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Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

The hype: A sunny resort town on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula with glistening beaches, world-class scuba diving, and a reputation for high-stakes Middle East diplomacy

The reality: It’s tackier than a King Tut ashtray. Tourism dominates the local economy, and the uneven development has left Sharm with all the charm of a strip mall. Don’t fall for the sleek brochures; the beaches are swarmed and even snorkeling trips will prove crowded affairs, with several boats of divers parked in popular spots. The town is now also haunted by a trio of terrorist attacks in 2005 that killed at least 60 people. In a bid to improve security, the Egyptian government is building a fence around the town. But you can’t fence out bad taste, apparently.

Only go if: You’re a diving fanatic who loves KFC.

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Ibiza, Spain

The hype: Mediterranean paradise by day, hedonistic party capital by night

The reality: It’s mayhem. The former hippie haven’s beaches and laid-back lifestyle were big draws in the 1960s, but the rocky, wooded island has since become package-tour hell. Millions of summer revelers arrive each year to club the night away in the birthplace of the rave. Expect sex, drugs, and lots of trance, but also a healthy dose of crime, hefty club cover charges, and condoms on the beach.

Only go if: The idea of dancing all night with a few thousand sunburned, drunk Europeans appeals.

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Iceland

The hype: Pristine scenery, the Blue Lagoon, and 22-hour days of sunlight in Reykjavik

The reality: It’s exorbitantly expensive. The vistas may be awe inspiring, but the prices are eye popping. Be prepared to fork over $10 for a beer while enjoying Reykjavik’s storied nightlife. (And no, you won’t run into Björk in a bar.) You’ll want to hire a car to get beyond the well-traveled “Golden Circle” in the west, but watch out for gasoline prices: A gallon of gas will set you back about $7.

Only go if: You get your credit card limit raised beforehand.

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Badaling, China

The hype: The section of the Great Wall closest to Beijing

The reality: It’s a tourist trap. Your photos of the trip will include not just shots of one of mankind’s greatest achievements, but several thousand other visitors and a few dozen T-shirt stalls. This heavily restored section of the structure was the first to be opened to tourism in the 1950s, giving the impression that this is what a Great Wall pavilion at Epcot might look like. Travelers looking for a quieter vantage can visit nearby Simatai, the only unrestored section of the wall open to tourists.

Only go if: You’re dying to have that “I climbed the Great Wall” T-shirt.

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Washington, D.C.

The hype: Monuments, museums, and the Mall

The reality: It’s hotter than Karl Rove’s BlackBerry on election night. Summer visitors may think they’re ready to hike from one monument to the next, but most find that they’re rubbing elbows with the rest of the traveling hordes in whatever air-conditioned cafe or gift shop they can find. And in August, the action that makes this town truly interesting is nowhere to be found: Capitol Hill is quiet; President Bush is on vacation; and the pandas at the National Zoo are too hot to move. Oh, and that $20 “Federal Witness Protection Program” T-shirt won’t seem so funny once you get home.

Only go if: You haven’t seen the Constitution up close. Trust us; we live here.

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