10 Dream Destinations That Completely Let Me Down — And Why You Should Avoid Them

These iconic places weren’t the paradise I imagined. Here’s the harsh reality.

Photo by De'Andre Bush on Unsplash

I thought I was going to live my dream in Hollywood, then found myself gripping my luggage, stepping over trash, and wishing I had a longer layover in Phoenix. It was the first time I realized something could look incredible in photos, sound magical in your head, but then be such a bummer when you actually show up.

It’s almost a different type of heartache, I think. The type of heartbreak you get from places, not people.

This isn’t a list of “overrated places.” This is a documentation of fully realized emotional letdowns when the fantasy I had in my mind was awkwardly standing next to the reality I experienced.

You may end up agreeing with me, or you might just hate me by the time you are done reading this, but either way, here’s what I wish I could have been told before I booked those flights.

Some places belong in your dreams.

I Thought These Places Would Be Magical — They Were Anything But

1. Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles