Places you would never want to go on Hoilday

[JoeyBartonHanson]

Can be anywhere

I will start
Magualf
Blackpool (I live in Lancashire)

I’m not too fussed & unless the gov advice was to avoid I would probably try anything.

Having said that I wouldn’t go to Tunisia & although I would love to see some of the sights I’m unsure re Egypt. I’ve not explored all of it but I’m not a huge fan of Spain & would always choose France, Greece or Italy over it.

Dubai (human rights)
UAE (human rights)

This reminds me. I'm going to Paris in the summer. However, I will never, ever set foot in France.

What's wrong with Dublin, Witches?? 😱 Have you ever been here? 😀

Places I've been and wished I hadn't:

Hainan Island, China - it is not "the Hawaii of China"
Vietnam
Lanzarote
Abu Dhabi

Places I never want to go to:

Tenerife
Gran Canaria
Most of America
China
Most of Africa
Anywhere touristy in Spain, Greece or Turkey with loads of Brits

skiing!

Uk - cold, grey and wet.

Why don’t people like E.Europe?

So much ignorance on this thread!

So many beautiful, incredible countries rejected because of one area or part having a 'reputation'. It's like saying you hate the UK because you don't like the urban environment of London.

Obviously the UK is more than just London, which makes a comment like "I would never go to Ibiza" so silly. Ibiza has it's rough rowdy parts of course, but the north of the island is spectacularly beautiful, peaceful, serene and dare I say it, classy. It's why DH and I go once a year.

Interesting thread.

I'm surprised to see the Maldives coming up so many times. Its human rights record could be improved, but that can be said of many developing countries. The rubbish dump island looks awful but most counties have landfill sites, the UK included. The Maldives just doesn't have the landmass to create a giant burial pit for its rubbish. It has to go somewhere. It will undoubtedly improve with international pressure. Most of the resorts do make some attempt at environmental protection. I love it there. Watching the rays swimming is one of my favourite things. Swimming surrounded by crowds of pretty fish and turtles is good for the soul. Diving with whale sharks is a fabulous experience. It's my favourite place on earth.

Egypt frustrates me. I've been twice and there is so much interesting to see, but the hassle and sexism was relentless. I'd like to go back as there is so much more to see but I'm giving it a break for a while.

I think we can get something enjoyable from visiting most places in the world so my list is short:
The UAE - I've been (on business). I've yet to find any redeeming features.
Countries that oppress women's rights in an extreme way - I'm thinking of Saudi and Iran here.
AI resorts.
The "egg, chips and Union Jack" resorts around Southern Europe. Although that said I went to one on a cheapie named on arrival holiday in my early 20s and had fun. The resort was shit but we hired a car, drove up into the mountains, ate at little tavernas, went to historic ruins, etc. so they can be fine if used as a base for a cheap holiday. It's interesting to see people writing off the whole of Majorca or wherever. The resorts are only a tiny part of the island. The rest of it is beautiful with lovely restaurants and lots of local culture.

the Maldives are problematic for anyone with a social conscience. Stoning rape victims and importing every. single. item including multiple types of bottled water, wagu beef, mozzarella etc from every corner of the world is destroying what is there. Mass tourism and remote coral reef archipelagos really don't work well. And then you throw in the "holidays in other people's misery" dimension. There are plenty of places which have incredible resorts and snorkelling where simply getting food and water to them are not so utterly damaging

The criticism of Maldives as a destination is interesting, how does Mauritius compare?

Romania
Bulgaria
Macedonia
Poland
Russia

Slightly surprised at those who write off Spain as a whole. It is one of the largest countries in western Europe with massive and interesting contrasts in cuisine, landscape, climate, history. Went to one of those all inclusive resorts? No wonder. The country is much much more than that. It makes me wonder someone would do that in a country where you aren't murdered six times from your room to the pool. You just hire a car and drive into the mountains away from tourists, there is much to see. Spain with France has the highest number of Unesco Heritage Sites in Western Europe. Plenty to see and enjoy.

The UAE - I've been (on business). I've yet to find any redeeming features.

I used to live there. There weren't any, bar that it's a good base to travel elsewhere from. Which does not make it a good holiday destination, if the best thing about it is that it's easy to leave for more interesting places.

Staggered to see Spain avoided. Food culture beaches (away from crazy overdevelopment). Seville Cadiz Córdoba amongst favourite (and repeated)places I’ve ever been to

Thailand

Oh and South Africa

Anywhere where there a poor, starving people living on the streets...Oh, that's most of the UK.
I like it in the deep English countryside and stay away from cities as much as possible!

Out of interest, are these places which posters have actually been to and wouldn't go back, or just places they don't like the sound of, or heard bad things about?

(Either way I agree with most of these!!)

My possibly controversial one would be New York (maybe I was unlucky, but I just found it unfriendly and stressful and I don't like shopping). I generally like city breaks though.

You would have to be a proper weirdo to avoid Spain! Sun culture beaches cities and lovely food. Madrid is fab, as is Seville and Granada alahambra unmissable national parks stunning (swimming in clear pools with waterfalls and vultures flying overhead experience our kids still talk about) . But yes avoid that hell hole!

@MsTSwift Ooh, where were the clear pools with warterfalls and vultures please? Sounds heavenly!

Are those avoiding Spain doing so because they have been to Brit infested places on some costa or are they avoiding it after visiting La Rioja, Bilbao and San Sebastian, Andalucia, Madrid and Barcelona? Spain has it all and more. I love going to Spain but then I am married to someone who knows the place really well and won't do touristy bits.

Why Poland?

Why Poland

I was thinking the same. I've only been to Warsaw but so many interesting cities to see - Krakow and Gdansk being top of my wish list.

There seem to be a lot of people on this thread desperate to convince others that actually they would love it in Beruit/Turkey/Bognor/OuterMongolia

Give over. I have read no such thing. Some of us have just wanted to offer updated information, Beirut for example was called war torn. It is not, and the pp who said it now wants to go - or so she kindly came back on to say.

It's a pleasant thread, but naturally those familiar with places that have been slated want to defend them, and shed light on any preconceptions.

It is helpful, not 'desperate'.