Placeholder Content Image

Seasoned travellers share the most underwhelming tourist attractions

<p dir="ltr">When it comes to travelling the world, there are always places and attractions that have been overhyped by those who travelled there before. </p> <p dir="ltr">While some places are known as hotspots for a reason, others can fail to deliver. </p> <p dir="ltr">Sharing some of their experiences, a group of travel writers have shared stories of the times they were left feeling deflated while travelling the world. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Mona Lisa, Paris, France</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">While most travellers who visit the world-famous Louvre museum in Paris are destined to join the hoards of people to catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa, others have dubbed her underwhelming. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to one travel writer at <em>Stuff Travel</em>, the small dimensions of da Vinci’s masterwork make it difficult to see. </p> <p dir="ltr">They wrote, “You either need to BYO ladder or be over six feet tall to even catch a glimpse over the hordes of tourists waving their cellphones.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“A security barrier also means that it's impossible to appreciate the finer details of the hyper-realistic work - which essentially defeats the point altogether.”</p> <p dir="ltr">They concluded by writing that despite being ‘the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world’, the Mona Lisa is also one of the world's biggest letdowns.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Playa del Carmen, Mexico</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Located in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, this vibrant tourist hotspot is a treat for the senses, or, as others have called it, an overstimulating nightmare. </p> <p dir="ltr">A combination of the blazing heat, suffocating humidity, loud clubs, and seemingly endless floods of tourists, this vibrant destination is not for the faint of heart. </p> <p dir="ltr">One seasoned traveller admitted that while some might find the holiday spot idyllic, for those searching for somewhere a bit less overstimulating, “head a little bit further south to Tulum”. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>That Wānaka Tree, New Zealand</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">One of New Zealand's most popular tourist hotspots, especially on social media, is the picturesque Wānaka tree, located on the South Island. </p> <p dir="ltr">A travel writer made the trip to NZ with her sister to view the stunning landscape, but both women were left severely underwhelmed when they arrived. </p> <p dir="ltr">“From the carpark, over the bridge and down the trail to the lakeside to find That Wānaka Tree had not a single leaf. "Is that it?" my sister blurts out. I must agree, was that it?” the seasoned traveller wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“A true case of Instagram versus reality.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

Placeholder Content Image

Mums slam "secretly underwhelming" tourist attractions

<p>Mumsnet is a forum where mothers gather together and voice their opinions on a range of topics, including what tourist destinations are “secretly underwhelming”.</p> <p>This topic spread like wildfire, and the answers will either have you agreeing or shaking your head in disapproval.</p> <p>In a thread titled “What famous landmark or must visit place/thing were you secretly underwhelmed by?”, Mumsnet user Midge1978 elaborates on her provocative question.</p> <p>“I went to Stonehenge this year and whilst I was trying to get in touch with my inner druid, trying to project historical importance and mystery onto the place, I just couldn’t escape the feeling that I was just looking at some very old stones and it was actually (whisper) a little bit boring!!” she said.</p> <p>“My husband thought it was all marvellous though so I have never told him!!!”</p> <p>Others were quick to voice their opinions, even knocking the Great Barrier Reef.</p> <p>“The Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef,” said one mum, declining to elaborate.</p> <p>Another mum seconded her, “Yes, Great Barrier Reef – sadly, and only because there is so much coral die back it is depressing. Genuinely disappointing as diving here was a long-held dream of mine.”</p> <p>Paintings were even on the list, with some mentioning <em>The Scream</em>.</p> <p>Midge agreed and shared her experience of seeing <em>The Mona Lisa</em>.</p> <p>“Oh gosh yes The Mona Lisa – queued for bloody ages to see a small dull painting that I had already seen emblazoned over every item in the gift shop!” she said.</p> <p>“The pyramids/sphinx,” said another mum. “I expected a mystical, magical place in the desert. I got … lots of beggars/sales people/McDonalds. Gutted.”</p> <p>Another mum agreed: “Yep Midge, sorry. I have a fabulous photo that everyone aaahs over of the sphinx with a pyramid behind it and a clear blue sky. When I look at it all I can think is “I was standing in front of McDonald’s when I took that …”</p> <p>However, some comments called out the lack of culture in Australia.</p> <p>“The whole of Australia frankly – no culture at all apart from the Aboriginal history,” someone wrote.</p> <p>“The Aborigines were treated like sh*t by the white Australians which disgusted me. Didn’t hear a single one have a good thing to say about the indigenous population – notice how there’s never any on Australian TV.”</p> <p>New Zealand made the list too.</p> <p>“Another vote for the various different landmarks in New Zealand. I went expecting awe-inspiring views and to be blown away by the scenery, but I wasn’t,” one said.</p> <p>“It’s all really nice, don’t get me wrong. But the mountain views aren’t as good as those in the European Alps, the fjords aren’t as good as Norway’s, various bits of Scotland etc. It’s like a 7 out of 10 of everything all in one country, compared to 9 or 10 out of 10 of other things scattered around the world.”</p>

Domestic Travel