Tourists reveal Instagram hotspots that are ‘major let-downs’ – from ‘tourist trap’ spa to Greek island ‘ruined’ by influencers
There are some destinations around the world that social media influencers all flock to, to share selfies with their millions of followers – inspiring them to travel there too.
But, in reality, these places don’t always live up to the heavily-edited Instagram posts.
Reddit users have revealed the ‘heavily influencer-recommended’ hotspots they visited that turned out to be a ‘major let-down’.
From a witchy US city to one of Greece’s most popular islands, only ever seen from ‘one specific angle’ on Instagram, we reveal where they named the most underwhelming places around the world…
Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE
Abu Dhabi might be popular with influencers, with over 10.8 million posts on Instagram.
But ‘EducationalAd5712′ says the United Arab Emirates’ capital is ‘horrifically inefficient and bland’.
The tourist adds: ‘Journeys that should have been quick took about 40 minutes because of poor road and city planning and the whole place felt like blocks of soulless skyscrapers.’
Many other Reddit users had similar feelings towards Dubai – a hotspot for Love Island and TOWIE stars, with over 38.9 million posts on Instagram.
Reddit users have been sharing the places they think are overhyped by influencers. Pictured is Abu Dhabi, which one tourist says felt like ‘blocks of soulless skyscrapers’
‘No_Pomegranate1167’ says: ‘It’s like an amusement park without a soul.’
Meanwhile, ‘CityBoundMermaid’ slams it as ‘a monument to consumerism rising from the desert’, and ‘Jippiejie’ says it’s nothing more than ‘an expensive soulless mall’ where ‘influencers manage to find a purpose’.
Santorini, Greece
If you’ve seen influencers sharing posed-up pictures from Santorini, standing on some white steps, in front of a Blue Domed Church, it’s highly likely they’ll have been in Oia, a village on the Greek island that has over 208,000 posts on Instagram.
But that’s not the real Santorini according to a few tourists.
‘TunaNoodleMyFavourite’ says: ‘After visiting there it’s pretty funny to note that 90 per cent of influencers’ pics/videos are taken in one specific part of the island at one specific angle.’
A frequent Santorini visitor, ‘Redversion’ advises staying outside Oia as ‘the influencers have ruined it, especially at sunset’.
Santorini didn’t live up to its billing for some tourists, particularly Oia village – pictured above (file image)
They say: ‘You’ll have a crowd staring at you and your “private” pool. Your time is better spent by booking a boat and being on the water around sunset.’
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
With over 819,000 posts on Instagram, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon geothermal spa has become a very popular social media spot.
But it’s not quite as good as influencers make it seem, according to a few visitors.
‘PM_ME_UR_RECIPEZ’ claims: ‘It was just a themed spa, manmade and packed.’
‘Zealousideal_Owl9621’ adds: ‘One thing you will never find there is a local. Total tourist trap.
‘I will admit it felt good after a long flight, but it’s insanely overpriced and I’d never do it again.’
Salem, USA
Salem, in Massachusetts, has always been popular, due to being the place where the famous witch trials were held from 1692 to 1693.
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon (pictured) is a ‘total tourist trap’ that is ‘insanely overpriced’, according to one traveller
But there are now over 1.4 million Instagram posts taken in the historical city, and locals have been left moaning about the fact it’s become ‘packed’ with tourists, especially at Halloween.
‘BostonBlackCat’ explains: ‘The entire month of October is so packed, I advise against visiting.
‘The city is simply not big enough and lacks the infrastructure to handle that many people. So many of the tourists are also so disrespectful and treat our town like a theme park.’
A deleted user also claims the city’s ‘vibe’ has ‘changed’ from being ‘artsy’ and ‘hippy’ to somewhere for people to get ‘drunk in a witch hat’.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
There are over 334,000 Instagram posts with the hashtag ‘#Amsterdamfood’, including many videos of influencers showing off their meals around the Netherlands city.
But this has led to Amsterdam’s food venues ‘getting famous’ on TikTok an Instagram for waffles or fries, and becoming overhyped, says ‘Janpeterbalkellende’.
The regular visitor says: ‘Is the food good? Sort of. Is it 30-minute wait good? Definitely not. Overpriced.’
Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
Thailand’s Phi Phi Islands (pictured) disappointed one visitor who claims you ‘can’t even swim in the water’
There are over 1.4 million idyllic-looking posts taken on Thailand’s Phi Phi islands.
But they aren’t what they appear to be, says ‘Forsaken_Weekend_131’.
They claim: ‘You can’t even swim in the crystal blue waters because it’s a protected area, so that explains why any pictures you see of influencers at the islands, they’re only knee-deep.’
Tulum, Mexico
In the past few years, Mexican beach resort Tulum has become the host of some of the biggest dance music festivals, including Afterlife, which has over 1.9 million Instagram followers and is attended by influencers from around the world.
But this rise in popularity has been the town’s undoing, according to ‘Travelingman0′, who claims: ’20 years ago it was an absolute paradise. Now it’s full of $400/£322 rooms and EDM (electronic dance music) parties.’
‘Retrooo’ agrees, adding: ‘This is definitely one town ruined by influencers. I went 20 years ago and it was magical.
‘I went again recently and could hardly recognise it.’
Pamukkale, Turkey
‘Incredibly underwhelming’ is ‘Ijkenneth’s reaction to Turkey’s Pamukkale thermal waters, pictured in over 82,400 Instagram posts.
They say: ‘The water supply simply isn’t what it used to be and so most of the pools are dry. It’s still cool to look at but it’s not what it’s hyped to be.’
Turkey’s Pamukkale thermal waters (pictured) aren’t ‘what it’s hyped to be’, says one tourist who claims ‘most of the pools are dry’
‘Zealousideal_Owl9621’ adds: ‘The place has obvious signs of over-tourism, pools were dry when I visited in 2019, huge crowds, trash in some of the water pools, and then the touristy Cleopatra swimming pool at the top.’
Bali, Indonesia
Despite more than 8.7 million Instagram posts taken in the Indonesian province, Bali is nothing more than ‘an Australian equivalent of Benidorm’, claims ‘BigBadAl’.
They add: ‘We went expecting white sandy beaches, palm trees, temples and an almost zen-like calm.
‘We discovered very quickly that the whole of Kuta Beach is covered in trash.’
‘38396972’ agrees, adding: ‘Too much pollution. Drunks on the beach. Black sand. Effluent running into the ocean. Two hours in traffic to see an underwhelming “attraction”.’
