radiofanatic

ncgrrl, that's so funny, I was thinking of the exact same thing as I was reading the posts and then the last one was yours! It's called "Coral Castle" and it was a HUGE waste of money!!! I still have a picture of myself as a teen (okay so it was a big waste of my parent's money) sitting in a big chair made of coral!

Also, I totally disagree with the Disney world and niagara falls posters - I love both and go to both continuously. You may not like it, but that's not the question here. The question is what's a rip-off, which I definitely do not think either are!

snowrooster

tudorprincess - I have to wonder, if you visited Niagra Falls once and felt you never needed to see it again, why did you go a second time? If it was so underwhelming, why go back.

Personally, I thought Niagra Falls was awesome. We just stopped by for a few hours & a tour when I was a kid w/my family (it was side stop of a larger trip). I can't imagine not being impressed by the falls. You don't have to pay anything just to look at the falls (do you?), so where is the rip-off? I don't get it.

Anonymous

Niagara Falls just doesn't impress everyone, including me, and requires a major investment of time for most, since they wouldn't be in the area otherwise. I suspect that tudor returned for the sake of family member(s) who wanted to go, these compromises are made on almost every family vacation.

radiofanatic

but once again, that goes to what this category is about, ie, what's a rip off - if you don't pay for something - here to look at the falls, it can't be a rip off. Also, simply because you don't like something, doesn't necessarily make it a rip off. For example, when I was in london in march, my husband really wanted to go to this museum about the plague and other "horrors" that had just opened up - it was about 10-15 pounds pp. While I didn't like it and I didn't like the three hours we were in there when I would rather look at something historical, I can't say it was a rip off because it gave a lot for your money. Hence the definition of rip off. BTW, my husband really enjoyed that museum. We could start another category about what tourist sites did you hate.

tudorprincess

My son wanted to see the falls so we went back. I'm not going to get into semantics I don't believe being ripped off is strictly monetary. To each his own.

ncgrrl

Coral Castle! And "In Search Of"! Now I can repress the memories again. Thanks for the names.

snowrooster

radiofanatic - I agree with what you have said. A rip-off is about money being wasted. If you didn't enjoy something that didn't cost anything, that may be a waste or poor use of your time, but not really a rip off.

I had a whale-watching rip-off experience. The company (in Provincetown, MA) said whales are spotted on 97% of their trips in their brochure. Then we got on the boat after paying and were told the brochure was dated and whale sightings were actually significantly down that year. I stared at the ocean with eyes wide open for entire 2 hour ride but not a whale in sight. Very disapointing, but not a complete rip-off as I did have a really yummy blueberry muffin as I watched whalelessly!!!

AnnaR

I feel "riped-off" when I feel I've wasted my time and or money, no matter what it is, movie/ tv program traveling somewhere and feeling like "Is this it?!"

chubby_faye

My husband and I paid about $150 each for a "Mayan experience" horseback ride in Cozumel. We were on a cruse and booked it through the cruiseline thinking it might be interesting. We had to get on a school bus (with no air) and drive an hour to the mid of no-where Mexico. The "tour" was horrible, we rode the horses in a small area where the owner had put a pile of rocks and some poorly made buildings on the property. Then the tour guide asked us to use our imagination to get the full effect. And after all that, the tour guide asked for a tip from everyone!!!!

Meesthare

Seems to me that "rip-off" means "cheat," and suggests that somebody is deliberately hoodwinking people. Niagara Falls is just sitting there minding its own business. You can be bored by the whole thing, but nobody is cheating you. It's free; you can look at it as long as you want.

wagonwheel

Hershey Park PA has a "zoo". I felt ill after I went through it. Poor animals. Hope they have improved it in the last 8 years.

Dreamer2

Wagon Wheel,
THat reminds me of another "rip offquot;
Yorks Wild Animal Kingdom in Maine
Poor sweltering caged animals, out of their environment, acting lethargic and groggy. Not a pleasant experience.
And the rides at the other end are so old, dirty, and expensive. Yuk!

Why are so many posters jumping all over TP for feeling that Niagra Falls is a rip-off? As some have pointed out, "rip-off" is in the eye of the beholder, and everyone is just expressing opinions here. It is a huge investment of time to get to Niagra, and although looking at the falls is free, the whole place is surrounded by junk attractions looking for your buck.

RaleighGirl

I thought that the Journey Behind the Falls was a ripoff at Niagara Falls but I enjoyed the Maid of the Mist boat ride. It was a spectacular day when we went and the Horseshoe Falls were awesome from the Canadian side. It's true that there are some cheesy tourist spots but the Canadian side is clean and has beautiful parks and gorgeous flowers planted everywhere.

fredonia85

As for Niagara Falls, the Maid of the Mist is spectacular. Always go to the Canadian side to view the falls. The Canadians have commercialized the area soooo much, you really don't want to look at all the hotels they've built. The American side is lovely to look at. Lots of green space and lovely parks.

snowrooster

I don't think anyone means any ill will or is trying to jump on anyone. I think it's because Niagra Falls is a natural wonder that it's hard to see it as a rip off. Maybe a particular tour that you paid for or visiting the area didn't live up to expectations. However calling the falls themself a rip off is like saying the same of the Grand Canyon, etc. However we are all entitled to our opinions.

radiofanatic

I definitely don't mean ill will, I was just stating that even if you don't like the falls, you cannot be ripped off for what you did not pay. If you had a problem with things you paid for there - and believe me, there are VERY cheesy things around there - that I would understand! Please don't take offense, because I did not mean any.

Tandoori_Girl

Gosh, I love Coral Castle. I guess having grown up in Florida, I tend to reject the contrived tourist spots like Disney World and embrace the sort of mom-and-pop ones. That place has been there forever, the guy really did make the place himself, and it is an engineering feat of small proportions.

I guess I'm a sap for the love story...

klw25

I'm of the mindset that Disney is definitely not a rip-off (you can get an awful lot for your money with careful planning), but I will admit that I was ripped off on a purchase I made there, albeit willingly. We arrived at MGM only to find that the cartridge on a digital camera was not working properly. Rather than missing a day of pictures with our three kids, and wanting to use our relatively new camera that we purchased for just such occassions, we paid $90 for a cartridge that would have cost half that at home. Disney is definitely not the place for these type of purchases!

Smokyboy

ncgirl in defense of Cherokee, NC I agree with certain parts of the town, but, the performance of Unto These Hills is fascinating and moving. Well worth a visit and the money. Btw, am I too understand that South Of the Border in SC is still there!?

GoTravel

Smokeyboy, South of the Border is free if you just want to walk around and gaze.

I think what one person's ripoff is anothers good time.