Travelling on a budget isn’t always easy – but that’s even truer in these expensive destinations, deemed ‘not worth the price’ by tourists.
‘AffordableTraveler’ asked Reddit members about the ‘overhyped’ places they’d visited and where they regret spending as much as they did.
For them, it was Aruba, due to being ‘expensive, far out there and windy’, but others mentioned plenty of other destinations.
From island paradises that are ‘definitely overpriced’ to a city break with ‘outlandish prices’ – you might want to hold off booking any of these popular holiday spots…
Monaco
‘The Rock’ doesn’t rock. At least if you’re on a budget.
‘Puce_moment’ says Monaco is ‘wildly overpriced’, while ‘Cg12983’ describes the country as an ‘unfriendly, snobbish place’ and ‘Springleme1’ claims it felt ‘like a business class airport lounge’.
‘EfficientActivity’ also had an unpleasant experience, adding: ‘We made the mistake of trying to walk around Monaco.
Reddit users have been sharing the cities they think are the most overpriced. Monaco was described as feeling like ‘an airport lounge’ by one
‘The pavements are 30cm (12in) wide, there are just tall, pointless, luxury apartment buildings, with nothing on street level, and an intense noise and exhaust from endless Ferraris whizzing by.’
However, if the gambling gods are on your side in Monaco, you could very well leave with more than you came with, like ‘Bilbo_bugginz’.
They say: ‘You have to buy a ticket to see the casino but it comes with a €20/£17/$21 voucher.
‘My wife and I played the slots with the vouchers and won over €300/£249/$315. Cashed out and left Monaco soon after.
‘Felt good feeling like the only tourist who made money visiting Monaco.’
Maldives
Although it’s the ultimate island destination for many, the Maldives has failed to impress certain tourists due to its high prices.
‘Xycergy’ says: ‘The beach villas and pristine beaches were awesome, but, frankly speaking, there are numerous other similar-looking places you can go to in Southeast Asia, or even the Pacific Island nations, for much cheaper.’
Although it’s the ultimate island destination for many, the Maldives (pictured) has failed to impress certain tourists due to its high prices. ‘Xycergy’ says: ‘The beach villas and pristine beaches were awesome, but, frankly speaking, there are numerous other similar-looking places you can go to in Southeast Asia, or even the Pacific Island nations, for much cheaper’
‘Amockdfw89’ adds: ‘I like the beach but that’s really all there is to do there.’
Despite this, ‘BajeJoseph’ claims there are ways to enjoy the country on a budget, explaining: ‘There are multiple versions of the Maldives and while the luxury resorts are definitely overpriced, the smaller, less busy, local islands are fantastic.’
Dubai
The Gulf hotspot was previously crowned Tripadvisor’s best destination but there are plenty of travellers on Reddit who weren’t buying what Dubai has to offer.
‘GeneralZaroff1’ complains: ‘Everything feels huge and expensive and empty and soulless.
‘All the shopping malls and brands are westernised and [full of] over-consumerism, so you always feel like you’re seeing a copied version of something else. You walk away and immediately forget what you just saw.’
‘TLB-Q8’ agrees, saying: ‘It’s essentially an open-air shopping mall with exactly the same stuff as found in shopping malls anywhere else.’
Las Vegas
Las Vegas was slammed as an ‘overpriced scam location’ which has changed since ‘the old days’
USA comes up several times on the thread, but the most complained about destination in the ‘Land of the (not quite so) Free’ was Las Vegas.
‘Overall_Rise_6370’ claims the casino town has become ‘way too expensive and crowded since the old days’, due to ‘resort fees’, which are additional costs added to the price of a hotel stay.
They add: ‘There are now too few freebies and lower priced things to do.’
‘Spudtater’ agrees: ‘Been there three times over 40 years. Never, ever again.
‘It’s now just an overpriced scam location. All kinds of ridiculous fees and additional stupid s**t going on along the Strip.’
Vegas still has its fans though.
‘Mtg_liebestod’ says: ‘Vegas is one of the more unique cities in the USA.
‘Maybe it’s not as cheap as it used to be, but the shows, premium entertainment and weird foods are absolutely worth the price, unless you just don’t really care about the stuff that Vegas offers.’
Switzerland
Switzerland was ‘so expensive it was hard to enjoy’ according to one traveller
Switzerland was one of Europe’s most complained about destinations, with ‘Anon0207’ protesting that the country was ‘so expensive that it was hard to enjoy’ and even made famously expensive Paris feel ‘like a bargain’.
The disgruntled traveller moans that ‘two pastries and two cappuccinos’ cost as much as ‘$35/€33/£27.60’.
Meanwhile ‘Justneedtocreatenac’ recommends travelling to neighbouring countries, saying: ‘Switzerland is beautiful and you can have an affordable stay if you minimise eating out, but you can enjoy similar scenery in the countries around it and treat yourself way more for the same cost.’
Costa Rica
Costa Rica translates as ‘Rich Coast’ and you might need to be rich to enjoy it, according to some travellers.
‘Buffalippo’ claims: ‘[It’s] just unbelievably expensive for mediocre food, service and culture.’
‘Jimsensei’ agrees adding: ‘Spent a lot of time in Central America and I love it.
‘I’ve been avoiding Costa Rica because people told me it was overpriced and over-touristic. Went there last year and it was just as bad as was reported.’
Seychelles
The Seychelles has ‘gorgeous beaches’ but is ‘incredibly expensive’ according to one tourist
Another island paradise, the Seychelles has ‘gorgeous beaches’ but is ‘incredibly expensive’ according to ‘The_Eightmonth’.
‘Stuckintherealworld’ agrees that despite the fact Seychelles is ‘definitely beautiful’, ‘just sitting on beaches is not worth the price tag’.
However, ‘White_waves’ disagrees: ‘Taxis were the only expensive things in Seychelles and you can just do a self-driving car or bus instead. Beaches are free.’
Dublin
The capital of Ireland’s prices could leave you wincing according to ‘EducationalAd7512’.
They say: ‘Accommodation prices were extremely expensive and food and such seemed more expensive than even London.’
‘Big-Parking9805’ adds: ‘I like Dublin, spent a weekend there a few years ago, probably the price of a two-week holiday in Antalya [in Turkey]. Ridiculously expensive. Enjoyable though.’
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein was described as ‘expensive’ and ‘rather dead’ by a few users on Reddit
One of the smallest countries in Europe, Liechtenstein wasn’t worth the price tag for a few travellers.
‘Rhineah’ says: ‘I didn’t venture outside of Vaduz but the city or landscape don’t really stand out compared to what I’ve seen in other countries. Very expensive though.’
‘Jfchops2’ adds: ‘Spent one night there last winter. It was a nice little town but felt rather dead and, my goodness, it’s expensive.’
Norway’s cities
According to some travellers, it’s worth skipping Norway’s cities if you want to stick to a budget.
‘GlitteringBowler’ describes ‘Norway’s nature and fjords’ as the ‘real deal’, but moans the ‘cities are so-so’ and ‘insanely expensive’ with ‘mediocre food’.
‘Constant-Security525’ adds that the country’s major cities, such as Oslo and Bergen, have ‘outlandish prices’.