Eiffel Tower 'most disappointing' tourist spot - Political Forum

superdude17* · 08-18-2007, 01:27 AM

Source: Telegraph UK

Quote:

The Eiffel Tower is "frustratingly overcrowded and overpriced" while Stonehenge is "just a load of old rocks" according to a report which has named the top ten most disappointing tourist spots.

The Louvre's Mona Lisa and New York's Times Square also have difficulty enticing tourists to rush back, the survey reveals.

Even Egypt's great pyramids, one of the seven wonders of the world, made the list of underwhelming and overrated attractions, because of the oppressive heat and the persistent hawkers.

But top of the list was Paris's famous tower, which almost a quarter of the 1,000 plus British tourists questioned dubbed a flop.

Felice Hardy of Virgin Travel Insurance, which commissioned the survey, said holidaymakers looking for unexpected delights should opt for less mainstream destinations.

"It's easy to be swayed by brochures that opt for the mainstream and focus on cliched tourist sights around the world, but many of them are overcrowded and disappointing," she said.

Those looking to avoid the crowds but witness something spectacular could do worse than seek out the only recently unearthed fortress of Kuelap in northern Peru, a just rival to crowded Machu Picchu in the south.

The far-flung, jungle-clad temples of Cambodia are another option waiting to be discovered, as is the Javan temple of Borobudur, where you might get to enjoy some cultural exchanges as one of the few international tourists appreciating the Buddhist reliefs.

Walking the trails at the Taroko Gorge in Taiwan is highly recommended for more active travellers as is traversing China's beautiful Tiger Leaping Gorge.

The sights voted most disappointing around the world were:
# 1) The Eiffel Tower
# 2) The Louvre (Mona Lisa)
# 3) Times Square
# 4) Las Ramblas, Spain
# 5) Statue of Liberty
# 6) Spanish Steps, Rome
# 7) The White House
# 8) The Pyramids, Egypt
# 9) The Brandenburg Gate, Germany
# 10) The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The sights voted most disappointing in the UK were:

# 1) Stonehenge
# 2) The Angel of the North
# 3) Blackpool Tower
# 4) Lands' End
# 5) The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
# 6) The London Eye
# 7) Brighton Pier
# 8) Buckingham Palace
# 9) The White Cliffs of Dover
# 10) Big Ben.

Ten UK suggestions promising not to disappoint are:
# 1) Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
# 2) Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, County Antrim
# 3) The Royal Crescent, Bath
# 4) Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Southwark, London
# 5) The Backs, Cambridge
# 6) Holkham Bay, Norfolk
# 7) Lyme Regis and the Jurassic Coast
# 8) Tate St Ives
# 9) Isle of Skye, Scotland
# 10) The Eden Project, Cornwall.

"The Eiffel Tower is "frustratingly overcrowded and overpriced"

Totally agree. Been there. Very long lines leading to a truly boring ride up the tower. Paris is a remarkable city with a lot to see, but I'd recommend avoiding the Eiffel Tower like the plague. Second on my list would be the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, another bore-fest and one that, due to security and the crowds, can't be escaped once you realize how boring it is.

The sights Americans voted most disappointing in the UK were:
1) any British restaurant. I’ll pass on the fish & chips and Pret, thank you very much.
2) any British dentist’s office

jk

superdude17* · 08-18-2007, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neorealist

It wasn't that overcrowded when I was there in July of 2005. I think thats all relative. Coming from a city like Seattle or the suburbs it might seem crowded. You have to remember Le Tour D'Effiel isn't in the burbs....its in a very large crowded European city....almost anywhere you go to in Paris its crowded.

I am quite aware. I have been there before, loved it (the city), except for the unbelievable smokey haze that was constantly around me. When I went there, the lines were unbelievably long and pretty much ruined the very short ride up the tower. Far not worth the wait. Did you know that Hitler ordered to have it demolished? General Dietrich von Choltitz refused.

micfranklin · 08-18-2007, 09:16 AM

If people are so disappointed then don't go.

Aegis · 08-18-2007, 01:13 PM

For me, the entire country of France is a big disappointment.

Kazikli Bey · 08-18-2007, 09:30 PM

No way is the Eiffel Tower a disappointing tourist spot, if you want to see all of Paris, that is the place to go. From the top you get a beautiful sweeping image of whole city, its complete panorama.

superdude17* · 08-18-2007, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micfranklin

If people are so disappointed then don't go.

Its hard to be disappointed before you try it.

Scribbler1 · 08-18-2007, 09:47 PM

Perhaps the reason could be that the place isn't what the younger crowd finds exciting and the older ones are dying off.

It might have a nice view though, which for the "instant gratification" generation may not cut it.
I've never been there but I would guess the view from the WTC observation deck would be a bit more exciting.

iTaliAN_ICe · 08-19-2007, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superdude17*

2) any British dentist’s office

Lol... I wasn't aware they had dentists over there.

Izzibeth · 08-21-2007, 11:57 AM

I'd like to know how the pyramids ended up on that list. I guess maybe people who don't know the history or are not intrigued by the how's and why's of ancient civs made that list?

iTaliAN_ICe · 08-21-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzibeth

I guess maybe people who don't know the history or are not intrigued by the how's and why's of ancient civs made that list?

Isn't that the majority of the population?