After meticulously planning a holiday to your dream destination, the last thing you want is for the trip to end in failure. Unfortunately, many places fail to live up to expectations in reality, whether due to overhyping on social media or simply not being as great as advertised. From "dirty" cities in the USA plagued by standstill traffic and rain to boring trips to Sydney, the Daily Mail's Travel team has witnessed it all. Even Kyoto in Japan failed to impress with its "unbearable" crowds and issues of overtourism. Elsewhere, Nepal's capital Kathmandu was described as "overcrowded, chaotic and poorly planned" during one visit. Another Asian spot, Koh Samui, proved to be full of bars offering drinks at prices rivaling London's. Lisbon's rainy season caught out one traveler, while Cape Verde ended with cat-calling and uncomfortable comments for another. Read on for the Daily Mail Travel team's detailed verdicts on the disappointing destinations they have visited.
Los Angeles: Far from Heavenly
By Hayley Minn, deputy travel editor
It may be called the City of Angels, but my experience of Los Angeles was far from heavenly during an uncharacteristically rainy April 2024 visit. Yes, Santa Monica is very pretty, and cycling from there to Venice Beach is definitely worth doing, as is stopping off for a bite to eat on the beachfront. However, inexplicably, the only way to get to Santa Monica, or anywhere in LA, is by car. On Google, it states Santa Monica is a 30-minute drive from Glendale, where I was staying with my family, but the drive was closer to two hours each way, with us sitting in standstill traffic.
Despite having some of the most expensive houses in the world, LA is also very dirty, with people doing drugs out in the open everywhere. I expected this from Hollywood, but even in the suburbs of Glendale, we walked past groups of people shooting up on the street and a bedraggled man screaming at passers-by before storming into the restaurant we were in, ranting and raving. Even my dad was shaken up, as we both acknowledged the very real possibility of the man carrying a gun rather than just a knife.
Sydney: Rather Dull and Rainy
By Erin Waks, travel writer
Everyone raves about Sydney, and with many of my cousins living there, I was so excited to visit. Now, having been three times in total, I still struggle to see what all the hype is about. True, the beaches are pretty, but there are cheaper, nicer, and better beaches far closer to home, such as in Greece, Italy, and the south of France. I found there was little to do, and after a week seeing all the major sights and visiting a couple of art galleries, I was bored by the weekend—it's really rather dull, especially compared to other cities like Melbourne.
Also, forgive me for wanting to indulge a little on holiday, but everywhere I looked in Sydney was diet-friendly, zero-calorie, health-conscious eateries that did little to satisfy my craving for beach food and ice cream. No one warns that it's rather rainy too, and not just in the winter either.
Kyoto: Overtourism Overload
By Joanna Tweedy, assistant editor
Japan, and Kyoto, its mystical geisha city, had been on my travel wish list for so long that, when I finally got there last year, it was perhaps inevitable that this cultural shrine wouldn't live up to the hype in my head. It's not Kyoto's fault. At 6am, its most famous street, Hanamikoji-dori, looked every bit as enchanting as it does in coffee table travel book photos. It's just that by 10am, the world and its mother, wielding smartphones, were also jostling for a look—and a social media livestream too.
And Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kyoto's famous orange-hued cascade of ancient torii gates? The crowds in the middle of the day were elbows-at-dawn unbearable, only thinning as we strode higher. The worst part of this adventure in overtourism, of course, was knowing that we were very much part of the problem.
Kathmandu: Chaotic and Polluted
By Tom Chesshyre, travel writer
Nepal is wonderful: the magnificent mountains, including Everest; the superb, well-marked Annapurna hiking trails with quaint little teahouse lodges along the way; and the brilliant wildlife, including elephants, rhinos, and Bengal tigers in Chitwan National Park. But Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, was a huge letdown. Pollution was so dreadful my eyes stung. My hotel concierge recommended wearing a facemask. I did so, but still had a dry throat and a cough after a day's sightseeing.
Traffic—the source of much of the smog—was appalling. Litter was piled up along streets and stank, even in the main tourist areas close to the fabulous temples, which were resplendent despite all else around them. The city felt overcrowded, chaotic, and poorly planned. I couldn't wait to leave.
Koh Samui: Lacking Charm and Quirkiness
By Genie Harrison, executive travel editor
I visited Koh Samui in 2019 after a fantastic experience traveling around Vietnam a few years previous and was hoping to be won over in the same way by Thailand. Of course, the beaches were beautiful and sunsets magnificent, but for me, Koh Samui lacked the charm and quirkiness that made Vietnam's beach resorts so special. I was also astonished by the expense. Expecting 50p cocktails at Happy Hour, I was met instead with prices nearly rivaling those of London.
The island felt very westernized and touristy too, and this was long before HBO's The White Lotus had a run at the place.
Lisbon: Rainy Season Surprise
By Jowena Riley, travel writer
In all fairness, I probably set the precedent of an overall disappointing trip to Lisbon by flying to the Portuguese capital in February—unaware it's the city's rainy season. Naively believing that I would only experience a mild breeze here or there, I arrived with a hoodie as my only form of protection against the elements and spent 48 hours traipsing through torrential rain and the biting cold.
Beyond the weather, I didn't find the city particularly interesting. Sure, it boasts a great deal of historic landmarks, such as Castelo De São Jorge and Alfama, and I enjoyed exploring its vibrant street art and taking in the beautiful ceramic adorned on homes that each differ by design. But I was a little underwhelmed by the general sights, food options, and lack of nightlife. As someone who doesn't eat much seafood and does not consume pork, my options were pretty limited, and I found myself eating soup, patatas fritas, and mediocre peri-peri chicken for the majority of my stay. I'd maybe visit again one day during the summer, but I'm not really itching to go back.
Cape Verde: Uncomfortable Experiences
By Alesia Fiddler, travel reporter
Cape Verde's white sandy beaches, great food, and high temperatures were spoiled somewhat for me. During a family holiday a few years ago, we stayed at a beautiful resort, and I spent hours basking in the sun and enjoying the pool. However, almost every time I went to the beach, several local men would cat-call me or make comments that made me feel uncomfortable, though perhaps they didn't intend for that.
The main town area nearby wasn't much better, and we were often approached or even followed once they recognized our hotel wristbands. The experience has put me off from returning again.
