It seems like everyone is in the process of planning some grand trips. The media is calling it “revenge travel.” Many people (not us!) missed out on traveling over the past two years, and they are going to make up for it this year. We are in the midst of planning a busy summer travel schedule (more to come on that soon), and I can attest to the fact that places are booking up fast. That said, there are definitely some overrated places to skip.
So Kate and I put our heads together on this list of three. There were some controversial takes (Kate is not a fan of LA!) and some contrarian views (both of us like Venice, despite its reputation for crowds and being touristy.) But here’s our list of three overrated places you can skip without regret.
Mont St. Michel
Granted, it’s been a while since Kate and I have been to Mont St. Michel. But the last time was pretty awful, so you’ll forgive me for not giving it another try. It was honestly so crowded that you could barely move in the streets. I remember clutching my purse and taking deep calming breaths as we made our way to our hotel. (Yes, we spent the night there!) Honestly, it was probably a dangerous situation from a crowd control perspective.
I was with Kate, and because she’s always a lot of fun, we had some laughs and some funny memories (including eating a massive omelette.) But Mont St Michel is apparently the 2nd most visited spot in France, after Paris! So crowds are no surprise… But I suggest checking out the photos on google and spending your time elsewhere in Normandy.
Where to go instead: There are plenty of other islands to recommend (including this one!) if you want to skip overrated places like Mont St. Michel. But if you are looking for other places to visit in Normandy, I’d recommend Bayeux. It’s a cute town not too far away, and the famous tapestry is really quite amazing.
Catalina Island
A little closer to home, Catalina Island is an island off the California coast. It’s a one hour boat ride from Long Beach, so it gets a lot of LA visitors for the weekend. I’ve actually been there twice- once with a previous boyfriend and a second time with Dear Husband before we were married. I will never forget, as the boat pulled away from the island to head back home, what Dear Husband said when I asked when he would be back. “Never,” he replied without hesitation.
And I agree with him. Catalina Island is boring, boring, boring, with a layer of touristy kitsch on top. The food is boring. The hotels are boring. When we were there, even the hiking was limited, due to protected areas. I enjoy a relaxing time as much as the next person, so when I am bored, I am guessing most people would be too! Catalina Island: skip it!
Where to go instead: Can I recommend Hawaii? I guess it’s not a fair replacement. But for those of us on the West Coast, if you can spare another 8 hours of travel time, you can get to a few much more fun and interesting islands.
If Hawaii isn’t on your list, and you just need a quick getaway from LA, you can’t beat Santa Barbara. But you knew I was going to say that! 🙂
Las Vegas
Is Las Vegas too easy to call out as an overrated place? Perhaps! But given that Las Vegas had 19 million visitors in 2021 (down from an astounding 42 million in pre-pandemic 2019!), clearly some people would disagree. Or perhaps they get there for the first time (as I did) and wonder what all the fuss is about.
Las Vegas, in my book, is crowded, expensive and centers around activities that I don’t really enjoy: gambling and partying. I was there for work a few years ago and decided to wander off the strip to check out the less touristy sections. While there were some seedy areas and characters just a couple of blocks from the hotels, at least it felt real. I walked back to my hotel, passing drunk tourists drinking scary-looking cocktails (apparently it’s a thing: yard drinks.) And I knew for sure that I never needed to return.
Where to go instead: If you are looking for gambling, you could do worse than Macau. It’s been a while since I was there, and it’s definitely gotten fancier. But at least it’s got a lot of history and it’s a lot more exotic than Las Vegas is. Yes, it will take you longer to get there. But while you’re there, check out Hong Kong, mainland China, and dozens of other potential spots.
Reflecting back on our list of overrated places, I think I see the patterns: we dislike crowds and overly touristy places. Authenticity counts, but so does good food and nice places to stay. And lots of opportunities to get outside and get a sweat on are required.
So tell us what you think about our list in the comments- any disagreements or places you would add??
