Places you've loved and why?

[Foobarjar]

Inspired by the earlier thread on places you've been underwhelmed by, I want to travel more and hoping to see the nordics and more of Asia soon, so inspire me with places you've loved please!

I'll go - Sicily, Taormina - stayed in a beautiful but modernised 18th century hotel with an infinity pool over looking the bay, the streets were full of bussle, beautiful architecture, food was ok, but most enjoyed just out drinking on the stepped bar in the middle of the town with free nibbles, in the beautiful warm summers evenings. Never bothered with the stoney beach. Local wine was amazing. Just loved it all.

Rejkiavic - loved the blue lagoon!

LA Santa Monica, love the sun shine, chilled vibe, beautiful beaches (homelessness was upsetting). amazing restaurants and food on abbey kinney (Venice).

Bali, loved the people, food, scenery, amazing and cheap as chips villa rental for pure luxury, hated the long flight.

Inspire me!

Loved

Kerala, northern parts from Cochin (Kochi) up- beautiful scenery, amazing people, fabulous food and apart from Kochi few western tourists. Amazing holiday and my top place to go back to. Also very cheap!

Maldives,
For sticking your head under the water into an aquarium.
And for talcum powder white sand , lobster, Crab, Prawns, curry for dinner every night.

China. So interesting and, contrary to what people told me; lovely, friendly, helpful people everywhere.

Cornwall - great beaches, attractions and when the weather is good, it’s wonderful.

Crete - the history, great hotel and sun!

Florida - Disney. Simply amazing.

LA - fascinating, great vibe and sun.

Vegas - the hotels, shows, gambling and fun.

Charleston, SC - the history and people.

The Bahamas - beaches and sea!

The list of places I hated is longer though. I’m very difficult to please

New York. Unique among world cities. Modern, noisy, busy, crowded, vertical, vibrant, with so much to do. Great art scene, interesting architecture, plus loads of American history from the last two and a half centuries, and great restaurants and bars. A city for grownups.
Helsinki. Small and clean and friendly, simultaneously Nordic and Russian in feel.
Madrid. I prefer it to Barcelona.
Copenhagen. Pretty and eco-conscious, and the people are warm and hospitable.
The Cote d'Azur (only in the off-season!) if you are interested in the history of art in the 20th c. - Picasso, Matisse, etc. The Fondation Maeght in St Paul de Vence is outstanding.
Basel. Charming. It's quite startling to see all the people floating down the river on swim rings for fun.

Belfast - the bus tour and Crumlin
Jail. Not to mention how friendly the locals were.

Stockholm - the ABBA Museum.

South Africa - I feel so lucky to have spent 6 weeks touring around & it was breathtakingly beautiful.
The Ring of Kerry in Southern Ireland where I had my honeymoon.
Turkey mainly for the people.
Crete.
Kynance Cove in Cornwall is one of my favourite places in the world.
The Swiss Alps
Venice even though it smelled because it was unlike anywhere I had ever been.
The area around Halifax where my Grandparents lived.
Parts of Dorset.

Gothenburg, it's the only place I have visited where I have thought realistically I could live here. Calm, clean, busy enough but not too busy, well connected transport wise, close to lovely countryside but not too remote, friendly, beautiful, cosmopolitan.

Jordan; Petra and Jerash are amazing.

Skopje; a special kind of mind-boggling. The biggest statues I’ve ever seen.

Boston; great for walking and exploring. Excellent restaurants.

Riga; loved the mix of architecture, lots to see and easy to explore on foot. Not so keen on the beaver.

Forgotten I’d been to Copenhagen but I don’t really remember it. The Tivoli Gardens were closed unfortunately.

Oh & parts of California I would really like to go back to. Met some wonderful people too. Washington was amazing & I would go back to visit The Smithsonian which I didn’t have time to do when I was there.

Loved Sweden been twice once around Gothenburg and countryside and more recently oland.

Surprised by Lanzarote as was expecting to hate and think it would be awful in Peak season. Same for the Algarve

Love Barbados been twice now again avoided busy times so bliss. Also love St Maarten/Martin

Enjoyed Rome

Loved Malta but lived there so avoided the touristy bits

Plenty of others as well.

Barcelona. Love the Eixample and Gaudi bits.

Northumberland. Bamburgh beach is stunning. Holy Island, castles, Arctic Tern dive bombing.

Strasbourg and Alsace. Very pretty and nice wine.

Rome for the history.

North Wales including the Conway valley and Snowdonia. Beautiful scenery and we seemed to find the loveliest B and B owners.

The Alps especially the Dolomites for scenery and food.

Lake Garden, Malcesine in particular, breathtakingly, clean air, mountain views, cobbled streets and delicious food.
Rome just love the history, so much to see.
Amalfi coast - just beautiful, breathtaking scenery and beautiful architecture.
Venice just unique and it didn't smell!
Lake District just to get out in the fells- awesome.

Italy- went for a 2 week trip last year and fell in love with the place. Florence was just beautiful and when we stepped off the train in Venice it took my breath away- can't explain it but brought a tear to my eye!

Porto - such a great little place and had loads of fun visiting the porthouses and the food was gorgeous.

Ibiza - have been so many times, originally went for the nightlife but one of my favourite things is watching the sunset at San Antonio bay

Haveasay - I also loved Malcesine!!

Moscow.
Cyprus.

Love Venice, Nice, most of Provence, Paris, Delphi, the far western end of Cornwall. I think it’s important not to have fixed expectations.

I find I like most places but my fave was Moorea in French Polynesia, amazing! Would love to go back.

Very keen to see Japan in the next few years.

Cancun
Dubai
New York

my fav place in the world is cyprus, followed by New York

Paris
New York
Rome

Amsterdam. I just love it there. The way everything looks. And I don't have any interest in the two stereotypes either!