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Athens, Greece

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What more could you want out of such a storied city with a history that stretches back centuries -- a city that that helped establish the basis for much of modern civilization -- and left us treasures of their influence in the form of their beautiful ruins, incredible food, and vibrant culture?

Well, cleanliness, for starters. And maybe a little less foreboding sense that I could be mugged and stabbed while I'm distracted by ancient piles of rubble.

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Athens has been called a "destination to watch" in 2015, because when a city is one giant construction project that stalled-out after the demolition phase 2,000 years ago, you want to pay close attention to the exciting things they have in store for us in the year ahead.

Outside the Plaka (the historic area with the ruins), Athens has few redeeming qualities, unless you consider filth a redeeming quality.

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3

Bocas del Toro, Panama

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Located near the border of Costa Rica, these islands in Panama are one of the most visited destinations in the country, with many travel publications touting their "sleepy" charm. And, don't get me wrong, the islands do make for some beautiful photos, but they're a lot like a Monet painting - beautiful from afar and a mess close up. The beaches are small and often lined with seaweed and broken tree branches, the water is rough, there's almost nothing to do on the islands, and the scuba diving is as basic as it gets. The main island is a one road town where locals often commit petty theft against tourists, because that's how you treat the people who keep your local economy afloat.

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2

Curacao

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When you picture islands in the Caribbean, you picture tropical paradise - white sand beaches, turquoise blue water, and nearby reefs for snorkeling. When everyone told me Curacao was going to be paradise, I believed them. After all, it's been named one of the best destinations to visit two years in a row. When I got there, I scoured the island for those beautiful beaches people talked about and came up empty. The beaches were rocky and the best ones were often in private resorts you had to pay for.

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1

London, England

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I'm sure everyone will send me hate mail for this but I am just going to come out and say it: I don't get why people love London so much. TripAdvisor users named it the best city in the world to visit in 2012.

Why?

I'm not saying that just to answer my own question. I really want to know.

London is the most expensive city in the world. A visit is not affordable to most, with the average pub meal costing $15 (and if you want a nice meal, you're looking at around $50 at least). A basic plate of fish and chips can cost $18. That's bar food! It's not supposed to cost that much! Ever!

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With meals that expensive, it's impossible to eat out often. Furthermore, the weather in the city sucks. It's often cold, cloudy, and rainy. Additionally, the tube closes early on weekends (1AM) and is frequently shut for maintenance. London is a great city for the 1% of the world with its high fashion, expensive restaurants, clubs, and homes. If you're loaded, go to London and have a ball. But if you want a modestly priced international vacation destination, you can do a lot better. I've never seen my money disappear so quickly for virtually no reason.

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Some will say "Yes, but the museums and theater are wonderful and the city has a lof of history." That may be true but that doesn't mean we have to fawn over London and put it on a pedestal! If we are going to write odes to a city, it should have it all. London does not have it all. Give me Berlin, a city with a growing food scene, art, music, diversity, and cheap prices. It is vibrant. London is your stuffy grandfather who goes to bed at 8pm. Go there if you have to, not because you think you want to.

Matthew Kepnes is the author of the book "How to Travel the World on $50 a Day" and runs the popular budget travel website, Nomadic Matt.