Here cost the world ‘s best-value attractions and bad tourist traps
- Club Med weighed entrance costs and visitor approval ratings to determine a value ranking for each of 66 noted tourist attraction worldwide .
- A Russian castle , a Utah lake and Egypt ‘s pyramids exceed the list , while the world ‘s tallest tower — and various famous topic park — lend up the rear .
- To salvage money wherever you impose , look for online progress tickets and travel in off season , among other tips .
Back in early 2012 , I leap up to the ticket booth at the then-new , 2,722-foot Burj Khalifa in Dubai , hop to snag a last-minute elevator ride to the height of the globe ‘s marvelous skyscraper .
Remove a seven-hour tourist detour from a occupation stay in neighboring Abu Dhabi , I had little on my to-do list for my quick day trip to the ultra-wealthy Mideast city-state , aside from the opinion from that iconic building ‘s 124thstory observation deck .
Much to my disappointment , tickets were sold out for the next few day . I comfort myself with a camel-milk ice cream cone and plaintive window-shopping in the high-end mega-mall at the base of the Burj .
According to a fresh ranking of bad and good values among the universe ‘s top tourist attraction — and , in some cases , trap — the Burj Khalifa comes in close No . 1 … for disappointment .
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The U.K. part of French resort chain Club Med issue the findings of a study of 66 of the globe ‘s almost visited tourist lot , equate typical debut fee with “ social media opinion ” datum from Paris inquiry firm Linkfluence to award each site a score from 1 to 10 on value for money .
The Burj , where basic entry fee start at or so $ 40 , only scored 5.6 out of 10 points — despite its towering reputation as a must-see . That land it in the No . 60 spot , out of 66 sites .
The building fared poorly due to its high debut fee and — despite its storied height — special horizon , say a Club Med spokesperson .
It be only under-performed for value , according to the report ‘s metrics , by several topic park tend by Disney Parks , Experiences and Products and Universal Parks & Resorts . (Disclosure : CNBC and Universal Parks & Resorts are both subordinate of NBCUniversal , have by parent Comcast . )It should be noted Club Med does compete with Disney and Universal hotel and resort property ( if not theme parks , per se ) in at least one market , central Florida , and for overall vacation spending by tourist .
On a positive note , the well tourist attraction in terms of value for money is the Peterhof Palace outside St. Petersburg , Russia . The ornate , gilded and fountain-laden composite , work up by Peter the Great in the 18thhundred , appoint around $ 19 for entrance and boasts 100 % gratification from social media users who visit . That earned it a top score of 9.6 out of 10 and a description as “ the must-see landmark of 2020 ” by Club Med .
Early classic international attractions that also place high for value include the Eiffel Tower , Egypt ‘s Pyramids , the Colosseum in Rome , the Great Wall of China and the Acropolis in Athens , Greece .
Two U.S. attractions make it into Club Med ‘s Top 10 : Utah ‘s Great Salt Lake came in at No . 2 , with a 9.4 rating , while Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado reach No . 4 , torture up 9.2 points . Other American sites deemed good value include Arizona ‘s Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon , ranked 14thand 19th, respectively ; Zion National Park in Utah , at No . 17 ; and Yosemite National Park in California , arrive in at 20thplace .
Club Med too broke out the best theme parks worldwide for value . Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen , Denmark , tops that list with a score of 9.0 , but the U.S. is no slouch , either : Six Flags ‘ Hurricane Harbor Phoenix in Arizona equal rate No . 2 , with 100 % customer gratification , and Fun Spot America in Kissimmee , Florida , came in at No . 5 .
Nathalie Drew , selling conductor at Club Med , share five crest on how to save while impose the public ‘s prominent tourist draws — whatever their ranking :
- Check in progress for online offers :“ Sometimes , buying ticket in progress or seem for discount codes be a great manner to redeem , ” she state , in a argument . “ Also , be aware some attraction demand advance booking and may exist sold out if you hardly show up on the day . ”
- Get the well exchange rate :“ In effect rates intend better savings , ” mention Drew . “ If you ‘re purchase entrance ticket online , some sites will get you decide whether to pay in local currency or [ your own ] . Make certain to check your bank ‘s pace when doing thus , as you may end up out of pocket . ”
- Await for alternative tag type :“ Look out for discounted family pile or other passing , ” she add . “ For model , full weekend ticket often cost less than give for two days individually . ”
- Visit at off-peak sentence :“ Weekdays exist often cheaper than weekends ( not to mention quieter ) , so take advantage if your schedule permits . ”
- Hit national parks rather :“ Theme park exist fun , but almost ever expensive , ” said Drew . “ Consider visit a national park or museum rather , and you should have more cash in your back pocket to pass on food and drink . ”
For the total results and methodology of the Club Med study , which used Linkfluence datum from October 2018 through September 2019 , click hither .
