Top 5 Overrated Vacation Spots

Ryleigh Stinson, Staff Writer

With summer fast approaching, it is almost vacation planning time. Picking the best spot for a vacation can be crucial, as that’s where you’ll be relaxing and having fun over summer break. Here are five places I do not recommend visiting for summer vacation.

Galveston, Texas

Located just over 50 miles south of Houston, Galveston provides a popular destination for Texas vacationers. The island features lots of views, history, and tourist attractions. It also houses several fun aspects like beaches, Pleasure Pier, and a large selection of restaurants. However, once you go there and see everything, it gets boring. Green and murky waters infested with poisonous sea life deter people from visiting beaches. The city itself could also be cleaner. Overall, Galveston does not do Texas justice.

Disneyland/World, California/Florida

Disneyland and Disneyworld have locations in Anaheim, California, and Orange County, Florida, respectively. These parks attract children, so there’s not many activities for teens and adults. Not to mention, trips to these parks are extremely expensive and difficult to plan. Disney requires you to book hotels, restaurants, and park entrances up to six months in advance. High costs and tedious planning outweigh the magic of the park, and make Disney a subpar vacation destination.

Miami, Florida

Miami’s beautiful beaches, large luxury homes, and fancy restaurants make it one of the most heavily traveled cities, especially during spring break and summer. Flights can be hard to find and hotel rooms tend to be fully booked and extremely expensive. Inconsistent weather patterns make packing and planning difficult, and drunk vacationers crowd streets and beaches. The crowded public spaces make other beach towns in Florida better, as they offer the same thing without the hassle.

New York City, New York

The iconic hustle and bustle of New York City attracts thousands of tourists every month. Known as “the city that never sleeps”, NYC features activities for both day and night like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and places like Madison Square Garden host events like sporting events and concerts almost nightly. But vacationing there is not as glam as it seems. Home to almost 100,000 homeless people, the streets of New York are dirty and smelly, and heavy congestion makes traffic horrible and public transportation overcrowded. The popular tourist attractions are known to have long lines and be super expensive, all for something you will take one photo of. The business of the city is also noisy and makes sleeping difficult. Other places like Chicago and Charlotte are cheaper alternative destinations.

Los Angeles, California

Known for its lavish lifestyle and famous residents, Los Angeles houses popular attractions like Hollywood Boulevard, the Venice Boardwalk, and the Santa Monica Pier. However, most attractions commonly associated with Los Angeles require a drive, as little exists in the actual city. The city itself has a population of almost four million people, making it heavily overcrowded. Horrendous traffic makes going short distances take over an hour. Inflation also makes everything extra expensive. Once again, other big cities exist that are better to visit than LA.