When we hit the road in the United States, it’s a given we’ll include certain staples on the trip itinerary. There’s no shame in having those more well-known attractions on our radar, but regional tourism industries also have their fingers on the pulse. Unfortunately, hitting those immensely popular, high-traffic destinations comes with the risk of falling into a tourist trap. This phrase refers to those spots that disappoint visitors as too expensive and not worth the hype once the experience ends.
Before you fall victim on your next U.S. excursion, consider a new study from FloridaRentals.com revealing America’s biggest tourist traps.
The vacation rental marketplace looked at TripAdvisor reviews for the top 230 tourist attractions in the United States. They only focused on destinations that required a paid admission ticket and more than 100 reviews of three stars or less. From there, analysts scoured reviews for feedback we generally associate with tourist traps.
Seattle, Washington’s Space Needle sits at the top of the list as the country’s biggest tourist trap. Visitors in 4.03% of the total reviews used keywords suggesting it was overpriced and/or overrated. There were 814 total reviews between one and three stars out of 20,186 total. Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida ranked second. The analysis notes that 3.79% of guests were unsatisfied based on the study criteria. More than 500 comments said the price was “not worth it,” that there was “not much to see,” or that the attraction was otherwise “disappointing.”
Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg Virginia took third place, with 2.92% of reviews three stars and under with phrasing related to its tourist trap nature. Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee, came next, with 2,603 of the 20,556 total reviews at three stars or less. Those reviews included 588 with keywords linked to tourist traps. Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium came in fifth place, with tourist trap language in 2.55% of reviews. Of the 23,000 total reviews, 610 leaned negative.
Georgia Aquarium / Photo by Nadine Marfurt on Unsplash
A FloridaRentals.com spokesperson said that tourists often use travel forums and sites to scope out attractions to visit. They stated what many already know: Travelers want good value for their money, especially now that vacations are less affordable than they once were.
“By studying traveler sentiment, this study highlights which attractions visitors have complained about the most,” the spokesperson said. “The key, that these attractions need to consider, is creating a good experience and ensuring that it exceeds all expectations. Tourists should be able to understand the value of each experience, so they leave feeling their money has been well spent.”
Check out the study’s top 10 U.S. tourist traps below:
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About the Author: Keegan Williams is a freelance editor and writer based in Los Angeles. They have written for publications including HuffPost, LGBTQ Nation, and High Times. Keegan has a passion for fitness. They are also immersed in LA’s underground dance scene and dabble as a DJ with a focus on percussive, high-energy techno and electronic music genres.
You can find them at keeganmwilliams.com or on Instagram @promwitch.
The post Travelers Beware! Study Reveals America’s Biggest Tourist Traps appeared first on Road Trips For Families.
Before you fall victim on your next U.S. excursion, consider a new study from FloridaRentals.com revealing America’s biggest tourist traps.
Ranking America’s Biggest Tourist Traps
The vacation rental marketplace looked at TripAdvisor reviews for the top 230 tourist attractions in the United States. They only focused on destinations that required a paid admission ticket and more than 100 reviews of three stars or less. From there, analysts scoured reviews for feedback we generally associate with tourist traps.
Seattle, Washington’s Space Needle sits at the top of the list as the country’s biggest tourist trap. Visitors in 4.03% of the total reviews used keywords suggesting it was overpriced and/or overrated. There were 814 total reviews between one and three stars out of 20,186 total. Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida ranked second. The analysis notes that 3.79% of guests were unsatisfied based on the study criteria. More than 500 comments said the price was “not worth it,” that there was “not much to see,” or that the attraction was otherwise “disappointing.”
Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg Virginia took third place, with 2.92% of reviews three stars and under with phrasing related to its tourist trap nature. Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee, came next, with 2,603 of the 20,556 total reviews at three stars or less. Those reviews included 588 with keywords linked to tourist traps. Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium came in fifth place, with tourist trap language in 2.55% of reviews. Of the 23,000 total reviews, 610 leaned negative.
Georgia Aquarium / Photo by Nadine Marfurt on Unsplash
A FloridaRentals.com spokesperson said that tourists often use travel forums and sites to scope out attractions to visit. They stated what many already know: Travelers want good value for their money, especially now that vacations are less affordable than they once were.
“By studying traveler sentiment, this study highlights which attractions visitors have complained about the most,” the spokesperson said. “The key, that these attractions need to consider, is creating a good experience and ensuring that it exceeds all expectations. Tourists should be able to understand the value of each experience, so they leave feeling their money has been well spent.”
Check out the study’s top 10 U.S. tourist traps below:
- Space Needle — Seattle, Washington
- Busch Gardens — Tampa, Florida
- Colonial Williamsburg — Williamsburg, Virginia
- Graceland — Memphis, Tennessee
- Georgia Aquarium — Atlanta, Georgia
- The Island in Pigeon Forge — Pigeon Forge, Tennesse
- Biltmore Estate —Asheville, North Carolina
- Monterey Bay Aquarium — Monterey, California
- Skydeck Chicago Willis Tower — Chicago, Illinois
- One World Observatory — New York, New York
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About the Author: Keegan Williams is a freelance editor and writer based in Los Angeles. They have written for publications including HuffPost, LGBTQ Nation, and High Times. Keegan has a passion for fitness. They are also immersed in LA’s underground dance scene and dabble as a DJ with a focus on percussive, high-energy techno and electronic music genres.You can find them at keeganmwilliams.com or on Instagram @promwitch.
The post Travelers Beware! Study Reveals America’s Biggest Tourist Traps appeared first on Road Trips For Families.