Worst-rated tourist sites across the globe revealed
You might want to take a peek at this list before planning your next vacation.
Stasher, a reusable storage container company, ranked 99 global tourist attractions using Google reviews, quality of local accommodations, distance from the closest international airport, tourist safety, and, of course, TikTok popularity.
These worst-of-the-worst ratings come as the post-pandemic tourism boom continues, with travelers prioritizing meaningful vacations.
“Our values have fundamentally shifted since the pandemic, and now, people want meaning in everything they do — travel included. They’re more purposeful,” Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, told Barrons this week.
“Pre-pandemic, travel was about checking off a list of destinations you wanted to see. Now, it’s about really exploring and seeing a place in depth,” she added.
![The lines of people at the entrance to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000044357581.jpg?w=1024)
4. Busch Gardens in Florida
The 335-acre animal theme park welcomes around 4 million visitors a year — many wanting to chase the thrill of roller coasters while taking stock of the majestic animals.
The Tampa Bay attraction, which lives in the shadow of Orlando-area amusement parks, was poorly rated for its second-rate accommodations. Those earned a 6.6 out of 10.
![A view of Taj Mahal](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000044357609.jpg?w=1024)
3. Taj Mahal, India
The massive mausoleum of white marble — built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of Emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his favorite wife — is one of the most iconic and admired pieces of architecture in the world, but some argue it may not be worth the trip.
Being a whopping 136 miles from the closest airport, making it the tourist destination farthest away from an international airstrip, also contributed to the low ranking.
![The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000044357679.jpg?w=1024)
2. Grand Bazaar, Turkey
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey may be one of the world’s oldest shopping malls, but just like with many malls across the globe, shoppers aren’t interested.
With 4,000 shops hoping to entice tourists, the Grand Bazaar scored poorly on most markers, thanks to a higher risk tourist safety score of 2.8 of 5 and a lengthy trek to the airport (28 miles).
![Hollywood Walk of Fame](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000044357716.jpg?w=1024)
1. Hollywood Walk of Fame, California
The famous attraction, along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street, honors Hollywood’s biggest stars.
But it didn’t earn much acclaim, with an overall ranking of 3.42 out of 10.
The hotspot received the lowest Google Reviews score, 4 out of 5.
One write-up even calls it “grubby and slightly scary!”
The US’s poor global peace index of 3.85 dragged Hollywood Boulevard’s tourist hub even lower, with reviews describing the walk as “dirty” and “unsafe.”
You’ll likely have more luck and a better time trying to spot a star at one of Los Angeles’ trendy spots, like Erewhon or Nobu.