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By its very nature, traveling can be a dirty business –– think littered beaches, stinky amusement parks, or hotel rooms with bugs. We’ve compiled a list of some of the dirtiest vacation spots in the U.S. and a list of the states with the dirtiest hotels. To come up with this list, we turned to the travelers themselves, scraping over 4.5 million Tripadvisor reviews for mentions of the word “dirty” within tourist attraction reviews and “dirty” and “bugs” within hotel reviews.
By analyzing Tripadvisor reviews, we were able to crowdsource dirtiness levels of attractions and hotels straight from the people who have actually stepped foot inside these places. After all, anyone who takes the time to leave a review must feel pretty passionate about the cleanliness (or lack thereof) of the place they’re reviewing. So, buckle up and get ready to find out which spots you may want to steer clear of on your next domestic getaway.
Each State’s Dirtiest Tourist Attraction, According to Reviewers
Among the dirtiest attractions across the U.S., a couple of well-known landmarks stood out. Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, is among the oldest farmers’ markets in the U.S. Despite its rich history and widespread popularity among tourists, the public restrooms within the premises have garnered notoriety for their less-than-sanitary conditions. The market has 145 reviews that include the word “dirty” –– 63% above our study’s national average. Despite the negative feedback concerning hygiene standards, Pike Place Market is a prime tourist destination, renowned for its diverse offering of locally-sourced foods, flowers, and goods.
SeaWorld Orlando is undoubtedly one of the most iconic theme parks in Florida. Unfortunately, it’s also known for being the dirtiest. According to Tripadvisor reviewers, it has the highest concentration of dirt and grime in the state –– 247 reviews that include the word “dirty” (72% above average). Visitors report dirty tanks, unkempt eating areas, and filthy bathrooms.
Amusement parks are known for being some of the happiest places on earth, but some travelers are more enthused with them than others. It turns out that amusement parks, as a category, were mentioned in almost a quarter (23%) of all reviews that used the word “dirty.” Scenic walking areas (22%), historic sites (12%), and beaches (9%) are other categories with the dirtiest attractions.
Vacation Blunders: The 10 Dirtiest U.S. Tourist Attractions
Six Flags amusement parks dominate the list of the dirtiest tourist U.S. attractions. Out of the top 10, 4 are Six Flags amusement parks in various locations around the country, most notably Six Flags New England in Massachusetts, with 4.71% of its reviews mentioning dirtiness — 95 of its 2,015 Tripadvisor reviews include the word “dirty.”
New Orleans is a city known for its vibrant culture and rich history, but the French Quarter seems to be making a name for itself when it comes to cleanliness. The French Quarter is the second-dirtiest tourist attraction on our list. This fan-favorite district has 22,698 Tripadvisor reviews in total and 997 of those reviews include the word “dirty,” meaning 4.39% of its review section mentions dirtiness. Despite its historical allure, many visitors have been greeted by overflowing trash cans, litter on the streets, and offensive smells.
Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most iconic tourist destinations in San Francisco. Known for its fresh seafood, lively street performers, and unique shops, it’s no surprise that thousands of people flock to the area each year. However, despite its many attractions, Fisherman’s Wharf has earned the number 10 spot on our list of dirtiest tourist attractions, with 311 reviews including the word “dirty” and 1.59% of its reviews mentioning dirtiness. Visitors have reported trash littering the sidewalks, unsanitary public restrooms, and unpleasant smells emanating from the nearby water. Many reviewers on Tripadvisor have commented that the Wharf has become increasingly run-down over the years, with little effort made to maintain its cleanliness.
Which States Have the Dirtiest Hotels, According to Reviewers?
Have you ever spent hours combing through online hotel listings only to end up with a room full of creepy crawlers? Bed bugs and dirty hotel rooms are the stuff of nightmares for most travelers, and unfortunately, some states seem to have more of them than others.
According to Tripadvisor reviews, New Jersey takes the cake for having the dirtiest hotels. The average New Jersey hotel has 124.1 reviews that include the word “dirty” and “bugs,” and 4.06% of its reviews mention dirtiness and bugs. West Virginia, South Carolina, Maryland, and Nevada round out the top 5 states for dirtiest hotels per reviewer feedback.
Within these top states, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, are the destinations with the highest percentage of dirty reviews. 6.13% of Myrtle Beach hotel reviews and 5.89% of Atlantic City hotel reviews include the words “dirty” and “bugs.” While both places have popular beaches and vibrant nightlife, finding a clean and comfortable place to stay in the heart of these cities can be challenging.
On the other hand, it’s worth giving credit where credit’s due. Many will be surprised to learn that New York doesn’t have as much of a dirty reputation as some of its counterparts — it’s one of the states with the lowest percentage of dirty hotel reviews (0.64%). While hotels in states like Nevada and South Carolina can struggle with cleanliness, the Empire State is holding its own. Of course, this isn’t to say that there aren’t any dirty spots in New York. Anyone who has walked down a busy area in the city has likely witnessed trash bags lining the street. However, it’s reassuring to know that the hotels in the city are keeping up their end of the bargain when it comes to cleanliness.
Methodology
In February 2023, we analyzed over 4.5 million Tripadvisor reviews across the U.S. to determine the dirtiest vacation spots. We focused on 2 types of locations: tourist attractions and hotels. For tourist attractions, we analyzed the most popular attractions in each state, according to Tripadvisor star ratings. For hotels, we analyzed the best-value hotels in every state, according to Tripadvisor lists.
To determine the dirtiest tourist attractions, we collected the total number of reviews and the number of reviews that included the word “dirty” for each attraction. We divided the number of dirty reviews by the total number of reviews to find the percentage of reviews that mention dirtiness for each attraction.
To determine the states with the dirtiest hotels, we collected the total number of reviews and the number of reviews that included the words “dirty” and “bugs” for each hotel. We divided the number of dirty reviews by the total number of reviews to find the percentage of reviews that mention dirtiness and bugs for each hotel. Then, we then calculated the average percentage for hotels across the state. We used this method to detect dirtiness levels directly from consumer feedback.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this list of the dirtiest vacation spots around the U.S. can help you make some important travel decisions before your next big trip. It’s important to note, however, that just because a place has received negative reviews for its cleanliness doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad place to visit overall.
As always, it’s a good idea to do your research ahead of time. Review travel guides and read reviews from multiple sources before booking plane tickets or hotel rooms. Happy and safe travels!
Image Credits: 1. James Kirkikis via Shutterstock, 2. GTS Productions via Shutterstock, 3. Belikova Oksana via Shutterstock, 4. Andrew F. Kazmierski via Shutterstock, 5. Keep Smiling Photography via Shutterstock, 6. singh_lens via Shutterstock, 7. Pit Stock via Shutterstock, 8. Lyubov Timofeyeva via Shutterstock, 9. Nick Fox via Shutterstock, 10. canadastock via Shutterstock
Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.
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