Sentosa, Pompeii ranked world's 'most disappointing' holiday destinations

SINGAPORE - Travel books and sites have raved about many amazing holiday spots, but which ones are actually as exciting as they seem?

Readers on social networking site Reddit have listed their most disappointing holiday experiences at 16 popular and highly-promoted tourist destinations.

One of the places nominated in this list is Singapore's own Sentosa. Its beaches has been described as "fine" and even "romantic" online, but Reddit readers disagreed.

One such reader said the view from the beach looked like "some sort of futuristic dystopia" with oil tankers and factories "spewing smoke" in the distance.

Pompeii in Italy is known to be one of the world's most beautifully preserved city which was once buried under volcanic ash. Immortalised in books, films and art, the ancient Roman town is a highly-recommended attraction for visitors in the country.

However, disappointed travellers have shared on Reddit that many of the talked-about monuments have been taken away by museums, and the site is overcrowded with people.

Morocco's largest city Casablanca has also been given unfavourable reviews on Reddit. One reader said the town has "really nothing to see", except one "obscenely expensive mosque" that a previous king had built.

If you are going on vacation, find out which attractions you may want to think twice about visiting.

wjeanne@sph.com.sg