Every city has a bit of a reputation. Some may be foodie cities or sit atop every traveler’s must-see list, while others have far more nefarious reputations for being dirty or dangerous.
The Truth Vs. Reputation
Not all cities match their reputations. Top destinations may be overcrowded and dull, but so-called dangerous cities may be hidden gems to experienced travelers.
While scrolling through a popular travel forumn, I came across a thread asking users to share the cities that subverted their expectations in both good and bad ways.
Here are the top responses.
Mexico City
Mexico City has a horrible reputation, but many travelers say it’s unfair.
“People were warning me not to go and that it’s a “war zone,” said one Redditor. “But it was full of culture, tons of history, amazing food, and really friendly locals,” they added.
“Mexico City is absolutely amazing!” exclaimed another. “I wish it weren’t so hard to convince people to go there.”
Newcastle
One user said that Londoners warned them away from Newcastle, so they were surprised at how much they enjoyed it.
“While it is a working-class town with some struggling areas, it is absolutely beautiful with amazing architecture, incredible history, great people, pubs, good little metro system, and easy access to countryside and incredible attractions in the surrounding areas,” they said, offering a fair assessment of the city.
Vancouver
Vancouver’s supposed to be a top Canadian travel destination, but many visitors didn’t see the appeal.
“Downtown was a real disappointment, not cozy or interesting at all,” shared one user.
“I think people are praising Vancouver, but in reality, it’s the natural surroundings that they like,” said another, admitting that the area around Vancouver abounds with stunning beauty.
Panama City
Many users were impressed with Panama City, not realizing how large and modern the South American metropolis is.
“I was surprised that Panama City has such an impressive skyline,” admitted one user.
“I recently spent a month there. The waterfront walkway and old town are beautiful!” said another, adding that the city isn’t perfect. “They have a huge garbage problem, though.”
Doha
Qatar sells itself as a middle eastern oasis lush in wealth, but some visitors to the capital city didn’t enjoy it.
“Boring, not walkable, almost no perceivable culture, so insular and just gross displays of wealth, and the Qataris are rude to hospitality workers,” said one user of their experience.
“Qataris have a reputation of being rude to everyone,” replied another.
New York City
It’s impossible to grasp how vast and magical New York City is until you visit.
“I’ll never forget the feeling, and I’ve never felt anything like it since, of coming out of the subway station right in the middle of Manhattan,” shared one user. “This was a moment straight out of a movie. Where like small town boy sees the big mega-city for the first time, and his eyes go wide as saucers.”
Marrakesh
Many users were upset to find Marrakesh didn’t live up to its romantic reputation.
One user said they “got scammed the first day and kept getting harassed by scammers the whole time in the city.”
Another agreed. “Literally, my experience with Marrakesh as well. You expect a level of scamming when you’re a tourist, but Marrakesh was out of control.”
“Marrakech is beautiful, but the people ruin the city,” lamented a third.
Taipei
One user said they didn’t have many feelings towards Taipei until visiting but were surprised at how much they liked it.
“I had just come from a long time in Southeast Asia, and by comparison, everything was super efficient and also still affordable,” they said, adding, “The food was some of the best I’ve ever eaten.”
“I had the same experience in Taiwan after spending time in SEA. You don’t really have to look over your shoulder there, despite the city’s infrastructure looking a bit rough,” agreed another.
Brussels
One user said they had high expectations for Brussels but didn’t enjoy it.
They said the city “smelled like urine,(was) overcrowded, and (they) had a couple chance encounters with people that really soured my visit. It might be lovely, and I just caught a bad confluence of events — but as of now, I have no desire to return.”
Another agreed, simply stating, “Brussels is awful.”
Chicago
Chicago has a horrible reputation for violence among Americans, but the stories are overblown and untrue.
Chicago is a fantastic city and no more dangerous than any other major US city.
Travelers agreed, saying they enjoyed the city and all the iconic things to do in Chicago.
“Chicago was one of the biggest surprises for me,” said one user. “You hear so many bad things about it on the news, but I think it’s actually my favorite big city in the US.”
“The architecture river tour is a must,” stated one. Another said even locals take that tour because of how good it is.
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Source: Reddit
Melanie Allen is an American journalist and happiness expert. She has bylines on MSN, the AP News Wire, Wealth of Geeks, Media Decision, and numerous media outlets across the nation. She covers a wide range of topics centered around self-actualization and the quest for a fulfilling life.