Most disappointing destination/holiday

[Forgottenmyphone]

For me, it was the Norwegian fjords. Not because they weren’t beautiful (what we saw of them, they were!) but because it was cold, rainy and foggy when we went. One town known for being very pretty was ridiculously busy and there was a cruise ship blocking the view from the restaurant we booked. We knew the prices were going to be high, but expected good quality… when you pay over £100 for a train ticket, you expect there to be toilet roll and soap in the toilets!

where have you been that was disappointing?

I’m a South Africa and I think Sun City is terrible and wouldn’t recommend it to a soul. Such a far way to travel for a shit hole.

Cape Town on the other hand is magnificent. So much more to it than the waterfront. I have travelled a fair amount and I don’t think there is another more beautiful city in the world.

Cancun and Tulum (on a budget). Felt hostile to tourists and some dodgy accommodation.

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea your husband not liking it reminds me of when we were there and my DH said “Hmm Gaudi, bit of a one trick pony “ 🙄I loved Barcelona

We went to that waterfall too and weren’t there some caves nearby?
We went right off the beaten track in Laos. Tried to cross the Chinese border too, but we weren’t allowed to even step over to take a photo,
So many happy me

I've found something to love in a great many of these destinations - including all the Italian ones with the notable exception of Naples. And that had the beautiful bay of Naples and Pompeii and Sorrento to explore nearby.

I'm agreed on Egypt (Cairo and Alexandria), Miami and Christmas markets in general.

Paris, NYC and Florence all great, even though I'm much more of a country than city person at heart.

That was meant to say so many happy memories.

Funnily enough, someone was trying to boast about going to Dubai yesterday. It's a depressing, soulless, consumerist pit!

Havana. In fairness, this was probably nearly 20 years ago, so perhaps things are different but: Outside of the very tiny historic quarter, the whole place felt very intimidating. I was in a decent mid-range hotel, and still had people trying my door handle in the middle of the night. Whenever you were out and about, people (usually men) would approach you, aggressively asking if you would give them your clothes - which I get was because clothing is almost impossible to buy there, but having men come up to you demanding the clothes of your back was quite scary. I was very glad to leave.

Once I was out of Havana, the rest of Cuba was fascinating. Not my favourite place ever, but very beautiful, and so friendly.

Laughing at the PP who was disappointed in the lack of culture in Australia. In my mind I wouldn’t associate Australia with a cultural holiday. Outdoors and new cities and fabulous beaches yes. Culture no.

I spent 4 days in Venice and I would go again. Every square had a church, every church wonderful paintings. Interesting shops, with hams hanging in the windows, and marzipan fish, expensive clothes, too, of course (we were not shopping). We found restaurants that did proper Italian food, smashing ice cream, and spent 4 hours in the Doge's Palace, which we (me and DD) loved (tho we regretted going into the prison - a bit grim). Also saw the quirky Goldoni Museum (a local playwright who spent most of his life in Paris - but lovely house) and the Academia, which has 3 Bosch we went specially to see (the only ones in Venice). We loved the Rialto fish market, whole swordfish, cod etc, mussels like bunches of flowers, the food stalls with bunches of chillies.. I would go again in a shot.
Don't bother with chicheti, however!
I was disappointed by beach holidays in Spain. Not a lot to do except sit by the pool, nowhere much to go apart from the beach, and the scenery is barren - food not great, either.

You’re right. Dubrovnik itself is simply stunning but the swarming crowds do make you feel claustrophobic. Luckily we had amazing views from our hotel balcony that made up for it.

Turkey. We went as a group of 19 year old girls. It was a bad idea - we were constantly harassed.

Sardinia - it's beautiful and I love the smell of juniper that seems to be everywhere but the food is so, so bad. You'd expect an island to have decent sea food but it was just awful.

On the other side, I surprisingly loved Malta and we went over to Gozo which I loved too. We sat at a little seaside bar, with a bright blue sea under a blazing sky and it was wonderful.

I love Florence. There is nothing better than getting the bus up to Piazzale del Michelangelo and then winding your way back through the tiny streets to the centre

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun I confess that the Marbella and Malaga combo is one of my favourite quick get me some affordable sun ‘pick me ups ‘ -

Vegas

Like spending a week in a shopping centre.

Yeah, loads of caves. I never went as far as the border though! That's pretty adventurous. I was more into getting pissed and high. Haha. We went to Cambodia too for a month. X

I went alone and I was fine, the staff were lovely.
The people I know who have been to Tunisia either loved it and went back or they hated it, and I think it depends on the resort and hotel.

@Ontheedgeofit Cape Town is superb and the view from the top of Table Mountain is world class (although I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that!)
I used to live in Johannesburg and am sad that my area, Hillbrow, is now considered dangerous. It was a bit louche when i was there over 30 years ago but very cosmopolitan (for Joburg, anyway…)
When we went back we were advised to keep to the northern suburbs. 😕

Cannes was horrible - dirty, crowded, expensive - and I thought it would be glamorous! Loved taking the train to Monte-Carlo though!

Yeah but she didn’t like stuff that was obviously going to be the case 🤣

@ThatCyanCat it is very expensive too when there - I had a very sober holiday there one year - as I said uptgread if you want hi rise I’ve had better holidays in Puerto banus and Benidorm -more fun too

Your husband is not wrong. My husband used to work in a field related to counter-terrorism. The Maldives had the dubious honour of having the highest number of citizens (per capita) who had gone to join ISIS of any country in the world. Male is a hotbed of Islamic extremism.

I've never been to the Maldives but my plane did land there briefly on the way to Sri Lanka. It did look like a very odd place with these beautiful tropical islands dotted all over the place, one island with just a runway and an airport terminal, and then the monstrous high rise Male which looks like something from a dystopian film.

Cavtat in Croatia - I hated it so mcuh. I've been to lots of other places in Croatia and loved them all, but Cavtat was such a diasppointment.

We were in SE Asia for 6 months and it was the best experience of our lives. We loved every minute despite catching Dengue in Thailand and Malaysia
I would love to do it all again, but I feel places won’t be the same 20 years on

I loved Dublin!

Yup I still live here but in KZN.

Im obviously immune to the state of other parts of the country and its decay but I still recommend that everyone has at least one holiday in Cape Town in their lifetime, they can safely skip the rest. There are other beautiful places but it’s a mission to get to them and Cape Town will give you the best impression of the country to live with in your memory.

A few days in Cape Town and then a Botswana safari… the absolute perfect holiday in my opinion.