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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

cities you've been disappointed with....

245 replies

brimfull · 13/02/2008 19:46

Barcelona was a big disappointment to me,couldn't see or feel the charm that everyone went on about.

Seattle also...was expecting a fab place that was voted number one place to live a while ago.Just another big city..nothing special imo.

What cities did you find disappointing?

OP posts:
BecauseImWorthIt · 13/02/2008 20:34

Another vote for Lisbon. Just couldn't see what the fuss was about. Dirty and run down.

Great food though - that and a weekend full of sleep when we had small children (not with us) helped compensate for the disappointment.

Also agree with Toronto, although I have been there twice with work, so perhaps not quite in the same frame of mind. Just can't get over the North American instict to build a bloody great raised highway right in front of a great view of the water!

Blu · 13/02/2008 20:35

Belgrade

msappropriate · 13/02/2008 20:35

I loved Barcelona.

Prague was most disappointing city, not much to see I think; closely followed by Seattle (felt like a poor mans San Fransisco) and Boston and Buenos Aires

Kewcumber · 13/02/2008 20:35

oh yes Mabeta - Hamburg is soooo much nicer in every way than Frankfurt.

I used to be a regional finance director and spent far too much time in some excruciatingly dull places.

(though must confess that I got to "do" Cape Town most years and New york sevreal times a year so guess I can;t really complain)

msappropriate · 13/02/2008 20:36

loved Lisbon too, so relaxing.

margoandjerry · 13/02/2008 20:37

Berlin. Expected it to be like in Cabaret. Is actually drab and boring.

Also, can I say this? Glasgow. Really expected something interesting because people from there talk about it so much - I thought it was drab and ugly.

MandJ runs away in fear.

Blu · 13/02/2008 20:42

I love Toronto - not the smart, business, uptown and touristy bits, but the downtown Boho Toronto - Queen st West, etc. It has the best cafes in the world!

Didn't like Montreal so much - but was there in wndter - i could imagine that as a summer city.

And Lyon is fab - the older part along the river, and the old town - not the new buiness admin centre.

harpsichordcarrier · 13/02/2008 20:42

I had absolutley no expectations about Frankfurt and it entirely lived up to them no chance of disappointment there.
Glasgow, though, makes my heart beat a little faster

ivykaty44 · 13/02/2008 20:43

I feel that Birmingham has tryed really hard to become more inspiring and deserves a pat on the back for being a pleasant city to shop - not that I go often.

Plymouth although I had excellent company i was left cold once my back was turned from the water. Another bomb site though and the flames were seen for 60 miles just like poor ole Coventry.

Interestinly Cologne didn't seem to get the battering and I did enjoy and afternoon wander around the city and catherderal - didn't stay long enough to get bored and went on to Arnhem - which was excellent for cycling and felt so green and clean.

Peachy · 13/02/2008 20:44

Rotterdam- was half dug up when we went there!

bath, nice enough but nothing bar nothing is worth that traffic hassle (beaing in mind I LIVE in a blardy Roman barrack site, so that attraction is minimal)

Kewcumber · 13/02/2008 20:44

So far we only seem to have consensus on Frnakfurt.

Lesson 1.

DON'T GO TO FRANKFURT

ivykaty44 · 13/02/2008 20:46

Peachy Bath is great on a bike

Mercy · 13/02/2008 20:46

Changing hte subject slightly, I've always wanted to go to Vienna and Salzburg. What are they like?

Peachy · 13/02/2008 20:48

Not from here though IvyKate LOL (though Dh worked in keynsham for a bit so maybe then......)

ArcticRoll · 13/02/2008 20:48

Vienna

expatinscotland · 13/02/2008 20:48

Stuttgart.

msappropriate · 13/02/2008 20:48

I loved Vienna. Loads to see and do, lots of different architecture, nice cakes. went on daytrip down the danube to Melk too, beautiful

expatinscotland · 13/02/2008 20:48

Manila.

Hell on Earth. Smells like roaches, too.

Peachy · 13/02/2008 20:49

Actually, Newport surprised us when we moved here- and they have big plans. Expected it to be a complete dump, not that it had much to compare to what with where we came from LOL

margoandjerry · 13/02/2008 20:49

Vienna is nice but boring although nice is very nice when you are sitting in a cafe eating sachertorte

Kewcumber · 13/02/2008 20:51

ooh Vienna is dull. But not at the foothills of Frankfurts dullness. No sachertorte in Frankfurt.

msappropriate · 13/02/2008 20:51

I suppose it depends what you want really. I like buildings and museums but some would find that dull.

ivykaty44 · 13/02/2008 20:52

I was in Salzburg in 1973 - can't really remember much but the ice cream was good.

Kewcumber · 13/02/2008 20:53

I love building and museums. Just not Frankfurts buildings and museums... now Chicago's building are worth wearing out your shoe leather for...

ivykaty44 · 13/02/2008 20:53

Smells - Portugal and Delhi smell the same to me and cities in Scotland smell of bread?

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