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

[nuitdesetoiles]

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...

I wonder if Cornwall locals are a bit like the locals in my country, who tend to heave a quiet sigh of relief when someone says they've got no desire to go there - because goodness knows there's so many that do!

Malaga is a short drive from Malaga. It’s absolutely stunning, culturally rich small city.

@mechanicalwonder

Disney land, disneyworld and euro Disney.

Same here, have never understood why some childless adults go there - surely it's really just meant for small children?

Dubai and most other Arabic resorts - flashy shops and nice hotels, but the fact that women are treated as second class citizens does put me off. China, due to its appalling treatment of animals (not to mention any humans who dare to challenge the regime). India looks fascinating but the appalling poverty, beggars everywhere, and the unsanitary conditions would all concern me.

Same here, have never understood why some childless adults go there - surely it's really just meant for small children?

That’s what I thought. It’s actually pretty hard to explain, but as I said I’m a convert :). It pretty much caters for everyone.

Disney theme parks aren't just for children. They may not be everyone's cup of tea, but there are loads of rides not suitable for small children. They appeal to all age groups.

Dubai- the fact that being gay, drinking and having sex outside marriage is illegal. Why would you want to go there?

New York - doesn't interest me

There was a lot of hype from a family member about the big Florida/ Disney holiday. After the event, we asked what was the best bit of going... "it was so organised!" She loved knowing exactly where and when and often what she was having for dinner.
I'm more of an explorer. I wouldn't pay ££,£££ for it, I'd feel claustrophobic even without the climate.

I've done a couple of AIs, but we've always checked for bus routes and nearby towns so we can escape.
Generic global resorts that could be anywhere don't appeal.

Entirely artificial/ copycat places like Las Vegas or Dubai, have zero appeal. Parts of China are rapidly becoming a souless parody of their own traditions. Building brand new temples with fake monks and fake history.
I'm sure the Grand Canyon would be great, but with what else is around and the time and expense, it's just not a trip I'd prioritise.

I like places to be connected if I'm staying in one place for more than a few days (remote is fine for touring). We made the mistake of staying down a peninsula in Brittany, nothing wrong with the location itself. Just a very tedious 40+ minute drive on the same road before we could split off to go in any other direction.

I know there can be ethical issues with mass tourism/all-inclusive resorts. In some cases, most of the profits are funnelled out of the country to an international tour operator.

Assuming it’s safe, it’s nice to get out of the all-inclusive resorts, meet local people and support small businesses. I’m a sucker for local crafts.

@Thedarknightsarelifting

Malaga is a short drive from Malaga. It’s absolutely stunning, culturally rich small city.

Marbella y’mean ?

I need to stick up for the Maldives.

My fave ever place in the world. We tagged it on to the end of a more adventurous holiday so only had 5 days there as we also thought it could get boring. Well there was no time to get bored and as we were leaving we wished we stayed longer!

There's plenty to do, boat trips to the capital where they have markets, mosques you can visit.
You can go snorkelling/diving with turtles/Manta rays (literally the most beautiful under water experience)
They have themed evenings and BBQs where they do Maldivian dancing, candlelit dinners on the beach (we did this and it was just the two of us. Still the most romantic and beautiful experience of my life)

Equally if you want to just lounge on your deck of the beach and read a book you can. All inclusive food and drink is on all day.

So so much more than what you think it is!

China - I don’t care how beautiful the scenery is. I’m sure many of the people are lovely but because of the regime, the very word repels me now. The animal cruelty is another major turn-off.

Dubai. When living in another Emirate many years ago we would visit now and then and enjoyed it, but I doubt very much that I’d like it now - I’m not into shopping and bling.

Bali. Visited a few years ago (pre warned by a dd to avoid a major coastal area (‘A hot Aussie Blackpool - you’ll hate it’) and did enjoy it, but wouldn’t choose to return. I’ve enjoyed other areas of Indonesia rather more - ones where Brits hardly ever go. The people nearly always think think you’re Dutch, because of the colonial bit. But not that many Dutch, tourists, either.

Norfolk

A cruise. I really dont think I would enjoy it based on what I've seen on tv programmes.

Other places while there are some that dont initially appeal, I wouldnt write them off , especially whole countries (or continents!).

Yes @tanstaafl. Shouldn’t MN without my glasses!

Norfolk - yes, all that flat just didn't feel right. Liked the pubs, the beaches, can see why other people like it. But I like mountains or at least hills!

I would avoid anywhere that's too cold, especially involving an ice hotel ( 🥶). Similarly anywhere too hot. Ideally a temp of about 20 for walking and 25 for a bit of sunbathing.

Dubai

Also never feel a desire for Maldives etc.

I quite like Florida. Even my aunt and mother who don’t go on any rides enjoy it. In Disney, everything is just so themed and people are happy. I did find it to be childish but the fireworks are enjoyable. I much preferred universal. We didn’t have to queue long for rides as we had fast passes and the rides were so much fun. I liked that everything is themed. There’s also beaches and the Kennedy space centre in Florida.

I think people are forgetting what a holiday is. It’s a time to recharge, relax. Some holidays I’ve been to have been so exhausting I’ve felt like I’ve needed to have another holiday coming back! For example, waking up super early as going on excursions everyday. Being on your feet all day in the hot sun.

Some people just want to sit on the beach all day and that’s fine. With these tropical hotel resorts, there are many things to explore in the country. It just foreigners just want to lounge all day and that’s up to them. But if you haven’t been to the Caribbean etc how can you say there is nothing to do there?! We all like different things and we need to try them.

I also think the time of year, who you went with, where you stay can affect how enjoyable a holiday is. I went to New York a few years ago and did not enjoy it. It’s so loud and busy. I found it dirty and smelly. Not like what I expected.But I would never rule it out again. We went in august when it was just so hot. We were only there for two days which is hardly any time. We didn’t plan what things we wanted to do or where to go. I went with some family members who were a complete nightmare. The hotel we stayed was really small and old. We stayed very near to the Empire State and so it was just so loud and busy. In reality I hardly explored New York. There’s plenty of things we didn’t do and we could’ve stayed somewhere further out.

Las Vegas
Dubai
Cote D'Azure - visited the whole of that coast. Give me a Greek island any day.

I also have no will or wish to visit Dubai. It sounds like some place specifically built to encourage rich people to go and spend money that the locals would probably never have any chance of obtaining, with rights that the locals...would probably have no chance of ever obtaining. Probably with licence to treat those locals badly. Thailand is similar, both sound awful. There are many places in the middle east I would love to see, it's the heartland of human civilisation, but not while it is so misogynistic in general. I would not feel safe at all.

Hilarious people being snooty about the Maldives and Florida! What I wouldn’t give to be there on this grey cold February day!

Agree Norfolk though not that it isn’t nice but having grown up and still living in the south west with gently rolling hills such flat landscapes give me the creeps.

Would love to travel to southeast Asia but the animal cruelty has changed my mind.

India and their appalling women's rights record is another. My father was born there and my half-brother has invited me to visit their house in Mumbai but I can't see myself ever going there.

Also, have never understood the great appeal of the USA. I'm from the Caribbean and going to the States was the done thing if your family had some money when I was in secondary school. Still don't understand it. I can see the appeal of New York and the West Coast/California wine valleys but that's it. The people I knew never went to those places anyway...they were just happy to 'go to the States'...it was all the same to them.

Also, the Maldives and Dubai seem overrated. I would still like to visit but they're not these dream destinations that other people make them out to be (to me).

South Africa is another no-no for me. It looks absolutely beautiful but the crime and corruption do not seem worth it to me.

Would love to visit:
All of Europe and Scandinavia
UK/Ireland
Japan
Morocco
East Africa - Kenya, Botswana, Namibia
Turkey
Some Caribbean islands

[quote MrsPatrickDempsey]@exiledfromcornwall
Interesting. Did you visit all of the islands or just Honolulu? [/quote]
Just Oahu admittedly, we only had time for the one. Maybe the others are a bit different in character, would have been nice to have had the chance to find out.

@PumpkinPieAlibi If animal and women’s rights and safety are so important then you need to cross out Morocco and East Africa and Turkey