Because travel experiences, even in the most revered locales, are never the peaches and cream you're promised in the brochure -- which is why we include "Overrated" icons in all of our guides.
We should note that these choices each reflect the opinion of one editor, not Frommer's as a whole; please direct any dissenting message board comments to the specific names attached to the reviews.
And please note that we don't really hate New York (which pops up frequently below). We just happen to live here, so it's a convenient target -- and hey, it was a rough winter.
Elbowing Your Way Through SoHo in New York City
- What was once an artist's mecca now feels more like a suburban shopping mall. Gone are the days of the pioneering bohemian artists; SoHo is now a hotbed for both tourists and locals who want to see and be seen, and spend money. Though few interesting street vendors and hip designer stores still remain, and beautifully restored loft buildings still dominate the neighborhood, most of SoHo has been taken over by national chain stores such as J. Crew, Old Navy, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Emporio Armani, French Connection, and dozens more, all of which you're likely to find in your hometown shopping mall. You can still find great drinks and food in SoHo, but be prepared to shell out the Benjamins; the prices in the bars and restaurants are as inflated as the heads of the "beautiful people" at the table next to yours. If you must visit SoHo, don't go on a weekend. The sidewalks are crowded, and trust me, you don't want your foot to get stepped on by a Paris Hilton-type in strappy Manolo Blahniks. - Cate Latting
Sweating in Orlando Theme Parks Over the Summer
- Yes, air conditioning is everywhere, and, yes, there is ample opportunity to cool off under fan-driven mists, but visiting any Orlando theme park in the summer is about as fun as your last economy flight -- in the infamous middle seat. The experience is something to be endured, not enjoyed. Schlepping through throngs of kids on summer break (and their hapless parents) is no way to spend your precious few weeks of vacation. I suggest waiting until the masses return to school and the weather becomes less oppressive to indulge in your Orlando getaway. Check the calendars at www.disneyworld.com; https://themeparks.universalstudios.com; www.intercot.com; or www.usoinfo.com. - Marc Nadeau
Wasting a Day at the Statue of Liberty
- Sure, Lady Liberty's magnificent, but the views of the statue from the harbor are better than the views from the statue itself -- especially given that you can no longer climb to the crown. If you take the free Staten Island ferry you can enjoy striking views of the Statue of Liberty, plus spectacular skyline views of the city, without having to wait in line or pay a single thin dime. The free ferry leaves from the Whitehall Ferry Terminal at the southern tip of Manhattan. Check www.siferry.com for the schedule. - Margot Weiss
Kissing Off Your Time at Ireland's Blarney Stone
- It puzzles me that tourists continue to flock to the Blarney Stone in County Cork, Ireland (www.county-cork.com). Yes, you'll get a decidedly up-close-and-personal look at the stone here, which is purported to bestow the gift of gab on all who kiss it. But first you'll have to pay a hefty £7 and contend with long lines in high season. When it's finally your turn to smooch, you'll have to stoop, squat, and contort your body in other embarrassing ways to reach the stone, which is wedged underneath the castle's ramparts. Most likely, all that you'll take away from the experience is over is a gift to gab . . . about your cramped back. My advice is to skip the stone and instead check out Blarney Castle (tel. 021/438-5252; www.blarneycastle.ie), one of the most captivating castles in Ireland.- Jennifer Reilly
Taking Pictures of the Mona Lisa (and a Tourist's Right Elbow)
- Do I dare speak unkindly of the Musée du Louvre (The Louvre)? I mean, the place holds the Venus De Milo and Winged Victory. But I didn't see many of its 35,000 objets d'art, since I took off after being logjammed in the crush of tourists around La Gioconda (Mona Lisa). Da Vinci had the cruel foresight to 1) create an iconic masterpiece, ensuring a bulletproof glass case and throngs of curious viewers, and 2) paint it on a tiny canvas (only 31" x 21") so that everyone must step on each other's feet to see it. Maybe that's why Mona is smiling. I recommend the Musée D'Orsay over the Louvre for the converted rail-station architecture alone, or check out the galleries in the Marais and Bastille areas for a look at Paris' contemporary art scene. If you do visit the Louvre, click here and scroll down for our tips on avoiding the long lines. - Stephen Bassman
Choking Your Way Through Los Angeles Traffic
- No matter what time of year I go to California, the air always seems to be dirty and sticky when I haul my rolling suitcase away from the baggage carousel. Sure, I once saw Rikki Lake claiming her own luggage, but I've had better celebrity sightings in New York City. The last time I was in LA, I drove to the desert, crawling along the interstate for what seemed like hours before I actually left the city and its sprawling suburbs in bumper to bumper traffic in the thick air, traveling just a few miles in the same amount of time it finally took me to get to Indio once I was free of the snarls. The Date Festival was nice, though (tel. 800/811-FAIR or 760/863-8247; www.datefest.org). - Kathleen Warnock
Being Underwhelmed by Central Park
- Sure, it's a green oasis in the midst of Manhattan's concrete jungle (and I secretly suspect that's half the reason Manhattanites venerate it so much). And I'll readily admit that you can't beat it for people-watching and summer Shakespeare. But this born-and-bred New Yorker still thinks Central Park's reputation is a tad bloated. For one thing, it's not the nicest (or largest) spot of green in New York City -- the vastly under-rated, 3,000-acre Greenbelt on Staten Island (www.nycgovparks.org) holds that honor. For another, it's not the nicest U.S. metropolitan park either (I'd give that nod to either Golden Gate Park in San Francisco or Balboa Park in San Diego). So go ahead and visit (it is a New York landmark, after all), but don't be surprised if you don't leave over-awed. Visit www.centralpark.org. - Naomi Kraus
Losing Sleep to See Chile's El Tatio Geysers
- San Pedro de Atacama is definitely worth a visit (see my listing in the"favorites" section), but I'm not sure why a before-sunrise departure to El Tatio (www.frommers.com/destinations/sanpedrodeatacama/2328026526.html) remains one of the area's most popular excursions. Unless you absolutely love waking up extremely early, skip this one. Sleep in and, later in the morning or early in the afternoon, take a very bumpy van ride across the desert to the Baños de Puritama; it's the same road you'd take to El Tatio, but only about half the distance. Yes, I know that El Tatio's geysers are pure and natural while these baths were built and are run by the luxury Hotel Explora (tel. 562/206-6060; www.explora.com). But at 4am -- amidst hundreds of tourists taking pictures of steam holes as you munch on bites of cold cheese sandwiches -- the geysers don't feel so natural, either. Secluded by palms in your own private natural hot spring pool, the Explora baths feel oh so much more organic. - Jenny Anmuth
Exploring the "Town" at a Caribbean Port of Call
- I'll admit that the Caribbean cruise experience can be a guilty pleasure. I get a kick out of all the bingo marathons, mock horse races, and shuffle board contests. But I'm always kind of appalled at the ports of call: St. Thomas, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and the others. The beaches are fun -- who doesn't enjoy lounging on the sand while sipping 151-rum punch? -- but stray into the "town" areas and you'll find about as much authentic culture as the world in The Truman Show. You can browse through mugs and t-shirts. You can shop for silver jewelry. You can be harassed by hair-braiders and pot-dealers. That's about it. It's hard to fault the island residents for wanting to profit off the constant stream of tourists -- or fault the cruise lines for catering to the business -- but it's still tacky and depressing enough to send you back to the mothership, ready for a tall, stiff drink before the evening's amateur talent competition. - Stephen Bassman
Battling Your Way Through Macy's Department Store
- The legendary doyenne of retail, Macy's flagship store in Herald Square occupies a great place in New York's history, but it should not loom large in your vacation plans. A quick glance at the façade of this New York behemoth is about all the time you should spend here. Crowded with gawkers and bargain hunters, this place is a madhouse at nearly any time of day. Sure, the holiday displays are legendary, and you may find a good deal here or there, but if you have a limited stay in New York, this is certainly not the place to spend your time. Macy's Herald Square (tel. 212/695-4400). - Marc Nadeau
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