Social media poll ranks top 10 most disappointing travel destinations — Stonehenge and the Pyramids make the list

By Rita

UK’s Stonehenge, Egypt’s Pyramids, the water city of Venice... these are surely on many people’s lists of “must-visit” places in a lifetime. According toUK’s Daily Mail, the results of a recent poll hosted byAmerican social media site Reddit.commight just change your mind about these attractions. The famous sites, voted as globally “high-profile” yet “disappointing,” have feedback from voters that is truly shocking. These firsthand experiences and insights are often not reflected in commercial travel guides. Below are the destinations and the reasons why they’re considered letdowns.

UK’s Stonehenge
Stonehenge attracts millions of visitors to the UK every year, but many leave feeling disappointed. Why? It’s widely agreed to be “too small,” and visitors are restricted to observing it “from afar” behind low fences. Many feel that the long trip from London simply isn’t worth it. Instead of seeing Stonehenge, people often recommend visiting the nearby Avebury Henge, where you can get closer to the stones and see the details.

▲ Stonehenge is not only small but also fenced off with low barriers to keep visitors at a distance (Photo / Wikipedia)

Los Angeles
Known as a “celebrity hotspot,” Los Angeles turns out to be a city that many find “declining, dirty, and overly developed.” The famous Hollywood Walk of Fame offers little entertainment and is quite boring. Adding to the frustration is the poor transportation system—attractions in LA are spread far apart, and besides renting a car, it’s hard to get around on foot, leaving many travelers complaining.

▲ LA’s inadequate urban transport and the dullness of the Walk of Fame leave many visitors very disappointed (Photo / Wikipedia)

Egypt’s Giza Pyramids
The Pyramids are hailed as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World” and a testament to ancient human civilization. But just a short distance from the Pyramids, you’ll find a Pizza Hut—symbolizing how close the site is to the hustle and chaos of modern tourism. Also frustrating are the persistent local vendors trying to sell souvenirs, which many find annoying.

▲ The excessive commercialization around the Pyramids shatters visitors’ fantasies (Photo / Wikipedia)

Paris
Earlier this year, Paris just ranked as the “most visited city in the world,” with over 32 million tourists. Yet in this survey, Paris surprisingly took the title of “the worst city on Earth,” mainly because locals are considered very “unfriendly” toward tourists. One traveler shared a harsh experience: “Whether I spoke English or French, I couldn’t find a single café worker who didn’t look at me with disdain when I tried to order a damn coffee.” In addition, Paris was criticized for being “too expensive” and “dirty.”

▲ The attitude of Parisian service staff leaves many travelers unimpressed (Photo / Wikipedia)

Venice
The world-renowned water city attracts 60,000 visitors daily, but it’s no longer seen as a place to “listen to gondoliers sing opera while gliding along canals.” Instead, it’s known for being “crowded” and “extremely expensive.” “The canals are polluted, with trash floating on them,” said one visitor. Others added, “The crowding is bad enough, but the streets are full of scammers.”

▲ The seemingly romantic gondolas sail along canals that are now severely polluted (Photo / Wikipedia)

Dubai
Many who’ve been to Dubai come away unhappy, citing reasons like “it’s too expensive, too artificial, too fake, and unfriendly.” The skyline dominated by skyscrapers makes visitors feel Dubai lacks cultural depth, and the extreme heat is another frequent complaint.

▲ The competing skyscrapers leave visitors feeling Dubai lacks cultural richness (Photo / Wikipedia)

Aside from the above, the list also includesJamaica, Niagara Falls, New York’s Times Square, and India’s Taj Mahal.