People crown ‘most overrated’ holiday destination that is loved by celebrities

A travel expert has shared the results of a survey which asked 150 people to name the most overrated holiday destination – and one place in particular stood out

When it comes to holidays, many of us have visions of jetting off to grand cities or idyllic locations that are the talk of the town. However, when a place comes highly recommended, our expectations soar – and some find the most popular spots don’t quite live up to the hype.

In a recent survey, a man who works for travel company On The Beach revealed which destinations he believes are the “most overrated”. In a viral TikTok video, travel expert Rob posed the question: “If you ever wondered what the most overrated holiday destination is, well I asked 150 this exact question and the number one was pretty overwhelming.”

Honourable mentions

He first shared the results of some “honourable mentions”, which included some of Brits’ favourite holiday destinations – Ibiza, Marbella and Tenerife landed in the top 2% of votes. Thailand also made it into the top 2%.

Rob noted that “weirdly” 2.7% of people voted for the UK. “A few people said well, why would we holiday here when it rains? Fair point,” he conceded.

Another Spanish location also made the list; Benidorm received 3.3% of the votes. Rob, who confesses his fondness for this spot, acknowledged that while some adore it, others “reckon it’s all fry ups and stag dos”.

Meanwhile, Santorini in Greece – widely regarded as one of the most picturesque places on earth thanks to its whitewashed villages and breathtaking sunsets – garnered 3.6% of the votes.

Rob observed that while visitors described it as “gorgeous for photographs”, they also noted it was “rammed with tourists”. Travellers additionally mentioned that dining in Santorini comes with a hefty price tag.

Top 5

Despite its status as the globe’s most renowned metropolis, New York City secured a spot in the top 4% of responses. Rob explained: “People said it’s iconic, but it’s also exhausting, chaotic, and insanely expensive.”

Claiming fourth position on the roster of most disappointing holiday destinations, based on this research, with 4.7% of responses is Bali.

According to Rob, visitors described it as “not the paradise they expected”.

The third-place result caught Rob off guard as Turkey claimed the spot. Respondents highlighted that numerous resorts felt identical and the persistent attempts by locals to flog items to holidaymakers “feels a bit pushy”.

Securing second place is another globally celebrated city, Paris. Rob revealed that travellers characterised the French capital as “romantic on paper but the reality is dirty streets and long queues which are less than welcoming”.

Paris received 6.7% of responses. Nevertheless, one destination was overwhelmingly deemed the most disappointing on this ranking.

Claiming top spot

Claiming the top position is a locale beloved by A-listers and social media influencers. You’ve guessed correctly, it’s Dubai. The United Arab Emirates metropolis garnered 22.7% of responses.

Rob commented: “People said it’s flashy, it’s soulless, it’s all malls and motorways, it’s more Instagram than an authentic experience.”

Backing the findings, one person commented: “Been to Dubai and Paris don’t really like it.” “Cemented my reasoning for never going to Dubai,” another chimed in.

Discussing Bali, one traveller revealed: “I actually really agree on Bali. I went in 2018 and was expecting paradise. Just wasn’t really like that at all to be honest. Dirty, traffic horrific and just very overhyped.”

However, not everyone was convinced by the rankings, with one person arguing: “People are doing Paris wrong.”

Another supporter chimed in: “I find it odd that Paris is always in these rankings. I love Paris!”

One traveller offered their verdict: “New York is cheap now. The Trump effect. Bali is a dump. Paris is beautiful, but overpriced. Dubai is great and amazing if you are pretentious and shallow.”

Someone suggested swapping NYC for Chicago, explaining: “Why go to New York, when Chicago has greater food and has a beach (better in summer). It’s smaller, has better shopping and its the Venice of America.”

One sceptic remarked: “Most votes for Dubai… they haven’t even been.”

Another defended the emirate: “Dubai is easy to get wrong, I’m not surprised people can find it expensive and soulless… but if you do your homework you can have a completely different experience.”

One person believed Las Vegas deserved a mention, saying: “I’m surprised Vegas isn’t on the list. I love it but it’s way overpriced for accommodation/food/drink. We found New York much cheaper.”