34 Highly Rated Travel Spots That Actually Deserve The Praise

Professional traveler Kristin Addis shares some unique destinations that are, according to her, definitely worth the hype. Her first pick might surprise some people. "For me, Utah is not at all overrated," she says. "It's so beautiful, and those canyons are unique in the world. The American southwest, in general, has a natural beauty that's unlike anything else I've ever seen after visiting 65 countries."

Then she goes for a more international tourist attraction. "The rice terraces in China's YuanYang are just as extensive and impressive as they look in photos. No Photoshop there!" After Googling it, I can confidently say: wow! Definitely agree! However, Kristin has one more pick: "Norway was just as pristine and beautiful as it appeared in the photos," she tells us.

Matthew Kepnes, aka Nomadic Matt, says that there are too many destinations that are worth the hype in his opinion. But if he had to name just three, they would be Albania, Tbilisi, and The American South. "Albania (and the Balkans in general) [are] super affordable, few tourists. Tbilisi, Georgia [is a] lively city with a youthful and progressive vibe. And The American South – perfect for road trips and has amazing food."

Unfortunately, not all places can be as fascinating. Not all destinations and tourist attractions can look like they do in pictures. That's why lowering your expectations sometimes might do you some good. "I think it's easy to get disappointed when your expectations are high," Kristin agrees with that sentiment.

"I try not to have expectations when visiting a place, but it can be tough when we see such perfect pictures on social media. Some of the 'Instagram vs. Reality' trend has helped to uncover that, but when it comes down to it, if you want things all to yourself, you've got to wake up super early, go in the off-season, or make peace with sharing it."

Matthew agrees that the disappointment might come from the reality vs. social media phenomenon. "I think people all too often compare reality with what they see on social media or in the media at large. They are comparing imperfect reality with curated, edited photos and videos, and naturally come away disappointed."

"I think the best attitude to have when traveling is an open mind. Accept things as they are. People and places aren't there to appease you, so take them as they come and embrace them on their own terms. Do that, and you'll have a much more rewarding experience," Matthew tells us.

If we're talking about what's underrated, maybe let's cover a few overrated places? I already confessed mine, so it's natural I was curious to know what Kristin Addis, a professional traveler, had to say.

"For me, it was the Romblon sand bar in the Philippines," she confesses. "I'd seen so many pictures of it with just a single person walking out on the sand bar and thought it looked beyond dreamy, but when I arrived, it was positively crawling with people. I should have expected that since I was going midday, but it sort of ruined the magic for me," Kristin admits.

Matthew, in turn, says that some destinations are going to appeal to some but not to others. "For me, I wasn't much of a fan of Koh Phi Phi in Thailand," he tells Bored Panda. "It felt way too overdeveloped and overpriced. I've been three times now and I doubt I'll go back. But that's just me! Tons of people visit and love it. So, to each their own!"