Underrated holiday destinations

[WisteriaHysteria22]

So inspired by the current emperor's new clothes holiday thread, where have people been on a holiday that exceeded expectations or is currently underrated/less mainstream?

Thessaloniki. We went because the flights were cheap but it was amazing. A lovely 5 star hotel really cheap, loads to do, including free pirate ships that take you round the harbour. A mix of old school Greek tavernas and trendy bars and restaurants.

we also did a local vineyard wine tasting which was excellent.

Utah - absolutely fabulous national parks, we visited Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks. They were all gorgeous, all different, fascinating scenery, amazing hiking, great people, easy to get around. I don't know anyone else who has been there. It was fantastic.

We just came back from Jersey which is gorgeous. Amazing beaches with pretty much no one on them, lots of history from an ancient castle to the tunnels of ww2, had fun at the zoo and you don't even have to change your money.

Northumberland, Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Borders, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Great Glen -fabulous scenery (provided the weather cooperates!).

Abroad:
Washington DC - awesome buildings and monuments
Rome - the climate, history (food!) and proximity to the coast!

A second vote for Thessaloniki - just so lovely.
I also love the Channel Islands my favourite is Guernsey
Far west of Pembrokeshire is lovely and quieter than the area around Tenby.

Estonia. But only if you enjoy quiet, wilderness and wildlife. That said the cities are bursting with culture, saw an opera and ate the most amazing vegan food.

Beunas Aires (and the rest of Argentina). I was expecting good but it's so much more and better than all the cliches.

Singapore. Again there is a high tech, businessy, built-up cliche in my head but the reality was much richer, more layered, more interesting. Could easily have spent another week there, it's a fascinating place.

Santa Cruz and surrounds Bolivia, everyone skips over it but they are missing out.

Somerset. Everyone races down to Devon and Cornwall but Somerset has three AoNBs, a national park, a varied coastline, internationally important wetland nature reserves and all the west country cider, scones and charm of Decon and Cornwall.

Newark and Nottinghsm. Just both much better than expected!

The Antrim coast-if you are lucky with the weather.

Oh I loved Sark. Magical holiday a few years ago when my kids were younger. I'd go back.

I agree about Northumberland. We went for the first time a few years ago to visit a friend and absolutely loved it!

Another place is the Scilly Isles. Expensive - yes. But it's like visiting an ideal England, but with sun! And hardly any people! And everyone knows everyone else.

I wasn't sure what to expect when we went to Costa rica a few years ago. It was a place where I experienced that feeling of being somewhere which feels very different. I love that feeling and the coffee really was the best !

Moesgård www.moesgaardmuseum.dk/en/

Me and DH love it along the Belgian coast. We have holidayed there twice, both times also going to Holland (which we also love). Leiden and Wassenaar are both lovely.

We were lucky that we had good weather. Not sure it would be quite so good if it was raining all the time

@mydogisthebest yes, Wassenaar is lovely, and we were surprised by the lovely sandy beaches you get in Holland.

The north of Spain: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria & Basque Country.

Would love to travel there, particularly Galicia and Asturias.
And Costa Rica – must make it to Costa Rica.

So much world, so little time and money!

Probably more known for being lovely now but Malaga was a surprise to me. I always just saw it as the airport for Torremolinos and Fuengirola but it was a stop on a cruise and we were blown away by it. We went back every year before Covid for a city break in the sunshine. The Malagaños are so friendly and happy to have you there. It's like a friendly Barcelona (but without Gaudí)

Ditto Pembrokeshire. I don't know why people go to Cornwall when you can go to Pembrokeshire.

Both places are the only ones we've visited more than once.

Meganissi, a small island near Lefkada in Greece. Just like what Sifnos used to be like twenty years ago before it became more Cosmopiltan.
Chania in Crete is also wonderful, with lots of pretty villages nearby. There are always cheap flights there.
And further afield, we loved Texas. We flew to Fort Worth (relatively cheap as it is the American Airlines hub) and had a wonderful time there. Rodeos, ranches, amazing food and so much cheaper than other East Coast cities that we have been to.

We flew via Madrid with ba-much cheaper and no one drinking at 6am. I’m not actually against early drinking but arriving at the airport at 4.20 I felt ill! I had a glass of wine on the connecting flight and think I was the only one-it was 12.20 but I’d been up 9 hours!

Absolutely not Galicia. Here now.
Wet, windy. Nothing to do. Ground swell of Spanish enthusiasm to stop tourism. Not friendly to brits.
Cant wait to go.

Paxos Greece. Beautiful

Some of our best family holidays when the kids were little have been to.... Morecombe. We also have been on couple trips there. For the kids there's the arcades, nice Beach and some great parks. We stay in a caravan or camp. As adults we stay in the Midlands Hotel and have cocktails, a nice dinner or an Afternoon tea.

Been and I agree. A family member lived there for many years. Texel (Dutch island). Great wildlife, fab beaches, fantastic cycling. Dumfries and Galloway.

Why?

I've just googled and it all looks beautiful round there.and those beach baskets.you can sleep on the beach in them!

Pembrokeshire coast.devine.