If I had unlimited time and money, I’d happily visit every corner of the world. But like most people, I’m traveling with limited vacation days and a budget, so I want my trips to feel worth it. Having visited 47 countries across 6 continents, I’ve had my fair share of incredible experiences—and a few that didn’t live up to the hype.
These are five popular travel destinations that I personally found overrated, along with suggestions for where to go instead.
1. Huacachina, Peru
Huacachina, located near Ica, Peru, a few hours south of Lima, is often described as a magical desert oasis: a shimmering green lagoon surrounded by palm trees, with rolling sand dunes and adventure activities.
In reality, Huacachina felt like one of the most overrated travel destinations in Peru.
- The lagoon was small and murky, not the vibrant oasis I’d expected.
- The “historic town” was just tourist shops and overpriced snacks.
- I couldn’t find anything explaining Huacachina’s history or cultural significance.
- The main activities, dune-buggying and sandboarding, were fun, but not unique to Peru. I could’ve spent my Peru trip doing something else.
Where to go instead of Huacachina:
- Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO, USA: Sandboarding and incredible mountain views against the desert.
- Lomas de Arena, Bolivia: Similar dunes but less touristy and easier to reach.
- Sossusvlei, Namibia: Otherworldly landscapes and world-class stargazing.
- St. Anthony Sand Dunes, ID, USA: Great spot for dune buggying (you can drive your own).
- White Sands National Park, NM, USA: Unique white sand desert with beautiful mountains, free sandboards from local hotels.
2. Milan, Italy
When I visited Milan in 2022, I expected it to wow me with its culture, food, and architecture – I’d been to a couple other cities in Italy and loved them all. Instead, I found it to be one of the most overrated cities I’ve visited in Europe.
- The Duomo was extremely impressive, but the surrounding plaza was chaotic, crowded, and overwhelming.
- The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II looked beautiful from the outside, but inside felt like a generic (and very crowded) luxury mall.
- Even the Navigli District, mentioned online as a bohemian and charming neighborhood with some of the best food in Milan, was overcrowded and underwhelming, with mediocre and expensive food.
There were a couple of highlights, like Sforzesco Castle and some excellent gelato at Fatto Con Amore, but overall, I’d rather spend time in other Italian or European cities, both for more interesting things to do and fewer crowds.
Where to go instead of Milan:
- Florence, Italy: Art, history, and more authentic charm.
- Lake Como, Italy: Beautiful nature and charming towns.
3. Rainbow Mountain, Peru
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) went viral on Instagram as a must-see natural wonder, known for its otherworldly, vibrant “rainbow” colors.
I went out of my way to plan a day trip to Vinicunca from Cusco. To me, it felt like one of the most overhyped tourist attractions in Peru (daresay in South America). Here’s why:
- Getting there took 4+ hours on very bumpy roads, and required a hike at 17,000+ ft.
- The colors were dull and muted and looked nothing like the oversaturated photos online. I knew the photos were exaggerated, but I didn’t realize just how exaggerated they were.
- Crowds made the experience feel like a photo-op instead of a natural wonder.
Overall, I just didn’t think Rainbow Mountain lived up to the effort to get there.
Where to go instead of Rainbow Mountain:
- Artists Palette in Death Valley National Park, CA, USA: Vibrant, multi-colored rock formations. Go at golden hour for the best colors!
- Valley of Fire State Park, NV, USA: Surreal landscapes from another planet, red and pastel pink rocks.
4. Franconia, New Hampshire & Stowe, Vermont
Every October, thousands of people flock to New England to see peak fall foliage. I found myself in New Hampshire and Vermont on the busiest weekend of the season, and it was one of the worst U.S. travel experiences I’ve had.
- Traffic was miserable. There were hours-long waits just to enter small towns. I avoided the worst of it by going during off-peak hours, but much of the traffic is unavoidable.
- Crowds are insane and inexperienced to the point where it is literally dangerous to hike. The Instagram-famous Artists Bluff trail was so crowded that we experienced 30 minutes of standstill traffic on the trail (not exaggerating). This is an easy trail that people were unable to navigate because they showed up in skirts and high heels, and created bottlenecks for everyone else.
- Supposedly “quaint” towns like Stowe felt commercialized and overpriced rather than authentic.
Where to go instead for fall foliage:
- Glacier National Park, MT, USA: Beautiful autumn colors and insane mountain views with fewer crowds in October.
5. Doha, Qatar
I stopped in Doha expecting to be wow’ed by a futuristic city. Instead, it felt like a completely soulless city.
- The city looks cosmopolitan and interesting from the outside, but felt empty, with luxury malls and cafes completely deserted during the day.
- Nothing felt real – There were many neighborhoods that were constructed to look historic and interesting, but there was no authenticity or real history behind them.
- Prices were high for mediocre food.
- The heat and humidity were unbearable (my fault for going in August, but it’s like that for a good portion of the year).
To Doha’s credit, the Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Qatar were impressive. But overall, the city felt fake, like a shell of a city.
Where to go instead of Doha:
- Samarkand, Bukhara, and Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Rich Islamic history, culture, and architecture, and delicious & affordable food.
Final Thoughts
Travel is subjective, and what feels overrated to me might be the life-changing to someone else. These overrated travel destinations didn’t live up to the hype for me, but the alternative destinations I included were much more authentic and rewarding adventures for me personally.
ADJENTURING 