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[ToxicAdam]

It looks like our Flordia trip fell through this Spring, so I was looking for some good value trips I could look into.


Underrated: Dominican Republic. 5 star tropicial resorts for cheap. Since this is a newer vacation spot, alot of the resorts are less than 5 years old. So, they are new, low-priced, and very classy looking with a wide selection of food/activities. If you are thinking about going to Jamaica ... try the DR instead.


Overrated: Bahamas. Dirty, older vacation spot. Not much to do in the way of activities (except for "swim with the dolphins") Fairly expensive. The locals resent most Americans, and the service is attrocious. It would actually be cheaper to vacation in the Florida Keys (and have a better time).


Other trips I have taken in the past 3 years: Chicago, New York, Vegas, San Diego, Chataqua, Cape Cod (x2), Mammouth Cave (Kentucky), Pittsburgh, Nashville.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

Underrated: Dubai, this place is a heaven (can't wait to move there eventually).

 

[Minotauro]

Overrated: Any popular one. Seriously, I take trips to get away from Americans. I will never understand the draw of a cruise. Why anyone would want to be cooped up on a boat with a bunch of tourists is beyond me.

 

[Lil' Dice]

Overrated: Mexico.
I also live in Souther California, so i get my fair share of Mexican influence anyway.

Underrated: I've never been let down by any vacation spot besides Mexico.

 

[Gek54]

Overated: Ireland, yeah its green and has castles but thats it. Cant wait to get back on a snowboard.

 

[lexi]

Overrated: Bali, pretty much for reasons specified in the first post regarding the Bahamas.
Underrated: Small little island resorts off Fiji, holy crap I never ate so well in my life. Every meal was a buffet, and the variety was mind boggling.

 

[SickBoy]

My in-laws went to the Dominican this year and came back relatively unimpressed. My father-in-law says he enjoys Cuba much more.

I don't really care for the sun spots, personally. I'd rather go to Europe or the UK (or on a budget, an interesting U.S. city).

I think it's hard to overrate vacation spots, but I'd say the most overrated spots are those that tend to take local flavor out of the equation -- i.e.: places where the weather and the ocean are the draw and they're wrapped up in a homogenized "western hotel" experience. I can't offer any examples, because they're not my type of vacation, but sounds like places such as the Bahamas (and yes, cruise vacations) sort of fit in this category.

 

[DonasaurusRex]

I cant say I have overrated or underrated places for vacations growing up in the navy. I just dont have expectations because after your 3rd time moving coast to coast the thrill is gone, you just see real people living their lives whether its a tourist spot or not. Its all about the people your meet wherever you go. Only thing that changes is the scenery.

 

[Lemurnator]

Overrated: Disney World, Ceder Point

 

[MIMIC]

Overrated: Disney World, Ceder Point

You suck at enjoyment.

 

[Tuvoc]

Overrated: Disney World, Ceder Point

I'm.....offended....

Don't tell me you actually expected good things outside of the park?

 

[Rorschach]

Overrated: Mexico.
I also live in Souther California, so i get my fair share of Mexican influence anyway.

Underrated: I've never been let down by any vacation spot besides Mexico.

er...what part of Mexico? Mexico City? I don't understand why anyone would visit Mexico City...it's dangerous and dirty now.

Anyway, Cancun rocks.

 

[demon]

Anyway, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta rocks.

pHikSt

 

[kgHavok23]

You suck at enjoyment.

:lol :lol

Dont' know many underrated spots, but in overrated, I would put Rome up there. Lots of cool sites, but so many other cities in Europe where you can have more fun.

 

[TheQueen'sOwn]

Overrated: Oahu
Underrated: Maui

 

[Baconäger]

Yeah, Cancun is awesome.

 

[achilles]

Seriously, I take trips to get away from Americans.

I wish my parents had this same train of thought.

We just recently went on a trip to the Bahamas and stayed at that Atlantis resort. Beautiful & amazing stuff, but the place reeked of opulence and wealth.. just didn't seem right. I wouldn't have minded staying in some hut on a lonely local island. Real experience with the place(Bahamas) > being pampered.

 

[jiggle]

Overrated: Oahu
Underrated: Maui & Hawaii

fixed

 

[Lil' Dice]

er...what part of Mexico? Mexico City? I don't understand why anyone would visit Mexico City...it's dangerous and dirty now.

Anyway, Cancun rocks.

Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. Maybe because there were a shitload of westerners blending in with the Mexican population which made it seem no different than Los Angeles.
My ideal vacation would be to take a river excursion through a rain forest, with no concrete dwelling units in sight. After which an encounter with a group of crocs or caymen would make me the happiest man on earth.

 

[kumanoki]

Underrated: Cuba

 

[Duck of Death]

Cancun is awesome. wtf

 

[cubanb]

how the hell can an american vacation in cuba?

 

[kumanoki]

how the hell can an american vacation in cuba?

Fly though a country that has no sanctions against Cuba, and then lie your ass off to customs about where you've been, clutching your haul of cigars to your chest like a sickly child.

 

[alejob]

My ideal vacation would be to take a river excursion through a rain forest, with no concrete dwelling units in sight. After which an encounter with a group of crocs or caymen would make me the happiest man on earth.

Cool, right before I came to the US(From Costa Rica) I went on a kayak ride. The kayaks were inflatable which made it a bit scary when we went by some crocs. But it was awesome. It was at tropical dry forrest(in the rainy season its just like a rain forrest, in the dry season, well everything dries up ). Didn't take my camera though but another time we went on a boat ride on the same river but closer to the delta so its a lot wider. Saw a bunch of crocs.

Lets see if this works:

birdisland.jpg

I miss the weather

Here what it looks like where I went kayaking, much cooler. I think I saw bigfoot.
the river

 

[speedpop]

Under-rated: Singapore and certain tropical parts of Australia (namely in Queensland), not just the damn great-barrier reef! Go out and explore the rain forest.

Over-rated: Fucking Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia. Constantly see this highlighted on many "best beaches of the world" and it pisses me off. Want good beach water? Head north suckers.

 

[Tarazet]

I've been to both, and I feel that Disneyland (in Anaheim, CA) is a pale shadow of Disneyworld (in Miami, FL). Both, of course, lose their magic once you reach puberty, and become unbearable once you start to become cynical about commercialism.

 

[ChumsGum]

Underrated: Boracay Island

http://www.boracayisland.org/
If that pic looks familiar it is. The island was used in the Jodie Foster movie, Contact, during the final scene with her father and her in "paradise."

 

[beerbelly]

Prague, Czech Republic. Seriously, if you can avoid the public transit (high rate of pickpocketing) and taxi drivers (variable fees) you will absolutely adore this place. The historical buildings, great mix of nature, awesome night life and beaufitful people.

Screw beaches. Is this place absolutely gorgeous or what?

 

[ChumsGum]

I have heard Belize is spectacular.

 

[Lathentar]

Underrated: Dubai, this place is a heaven (can't wait to move there eventually).

Lived there for 2 years. Its amazing.

 

[kumanoki]

If you're willing to make the trip, the Thai islands (like Koh-Samui, on the eastern side of the Thai penninsula) offer wonderful vacation spots.

 

[SickBoy]

Prague, Czech Republic. Seriously, if you can avoid the public transit (high rate of pickpocketing) and taxi drivers (variable fees) you will absolutely adore this place. The historical buildings, great mix of nature, awesome night life and beaufitful people.

Screw beaches. Is this place absolutely gorgeous or what?

Yeah, I've heard the Czech Republic is great. There are certainly some underrated parts of Europe, so I'm told (particularly some of the formerly "bad" eastern sorts).

I also hear a lot of great stuff about Turkey, although it's not a place you hear everyone and their brother going to.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

Lived there for 2 years. Its amazing.

I went for vacation there in the summer of 2003 and never wanted to leave.

Beautiful weather, senery, women, great food (especially indian, mmmm). God, I can't wait to moeve there, I don't think I would ever come back to Canada.