OVER RATED COUNTRIES

I agree that you can't really say an entire is "overrated," and I don't really understand the example given ...

That being said, some cities I've visited didn't really live up to my expectations. Florence was one of them. I wasn't awed by the city or what it had to offer, and was a bit dismayed by the hordes or tourists (and I was there in December) and hawkers. I don't have an interest in going back.

Also, I actually really liked Athens. I didn't notice the smog either. If I don't go back, I wouldn't be heart broken, but I loved being able to see it.

I think maybe part of what can cause a feeling that something, or at least a big city, is over rated is not giving it enough time. The small towns I traveled through in Normandy presented their character and what they had to offer immediately because there's nowhere for it to hide. When I first got to Paris I didn't like it. It was big, it was modern, it was the same as an American city. However, after spending a week there I had come to love it. While it was still big, modern, and containing many of the same attributes of American cities there were also many, many things that made it uniquely Paris. If I hadn't taken the time to make the city's aquaintance I would have gone away hating it and thinking it over rated the way I did NYC after my first brief visit there.

I think the most important thing is to keep an open mind. Even if you have only a short time in a place give it a chance to show you what it has to offer and try not to burden it with preconceived expectations.

I think a lot of the dissapointmnt comes from ill-written guide books.

In the 80s and early 90s there were a lot of very badly written guide books, often they plagarised even older guide books. Sadly some are still on the book stands.

That having been said nothing on Earth would drag me back to Gibralta ( an ugly flyspeck with a rock and apes and cheap booze and cigarettes ). The French Riviera and Monte Carlo are just a playground for the rich to flaunt a wealth I don't have. The Algarve is mostly just one big golf course. Outside of the Acropolis Athens hasn't much to offer except the port of Pireus which boasts the ugliest hookers I've ever seen with some of the most spectacular moustaches in Europe.

I would not go so far as to say it was over-rated, but I was slightly disappointed by Prague. Yes, it is a beautiful city, and still worth an extended visit, but almost 20 years after it first opened up to westerners, the tourist infrastructure is a bit too intrusive. If you want to see how Prague used to be, try Vilnius.

So just because Athens' air is bad it makes Greece an overrated country? I once had a very lousy coffee just outside Toronto. According to your logics I assume it's now fair to say, Canadians can't make any decent coffee...

The only area that I would not return to is Monte Carlo. Overrated has a lot to do with YOUR expectations. Been to Athens twice and cannot say that I notice a lot of smog. Must have been good days.

Hi Mike,
Andreas is right, little things can color our experiences. As a youngster, I went to work at a bistro. My first job (which I botched) was to brew an urn of coffee. I suppose some have memories of that. No wonder the tips were small!
Be forgiving and you'll have more fun.
All the best.
P

Athens is not a country, it is a city( I know you know that, LOL ).
Personally for me Athens was a HUGE shock, a big , dirty modern city, with lots of smog.. but GREECE was one ( and still is) of my favorite COUNTRIES and I cannot wait to return.
I will land in Athens, as most planes do , then I will high tail out of there to the most wonderful islands,, they are NOT overrated at all!!

Actually, I found Florence boring,, sorry, just my tastes.. it was fine for a day,( yeah yeah saw David, now what??, LOL ) ,but I wouldn't want to stay there much longer then that. As I said I know that is only my opinion.

I will say the food in Greece generally dissapointed me,, I mean I don't like olive oil swimming around on my food, and I kept getting served greek salad with nasty thousand island style dressing which I conisidered a tourist concession.

Tom says "If you want to see how Prague used to be, try Vilnius." This is true in more than one way. We found the attitude in Vilnius to tourists is exactly as it was in Prague in the very early 90's. The city is not really ready yet, nor are the people who serve tourists. There was an air of resigned crankiness when I was in Vilnius 2 years ago, on the part of hotel & restaurant employees. Incidentally, Riga is truly beautiful, with lovely art deco architecture, and the people marginally friendlier to tourists.

Ok guys. Sorry if I wasn't more clear. I was writing quickly lol.Yes I know Athens is a city but I suppose I used the wrong word in the post. Maybe I should've asked what "PLACE" was over rated that you've travelled to.I read that Athens is smoggy and that it's a pain to get to the city as there aren't many good roads heading into the city.I've also heard that Venice is quite boring in the evening time and that places close real early.Just trying to get people talking and be honest.

Al, you're being very honest and I like it :)

I think the most over rated places I've been are Florence and Venice. These are the only places I've ever been where I've cancelled reservations and left the first day. Josh.

Tell us more Josh.

Destiny made a good point about challenging herself to finding out more about a place that she didn't like. Someone mentioned that Venice is boring in the evenings; I especially love Venice in the evenings. I can hardly wait for the evenings when I am there. So, taste and interests play a large part.

I think most of it depends on your expectations, and they can be tempered by reading a lot of books by a lot of different people: historians, guidebook writers, novelists, etc. etc. I won't find Charles Dickens' London anymore, but I can traipse around areas he wrote about and imagine what it was like, remembering how he described it.

Andreas will get mad at me but Frankfurt's architecture is over rated. Many German cities were nearly destroyed in WWII. Each had to decide how to rebuild. Munich and Koln rebuilt to something approximating their pre war look. Frankfurt chose to go modern. Today it is the Manhattan of Germany. For me, it's too much like America to be interesting.

Having said that, I've met great people and had very good times in and around Frankfurt. It's just the architecture that fails to capture my interest.

Brad,

how is Frankfurt "over"rated? Every German and every guidebook that deserves its name will tell you that Frankfurt's architecture is the most American style you'd ever find in the entire country. That is a very "accurate rating". If anybody told you that you shouldn't miss Frankfurt because of its great traditional architecture this person wasn't "over rating" the city but simply lying to you.

It's a great city to do business, very efficient transportation hub. And yes, there are some very important historical sites that are crucial to German history (namely the Paulskirche or the Goethe house) which shouldn't be missed if you have some time to kill during a layover. But don't spend the night on that account.

I also found Venice to be overrated. IF I go back, it will be to hang out at a cafe on Piazza San Marco in the evening to listen to the dueling orchestras or to visit specific museums that missed this first time around. Florence was more difficult to navigate than I had been led to believe, but I would return because I missed ALL of the museums.

As for Frankfurt, having found a little neighborhood restaurant thanks to the rental car agent and my TomTom, I might consider spending a little more time there someday.

For the person who had problems at the German border, I can only guess that perhaps this was before the EU? Nowadays, crossing borders is not unlike driving through San Francisco--you can't tell one place from the other unless the language changes on the road signs.

I'm not going to comment on Frankfurt. There are cities that are more beautiful but one also has to admit that the city has changed significantly in the past 5 years. A lot of historic buildings are being rebuilt and the area between the Empirial Cathedral and the Römer square will be completely renovated to look like pre-WW2 by 2012.As to the border crossing from Austria by boat to get to some island... Looking at the map I can't really find an ocean or huge river between the two countries. Mostly land crossings. And even in pre-Schengen days crossing that border used to be easy for both Europeans and Americans. I'd like to know which sea-crossing you were using and when?

There is good and bad in every place and when I am disappointed (or what ever) I know that I haven't found the right neighborhood or am visting at the wrong time of day or that it is time to take a break from being a tourist. There hasn't ever been a place that I wish I hadn't visited-once I gave it a chance and got into it.

Over rated depends on how you rate something to begin with.

I would agree with some of the people above, I think big cities tend to seem over rated, but are really great. Big cities, whether Athens, Paris, or Madrid, have traffic, pollution, crowds, and a fast pace that go against our "fairy tale" expecations of such places. But they are wonderful once we get over what we expect and then see what they really have to offer.

Eli,

1990 was a pretty turbulent time in Germany. I suspect you may have come across someone who was NOT happy about the wall going down or the re-unification process. I was there only 3 years before that and would NOT venture into East Berlin after a bad experience at the border between West Germany and East Germany. I was thrilled to return to Berlin in 2001, however, because I knew I didn't have to deal with any irritable East German border guards. Sounds like the guy you encountered may once have BEEN an irritable East German border guard...

I know lots of folks will disagree, but Paris was my biggest disappointment. Rude, dirty and uppitiy were my impressions. I guess I'm just an anglophile at heart!

Most overated places? First, I would define it as a place that I expected more, but tourism ruined the experience. Santorini fits that bill, way over-developed, too many overweight tourists weaving around on four wheelers, zero Greek culture. Yes, it is a spectacular view, but Disney could take over the island and few would notice. Most people that L-O-V-E Santorini have judged their experience based on Santorini and maybe Mykonos and are taken by the glamour of the island. Still, worth the visit, but move on. Oddly, I have been more surprised by places I thought to be overated, but I found to be more than expected. Athens gets bad press, but I have grown to like it. Mykonos I accepted at a low level, but enjoyed the heck out of it in a hedonistic way. Paris, much better than plan; London, not so much. Overall, impressions are more due to expectation than to reality.

Mike:

There are countries and there are cities, but sometimes you must be specific:

The south of France is lovely, and the people warm and friendly...

Paris, the City of Light, is IMHO rather the City of Dog Poop - judging by the large quantity of the latter in the parks of the former. Couple that with the arrogance of practically anyone in service(?)and you have a city I would pass up.

The French croissants are far better, though, than anywhere in the world. I don't think they can be made that way in the US/Canada - too many regulations, or something.

Spain has its manifest charms, but you need a gasmask in Barcelona (everyone has these little cars with no anti-smog devices. In fairness, the EU is clamping down on this atmospheric - er -'feature'.)

For Andreas: The coffee is excellent at any Tim Horton's in Canada;-)

Regards,
bill

Four wheelers in Santorini,, how sad.. I haven't been to the Greek islands in over 20 yrs, and I am afraid my memories may be crushed if I return,, time to seek out some lesser known islands for sure.

Whoever said Beliguim is underated is right, I don't know why, but not many people rave about it , or rant about it, it just seems to be sort of a big nothing ... I myself have only passed through it, and I can't recall much about it , other then seeing the boy peeing statue.. LOL

The French seemed very upset that I didn't KowTow to THEM. And yes when we were there it was DIRTY- not just old. I know and appreciate old- and old is not to be confussed with dirty. Paris was piled with trash, the stores appeared unkempt and the people were plain rude. Give me the UK, Austria, Norway, Sweeden, Denmark or the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Austrialia anytime over Paris. To each his own.

Toni -- I have been to Paris 6 times and have never had the experiences you describe -- either with the people, or the condition of the City.

That seems like such a stereotype of Paris/Parisians. In a 2 week stay, I never once saw dog poo on the sidewalks or loads of trash strewn about (and I was all over the city and not just confining myself to heavily touristed areas). I found the locals to be extremely nice.

The only time I encountered any local being "uppity" was when I watched one American couple at the Eiffel Tower post office start off a transaction being very loud and brusque and not even bothering to attempt a simple Bonjour to the postal worker. The other was a fairly sullen Metro worker who was annoyed he had to stop his cell phone conversation to answer a question.

C'mon! Subway and postal workers? These are the same people who dish out attitude in America, so I think your experience has zero to do with their being French. What do you think the French experience in America when they go into McDonald's to buy a hamburger? Some 'uppity' 'rude' worker who gets annoyed they have to fill an order.

Ah Pat:

Belgium is truly underated.

A day trip to Brugges will charm the pants off you - and I mean that in the nicest sense;-)

bill

Toni, I see, perhaps there is a problem here with different cultures. Did it occur to you that they were offended by your expecting them to be what you wanted.. standoffish,no they are formal, they do not gush over strangers, and the waiter is not your long lost friend.
Many tourist tend to offend by entering shops and asking for service(two croissants please..) , without remembering to GREET the shopkeeper first.. so they are now put off by you,, see. It is different, and many of us who travel to France, and Paris in particular have no problem , since we respect the differences.We keep our voices LOW, we do not forget to greet people, we do not expect them to chat with us like a waiter at the steakhouse back home might..

Personally I have encountered rude people in every single country I have travelled in, over the years, here and there, but no one country had the a preponderance,Everyone has a bad day. And postal workers,well excuse me, isn't the saying "going postal" American?

Toni, one more thing, your experiences are yours, and fair enough, but wondering, did you spend alot of time in Paris ,, or just a few days. Sometimes when we are rushed and tired , and don't have the language , we lose patience more easily..

BG- Glad you had good experiences.
And...I did "read up" on proper French etiquet and did try to conform for the time we were there. I am an extrememly experienced travler (more than 40 trips abroad in 20 years). I simply did not like Paris! Yes the experiences are mine and that is the purpose of this board. Mike wanted to hear diverse opinions. I LOVE London, but many people I share my experiences with don't. I do not belittle them and assume they lack cultural awareness. I ask why! I am open to their experiences and try to look through their eyes the next time I am there. Please respect the tenor of this site and share experiences, not berate someone who has had a difference experience or feels differently about YOUR favorite place. Openess and respect seem to me to be some of Rick's values-- and mine.

None; if you find a country (or city) overrated then your expectations were wrong. As Gandhi said and Rick says: if things aren't to your liking, change what you like.

I have enjoyed every country to which I have travelled; some more than others but each has given a view into what makes this such an amazing world and reinforces the gratitude that I have the ability to travel and see the world for "fun" rather than to escape poverty, war or oppression.

Athens may be polluted but is, arguably, the cradle of western civilization. Even the "primitive" Cycladic sculptures taught me something about humanity through the eyes of others.

I will be spending a week in each of Venice, Paris and Tuscany. I love them all, for different reasons and have always been embraced wherever I go. I like to think it's because I am something other than very, very lucky!!

Toni, our experience of Paris was similar to yours. We felt the people were rude, and it seemed that everywhere we went the streets smelled like pee. We are however going to give it another chance this spring. We're wondering if our experience was tainted by the area we stayed in (we stayed at an MJE hostel) this time we're staying on Rue Cler. Hopefully we'll get a taste of the Paris that (most) everyone on this board seems to know.

Sandra I like your travel attitude. I too have enjoyed every country to which I have traveled (well, except Vietnam) and fortuantely my wife travels with the same attitude. We have enjoyed some cities and countries more than others but none that I can even come close to saying that we did not like. We have had very few encounters with rude people or at least we did not perceive them to be so. There have been a few but I would never judge the whole country or city on a handful of rude people. There are many more accomodating and helpful people in every place we have been than those who fall in the rude or unhelpful category. If we have a rare encounter with someone who does not treat us well then it is on them but if we consistently run into folks who are rude and/or not helpful then we many need to look in the mirror for the problem.
Travel is all about attitude. If it is good then travel is good. If it is bad...well..........

Oops. I need to proof read my posts closer. Meant to type "may need to look". Not "many need to look".
Sorry 'bout that.

I am going to agree with the person who said Paris. I speak French fluently, have lived here twice, know lots about French culture and "how to act" in France, and yet I got treated very poorly. Paris is a gorgeous city, but the Parisians ruin it...even the French say that!!

I also want to add to the list London. I got bored when I was there...

I agree also that Belgium is extremely underrated. I have spent some of my favorite vacations there!!