Comparing Paris with “party hot spots” what a joke.

But I do agree that you don’t have to go somewhere just because it’s in all the guide books. You can find something for someone just about anywhere.
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I think the reputation that some Parisians may have is mostly spread by American tourists, who haven’t bothered to learn even a few phrases of French and then are surprised when they are not treated with special attention. Of course this applies to only a fraction of tourists, but unfortunately, some of them don’t respect the customs and the way of life of a foreign country.

On my three visits to Paris, the most unpleasant people have been American tourists, who think nothing of blocking the stairs to the metro or stopping in the middle of a narrow street, or not even saying hello to the tobacconist. They tend to make the most noise and take up more space than everyone else.

Susan- Prague is another place that suffers from overhype. I was actually pretty underwhelmed by the city when i went (although the fact that is was damp cold November didn’t help). I think if I knew a local that would be a great excuse to visit Paris.

Gray- You’ve got me there! I guess I should say the people are supposed to be unfriendly.

Jason- Another good point, although I would say it works the same in reverse. If I’ve seen the roman ruins spread out over North Africa, Turkey and even England then finally visiting Rome would give the experience an entirely different meaning than hitting it cold. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from travel it’s that everything is related to everything else and there’s no one linear way to tackle it all.

Nancy- Yes Disney is another great example. So many families feel like they “must” go and after spending so much money and effort to arrive there is so much pressure to have a good time. I’ve never seen more crying children than I did at Disney World.

Dave- I do want to go to Chernobyl actually. But I want to go because it sounds like the sort of thing I’d enjoy, not because I want to brag that I’ve been the Chernobyl.

In regard to Paris, I did find people a bit rude the first time I visited, but that was also the night of the French ultimately winning the ’98 World Cup in their own country (against Brazil) so I’ve forgiven the offenders.

The second time I went, I stayed with a Parisian I met in India, and hung out with her friends, going to a NYE house party. It was a lot of fun, and I appreciated my time there much more.

“I’ll probably make it there eventually but I won’t be bullied into visiting just because everyone else has.” — a good approach

Btw, I do have to say I’ve enjoyed Paris (and Amsterdam ), but everyone’s tastes are different, so you shouldn’t take my word on it!

Aelle- That is a good point. It’s not that I’m against taking recommendations from people; that’s how I’ve ended up in som really cool places. I’m just not fan of the idea that there are certain places you HAVE to see when you visit Europe or France or the US or whereever.

As for point #2, I have to say that if a place is overwhelmingly recommended, there is usually a reason for that. When people give you one of these clichés, dig a little deeper: are they reciting the guidebook or is there really a personal emotion, a spark when they retell their travel? Most people get teary eyed talking about Bali or Kyoto… and usually it is because they had a true travel hight point, if not a near-mystical experience there.

A last word about Paris specifically… I have a particular view about this city, having been born there, having left and later come back as a tourist. It’s a city that’s hard to tame. You know how some places make you feel at home right away, and others challenge you? Paris is of the second kind, hardcore. Only if you measure up can you access the best it has to offer – and it is truly amazing, and a lot more than what the guidebook says.

I totally agree that sometimes just going somewhere to say you went there is lame, but sometimes it turns out to be a place you unexpectedly like. Regardless, places like Paris have such incredible architecture and history….definitely worth going to at least once in your lifetime (and I would not mind never going back — now more interested in other parts of the country).