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?

no French

Why did you pick out this nationality as being bothersome in Venice specifically?

I'm finding so many of these comments depressing. I loved Venice, Florence, Lisbon, Dubrovnik and Rome.

I visited the first three last century, Dubrovnik 12 years ago and Rome 10 years ago but it appears that they must have changed a lot since then due to mass tourism. We really liked San Francisco (in 1986), found Bali a little disappointing, aand loved Hong Kong (1996).

Where I live (in SE England) used to be really bad.
I'm older now, so a bit more invisible, but the Tunisian men didn't hassle me.

I was in my 30s, blonde, slim but not skinny etc.
I never expose shoulders, decolletage etc, maybe that makes a difference.

Majorca, Alcudia

Awful place, like Blackpool

Hated the airport, hated the whole place

Barbados. Well aware that we probably went to the wrong area, but Bridgetown and Oistins? Never felt so unsafe

I like that. I did it recently in Palermo. It did lead me into a less than lovely residential area but also I also found a beautiful medieval church with old boys playing cards in the shaded garden outside.

I love Malta!! All the history in Valletta, Mdena old town and museum. Ports / boat trips / islands to explore.

It's a shame, it's judgemental people like you that ruin mumsnet....it's a forum for everyone to offer their opinions, and by my one comment you've judged me that holidays are wasted on me.

FYI I have travelled extensively, am used to vast numbers of tourists, it doesn't bother me. I was simply saying that MY particular experience of Dubrovnik was one of claustrophobia due to the sheer volumes. I literally was walking chest to chest with moving crowds of tour guides and trying to get out was so difficult.

Enjoy your weekend, you sound like a bundle of joy!

I spoke with DH about this, I don’t think I’ve ever been truly disappointed. I’ve been to Benidorm and magaluf albeit twenty years ago, and they were what they were. Actually Benidorm we went into the mountains and cycled down and it was pretty brilliant. The beach in the evening was gorgeous and there were tiny fish in the sea.

I went to spetses a million years ago and the beaches weren’t what we hoped, but the island was amazing and we enjoyed it for what it was, a remote island with some gorgeous bars and restaurants. We travelled back via Athens and stayed in a retro hotel, it would have been just a few years before the Greek olympics. The hotel room had walls that looked like rocks, an old fashioned inside telephone booth and a circular staircase. It became a great anecdote.

I spoke with DH about this, I don’t think I’ve ever been truly disappointed. I’ve been to Benidorm and magaluf albeit twenty years ago, and they were what they were. Actually Benidorm we went into the mountains and cycled down and it was pretty brilliant. The beach in the evening was gorgeous and there were tiny fish in the sea.

I went to spetses a million years ago and the beaches weren’t what we hoped, but the island was amazing and we enjoyed it for what it was, a remote island with some gorgeous bars and restaurants. We travelled back via Athens and stayed in a retro hotel, it would have been just a few years before the Greek olympics. The hotel room had walls that looked like rocks, an old fashioned inside telephone booth and a circular staircase. It became a great anecdote.

Rubbish! If that were true, it would happen in every hot country, but it doesn't. It only happens in the ones with poor hygiene.

Chester? Lincoln? Plenty more.

I completely disagree with this. We went to Dubai before we went to Australia. 50 odd degrees. Was never unwell. Same in parts of Australia. Never unwell. I think your comment is rubbish to be fair. Not sure why someone would say that beyond trying not to make it about poor hygiene.

Liverpool is indeed amazing.
There are many cities and towns in the UK that are worth visiting.
Chester is definitely one.

Grey Street in Newcastle is lovely.

Vancouver - apart from Stanley Park. We turned one corner down a street and it was literally like the zombie acopolyse- people without legs, teeth, eyes. Really bad homeless problem.

I agree. Sometimes the tourist “new built” apartment-living places of Spain or elsewhere in the Mediterranean have a kind of blandness and anonymity that I find depressing, even if the sun is shining. Whereas in Porto, Lisbon, Naples I had the sense of real people living in a real city, and the history was off the charts. Also the churches, monasteries and palaces and municipal buildings etc often create a feast for the eye. There is a place for the random 5* hotel in the middle of nowhere! (if I could but afford it) in terms of sheer rest and luxury, but otherwise I don’t see the point.

Include Athens and Istanbul in that.

I went for about four days. I enjoyed it as it was just a chill time for me and I needed a break, but it’s basically just walking around streets. I remember telling my kids (they didn’t go) they would have hated it as there’s not really anything to do, you just ‘be’.

Thank you! I think the Gaudi destination spots in Barcelona are among the ugliest buildings/cityscapes I have ever seen. (In the class of acclaimed architectural 'gems', I mean: please don't scold me about multi-storey carparks riddled with concrete cancer.)

enjoying this thread, btw, OP! Trying to think of my own disappointments (that aren't related to the company I was keeping at the time). I think I found Australia disappointing first time around: was expecting somewhere exotic, and simply found it suburban, average beaches, uninspiring cities, and not very good food. But my experience of it has improved on subsequent visits (just as well, since I married an Australian).

Also Venice: we were based in Verona and decided to get the train to Venice for the day. Despite it being late October, it was still super-crowded, and lots of the historically significant buildings being renovated were covered in huge adverts for bras and watches, thanks to Berlusconi's decree that no advertising opportunity should go unmissed. We did find nice quiet places off the main island, and enjoyed a good lunch and a potter about, but the main bits were just intolerable. Full of people like us, out to enjoy themselves for an autumn day in Venice!

The best bit of the day was catching the high speed train back to Verona - fast, comfortable, fabulous countryside views from the top deck of the double height carriages. Verona itself was great.

I've loved all the bits of Australia that I've been to. But part of that love is situational - I have a daughter who lives out there (and is also about to marry an Australian!), so when I'm out there I'm visiting her and travelling with her, having not seen her for maybe a year. So I am predisposed to love the places that she shows me.

But I do love Melbourne. I love how clean it is, how easy transport is, the museum and zoo and botanical gardens... However, I live in the middle of nowhere in the UK, so ANYWHERE with cafes, shops and things to do at all hours is great with me, so, again, might not be Melbourne, per se.

I used to live in Switzerland too. Absolutely beautiful but I used to describe it as sterile 😁 I’d move back though as I’m older and the quiet suits me.

Tunisia worst place I’ve ever been.

Marbella was a disappointment, very busy roads although the beach was lovely.

@HolidayHattie there’s only so many times you can go up and down steep hill. Bath and York are overall gorgeous cities, not just a central high street bit (in my opinion).

A couple of years ago we went to Argentina which we loved. Then we moved onto Rio which was just hassle everywhere. The setting is stunning but I never really felt relaxed whilst walking about.