at the entrance to the Louvre?
(Of course I'm kidding. I haven't found a place with no redeeming qualities.)
ok... here are mine...
Nice!! I really have to agree with you Paul. Although I didnt see any naked people, it would have to be one of the most boring places I visited in my travels over there. The only thing that was great there was a bar I went to (Wayne's Bar) and if I ever return, it will only be for that bar! lol
Also, Parma in Italy was pretty boring! There just wasnt anything there except a university.
Also, just on a positive note, I think I must have been really lucky in Rome, because I didnt see/have any problems with gypsies, pickpockets or anyone annoying me. Which I was really surpprised about!!
London. Well, my future in-laws live there. :o) Thank God they have PLENTY of pubs.
I would have to say Venice. In 1970 I thought it was a very romantic place, but in 2007 is looked liked a worn out old woman! And Kent - a heads up - in Dubai we saw 300+lb. women (German & Russian) in very tiny bikinis! And they were not young either. And on the Costa de Sol it is British women. Now I am probably going to get an ear full!!! To be fair we also saw men just as heavy and wearing speedos - not that you could see the bathing suits!!!
