Where is the most overrated holiday destination you’ve been?

[phoanymoany]

Where have you been on holiday and thought “wow, that was a waste of my time and money”.

Mine was travelling to a fairly remote tropical island where people were supposed to be so friendly. Unfortunately we found the people we interacted with in the hotels and restaurants to be anything but nice. It piddled down with rain and then we almost got scammed.

You must be uncultured and only eat fast food then. (Just kidding!) I can see why it doesn’t appeal to some.

I just like the Netherlands- really enjoyed Delft, after a few days there I was ready to pack up and move there. I love the culture, the people and the general atmosphere.

Switzerland. Found it boring (I know it’s lovely scenery but there is only so many cows with bells on their necks you can take). Plus food is dreadful (unless you love chocolate, which I don’t). And to boot it’s one of the most expensive places I’ve ever visited.

@penji i was replying to someone who said they couldn’t see why anyone would go to Switzerland for a holiday.

@TheDogIsInCharge those places you describe were part of my childhood, I grew up in neighbouring Algeria and Tunisia was our “ safe place” ( I realise this is ironic given how many posters complain of sexual harassment in Tunisia, but it’s as nothing compared to Algeria). I know this will come across as snobby and elitist, but the difference is probably that we weren’t confined to any particular resort, we drove over, moved around, could speak French, were aware of cultural sensitivities etc and my parents were travelling with small children, which is often an advantage in Arab countries.

Switzerland is beautiful in summer or winter. Lakes and mountains, snow or hot sun.
But so terribly expensive
That's not a reason to dislike a place though. I love Switzerland and now my kids are adults ,they go skiing there with their partners and love the place as much as they did when they were children.

You can have beauty, lakes and mountains in Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia and Northern Italy for a much cheaper price!
It doesn't have to be one or the other. We have had family holidays at all those places and I agree they are stunning ( as is most of Europe, I can't think of a country I haven't liked) I will still go back Switzerland.

Switzerland. Found it boring (I know it’s lovely scenery but there is only so many cows with bells on their necks you can take). Plus food is dreadful (unless you love chocolate, which I don’t)
Boring!!@phoanymoany blimey, I assume you are not a hiker, mountaineer, mountain biker, skier or enjoy outdoor pursuits. To our family it's a big outdoor playground in all seasons.

Vegas. I have never wanted to go but it was a gifted trip so took the opportunity. Dreadful place, absolutely hated every moment of it

Wondering where you ate, because there are loads of decent restaurants in Belfast and elsewhere in NI.

It's also really unusual for anywhere not to take card payments.

Chinese take outs, perhaps.

In my case, you'd think wrong then.

Being able to converse with the locals didn't miraculously get rid of the overpowering piss stench of the Parisian streets, strangely enough 😀

I'm talking about a trip in the mid 90s, so maybe it's not as bad now?

Also, fondue and raclette!

Yeah, that's weird. I was paying for everything on card 25 years ago in Belfast

I was a bit disappointed by cordoba , other than the old mosque of course which was fabulous.

I have to agree with CobraChicken , sometimes understanding what Parisians are saying is actually worse! A lot of French people aren’t very keen on Paris too.

Paris - dirty and smelly
Sharm El Shiek - pervy all male hotel staff who leered after my 13 yo DD
Tobago - no different to anywhere else with a beach, sun and sand and not much to do but see more much of the same beaches

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · Today 15:57

@pollyglot
Hilarious that your recommendations for enjoying Malta and Rome are to take a trip to somewhere else ! And I've not been to Sicily - but I am sure it's an Italian island, so not sure why you recommend speaking French .

Not quite sure why my post was "hilarious". Rome is useful as a base if you don't like the city to trip around to other places nearby. The assumption that everyone speaks English is challenged in numerous places in Italy. Sicily is one of those places. We could not have been able to book a sleeper and find out about train times without my being able to speak French. And one would have to be very pedantic to identify Gozo and Malta as two different destinations-what's a short ferry ride? So what was so funny?

Two of the most overrated dishes.

But I do like Switzerland and it has some amazing wines that annoyingly they seem reluctant to export.

They sure do. Last time i was there i ran across a giggly bunch of brit indian ladies near the fab4 statue who had just got off a cruise ship. They had sailed from somewhere down South. "The last of the big spenders" one of them told me.

Rome to Sicily isn’t exactly a day trip so not sure how your “suggestion” makes sense. How exactly do you propose one make Rome a base for exploring Sicily, by jumping on a plane to Catania or Palermo?
The suggestion to speak French is a strange one. Sure, some people speak it but far more speak English. Although if you already speak French, basic Italian is not at all difficult to learn.

@notacooldad you would be correct in that assumption. Each to their own eh! For example I love Paris but I can see lots of people on this thread absolutely hate it 😂. I do tend to enjoy a city buzz, even on holiday so perhaps that’s why (I am aware Switzerland has cities so perhaps I can’t write it all off, I only went to a couple of areas). However with so much of the world to still explore I’m not sure I’d be hurrying back to Switzerland anytime soon 🙂. Didn’t enjoy the fondue to be honest which surprised me as I thought I would!

@notacooldad Also just to add….perhaps it was the hotel in one town/village that totally freaked me out as it was run by what I can honestly only describe as Herman Munster and his wicked witch of the west mother….totally bizarre place! Zero customer service skills and one of the most expensive hotel rooms I’ve ever had the misfortune to pay for too 😂

@Sd352
She wasn't suggesting going to Sicily as a day trip from Rome - it was somewhere like Naples . But still a completely different place - a bit like saying you don't understand why someone would complain they don't like Birmingham ... because Birmingham is fine as long as you take the train to London for the day (hence no longer in Birmingham).

Great for visiting. Living as a foreigner is another story

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · Yesterday 22:19

@Sd352
She wasn't suggesting going to Sicily as a day trip from Rome - it was somewhere like Naples . But still a completely different place - a bit like saying you don't understand why someone would complain they don't like Birmingham ... because Birmingham is fine as long as you take the train to London for the day (hence no longer in Birmingham).

I guess the issue is that we don't ever go to one destination for a holiday. Our ideal is to fly into, say, Pula, with a ticket out of say, Rome three weeks later, then spend that time with a backpack meandering between the two places. Generally our focus is on classical sites, as I had too much sun, sea and sand as a kid. So we might go from Pula to Rovinj, bus to Rijeka, overnight ferry to Split, overnight ferry to Ancona, Ravenna (sensational), Sienna, Rome (a week, with side trip/s to Naples, Paestum, Herculaneum). Perfect holiday.

Or fly in to Rome, overnight ferry to Palermo, Agrigento, Catania, Syracuse...overnight train to Naples, Rome, on to Verona, the Tyrol, Bolsano, Padua, Venice, fly out of Treviso.

I repeat...don't like Rome? Use it as a base to get around other places. But I don't understand how you can not like Rome, apart from the random faeces, starving cats, pickpockets, and scams. Get away from the tourist spots and see fascinating parts of the city where the sheeples are not being herded. I've been to Rome at least 25 times, and find something new every time.

Still haven't heard from ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea why I can't put Malta and Gozo in the same destination category. Explain please, Shiny.

I got mugged and saw it happen to several other tourists during my stay

Agreed! We're lovely 😁

Edinburgh grey? It's Scotland, not the Caribbean. We do have a lot of beautiful days but you certainly wouldn't come here expecting to get a tan.