Most overrated tourist attractions

We have posters from America, Canada, The United Kingdom, Ireland and a smattering of posters from places elsewhere.

What are the most overrated/worst tourist attractions you have been to and would advise other posters to steer clear of?

Which are the tourist traps that are all reputation and no substance?

Help your fellow, less savvy, board members avoid making the same mistakes you did!

I would contend most of Las Vegas fits that bill. The mob has been replaced by the MBAs, and their Excel spreadsheets have ruined everything from the table odds to the buffets.

If one is thinking of visiting, I can meet you at the airport, and you can give me half of what you were going to spend. It would save you from the watered down drinks, drunken frat boys, and overpriced buffets.

Good post. Vegas was the first town that jumped into my mind.

Well London is a very popular tourist attraction and there are fascinating places to see, it is just so damn busy, you cant get anywhere near anything. I like to wander in my own time in relative peace and quiet, I hate to be hurried and rushed.

I'd have to agree with you on London, far too busy. The best city i have been to would have too be Sydney, for a major city it was quite calm and not full of tourists..

The jersey shore

new York city, hands down. everything cost a fortune.hotel rooms, food, no matter where you go everybody wants a tip. it sees as though everybody in that city is a beggar.

I know. It's very intimidating.

When I was in bars I was leaving dollar tips everywhere after every drink. IDK what the rules are.

Is it just after meals you are expected to leave the tips or does it extend to the guy tending your drinks?

I gotta say. I hate the tipping culture. If you are living on it fair enough, but I personally know bastards that were making thousands in tips.

Very greedy people wanting money for doing the bare minimum.

Slightly OT, but the tipping thing is out of control. Now Marriott is shoving this on its guests:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hotel-tipping-20141003-story.html

Don't be so damn cheap. You know the person getting drinks served at the table constantly all night? That's me. You know the person not getting the watered down drinks? That's me. Even when it's an open bar, give them money and get your drinks the way you want, they make a big deal over you. The person who's car sits front and center in front of the valet so they can keep an eye on it? Me. Why? Because we know how to treat people with tips. Throw them some money and you get vip treatment all night. If you have to worry yourself over tipping, you can't afford to be out to begin with. Stay home.

As far as Vegas goes being a tourist trap. I disagree. I'm more than happy to pay 200/table to sit in vip at Pure nightclub at Caesar's, my drinks don't get watered down...and buffet? I don't even know what that is. Not even to mention the gambling.

Not everyone can live the high life like you, Carmela.

It's not the high life to be able to give extra $20 so the drink server keeps coming around to you all night, etc. That's all it takes and they'll treat you right. But wondering and calculating if you should give a dollar here or dollar there, better off stay home.

Yes, you should tip the drink server separately. When you go to a wedding, YES, you SHOULD give your table server a tip for the table. This should be common etiquette.

Then by all means, stay in California. With the liberals. And the gang bangers. And the illegal Mexicans. And everything else that's wrong with that insane asylum you call home. I'll stay in New York City with the rest of the beggars .

I'm talking about just going in to bars and getting a Bud on tap. I'm just a poor college student.

And when going for meals, I only tip if the service is exemplary. Too many people in that industry don't even have basic manners so why reward them when there are plenty of polite people who would love to have their job.

I know a girl who got over a $1,000 worth of tips on St Patrick's Day. It's like winning the lottery with some of these people. Watching the cash roll in but they are not doing anything special to warrant it.

Good luck sitting VIP at Pure these days...

Only place I knew that could charge $30-$100 cover, $12-$20 for a cocktail and would run a $100K operating loss a night.

I hear Los Angeles is worth avoiding.

When I was in New York, I was very tempted to take a detour to Philly. I elected not to. Kinda regret it.

I just did last september, but I did hear they're closing now, or may be closed already, I don't know.

Mr.Pink?

straight from the mouth of someone who has probably never worked a day in the service industry. don't have enough money to throw the bartender $1 a bottle for your already cheap macro lager, stay home and grab a 30pk!

T.I.P. = TO INSURE PROMPTNESS

It's part of the national fabric here, Moe. That's just the way it is. I personally find the non-tipping culture in Europe strange. I guess it's just where you were raised.


That doesn't bother me nearly as much as a reality television star making more money than a heart surgeon.


It's all relative. Living in New York City is expensive. In Manhattan it's outright insane.

I just said I did tip bartenders in a previous post! Even though they were gruff.

And why do I have to be Mr. Pink?

Better than being this Buscemi character:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS8X2Qp_6aA

Don't get me wrong now. I do tip over here but only if the waiter/waitress was polite.

And tipping is common enough here but I suppose it's not as widespread or ingrained as NY.

It's funny. I just had a college lecture this week about this exact same subject and it was interesting hearing it from a French, South Africa, German or Spanish perspective.

Supposedly, the Spaniards are the worst at tipping abroad.

Are they any better at tipping a guy?

I just told you I was there last september. So are you saying they're closed now, or what? By the way,they didn't charge me anything to come in. $200 for the table and drinks all night.

And when I tip people like drink servers, and such, it's exactly like FF just said...to insure promptness and good service. That's why everybody else is waiting on their drinks in their plastic cups and I get mine before I can even finish the first one, served in glass. That's the way I want to be treated so it's worth it to us.

They're "closed for renovations," Carm. They're supposed to "reopen" in early 2015.

But in that industry, in that town, who knows?

Pure is closed. There's an arms race for DJs, and the plug got pulled when it started costing $100K a night just for a DJ.

The problem isn't putting down a few hundred dollars for a night at a high-end club, nor is it tipping the servers to ensure service. The problem is the absolute contempt that casino management has for guests, from the dishonest resort fees, the 6:5 blackjack or the liquor swap.

You grew up in Vegas, witnessed the changes firsthand, and this surprises you?

In another recent thread we were discussing the Revel in Atlantic City. They tried to operate a casino using the exact opposite of the model for that business. They thought they could make it on food and booze, and that the gambling was the gravy. They lasted all of two years.

sorry about the post. it starts after the smiley, it should have been separate.

I know I'm going to catch hell for this but the biggest, most over-rated, tourist trap for me, is Disneyland. Boy did I hate it there, and not just b/c it's in FL, which is a state I hate as well. But I was just not feeling the "magic". I hated everything about it. And my kids felt the same. My daughter was 5 when we went and she said, "mom why is everyone standing in line just to see that big dog?" That big dog was Pluto. hahaha Obviously we're not a Disney family. SeaWorld was slightly better, but the big stupid whale decided to have a hissy fit right when the show was about to start and it got canceled. So that was that.

The numbers were a bit startling, but when you dig into the (alleged) root of it, it's same old, same old. There's still a lawsuit pending where the investors in the club allege the management of the club jacked up management fees, and taking those proceeds and investing in competing clubs.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/sep/30/lawsuit-filed-over-management-pure-nightclub/

Can't fault that one. Went exactly once, and knew it was a mistake when a simple task like picking up the rental car was a two-hour task.

But that's not what you said. THIS is what you said:


So why is it okay for you to claim that "everybody in that city is a beggar." But when I make a blanket claim about California, you're quick to point out that things are different in the north?

Well, if I don't know the differences among Californians, why is it okay for you to propose that all New Yorkers are the same?


If only this were true. You can't swing a dead cat in Manhattan without hitting an asshole tourist from Ohio. Or Wisconsin. Or Northern California.

well, nice of you to answer my post, thank you, I was born and raised mean in so. cal. left 46 years ago when I was 28. never been back. its a terrible place now, im sorry your offened by the "beggar" remark, I didn't mean it. as far as new Yorkers go I never met a bad one, and all those ive ever know have been great people, like I said theres ny delis up here, and everybody loves them. my apologies young man if I offended you.

I've heard that the 4 corners is a boring, pointless place to go see.

Tipping has caught on more here in the UK, but only in restaurants, and only if the service is good. If I go for a meal and the service is crap then it will be a crap tip. If the service is excellent then they get a good tip. As for tipping in bars though, that doesn't happen apart from the odd drunkard buying a pretty barmaid a drink to try nad get his wicked way with her

It's also very easy to tell when someone is being disingenuous and bothering you during your meal because they want to ingratiate themselves with you, and when someone is genuinely and politely asking you if you are enjoying your meal and if you need anything, with a smile on their face that doesn't cost anything - and without any ulterior motives.

I am with Carmela. I don't get the whole Disney craze. We took the kids because they wanted to go. Lines, heat, crazy families, Mickey is NOT walking around, you have to wait on line to see him, the food is stupidly expensive, just a total ripoff. Also, I didn't think that the people who worked there were very nice, considering it's supposed to be the happiest place on earth. We did enjoy Epcot more than the Magic Kingdom. The best part was actually going to see Cirque de Soleil, which was on the grounds.

Me, three. I hated Disney, except for the Disney owned golf courses. But I could fly to California and play Pebble Beach for less money.

You can keep the area, too. For awhile they kept promoting Kissimmee and Orlando as two of the "fastest growing" and "up and coming" cities in America. And for the life of me, I don't know why.

I know people who have been to Disney World but they don't have children, not a place i would want to visit.

Back in the late 50's or early 60's some good friends of mine visited NYC and had dinner at Momma Leone's restaurant. Some couple got up and were walking to the exit when the waitress called out to them so loudly that everyone could hear "Oh sir, thanks for that $2.00 tip" That brought the house down, but intimidated my friends into leaving a big tip.
I normally tip around 12-15% (Normal in our area) but they recently opened an Applebees in our neighborhood. Back in NY they were pretty good but at this one we got a surly arrogant waitress who argued with me over my order (Which she got wrong) so I left her a 5 cent tip and will never go back there.

If the service is bad then i don't leave a tip, simple..

Years ago though before decent tipping caught on in the UK, service was generally shit. As the idea of good tipping for good service caught on then the quality of service has improved. I cant remember the last time I had bad service.

Of course the whole theory is a no brainer!! I am still not tipping anyone for pouring me a pint though

There is no place like NYC at lest for me. I hate all the liberals that are here now. Just have to put up with them.

But a good time for me is seeing something on Broadway or at the Beacon theather before and after drinks with people with friendly faces.

I am a little pissed off today. I just found out my best living friend is here, and did not even tell me he was in town.

He posted a picture of him and his daughter at Rao's celebrating his daughters birthday on Facebook.

I am not on Facebook or any of that other shit. But my wife is saw it and told me.

So now I say okay fuck him and the horse he rode in on.

You know the more favors you do for people the more they spit in your face.

footreads, let it go man, ive survived 72 years by never letting people get to me. believe me, young man, if you let things stress you out. your in line for a stroke! its not what happens to you in life, its how you deal with it. " don't confuse my personality with my attitude. my personality is who I am, my attitude depends on how you come on to me "

Sooo what I'm getting from this is Rao's is an over-rated tourist trap? I agree.

Please, God. Please make it stop.

Let me know when the lambs stop screaming, Foot.

Meteor Crater, near Winslow, AZ, is the most boring "attraction" we had the misfortune to visit in the past year or so. A big hole in the ground. Period.

Depends on how you look at things. The Grand Canyon has been called a big hole in the ground by some. Personally, I like natural things like meteor craters, but then again, I'm a little weird.

Blasphemer, Blasphemer!

I know grown ups who go every year. I can't figure that one.

Have any of them been on "To Catch a Predator" with Chris Hansen?

Blackpool. A seaside resort here in the UK. A proper shit hole full of piss heads. The big attraction at this time of the year is the illuminations... Which is coloured lights.
Benidorm Spain which sometimes gets the nickname Blackpool on the med.
Temple bar Dublin. Full of Stag and hen parties from England..
Prague. Rumoured to be run by the Russian Mafia and boy are they desperate for money. I seem to remember there was even something like a ten Euro charge to get into a cemetery.(no we didn't go in

Disney World.

I agree with Blackpool, one hell hole and full of piss heads,

I was in Prague for a few days earlier in the year, really enjoyed it, especially the cheap beer and wine..

Tavern on the green in central park. Place was crap.

Mama Leone I think it was in the 40s some where. Bad food I went with my wife's friends hate them. I used to one of us picking up the check. Her friends divide the check 10 ways and good forbide they tip over 20 percent.

I think New Years eve waiting for the ball to drop is a tourist bullshit. Some how I got talked into that when I was a kid. A bunch of us went took the subway. Comming up the stairs I saw someone grab my dates ass as he was going down the stairs. I grabbed him from behind and threw him down the stairs. It happened so fast only one of us noticed

Went to Disneyland only once when it open. Had my first son with us. Don't remember much about it except very hot out. Long waits to ride the attractions. Juice bars Vic got sick the last day there from grape juice.

All the rental cars looked a like. Forgot where I parked do we waited to the lots emptied out. What was left was a lot of people who forgot where they parked trying the locks to get into their cars.

The disney castle thing was disappointing I was expecting the real thing.

They also had circus world back then. Had the bright idea of taking an elephant ride. They were full of knats they stayed near you when you got off. It was so bad we got into the car and turned the air on to get them off.

Took a Hellicopter ride small one remember the whirlybird? Wife was afraid but she went on it with me. I asked the pilot if he could fly it upside down. But they could not do it ack then.

Almost forget trip to Niagra falls. The only thing I liked about it was the maid of the mist ride I like that. You wore raincoats on the boat. The rest was shit. The Canadian side is much nicer then the American side. We had to change hotels the one we stayed at was old and old people stayed there. We were young then I wanted no part of the place.

Foot, I went to TotG about twenty years ago. It closed in 2009 and reopened earlier this year. 20 years ago it was an "attraction"; lights, landscaping and I don't recall the food. I went once around Christmas time and the decorations were beyond overdone. I enjoyed it as a NY experience.

Mama Leone was on 8th ave and maybe 45th or 46th St. Way back in 1968 I took my future wife there for dinner. It was our first NYC dinner date and then we saw the re-release of "Gone With the Wind". Back then Mama's was a tourist stop for Eye-talian food in mid-town/theatre district. In the early 80's we took our daughter there for dinner, she was about 3/4 years old. We went to the Christmas Show at Radio City. Those are fond memories for the special events, not the attraction.

I'd have to say Disneyland. I can see how Vegas would be a bore if you've already been to AC and are from the east coast.
Las Vegas is only fun when you drive from CA doing what we call "a turn-around". Driving 4 hours one way to state line (usually a lil buzzed cuz u could get away with drinking n driving back in those days, no one was on the road) gambling at either Whiskey Pete's or Prima Donna, if it was winter sometimes there'd be snow on the ground (weird huh) and freezing cold with 40mph winds. Then you'd play at the $2 bj tables "holding" the cards single deck actually winning more hands than losing. By then you'd be so drunk you'd have to go outside in the cold to sober up. You'd get in your car now half bombed (still no one on the road) and you would stop in Baker go to the diner there with all the truckers or stop for fast food in Barstow eat then head back home which was another 3 hours. Those were the days.

Years ago, National Lampoon (satiric US magazine)had a "comparison" of US vs. European tourists. One entry was what tourists left behind in restaurants. US tourists: expensive sunglasses, tips. European tourists: full ashtrays.

First date with my future wife I took her to a place in manhattan called Van rapaport some place like that. We had chateaubriand for two. Small portion the owner Van would come to your table to carve it for you. For what he charged for it over 600 way over 40 yrs ago he should have chewed it for us. After we left we were still hungry?

The copa was expensive but at least you had dinner and a performance show.

We went to see Tony Bennett it was two shows a night. I wanted to stay to see both shows. The fucking waiter was trying to get me to leave to get new money at his table. Normally I would have stuck my fingers in eyes for that. But I did not want to scare my wife especially since we were not married as yet.

So I greased him and we saw the second show. I think I saw Bennet perform 8 times.