Am I the only person who doesn’t get Tenby?

[Aquabi]

Obviously no offence intended. Different strokes for different folks.

So we have some Canadian cousins coming over in Sumer and as an extended family we are putting together an itinerary. Everyone has said we need to do a typical seaside town. It is pretty much unanimous that everyone in the family chat has decided Tenby is the #1 choice.

Don't get me wrong the actual landscape was outstanding. But I found Tenby a little bit drab given how popular it was. It was heaving which I didn’t mind but I really do not get the hype.

I went a few years ago in Summer and was expecting to find this absolute gem and it was fine. I enjoyed some of the bakeries.

Am I the only person who doesn’t get it?

What about the Gower peninsula? Some spectacular beaches there.

never heard of it, doesn't sound like I'm missing anything

I agree. But then I'm not a fan of Suffolk or Norfolk beaches. Much prefer the Jurassic Coast.

The west coast of Wales much nicer around Cardegion Ceredigion region. Even the lakes.
Lake Vryny Vyrnwy (Llyn Efyrnwy) and Lake Bala (Llyn Tegid) are wonderful. Also Hafren forest and falls.

If you want traditional, there's always

I have only been once and it was summer and I can see how it would have been a very nice place but like most places it was far too crowded to feel in any way relaxing and quaint. Also, if they are Canadian they will have some absolutely gorgeous seaside towns themselves but without the masses of people crowding them up so they might not be that taken by Tenby. I mean, if you are nearby then it's perhaps worth a trip just to have seen a British seaside town but I wouldn't cross the country for it.

I also found Tenby pretty meh but love Cornwall. I'm not really a 'town' person though, I prefer the great outdoors so maybe if I'd visited the beaches properly (only sort of wandered along one a bit) maybe I'd have a different view.

I haven't been to Tenby, but this is how I feel about Whitby, which I was massively underwhelmed by, despite everyone raving about it.

Tenby is my happy place too ,i get the same feeling of calm though not so much in busy Summer !
There are so many beautiful places to visit around Tenby but if you are just looking for lively shops ,pubs etc i don't think its for you ,it's so wild and natural on the coastline and the odd shops ,pubs ,eateries are an added bonus ,mainly i think its draw for the majority of people are the beaches and nature.
Drive a short way out of Tenby ---
Saundersfoot is lovely -great walk through the old tunnels along the coastline
Colby woodland gardens
Bosherton lily ponds
Narberth
Manorbier
Angle
Lawrenny quay-the most peaceful place i have ever visited ,anywhere
Freshwater east
All the beaches are beautiful.
I have visited since a young child and it doesn't change much at all which is part of the pleasure for me.

My best friend went in her caravan to Wales last year and I'd told her to visit Tenby because I kept hearing how lovely it was. She was distinctly underwhelmed.

Only been the once and it was very crowded.

I love Dartmouth and always wanted to live there or somewhere along that coast. I also love St Mawes, but is it the memories I have of taking the DC when they were young or me remembering my misspent youth in Dartmouth

Edited for a rogue I

I live in Pembrokeshire. I don't get the hype about many of the tourist traps, but that's probably because they are not at all enjoyable in tourist season, and we only get to enjoy them in winter when everything is shut and the weather is horrible. But I can see the appeal of you don't have anything like that in your area and are used to people everywhere

Well this is totally underwhelming isn’t it. What a drab place.

My family are from Tenby, going back generations. I spent every summer there as a child with my grandparents. I now take my children every summer to stay with relatives.
Like previous posters, it is my happy place. Every street has so many memories for me. Having said that, it's not what it was. I agree parts of it are drab. The little independent shops are fewer and there are more expensive chains eg seasalt, white stuff. Many of the independent shops that are left are full of absolute crap. I know the beach shops have always been full of crap but feels worse the last few years, they all sell the same stuff and the kids have usually broken it on the way out of the shop! But I think this is just a sign of the times, businesses are struggling. I'm very happy that Equinox continues to survive, even the smell of it just transports me back to childhood. On a good summers day, there's nowhere I'd rather be but if I get a bad week of weather there I struggle as there isn't much to keep the kids entertained. I'm lucky that we don't need to book accommodation so we just check the forecast and go.

We holidayed in Saundersfoot as children and then took our own children later. I love the safe beaches and golden sand. In the last ten years I have been having short breaks in Tenby and fell in love with it. The views are beautiful. It is a quaint little town and good for a wander round. One of my favourite walks is to go by the harbour and towards the lifeboat station. I generally buy something there to contribute to the charity. Carry on up towards the museum or along the beach to a delightful cafe for a break. There is a lovely walk along coastal paths around the golf course that comes out on to the beach. It’s possible to take a bus to Narberth that is full of independent shops to browse. I am off for three days at the end of March and looking forward to it. As others have said it’s not a ‘typical’ British seaside town but I wouldn’t choose them.

You say, "No offence intended" but you'd have to be a bit dim not to realise that this is exactly what you'd do, intentional or not. It doesn't matter where it is in the world, it's someone else's home, loved place or whatever.

You're entitled to cause offence if you choose to, others are entitled to tell you that you're being a bit of a dick.

Avoid Blackpool! The beach is fun, but the place itself is an absolute dump.

Have you BEEN to BP in the last 20 years?

I’ve been. It was quite nice but nothing particularly memorable over other seaside towns. But then I do live in a place with a lot of coastal areas.

Tenby was pretty, but for a great beach in Wales, I loved Poppit Sands. Trees to the side of the broad bay and beautiful sands and rock pools.

If you wanted to go to Devon, I'd try Saunton Sands on the north coast for dunes, rock pools, beach huts for hire and surf. And great fish and chips in nearby Braunton at Squires.

Only the last 20 years? I went 30 yrs ago and I still haven't recovered from how horrible it was.

Seriously?? It’s the most run down dive I’ve ever been to.

I think this view in the photo is what sets it apart from many other seaside towns. I've taken a group from abroad there and having parked in the car park that side of town,this was their first glimpse of the town and they actually gasped.
However, other than that I suppose what you actually do there is similar to many other seaside towns. And it can be too busy at times.

You've listed a lots of nice things you did there OP. What else would you have wanted from it to make it a good seaside town?

I guess what it didn't have is the pier / fairground type attractions, so it's not the place if you want them, which perhaps you do if you are thinking of showing your guests a stereotypical British seaside resort? Or, on the other end of the scale, if you want to show them a really beautiful beach and maybe some hiking, you'd need somewhere more rural with less other amenities (The Gower or other parts of Pembrokeshire maybe)

Same here. Mind you, I had the worst food poisoning ever there, so maybe that's tainted my view of it

I have never heard of Tenby, so thanks for today's oportunity to learn something new.

I’ve visited a lot of the beaches in Pembrokeshire. They are stunning.

I personally wanted to do something like Margate or Weymouth - a proper classic seaside holiday to me. But I think my family think those places aren’t “naice” enough to take visitors. Hence why Tenby was suggested. And I personally just didn’t think it was exceptional as many would have you believe.