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.

For me it was a journey through Montenegro to Kotor. I couldn’t believe the fjords, steep cliffs and cruise ships.
Stayed in Kotor last year. Montenegro is stunning, but wish they banned cruise ships, got woken up by announcements at 7am and I dont think they do a lot for the economy either.

Surprised at the pps not liking NYC. Times Square is shit but there's so much more to it. It is a place you need to plan first though, too big to just wander aimlessly.

Perth and Sydney both just average, the people were rude, Perth was particularly grim. Cairns and the areas around it was beautiful though.

Majorca apart from Palma, not great. Teeming with mozzies.

Benidorm - felt unsafe at night, yes there's a little old town but the vast majority of restaurants are 3 Euro English breakfast places with big screens.

Tennessee- wonderful friendly place with the perfect balance amazing scenery and nature and quirky tacky tourist towns.

@bruffin I thought so too. The bay of Kotor is beautiful but small such a shame to see so many cruise liners. Cruise ships are a blot on any landscape in my opinion.

OP I've nothing to add but just wanted to thank you for starting this thread. For a few minutes I was transported abroad - I could almost smell the lovely food and feel some hot sun on my face and listen to the happy chatter of tourists.

Scotland. First went as a reluctant teenager and loved it. Now go back whenever I can. Where did you go? Wishaw? Inverness? Glasgow?
The Isle of Skye?

Paris, as others have said. Dark, cramped and full of beggars and buskers (actually the buskers were ok - the beggars were fairly aggressively pushy in some places). Also wasn't expecting as much graffiti everywhere- it made some places look run down and unsafe.

@derxa Various places in the Trossachs mainly visiting Edinburgh, Stirling, Eyemouth and Glasgow for day trips. Would love to see more!

Sodding Pisa.

Not a place but canal boating as a ‘holiday’ concept. Never again.

Germany - some very industrial parts, but also some beautiful half-timbered buildings, full of friendly, humorous people. Very welcoming , hard working and open.

I found Hawaii disappointing.It sounds so exotic and fabulous but in reality although beautiful in its own way , it is totally americanised and lacks atmosphere .We were in Kauii and the Big Island.It is also very ,
very expensive.

I love Italy .Would spend every holiday there if I could.

San Francisco. Lots of homeless people. Felt really unsafe.
Orlando. Expected to tolerate it for the kids but loved it.
Paris. Often didn’t feel safe, everyone is rude, not at all charming
St Ives. Didn’t expect to love it so much.

Canal boating is the best!

I didn't like Monaco. Very sterile and oppressive and no one around. Sort of felt hermetically sealed.

Went to St Ives for first time in a while just before Christmas last year! Was lovely.

The russian mafia own montenegro and all put their shitey yachts there. Its a shame. Just got a bit north to croatia or bosnia though. My favourite places in the world (though I was born there)

Oslo, absolutely loved it. Wasn't on my bucket list but dd wanted to go. Loads to do, great scenery and wonderful food. The wine prices were eye watering though. Now want to see lots more of Scandinavia.

I agree with Sam Francisco. It didn’t feel safe at all.
I found Tokyo to be less of a culture shock than I expected.

Loved Bruges.
Had a 2 day trip via the ferry.
Went in October and did Amsterdam in July.
Both very enjoyable days , thought found Bruges just had the edge.

RowenaRavenclawTheSecond

Albania is fabulous isn’t it. The north of the country is particularly spectacular. So safe and friendly too. And Omg the food and wine 😋

Porto is a lovely city but totally ruined by people on weekend breaks (such as me). Was not expecting this and could not even get a seat in a restaurant or bar. The locals must hate it.

The locals must hate it

They do. We went to a wedding there and found locals very unfriendly. When we got chatting at the wedding we found out that landlords are resorting to dispicable tactics to get their tenants out of their apartments so they can turn them into air bnbs. Including setting fire to them. The tenants pay very little rent if they have been there a long time, and it's hard to evict them apparently, it's easier to repair the fire damaged building. That's what we were told anyway!

Nooo canal boating is horrible. Caravan on the water, pumping toilets out and inadequate everything.

LA was grim, and I'm including Santa monica, I can't see why so many people move there. Driving a few hours south down the coast and it's much nicer.

As a child I was obsessed with ancient Egypt and wanted to be an archaeologist. We went to see the great pyramids, and well that bubble was quickly popped. I've never known disappointment like it.

Innsbruck - Small, quite scruffy and just gave me a weird feeling

Munich - Was there in a Sunday - literally everything except a couple of bars were shut, Germany does not seem to have ,moved with the times!

Cairo - I expected it to be a bit grubby but I have literally never seen such filth, everywhere, in my life!

Lanzarote - Didn't expect great things, probably one of my most favourite holiday destinations!

Miami - Was surprised at how much I loved the South Beach Area

Boston - Loved all of it really!

Key West - Even more beautiful that I imagined!

Cork - I would happily move there!

Amsterdam - See Cork!

I think it's safe to say that most places are not what I thought they would be!

Oi @derxa what are you saying about Wishaw??!?

TokyoSushi But Innsbruck is in Austria... Next time try Salzburg instead.