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?

If I find somewhere underrated in my opinion, I keep quiet about it.

In the UK - Lincoln. I was blown away by the cathedral. The castle is fascinating. The art gallery and museum in the city are both excellent and free. Walking along the canal where are are lots of places to eat. Loads of lovely independent shops to browse through. Plenty of green spaces.

Anglesey is an overlooked spot too. Some incredible beaches and nice little towns to explore. Many people write off Holyhead as a run down port, but it has two really lovely parks, plus red squirrels and a stunning coastal path.

Outside of the UK I liked Malta - though I know a lot on MN don't. Valletta is a lovely place to base yourself, and if you love history then Malta has just about every era covered. The pastires are incredible. But, the true gen is Gozo - how Malta used to be before tourism and overdevelopers took over I should imagine. Gozo is beautiful.

Honorourable mention must go to the Charnet region in France - I especially love Saintes. The canal du midi is also lovely, though hardly unknown as lots of Brits visit.

Yes actually, we went to Naflion (so?) near Athens then took a really winding bus up to Mythos which is this completely magical place in the mountains and Sparta, before going to Athens. As it was all by bus it was really reasonable too.

Most expensive trip we ever did. DS2 got the bug for horse riding at Bryce😁

There's so many lovely places on the Adriatic coast, we loved Pula in Croatia and Budva in Montenegro.

I agree with @thedogshatonthematt Isle of Man, definitely. I'll throw in the Channel Islands, Jersey and Guernsey are beautiful with lots to explore, and the Isles of Scilly. In fact one can do lots of islands: Brownsea, Anglesea, Lindisfarne, Isle of Wight. Islay, Harris, Skye, all have their own identity and amazing in their own right.

One I've NOT been to is Burgh Island, the hotel sounds amazing, 1930s style.

Please could you give a little more detail? I would love to go but keep getting overwhelmed at the scale of the place and end up booking florida!

Sorry that was aimed at @FloweryCurtainTwitcher 😊

Colombia...the Amazon rainforest, the Caribbean coast, the highlands, big cities for night city life, the pacific coast. Hiking, nature, coffee, partying, sunbathing, the nicest local population I've met, I could go on!

Closer to home I offer up the Northern region of Corsica (you need a car) and Montenegro and Bosnia (car needed again). Also the quieter Croatian islands.

In America, I was most surprised by Philadelphia, which is a remarkable city: great food, wonderful museums, very walkable, excellent theatre, and reasonable. Gets overshadowed by NYC and DC but worth it.

Also love the huge parks out west, particularly the northern ones in Montana, etc. They really feel like wilderness.

Asturias was delightful—quite different to the parts of Spain I had been to before.

I love the beaches near Panama City and echo an earlier poster about Ischia.

Go to Wyoming. Land at Jackson Hole Airport situated in the national park - so amazing! Your Grand Teton and Yellowstone National parks. So big there’s plenty of space. Incredible wildlife and natural features. Exit the north of the park and visit Cody for a real taste of cowboy USA. These days “cowboys” ride into town in a convoy of chopper bikes. Very few helmets here. Most chunky chaps wear bandanas. Take in a rodeo and a meal at the Irma for the atmosphere!
You have to get in for the flights early. Not many flights into little Jackson Hole.

Garmisch Partenkirchen - incredible place. Swim in the Eibsee is a must. Don’t bother to visit the chitty chitty bang bang castle. You don’t get a perspective of the outside and it’s just like being herded like cattle round the inside.

Wyoming does look beautiful and a great destination but I'd pass on the rodeo. It's just animal abuse dressed up as entertainment.

YY to Belgian and Dutch coasts. In fact there are many towns in the Netherlands that are well worth visiting - Leiden, Maastricht, Utrecht. Zeeland area is fabulous with huge sandy beaches and lots of pretty towns. Good seafood. My favourite Belgian city is Antwerp, Ghent second.

PP also mention Ischia, which noone ever seems to have heard of. Great spas and the "nuns graveyard" in the castello. Beautiful island. And Aigues Mortes also mentioned - old walled town surrounded by the camargue but only 10 mins from the beach.

Strasbourg was a surprise hit. I actually preferred it to Colmar which is the traditionally pretty Alsace town.

Western isles of Scotland - just stunning

Channel Islands

Northern coast of mainland Europe - often overlooked. I went on a school holiday to Blankenberge many years ago and have enjoyed going to various other places on the north coast of France, Holland, Belgium and Germany more recently.

Also some lovely undiscovered parts of western France including Saintes as mentioned by someone else. Although I think some of these places have become more popular with Brits in recent years, there was a time when you wouldn't hear English spoken for the whole holiday.

Northern Corsica is another place I have returned to as it is fairly undiscovered still.

It took me years to convince DH to go on holiday to the Netherlands but once I did we have been quite a few times and DH loves it.

We both love Leiden (DH even talked about living there at one time). We also like Utrecht, Wassenaar and Haarlem. Most British go to Amsterdam and never think about visiting anywhere else.

We also love Antwerp and Ghent. Quite like Brussels but not that keen on Bruges as it is too touristy.

My company has offices in Utrecht (and Paris) and I always think if they made me move I'd go for NL anyday.

Bergen in Norway. I had no expectations of it at all and was completely charmed. There is tons of historical interest, the town itself is very attractive with cute little shops. The food and drink was expensive but very good. There is a funicular up to the top of the mountain and the views are amazing. The second time we went up we walked back down and it was a lovely walk. Plus there are plenty of boat trips or you can take the commuter ferry up and down the coast.

Would love to go to the Greek Islands, rent a villa near a beach in a town that has a few restaurants and shops….but not too busy. Do any of you recommend anything?
One of our favourite holidays was to Algajola near Calvi in north Corsica. Think I’m looking for something like that 😊

Wow. Great suggestions