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

Most disappointing destination/holiday

1000 replies

Forgottenmyphone · 10/07/2025 13:09

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?

OP posts:
BubblesandBows · 10/07/2025 20:29

Mines Bali- I’d never go back and I don’t feel that about any other places I’ve visited over the girls x

Foodoverload · 10/07/2025 20:30

domincan republic. Not much to do. Hotels very remote. Hotel was amazing but I love to see history and culture. Capital city was full of rubbish and badly kept.

Pickled21 · 10/07/2025 20:33

We didn't have the best time in Paris. Beautiful buildings but people were largely abrupt and unfriendly. Could just be the people we met, though.

We have just come back from our 3rd trip from Morocco and I've never had any of the trouble others have described. There is lots to do in Marrakech but a week is more than long enough. We did visit Agadir during this visit but didn't stay there. It's a city, busy as any other and whilst nice to visit for excursions we had kids with us so weren't out particularly late. It does have a bit of a reputation for seediness but I can't say I witnessed or experienced it and really what city in the world doesn't? We found the locals to be friendly and welcoming, especially great with children.

NaeRolls · 10/07/2025 20:36

midlifemover21 · 10/07/2025 17:20

@Ontheedgeofit what are top tips for Cape Town heading there in August for a week? What are the hidden gems?

I lived in LA 3 years and people ask me for my recs and I struggle with what to say other than I wouldn’t waste your money with a visit now - but obviously I don’t! A big reason is the cost as much as anything. When we first landed someone described LA to us as 2000 suburbs looking for a city, which sums it up nicely. It’s incredibly disjointed and hardwork to get the most out of the place but like anywhere once you know the places to go (I never actually went to the Walk of Fame) incredibly beautiful and fun!

I was happy to leave though.

Edited

Hijacking your question as I was born in and grew up in Cape Town. August will still be a bit cold unfortunately, as it's still winter, with possible rain, but there are usually a few gorgeous sunny days too, and, importantly, you won't be crowded with tourists. And the wind won't be bad - summer is the windy season.

Personally I'd go out of Cape Town to explore other parts of the Western Cape, like the Garden Route and the Klein (Little) Karoo, as it's safer than Cape Town itself. (The Garden Route is also much warmer in winter - I even swam in the sea one winter as the water was fine.)

But still, you'll be ok in Cape Town if you don't 'look like' a tourist - don't wear a backpack, keep valuables out of sight, and ignore any strange people who come up to you with a story or offers of help. We have a lot of good charitable organisations and NGOs that support homeless people, so the beggars on the street are usually scammers, you don't have to feel sorry for them or give them anything. Say no and walk ahead like you know where you're going.

I recommend visiting Simonstown - a little village and naval base. Boulders Beach is there and there are penguins who managed to get lost on the way to/from Antarctica and now have a colony there. They are protected and happy. Some lovely restaurants and coffee shops along the main road.

Next, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are magnificent - highly recommend. Don't go to the touristy restaurant at the bottom of the gardens - rather walk up the hill to the top entrance where there is a little coffee shop that does scones with cream and jam.

Travel inland to the winelands and visit Franschhoek - there are fine dining restaurants there, such as La Petite Colombe, which has been awarded three Michelin stars.

Visit Hout Bay for fresh fish and chips and take a drive/taxi along Chapman's Peak - the sea and mountain views are exquisite.

Enjoy :)

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 10/07/2025 20:37

Ibelievetheworldisburningtotheground · 10/07/2025 16:00

I hope you have a great time. We've been to Norway countless times and it's just stunning.

Me too, Norway is one of my favourite countries,

Yazzi · 10/07/2025 20:38

CoffeeCantata · 10/07/2025 20:28

In many cases I think what pps are disappointed in isn't the location - it's mass tourism.

I'm not well-travelled, but my few travels have been very special and meaningful to me. I research the place and really live in the moment when I'm there. Then I read more and re-live my experiences when back home, and think a lot about my trip in the days, weeks and even years afterwards. I go abroad about once a year and mostly do it by train so I can experience the journey.

I hate mass tourism. It spoils the world and its beautiful places. On a trip to Venice a few years ago I was horrified at the crowds. If I'd fainted in St Mark's Square i wouldn't have fallen down - it was shoulder to shoulder. I'd never been to a tourist hot-spot before and it shocked me. I won't go anywhere again which is as popular as that.

Didn't Oscar Wilde say 'You always kill the thing you love"? He was right, but I don't know what the answer is.

It's also ironic because the people who are hating these extremely popular mainstream tourist locations for mass tourism are tourists...

I suspect the people of Barcelona, who famously hate tourists, would have thoughts on their city being described as too many people and dusty... I wonder how that happened 🤔

AgingLikeGazpacho · 10/07/2025 20:39

India - was constantly on edge and the level of poverty I saw made me feel guilty throughout the entire trip so was impossible to cut back and have fun.

PinkyFlamingo · 10/07/2025 20:39

smileymylie25 · 10/07/2025 14:58

I was just answering the question in the op. It was my most disappointing place I’ve been why does whether I knew before or not make any difference to my answer?

Because most people research holiday locations they would enjoy.

bringonyourwreckingball · 10/07/2025 20:42

DancingNotDrowning · 10/07/2025 15:42

I love Santorini - the south east of the island is beautiful and much calmer. You can take an evening trip to Oia and avoid the cruise ships

This is what we did - October half term, stayed in a nice hotel, super quiet on that side of the island and did a boat trip to Oia.

Hesperatum · 10/07/2025 20:45

I loved Barcelona. Spent 4 days there with my daughter. Lovely food, gorgeous weather, relaxed vibe. Also loved Venice, but that was in 2001, so I expect it’s changed. Florence was beautiful but spoiled with too many tourists taking selfies. Really liked Bologna and was so impressed by the Byzantine art in Ravenna.

Koulibiak · 10/07/2025 20:45

Ahahah

always find these threads hilarious as someone who has absolutely loved
Egypt
Paris
Morocco
Venice
Norway
Barcelona
Hanoi
Malta
côte d’azur

many of these multiple times and counting - and so many other places that will no doubt get mentioned on this thread.

It boggles my mind that so many travellers get bogged down by small things. Maybe they don’t know what it’s like growing up in a closed space, where your entire universe is your village. The immense privilege of seeing the world is enough for me.

Crikeyalmighty · 10/07/2025 20:46

You see I love Amsterdam and Paris and Berlin and Roneand Florence , but again I think you have to know what bits to avoid and many tourists without trying to be patronising go to the obvious bits- some bits are a bit dirty but some really aren’t -

Animatic · 10/07/2025 20:46

SoftPillow · 10/07/2025 13:10

Tunisia.

Dirty, disappointing and generally felt unsafe. I’ve travelled extensively and that was the only place I left early.

Same impression from Marrakesh. Never again

polarsystem · 10/07/2025 20:47

Tunisia.

terracelane23 · 10/07/2025 20:47

Paris. Unfriendly and dirty.

bringonyourwreckingball · 10/07/2025 20:48

MyDeftDuck · 10/07/2025 18:53

Sardinia…………dirty, smelly, every street corner stank of urine……The best part about it was actually leaving…...won’t be going there again.

I went to Sardinia last year and it was one of my favorite trips ever. That wasn’t my experience at all

JadeSeahorse · 10/07/2025 20:48

LavenderViolets · 10/07/2025 17:47

No one’s mentioned once yet which is Sri Lanka. Ripped off and hassled by everyone you meet including rude hotel staff, cheating bus drives. Non stop aggro and awful seeing young girls and boys with older male tourists it was horrendous.

You couldn’t pay me to go back……..and several Sri Lankans that were working in the Maldives confirmed what it was like on beach areas there. Maldives was like heaven but you have to choose carefully and be happy with sun, sand and snorkelling all day, every day.

I loved NYC apart from awful food but hear it’s not as nice now, met DH in Bali which we both loved. Stayed in an amazing place in Lanzarote but yes very touristy. Gran Canaria was fine again too much tourist tat. Everywhere else really enjoyed but Maldives is only place I’ve been 4 times……apart from Cornwall and North Devon.

Lavender violets I totally agree about Sri Lanka!

In fairness, we should really have done a tour first but instead we booked 12 nights in a 5* hotel in Bentota. OMG, it was awful!
The hotel cleaning standards were appalling and me, being a neat freak, felt nauseous every time we had to use the dining room or our suite. Beggars following us everywhere and when you walked into the village the locals looked at you as if you were an alien.

On the plus side, we did find some fantastic restaurants and had some amazing food but the hotel standards just not good enough for us.

So disappointed as everyone told me how fabulous it was.☹️

fetachocolate · 10/07/2025 20:49

I've always had a great time in Paris but I love art and also speak a bit of French which changes how people treat you. It's much friendlier than it used to be imo.

Bluepenguin2 · 10/07/2025 20:50

PinkChocolate24 · 10/07/2025 15:08

Porto- felt very grey and shabby. There wasn’t much to see apart from churches (which I like but it got repetitive). I was unlucky with the weather and it rained a bit. Lots of construction work going on in the city and it took ages to cross the road sometimes.

I LOVED Porto! Only stayed a day but it's definitely on my return list for a long weekend.

Hedgehogshelp · 10/07/2025 20:50

Santorini, stayed in an amazing villa, but the island was dirty, packed full of the worst kind of tourists - I had no idea about all the cruise ships that stopped there, and I nearly wept at the sight of the cruise holiday makers hopping off the ship and onto donkeys rides up the steep cliffs. We had lunch at a restaurant overlooking, it just looked so cruel.

It was a family holiday for us, and the locals where amazing to my DS, I suspect they where happy to see a child tourist, I think he was literally the only one on the island!

oh and don’t get me started on the filthy, filthy tiny unsafe airport.

was about 8 years ago, so may have improved - hopefully

NaeRolls · 10/07/2025 20:54

@midlifemover21 Forgot to add - if you hire a car, be careful of taking shortcuts or offramps from the N2. It's a major national road that runs from Cape Town city centre to Cape Town International Airport and then further up country. Most of it is fine, except the stretch of road between Pinelands and Somerset West. This stretch of road is fine in itself, but if you take any turn-offs or shortcuts off the road, even if your GPS suggests one, you could end up in a dangerous area. Just drive straight. The airport sits in the middle of this stretch - obviously you can take the offramp to and from the airport - it is well sign-posted.

IberianBlackout · 10/07/2025 20:54

@PinkChocolate24 I will not stand for this Porto slander!!

Jokes aside, a lot of tourists have no idea how rainy it gets there. The north of Portugal and Galicia are quite rainy areas.

nomas · 10/07/2025 20:55

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 10/07/2025 14:43

Likewise. Everything feels servile, cheap & tacky, with an undertone of deprivation as soon as you leave the Strip. Couldn't wait to leave.

Agreed. No idea why people rave about Malta

Mumsnet seems to hate Malta and I really don't understand why. Presumably people don't research, get there, and are shocked by the lack of sandy beaches and the fact you can get around the main Island in an afternoon.

I think you’ve just explained why MNers don’t like it!

Koulibiak · 10/07/2025 20:55

3678194b · 10/07/2025 19:38

Pisa - yes it has the famous tower, but was very scruffy, men everywhere selling cheap knock off stuff and following us. DC needed the toilet and in McDonald's they wouldn't let a child use the loo unless you paid them.

Greenwich - could happen anywhere. Went into a cafe for coffee and cake. The horrible owner shouted at us to get out as we didn't want a full English breakfast and 'we can't just come in here only for coffee and cake' Never been so embarrassed in my life. Went to a chain - who gladly served us.

Cannes. Loved the architecture but encountered some of the most ill mannered, rude staff I've ever encountered anywhere.

May I suggest you just stay home from now on. Seriously, if any minor disagreement ruins a holiday for you (McDonald’s in Pisa not giving free toilet access?), what is even the point of going away. Save yourself time and money and stay where you live.

nomas · 10/07/2025 20:57

SameOldMe · 10/07/2025 14:55

I absolutely loved Marrakech, been 3 times now ! Wouldn't go in the summer too hot, but winter is beautiful. Loved the food, people and the architecture is just so beautiful. It really depends what you like to do on holiday, my favourite destinations have been the ones where I've spent the least money, 2 star accommodation and then spent time exploring, eating where the locals eat, loads of activities and not a beach in sight!

Same here, stayed in a lovely, cool riad in the centre of Marrakech, went into the Atlas mountains to the waterfalls. It was a lovely trip.

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