Comments on: Overrated http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/ Tackling the Globe, One Country at a Time Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:03:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kristin http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/#comment-25942 Kristin Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:49:03 +0000 http://camelsandchocolate.com/?p=2940#comment-25942 Funny, I was just back in Roatan last month (coverage to come sometime in the next few weeks). I'm still not entirely sold on the destination--there are just so many other Caribbean isles that I think have more to offer--but we did some really good diving (in the pouring rain...go figure) at Barefoot Cay. Funny, I was just back in Roatan last month (coverage to come sometime in the next few weeks). I’m still not entirely sold on the destination–there are just so many other Caribbean isles that I think have more to offer–but we did some really good diving (in the pouring rain…go figure) at Barefoot Cay.

]]> By: Aimee http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/#comment-25941 Aimee Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:39:40 +0000 http://camelsandchocolate.com/?p=2940#comment-25941 I wanted to add a comment or 2 about Roatan and the rest of Honduras...What a bummer the weather was bad when you were there. I had the same thing happen during a trip to Belize. Made it hard to enjoy the country. However, there is a lot more to Roatan than the area around Anthony's Key -- I highly recommend staying in West End at one of the non-resort properties. I got my open water Scuba certification there in 2008 and went back in 2011 after now advancing to Rescue Diver. We stayed at Seagrape Plantation away from the hustle of town but still a short walk in and it was lovely. Duplex-style bungalows right on the water with fantastic views and sunsets, super quiet and a good dive shop too. Also, if you have time, I'd recommend going over to mainland Honduras to check out the ruins at Copan and then spend a few days in the little town of Copan Ruinas. We were going to stay only one night but ended up staying 4! Charming, colonial, cool and fun dive bars, a highlight of our time in Honduras! I wanted to add a comment or 2 about Roatan and the rest of Honduras…What a bummer the weather was bad when you were there. I had the same thing happen during a trip to Belize. Made it hard to enjoy the country.

However, there is a lot more to Roatan than the area around Anthony’s Key — I highly recommend staying in West End at one of the non-resort properties. I got my open water Scuba certification there in 2008 and went back in 2011 after now advancing to Rescue Diver. We stayed at Seagrape Plantation away from the hustle of town but still a short walk in and it was lovely. Duplex-style bungalows right on the water with fantastic views and sunsets, super quiet and a good dive shop too.

Also, if you have time, I’d recommend going over to mainland Honduras to check out the ruins at Copan and then spend a few days in the little town of Copan Ruinas. We were going to stay only one night but ended up staying 4! Charming, colonial, cool and fun dive bars, a highlight of our time in Honduras!

]]> By: Kristin http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/#comment-17396 Kristin Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:27:52 +0000 http://camelsandchocolate.com/?p=2940#comment-17396 Thanks for your input, Andy! I've actually had so many friends go to Colombia in the last year or two and am quite eager to get there myself, so I'm glad it comes highly recommended! Thanks for your input, Andy! I’ve actually had so many friends go to Colombia in the last year or two and am quite eager to get there myself, so I’m glad it comes highly recommended!

]]> By: andy http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/#comment-17395 andy Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:23:50 +0000 http://camelsandchocolate.com/?p=2940#comment-17395 Interesting list.... I found the most overrated many places in France, Italy and Spain. Spain itself is very overrated, everything is tourist oriented and filled with tourists as well. France, many beautiful cities but I always feel old french inner cities are beautiful, but if you leave the tourist area and explore, the cities become sort of dull, depressing, not pretty, very bad architecture. italy, what can I say? beautiful but VERY OVERRATED. the most UNDERRATED destinations I found, were: Colombia: everyone claims is so dangerous, in fact the danger is more of a cliche perpetuated by hollywood, the real colombia is an unknown amazing country that due to the low number of tourists, still retains a lot of that originality many countries have lost, mountains, desert, beaches, jungles, authentic people, good food, I truly truly liked it and recommended it to everyone, I have yet to meet someone who didn't like the real colombia, as in the actual country and not the drug las farc hollywoodesque one. Interesting list…. I found the most overrated many places in France, Italy and Spain.

Spain itself is very overrated, everything is tourist oriented and filled with tourists as well.

France, many beautiful cities but I always feel old french inner cities are beautiful, but if you leave the tourist area and explore, the cities become sort of dull, depressing, not pretty, very bad architecture.

italy, what can I say? beautiful but VERY OVERRATED.

the most UNDERRATED destinations I found, were:

Colombia: everyone claims is so dangerous, in fact the danger is more of a cliche perpetuated by hollywood, the real colombia is an unknown amazing country that due to the low number of tourists, still retains a lot of that originality many countries have lost, mountains, desert, beaches, jungles, authentic people, good food, I truly truly liked it and recommended it to everyone, I have yet to meet someone who didn’t like the real colombia, as in the actual country and not the drug las farc hollywoodesque one.

]]> By: Roy | Cruisesurfingz http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/#comment-16167 Roy | Cruisesurfingz Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:44:31 +0000 http://camelsandchocolate.com/?p=2940#comment-16167 I agree Singapore is overrated. Perhaps its just good for expats to live as it's a good launch pad to the rest of SEA... I was just in Paris and reckon THAT city is overrated! I agree Singapore is overrated. Perhaps its just good for expats to live as it’s a good launch pad to the rest of SEA…

I was just in Paris and reckon THAT city is overrated!

]]> By: dtravelsround http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/#comment-16040 dtravelsround Thu, 23 Jun 2011 06:21:28 +0000 http://camelsandchocolate.com/?p=2940#comment-16040 Oh my goodness!! I wasn't as impressed with Fes as I was by the rest of the places I went in Morocco (except for Casa ... nothing exciting there). It is the city where I was sooo hounded by "guides" I finally gave in and someone who swore he wasn't a guide ("no money, no money"). He was nice enough, but took me to all of the places where he would get a kick back. We did hike up to an overlook way above Fes, which was cool, but even then it wasn't spectacular because the medina blends in with the stark landscape and bland color beyond. Its also where I went to my first hamam, was scrubbed until I had scrapes on my body, and then proceeded to get super sick. Perhaps had I not gotten so sick, I would have liked it more. Oh my goodness!! I wasn’t as impressed with Fes as I was by the rest of the places I went in Morocco (except for Casa … nothing exciting there). It is the city where I was sooo hounded by “guides” I finally gave in and someone who swore he wasn’t a guide (“no money, no money”). He was nice enough, but took me to all of the places where he would get a kick back. We did hike up to an overlook way above Fes, which was cool, but even then it wasn’t spectacular because the medina blends in with the stark landscape and bland color beyond. Its also where I went to my first hamam, was scrubbed until I had scrapes on my body, and then proceeded to get super sick. Perhaps had I not gotten so sick, I would have liked it more.

]]> By: Kristin http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/#comment-16032 Kristin Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:40:47 +0000 http://camelsandchocolate.com/?p=2940#comment-16032 Hey, thanks for all of this information--with such a glowing review, how can I NOT give the DR another go? =) Just to point out that I specified I was not impressed with Punta Cana individually, as I know you can never base your entire opinion of a country on one small touristy area. I've heard Santo Domingo is really neat and that Samana and Cap Cana are nice, as well. And funny you should reference Missoula--I was just there a couple days ago and absolutely loved it. Thanks for stopping by! Hey, thanks for all of this information–with such a glowing review, how can I NOT give the DR another go? =)

Just to point out that I specified I was not impressed with Punta Cana individually, as I know you can never base your entire opinion of a country on one small touristy area. I’ve heard Santo Domingo is really neat and that Samana and Cap Cana are nice, as well. And funny you should reference Missoula–I was just there a couple days ago and absolutely loved it.

Thanks for stopping by!

]]> By: Chango http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/#comment-16024 Chango Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:00:59 +0000 http://camelsandchocolate.com/?p=2940#comment-16024 If you are adventurous at all, I encourage you to visit the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana is not the DR and the DR is not Punta Cana. Punta is a resort area built by the Trumps and Middle Eastern money as an Aspen of the Caribbean resort area to relieve tourists of the obligation of local interaction. I flew into PC my first trip to the country,and hitchiked out the next day. I wound up on a bus full of Austrian tourists headed to the resort areas to the West practicing my miserable high school German, and talking baseball in Spanglish with my suicidal driver and his buddy, one of the best intros to a new place I've had. The beaches of Samana to the north and Barahona to the west are as nice as anywhere in the world and favored by the locals. The west has mountains rising close to 10,000 ft with the rushing rivers and mountain climate one would expect of the American West. Santiago is a cool colonial city, and the plains of the east central part of the country could easily pass for the lowlands of Thailand. I spend most of my time in Santo Domingo, which is I believe, the oldest European city in the western hemisphere. I am not a fan of large urban areas, but S.D. is pretty cool, sprawling, busy, diverse, old, and new. Change the faces and signage and you could be in any decent sized Thai city. The traffic is Asian, the streets Byzantine, the feel a mix of cosmo Europe and new world Latin. The oldest part of the city is La Zona Colonial, dating to the 1500's. It's an compact mix of culture, history, and city living. Beautiful stonework, streets built originally for pedestrians, excellent restaurants, boutique hotels, and the feel of old commercial wealth. I keep a shared apartment in the Naco / Piantini / University area for the time I spend there. It has the University city vibe I like about Missoula, MT, Eugene, OR, Tempe, AZ, or the west side of Chiang Mai, Thailand with little of the chain store homogenization that plagues the U.S. Trendy eateries, street food and bars, coffee houses, vibrant night life, large scale urban shopping, hole in the wall boutiques, I can walk to anything I want. My area is great, but there are of course places in the city one need never go, and that is true of any large urban area, especially in the States. There is a little bar on Ave. Max Enriquez Urena in Piantini, called La Coolvita, with a cozy patio, and a drive through window ( criminally insane in the States and probably here too if you are not accustomed to driving in the D.R.). Yudely, the owner is a hoot. We spent the Saturday night of the full moon last March having dinner on the huge harborside plaza in La Zona with a few thousand others, followed by a walking tour of her favorite watering holes in the area, really nice evening. I love baseball, and the Dominican rocks the roots of this sport. My place is less than two miles from Quisqueya Stadium, shared by Los Tigres de Licey, and Las Aguilas, two of the turn of the last century old school powerhouses of Caribbean basball. The atmosphere can be Brazilian soccer in a 20,000 seat baseball stadium For 20-50 USD per night there are couples and singles who will open their homes to you as a boarder, take them up on it. The people of the Dominican are pretty nice, an exotic blend of Indios, European, and African black, the food Caribbean, European and everything else. Yes there is poverty in much of the country and away from the resorts and cities, English is less common, but that is true of many of the most beautiful places on this planet. Smile, dress local, leave your pretense and attitude at home, and give a taste to something different. If you are adventurous at all, I encourage you to visit the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana is not the DR and the DR is not Punta Cana. Punta is a resort area built by the Trumps and Middle Eastern money as an Aspen of the Caribbean resort area to relieve tourists of the obligation of local interaction. I flew into PC my first trip to the country,and hitchiked out the next day. I wound up on a bus full of Austrian tourists headed to the resort areas to the West practicing my miserable high school German, and talking baseball in Spanglish with my suicidal driver and his buddy, one of the best intros to a new place I’ve had.
The beaches of Samana to the north and Barahona to the west are as nice as anywhere in the world and favored by the locals. The west has mountains rising close to 10,000 ft with the rushing rivers and mountain climate one would expect of the American West. Santiago is a cool colonial city, and the plains of the east central part of the country could easily pass for the lowlands of Thailand.
I spend most of my time in Santo Domingo, which is I believe, the oldest European city in the western hemisphere. I am not a fan of large urban areas, but S.D. is pretty cool, sprawling, busy, diverse, old, and new. Change the faces and signage and you could be in any decent sized Thai city. The traffic is Asian, the streets Byzantine, the feel a mix of cosmo Europe and new world Latin.
The oldest part of the city is La Zona Colonial, dating to the 1500′s. It’s an compact mix of culture, history, and city living. Beautiful stonework, streets built originally for pedestrians, excellent restaurants, boutique hotels, and the feel of old commercial wealth.
I keep a shared apartment in the Naco / Piantini / University area for the time I spend there. It has the University city vibe I like about Missoula, MT, Eugene, OR, Tempe, AZ, or the west side of Chiang Mai, Thailand with little of the chain store homogenization that plagues the U.S. Trendy eateries, street food and bars, coffee houses, vibrant night life, large scale urban shopping, hole in the wall boutiques, I can walk to anything I want.
My area is great, but there are of course places in the city one need never go, and that is true of any large urban area, especially in the States.
There is a little bar on Ave. Max Enriquez Urena in Piantini, called La Coolvita, with a cozy patio, and a drive through window ( criminally insane in the States and probably here too if you are not accustomed to driving in the D.R.). Yudely, the owner is a hoot. We spent the Saturday night of the full moon last March having dinner on the huge harborside plaza in La Zona with a few thousand others, followed by a walking tour of her favorite watering holes in the area, really nice evening.
I love baseball, and the Dominican rocks the roots of this sport. My place is less than two miles from Quisqueya Stadium, shared by Los Tigres de Licey, and Las Aguilas, two of the turn of the last century old school powerhouses of Caribbean basball. The atmosphere can be Brazilian soccer in a 20,000 seat baseball stadium
For 20-50 USD per night there are couples and singles who will open their homes to you as a boarder, take them up on it.
The people of the Dominican are pretty nice, an exotic blend of Indios, European, and African black, the food Caribbean, European and everything else.
Yes there is poverty in much of the country and away from the resorts and cities, English is less common, but that is true of many of the most beautiful places on this planet. Smile, dress local, leave your pretense and attitude at home, and give a taste to something different.

]]> By: Kristin http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/#comment-15922 Kristin Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:10:19 +0000 http://camelsandchocolate.com/?p=2940#comment-15922 Everyone's entitled to his or her own opinion, and it cracks me up that people get so offended that someone doesn't love a place as much as they do. I personally like Australia a lot---though I found Hamilton Island such a tourist trap and devastatingly overrated--but can understand it's not for everyone, and there are so many places, in addition to the ones I noted above, that other travelers "love, love, love!" that I just. don't. get. Everyone’s entitled to his or her own opinion, and it cracks me up that people get so offended that someone doesn’t love a place as much as they do. I personally like Australia a lot—though I found Hamilton Island such a tourist trap and devastatingly overrated–but can understand it’s not for everyone, and there are so many places, in addition to the ones I noted above, that other travelers “love, love, love!” that I just. don’t. get.

]]> By: Geralis http://www.camelsandchocolate.com/2010/03/overrated/#comment-15921 Geralis Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:07:33 +0000 http://camelsandchocolate.com/?p=2940#comment-15921 Thank you! I was not overly impressed with Australia either. Usually I try to explain it off with all kinds of excuses (tired of travelling, broke, cyclone) but honestly, I just don't think it was that great. It seems to be a bit of an "epic trip dream" with my friends, and I feel bad, but I was not a fan! Thank you! I was not overly impressed with Australia either. Usually I try to explain it off with all kinds of excuses (tired of travelling, broke, cyclone) but honestly, I just don’t think it was that great. It seems to be a bit of an “epic trip dream” with my friends, and I feel bad, but I was not a fan!

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