Most Overrated (and Underrated) Destinations 2006

Cape Cod, Mass. What has always made Cape Cod special is its emptiness. Buffeted by sea and wind, the narrow peninsula was famous among artists for its lonely, blustery landscapes and shimmering, ocean-reflected light. These days, though, the dunes and seaside bluffs are covered with hulking mansions and condos; in summer, traffic is unbearable and car exhaust fills the air. The worst may be yet to come -- a plan to build more than 100 giant wind turbines in Nantucket Sound. If you really want the kind of unspoiled, coastal-New England experience Cape Code used to offer, head to Maine's Blue Hill Peninsula, above Penobscot Bay. ---S. Audrey

Florence, Italy. Yes, Florence is beautiful, but who can tell with the busloads of tourists, long lines for museums, overpriced hotels, and crowds as dense as a box of spaghetti? For an entirely different take on a European city, try underrated Marseilles. Well-preserved architecture, mouth-watering bouillabaisse, a melting pot of Mediterranean cultures -- all with glorious views, and no lines. ---Melissa Klurman

Florence, Italy. The summer months see over 8 million tourists descend on this otherwise tranquil city. Factor in outrageous museum entry fees, long lines, pushy street vendors, overpriced jewelry shops at Ponte Vecchio, noisy scooters, and you get one of the most overrated cities in Italy. Spare yourself the aggravation and drive one hour south into the heart of Tuscany to the Etruscan village of Volterra. Perched high on a hill above the sea, the medieval town is still relatively undiscovered -- at least, for now. ---Elina Furman

Florida. There's too much development and too many chain restaurants and shops that have -- with some notable exceptions, such as Miami -- killed the native character of the Sunshine State. I like the Georgia Bight, a gorgeous and wild coastline where development (St. Simons Island) is balanced by preserves both natural (Cumberland Island National Seashore) and historic (Jekyll Island), making for a far more scenic and cultural beach stay. ---Elaine Glusac

Great Barrington, Mass. The place has convinced weekenders all over the Northeast that it is the gateway to the Berkshires, but it mostly offers visitors overpriced restaurants, lame ski slopes, disappointing food and microbreweries, and long drives to the region's best cultural attractions. Try nearby Stockbridge instead for a better quaintness quotient. ---Rachel Elson

The Loire Valley, France. People who dream of vacations in the Loire might be better off looking at pictures of the famous châteaux in books. Only a handful are open to the public, and they're overcrowded. The landscape is flat and featureless, and even the wine is neither here nor there. Far better to make your way to Marseille, the Cinderella of the South of France. Travelers who by-pass it on the way to Provence, the Camargue and the Côte d'Azur, miss its dynamic and spicy mix of Mediterranean and North African cultures, its earthy, outgoing populace, and the best bouillabaisse in the world. ---Ferne Arfin

Mar del Plata, Argentina. Argentines swear by this summertime staple, but the dirty and congested coastal city of Mar del Plata offers very little in the way of relaxing fun in the sun for tourists. During January and February, millions pack the small beaches and clog the city's restaurants, casinos and cheesy Vegas-style theater shows. Mar del Plata is definitely an acquired taste. For a lower-octane Argentine beach experience, head about 80 miles north of Mar del Plata to the sleepier coastal towns of Pinamar, Villa Gesell, and Carilo. ---Brian Byrnes

New York, New York. Even though foreign currency rates put the Big Apple on sale for most tourists, once people arrive and see the cleaned up streets, shopping mall chain stores and franchised eateries, they're a bit disappointed. Like those who went to Paris looking for Hemingway's movable feast, tourists searching for the big, bad, bold city realize they're too late. To experience the hip, bohemian New York City of your dreams, stay south of 14th Street, don't eat in any restaurants that take reservations, shop only in boutiques with unknown names, and walk or take public transit exclusively.---Jennifer Leuzzi

Palm Beach, Florida. It's completely overrated. The beach itself is a real disappointment -- it has a rocky shelf and the water is murky at best. Palm Beach's biggest draws are its social scene (but unless you're named Muffy, who cares?) and its luxury shops, which, frankly, can be found anywhere. For a beach experience that gets it right, head farther south to Miami. ---Christina Valhouli

Pompeii, Italy. Millions of visitors shuffle through Pompeii every year, dodging groups of noisy school children and sweltering in the sun to see the results of Vesuvio's destruction. With so many distractions, it's hard to conjure up an image of life in the first century. Instead of joining the mobs, visit Ostia Antica, an easy day trip southwest of Rome. In Ostia, you'll find intact, two-story buildings, near-perfect mosaic floors, and in summer you can attend a live performance in the ancient amphitheater. ---Betsy Malloy

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.Famous as the Caribbean capital of retail therapy, St. Thomas is a highly anticipated port of call for shopaholic cruise ship passengers. Sadly, the days of rock bottom duty-free prices are long gone and the incredible deals of the past are almost non-existent. For small-island solitude, take the ferry from Red Hook to St. John and then head for Cinnamon Bay Beach, where you'll find full facilities and even hiking trails.---Linda Coffman

St. Tropez, France. Everyone's heard of what is supposedly the jewel of the French Riviera -- St. Tropez. Sure, you can ogle the ridiculous giga-yachts of Sean Combs and Roberto Cavalli and effortlessly drop your entire year's salary in snobby boutiques. But quaint cobblestone streets jammed with people in Lycra minis and four-inch heels desperate to spot Paris in a bikini is my idea of hell. Forget the Côte d'Azur and take the Corniche des Maures direction Marseille to elegant Hyeres or Cassis, or adorable family resorts like St. Cyr sur Mer. Unfashionable, maybe, but full of French chic. ---Kate Sekules

Tuscan Hill Towns. The great towns of Tuscany -- Cortona, Montepulciano, San Gimignano and the like -- qualified as well-kept secrets until Frances Mayes' books appeared. Now it seems everyone under the Tuscan sun is hell-bent on checking them off their travel "to do" list. Sure, the architecture is superb, the scenery sublime, but it's hard to appreciate such attributes when tour buses disgorge their teeming masses. For a Tuscan town where la vita is still dolce, try Massa Maritima, 40 miles southwest of Siena. Go. Savor its medieval piazza. Drink in those views. Just don't write a memoir about your stay. ---Susan MacCallum-Whitcomb

Zakynthos town, Greece. Every summer, hundreds of thousands of tourists come to Zakynthos, one of Greece's Ionian islands. As a result, finding authentic Greek dining or relaxing nooks in Zakynthos town is impossible. The Ionian's Corfu town has a greater range of offerings and historical structures. ---Angelike Contis

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