Where in the world have you been that was very different to what you’d expected?

[Davespecifico]

For me it was a journey through Montenegro to Kotor. I couldn’t believe the fjords, steep cliffs and cruise ships.

Turkey. Only booked for the weather/hotel. Wasn't expecting much else. The surrounding areas were mountainous and beautiful. And so much history.
Yes to the Little Mermaid. Very underwhelming.

Agree with the anti-climax of the Little Mermaid and the Mona Lisa.
Paris is amazing though!

Rio... what an utter disappointment, apart from the food.

Canada... so dull.

Florida... horrid.

Portofino and Rome, to die for.

Most of those places were for work though so maybe biased.

My favourite place in the world would be Rome, always. A living museum with the best food on the planet!

Tibet. A country with it's integrity sadly totally destroyed. The monks going through the motions of outdated rituals for their own self-interest rather than living a thoughtful life.

Bhutan was much more how I imagined Tibet. Perhaps Tibet would have been like that with a different history/geopolitical location, or perhaps not.

Tenerife was a lot scruffier than I was expecting.

Cote d'azure was so glamorous, whereas I was expecting something a lot more quaint.

Istanbul was amazing and stunning, had heard negative things about it.

The Grand Canyon. Most of it was tacky and crowded along the rims. We were underwhelmed, having come from various other state parks.
There are better views to be had in the USA.

That's very interesting about Tibet, I've always wanted to go there!

Nobody has mentioned NYC.
I was totally underwhelmed (probably the only person on the planet to be so) just didn't like it.

Has anyone been to India? I'd love to go... Where should you go there? North or South?

LA. Absolute shithole.

Washington DC. In the films it's all politicians and old buildings. Got there and was surprised to find tents and homeless people everywhere. What was worse was seeing the way some people treated them, was bloody awful and I wouldn't go back.

Pyramids in Cairo. Didn't realise the city was so close (I went almost 20 years ago).

Dubrovnik, I was so excited to go and it was just so busy and boring.

On the positive side:

Loved Vegas way more than I expected her to.

Scotland - have been to various parts and they've all been even nicer than I expected!

Kosovo was nicer than I expected as was Budapest.

Canada - I was always under impression it was a bit dull but I love it there.

Barbados. Stayed in the west coast for our silver wedding and it was supposed to be the holiday of a lifetime. Paid over £5k to stay in a third rate hotel eating third rate food listening to third rate 'pub singer' entertainment every nitpght. The beach was non existent, we were right next door to Sandy Lane hotel but they'd blocked access to the beach in front of their hotel even though it's a public beach.
The only good bit about it was the weather and the reggae busses.

New York. Imagined it to be like an American London. Could not find a single restaurant apart from TGI Fridays on every corner. Could not find a cafe/ donut stand/ shop apart from 1 dunkin donughts in a train station. Weird!!!

India was way better than I expected. Much cleaner than the UK, humble, friendly and colourful.

I would say go to North, South, East and West India @Bellie!

The Sistine Chapel. It's very over-rated and not worth it.

Vegas is probably the main one. I went with friends as part of a bigger trip years ago and thought I’d hate it but they wanted to go. Had so much fun.

Zanzibar. So much poverty and some parts have a dark, edgy vibe.

5* hotels on the edge of public beaches where very poor people try and catch fish (it is v over fished) while you sit there having dinner, eating fish and drinking expensive wine. I just couldn't totally relax.

Some of the beaches are beautiful though.

Istanbul - we went in August, it was busy but not nearly as crowded and overwhelming as I was expecting. I really enjoyed it!

*West Coast of America. LA and San Fran. Both grotty, full of homelessness, very unsafe and sad.

Not the image either puts out into the world. For a rich country, parts of America feel very like some of the third world, but less safe and less friendly*

I've been to San Fran, the homelessness and drug abuse problem there is no worse than say Manchester where it's on every street corner. At least in San Fran you have the beautiful houses, the bay, the bridge and wine country on your doorstep

Hollywood - quite grotty, horrible vibe.

Alabama coast. We were driving from New Orleans to Florida, and discovered that Alabama has gorgeous beaches which I absolutely wasn’t expecting. Beautiful white sands and clear sea.

Disney World and Universal theme parks in Florida. I only agreed to go for my kids and I thought they would be shit and boring and when we were planning it I was only interested in the "rest days" when we wouldn't have to be in the parks. I couldn't believe how brilliant it was and the massive attention to detail and customer service. Loved it.

Florida in general really, the miles and miles of deserted white sandy beaches on the gulf coast are like no where else I have ever been. I thought it would be a crowded, tourist dominated place and it just wasn't at all.

Liverpool. Went last Christmas. I expected it to be a dump (no offence) but it was stunning with loads of interesting architecture and some great museums.

Agree with San Francisco. I was so disappointed. There was open drug use on the streets and homelessness everywhere. We felt unsafe walking around.

Sparklingbrook - totally agree!! Was VERY disappointed as i'd expectes some kind of glamour and grandeur. It was tacky/grubby and totally underwhelming. (Except I found Victor Mature's bit which was nice)
Santa Monica/Venice Beach on the other hand - LOVED...

Jerusalem unbelievable amounts of litter.

Dominican Republic. Went when I was 19, although in hindsight it was 'voluntourism' (helping build houses) However... I learnt a lot- especially the uneasy juxtaposition of the flashy AI hotels, and the local areas, and just how bad they can be for the local economy. We went to this beautiful island just off the coast- saw dolphins swim right up in the bay. It was earmarked for an AI hotel the next year, and the locals would lose access to the island, and the local businesses would be cleared.

Beirut - loved every minute. Has a real 'live for the moment' energy.

Lisbon - found it quite oppressive, wouldn't go back.