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Original poster

Places people rave about but you don't really have any desire to visit

458 replies

nuitdesetoiles · 30/01/2021 09:12

I know there's some element of judgement here but just based on what I've heard, seen on TV, types of people who go there, read about..

Dubai.. like plastic fantastic, cultureless and horrifically tacky

Thailand.... Looks like it's been ruined by all the tourists and those full moon parties look a bit dark and sinister

Australia.. some parts look lovely but just seems a bit British and dare I say it racist...

OP posts:
PurpleFlower1983 · 31/01/2021 09:45

Just to add some of the countryside in China looks amazing but I would now avoid Beijing and Shanghai.

Ariela · 31/01/2021 09:47

Anywhere you have to travel by plane. it's not necessary, there are masses of wonderful places to visit in the UK.

I would really like to go and visit/thoroughly explore the Norfolk Broads, perhaps by boat, only went once briefly, many years ago, although I've done the coast (and most of the coast of the UK) and visited Norwich, but I do have a cousin now resident I really ought to visit.

Kljnmw3459 · 31/01/2021 09:48

South East Asia.
Florida.
Many of my friends have visited south east Asian countries and absolutely loved them. Same with Florida. I can appreciate they're lovely but don't feel any desire to experience it for myself. I'm happy with European breaks.

Lampzade · 31/01/2021 09:53

I have no desire to go to Australia, but I would love to go to NZ
No desire to go to DisneyLand Florida- my idea of hell

I have been to Dubai and I actually loved it

BarbaraofSeville · 31/01/2021 09:53

Nando’s. It’s just chicken and chips with Savoury Rice

I assumed that this comment was a joke, because Nandos sell quite a bit more than chicken, chips and savoury rice, just like there's far more to Spain than AI resorts on the beach and more to Florida than Disney.

Or it could be another ignorant comment from someone who has never been to the place they're talking about.

Onlinedilema · 31/01/2021 09:58

Dubai for its appalling human rights , same with Saudi Arabia, I can't believe that is being advertised as a holiday destination, really?
Stonehenge, dh has been and said it's very disappointing.
Turkey, been a very long time ago and it's not somewhere I would ever chose again, much prefer the Greek Islands.
The Tower of London, been, too crowded, too many people allowed in at once hence huge queues. York was far better.
Malta never appealed mainly due to very bad reports from everyone I know who has visited, not my idea of a great holiday place.
Thailand.

ShanghaiDiva · 31/01/2021 10:07

@PurpleFlower1983

China - the cities anyway. My DH went for work and said it was absolutely awful, really polluted, people spitting in the street, weird vibe. He was looking forward to it and said the Great Wall and Bullet train were cool but aside from that, awful!
I lived in China for 12 years and never got used to the spitting- just vile. Pollution is much better than when I first moved there, but clearly much higher levels than the UK.
Bubbinsmakesthree · 31/01/2021 10:25

Surprised about how frequently China is getting mentioned - one of the most fascinating and diverse places I’ve visited. Contrast between traditional way of life in rural areas with somewhere like Shanghai is amazing. The speed of their economic growth means that some things leave us in the shade - some of their modern airports for example make Gatwick look embarrassing. But this co-exists with traditional ways of life, cultural attitudes and government that is so very different from our own. Amazing food too, will never think of Chinese food in the same way again. Stunning landscapes and amazing history.

Culturally it was sometimes impenetrable and sometimes I felt a bit awkward and intimated - compared to some other places I have visited I felt there was less good humour towards the foreign tourist fumbling their way through (compared eg to Japan).

MrsWooster · 31/01/2021 10:29

Places are weird and make their own ‘enchantments’: I went to Iceland and adored it (despite missing the northern lights). There was something about the place that grabbed me. I look at the prospect of going again and objectively think ‘nah... bus trips, black sand and geysers, meh’ but I know I’d still go again given the chance.
Not Dubai tho: human rights and anti-nature or Vegas, since I’m a bit weird about gambling and rubbish in the sun so it would be wasted on me!

Silenceisgolden20 · 31/01/2021 10:32

McDonalds.

I think the food is absolutely disgusting.

AnnaMagnani · 31/01/2021 10:36

I would love to visit China but given all the reports of pollution, my asthmatic lungs would not.

I barely made it round Amsterdam without steroids Sad

Bubbinsmakesthree · 31/01/2021 10:40

Another vague prejudice I am very up for being talked out of: never been drawn to South America at all. Someone needs to sell it to me!

freezingkalt · 31/01/2021 10:48

@Silenceisgolden20

McDonalds.

I think the food is absolutely disgusting.

It's very clearly not. It's bread, beef, and chips in its essence.
JaneNorman · 31/01/2021 10:51

@Bubbinsmakesthree

My own stupid prejudice is New Zealand: I adore mountain landscapes but is it really worth travelling round the world for? Isn’t it just like visiting the Scottish Highlands?
In some ways yes. Some parts have a very Scottish look and feel about them, Dunedin for example. But there is also a lot more to it and it feels even more remote than Scotland in some places.

I’ve not seen anything like the Sounds in Scotland, or the hot springs though. I’ve not skied in Scotland so can’t compare that.

I loved both of my trips there but did them as part of longer trips which also took in Australia and Fiji. I probably wouldn’t go back just to do NZ on its own but that’s because I have kids now and what works for a holiday is now different. There are also still lots of places I want to visit that I would chose first.

Whether it’s worth it I think depends on how scarce your holidays are and whether you can take your time to enjoy it.

kindlingtwigs · 31/01/2021 11:21

@BrizNiz

It's threads like these that make me want to leave Mumsnet...
@BrizNiz So you dislike people saying that they don't want to visit a country based on a small experience of part of it or on a misconstrued idea of what it is like and yet you are prepared to dismiss the whole of Mumsnet based on just one thread?
NatashaAlianovaRomanova · 31/01/2021 11:23

@Sarcobaleno

All the people saying Maldives... it was a fab holiday. Snorkelling, scuba diving to see the most unbelievable coral reefs. Fishing then bbq-ing our catch. I'd go again in a heartbeat.

You're not selling Maldives to me - as a hater of fish (both live & on a plate varieties) this sounds like my idea of Hell.

Theme parks don't appeal to me so wouldn't do Disney but I wouldn't cross Florida as a whole off my list because of that.

There are places/areas of most countries I'd like to visit & places/areas of most countries I'd avoid - surely that's the case for most people.

Notthis2 · 31/01/2021 11:31

Some of these comments are hilarious! I do remember looking at pictures of new zealand with a friend only to realise when we looked out the window (in Ireland) she had around the world to what looked like the same place!! Still beautiful though and obviously more fun now...

derxa · 31/01/2021 11:38

Scotland Hmm
Because the whole of Scotland is exactly the same.

Whatflavourjellybabyisnice · 31/01/2021 11:43

Dubai also.
Thailand. I may well change my opinion if I actually went but it just doesn't appeal to me.
Scotland.

PurpleFlower1983 · 31/01/2021 12:00

@Bubbinsmakesthree

Another vague prejudice I am very up for being talked out of: never been drawn to South America at all. Someone needs to sell it to me!
I really fancy South America - I love that whole Latin vibe and I would like to see it. Strange how we all have different perceptions!
SwedishEdith · 31/01/2021 12:16

@Bubbinsmakesthree

Another vague prejudice I am very up for being talked out of: never been drawn to South America at all. Someone needs to sell it to me!
Having a relative go there for a long trip and seeing the photos of the cities and food, I'm completely up for South America.
Original poster
nuitdesetoiles · 31/01/2021 12:18

Yes I'm far more drawn to South America than Asia to be honest... It looks so vibrant and creative. I know a few peeps who've travelled there and loved it. My best friend lived in Buenos Aires for a year .. Said it was an experience!!

OP posts:
Bubbinsmakesthree · 31/01/2021 12:19

@PurpleFlower1983

I’ve always been drawn to Asia which is where I’ve done most of my long-haul travel. I’ve just never had the same pull towards South America despite it being amazingly rich in scenery, culture, etc. I’m sure there are loads of places there that would blow me away but I’ve never felt that impetus to visit.

Vintagevixen · 31/01/2021 12:25

Australia - I have actually been there, east and west coasts as I did a 6 week holiday with Ex P who wanted me to love it and want to move there.

I enjoyed my holiday but was really happy to come home. Too hot for me and just felt too remote though this was pre internet so maybe it wouldn't feel so remote now.

I mean there were some beautiful places without a doubt, but I feel there are some equally beautiful places in the UK and Europe. I hate beach life and the heat so I guess it's just that Australia and I weren't a good fit!!

bluebluezoo · 31/01/2021 12:30

Theme parks don't appeal to me so wouldn't do Disney but I wouldn't cross Florida as a whole off my list because of that

Theme parks have never appealed to me either. Even as a kid I wasn’t remotely jealous when classmates excitedly announced the were going to disneyland.

I was talked into going by dh a few years ago. Not what I imagined at all, and way more fun for is and the teens than beaches and “i’m bored”.

Definitely a convert and saving up to go back when all this is over!