Page 10 | Places that were a let down

DarcyDear · 2025-08-15T13:07:01+00:00

Have you ever been anywhere on holiday and felt it wasn’t what you thought it would be? My friend is just back from New York and absolutely hated it. I’ve never been let down by a holiday but I remember being really taken aback at the levels of poverty and homelessness when I visited Los Angeles in my youth.

OhMaria2 · 16/08/2025 01:03

Toddlerteaplease · 15/08/2025 20:36

Dublin.
carcassone. Was expecting a medieval city like York and it’s not.
Nit quite sure why everyone raves about Edinburgh.

What was Carcassone like? I was going to suggest going there to my husband, I assumed it was a medieval city too.

Fairywingsandroses · 16/08/2025 01:03

A lady I cleaned for came back from Goa and said “All my friends told me I should go there. I’m very upset…. I thought they liked me!”

Usernamenotavailable19 · 16/08/2025 01:24

Pebbles16 · 15/08/2025 17:57

I've been to lots of places that weren't as expected - usually in a good way, sometimes in a not so good way. But, I try to find a way to enjoy it anyway.
Particularly bad ones

Paris: rude waiters, le merde du chien (I lived in Paris for two years many years ago, the recent experiences have been yuk!). I do shut down the waiters - have been mistaken for being Canadian, which is a plus
Dalaman: angry men. DH was challenged in the pool for not being a guest. We were offered a "fruit plate" in recompense which was summarily rejected
Havana (20 years ago). No water, food reheated several times, DH almost arrested for harassing me (he is of southern European extraction and mistaken for a local)
Jerusalem - the most toxic city I have ever visited

All of these have become fun holiday anecdotes. Particularly good ones:

Being treated to local noodles in China (in a Chinese home) because the hotel cook was unwell
Staying in a villa in Cyprus and being invited by the owners for "breakfast". Which went on until 2pm, DH "enjoyed the hospitality" via a lot of bottles!
Staying half board in Montenegro, we told them that we wouldn't be having dinner a couple of nights so they gave us a bottle of wine (because it stopped them from over-catering)
Staying in a hotel in Atami, Japan. It was (a couple of years ago) a totally Japanese establishment. Was awesome and we were thanked for being the only Westerners at the time. My Japanese is super basic but they appreciated every effort. My young nephew was also in attendance and was so awesome trying out all the food. They showered gifts on him. It would have been an amazing stay, but their kindness and appreciation made it so special

What did you find toxic about Jerusalem?

DustlandFairytaleBeginning · 16/08/2025 01:51

Stonehenge. I guess its what it says on the tin- rocks in a field- but I hadn't even realised you could only go as far as the barriers around them. It wasn't really worth the detour or te entrance fee.

Goa, India. I think I'd expected some kind of vibrant backpacker party scene but we came across mainly older Russians and very run down quiet bars and accommodation. One half empty electonics club. No idea if we somehow missed the cool bit or if it is just very overhyped!

LupaMoonhowl · 16/08/2025 02:09

Rocknrollstar · 15/08/2025 17:17

Riga. Thought it would be like Prague but it wasn’t. Christmas market almost non-existent. Restaurants closed at 9.30. The most interesting visit was the inside of Central police Station when I had to report a theft.

😂😂 Thanks for this! Was feeling down but this post made me laugh out loud 😂😂

StarlightBlues · 16/08/2025 02:17

LA - dirty/rough.
Paris - ok but over rated

Crushed23 · 16/08/2025 02:42

Rocknrollstar · 15/08/2025 17:17

Riga. Thought it would be like Prague but it wasn’t. Christmas market almost non-existent. Restaurants closed at 9.30. The most interesting visit was the inside of Central police Station when I had to report a theft.

Okay. I laughed.

(Sorry about the theft.)

Biggest let downs for me: Egypt, Turkey, Marseille, Brussels.

Crushed23 · 16/08/2025 02:46

Mumwithbaggage · 16/08/2025 00:56

Paris. I always want to love it but it's running out of chances. People are just so rude.

Love Athens. Have maybe been 10 times (dh work).

Go for the food, wine and pastries, and “fuck the French”, to quote Anthony Marentino.

Hollyhobbi · 16/08/2025 02:57

chachahide · 15/08/2025 20:55

The only time my husband has ever seen a human shit in the street is San Francisco.

He was in a really nice hotel but used to have to avoid the homeless shit every morning whilst walking to work.

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You really don’t want to come to Dublin then😉. Or if you do avoid the quays, Dublin 1 and Talbot Street especially.

Hollyhobbi · 16/08/2025 03:09

UnhappyHobbit · 15/08/2025 22:51

Dublin. Apart from the massive park it just felt like any town.

Athens. Apart from the acropolis, the city didn’t reflect the age and history of the place.

Sharn el Sheikh - I was so disappointed, I really wanted to love the place but the people and their attitude ruined it.

Do you mean the Phoenix Park?

WatermelonGatorJerky · 16/08/2025 03:30

I’ve been to a number of places in Turkey; Dalyan, Marmaris, Side, Alanya and a couple of other resorts. Hated them all.

I went to Kos in the Greek Islands, hated it.

I went to Majorca; Palma and a little coastal resort I can’t remember the name of, but I know I hated Majorca.

I went to Brittany in France and hated it.

I also hated Ibiza, Portugal and Paris.

I’ve been to many more places, but there are only a couple of places I’ve been that I return to repeatedly because I love them so much. Florida; the Keys; Anna Maria Island; Vero beach and Four Corners. I’ve been to Florida over thirty times and stay for 5 weeks at a time. I’m 45 so we come a lot.

And I also love the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas (not Nassau). The Bahamas are spectacular.

Crushed23 · 16/08/2025 03:35

WatermelonGatorJerky · 16/08/2025 03:30

I’ve been to a number of places in Turkey; Dalyan, Marmaris, Side, Alanya and a couple of other resorts. Hated them all.

I went to Kos in the Greek Islands, hated it.

I went to Majorca; Palma and a little coastal resort I can’t remember the name of, but I know I hated Majorca.

I went to Brittany in France and hated it.

I also hated Ibiza, Portugal and Paris.

I’ve been to many more places, but there are only a couple of places I’ve been that I return to repeatedly because I love them so much. Florida; the Keys; Anna Maria Island; Vero beach and Four Corners. I’ve been to Florida over thirty times and stay for 5 weeks at a time. I’m 45 so we come a lot.

And I also love the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas (not Nassau). The Bahamas are spectacular.

Edited

I remember your thread about Florida! Have you taken steps to move there yet? I’m heading to Orlando for a festival in fall, Miami for a winter city break and hoping to do the Keys at some point next year too. It’s a couple of hours’ flight for us, so we can do a few days at a time. 5 weeks is a lovely long holiday - I haven’t been away longer than 3.5 weeks since my gap year. Must change that soon. I’m envious!

PennyRest · 16/08/2025 03:36

Hated Tenerife, was low level scared all the time in Morocco because of leering men grabbing me (loved it otherwise, bloody men)
Padstow. Overrated, over priced, over full. Never again.

Toddlerteaplease · 16/08/2025 03:56

@OhMaria2 The free bit of the castle is full of tourist shops. The paid bit is ok, but it’s mostly a Victorian restoration. But other than that it’s a normal town, with very little to do. No other museums or anything else to see. (If there was, I didn’t find it.) I was meant to be there for three nights. But had stayed an extra night elsewhere due to train strikes. Which was a good thing as I was board after one day. I was seriously tempted to get the train to Toulouse, which is lovely and loads to see!

CoffeeMama1 · 16/08/2025 04:04

Another vote for Athens, it was dirty and I was followed on one day and flashed in a park on another. Beautiful history but the most unsafe I've felt.

Frankfurt was also awful

Zanatdy · 16/08/2025 05:48

Dubai. A couple of incidents occurred which showed us how the local workers are treated like second class citizens. There’s a terrible undercurrent of this going on, and once you start to see it and talk to the staff, you can’t unsee it. I see people’s posts about Dubai and how amazing it is and I want to shout open your eyes. I know the same can be said about anywhere, but this was just like 2 different worlds.

Baconking · 16/08/2025 06:14

somethingbeginningwithb · 15/08/2025 23:56

Milton Keynes. I ended up having to travel there with work over the course of three years and I had no expectation by my god, the soulessness of the place was stark. Nothing felt like it had naturally evolved, it had all just been plonked there at the same time, grid upon grid of housing. Even the 'city centre' was nothing more than a retail park. Satan let loose with lego bricks.

Edited

Who goes on holiday to Milton Keynes?

Baconking · 16/08/2025 06:15

WatermelonGatorJerky · 16/08/2025 03:30

I’ve been to a number of places in Turkey; Dalyan, Marmaris, Side, Alanya and a couple of other resorts. Hated them all.

I went to Kos in the Greek Islands, hated it.

I went to Majorca; Palma and a little coastal resort I can’t remember the name of, but I know I hated Majorca.

I went to Brittany in France and hated it.

I also hated Ibiza, Portugal and Paris.

I’ve been to many more places, but there are only a couple of places I’ve been that I return to repeatedly because I love them so much. Florida; the Keys; Anna Maria Island; Vero beach and Four Corners. I’ve been to Florida over thirty times and stay for 5 weeks at a time. I’m 45 so we come a lot.

And I also love the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas (not Nassau). The Bahamas are spectacular.

Edited

All of Portugal?

Hiphopahip · 16/08/2025 06:15

Ibiza and Sri Lanka

Both hugely disappointing and wish I’d never bothered.

ProfessionalPirate · 16/08/2025 06:28

JambonetFromage · 15/08/2025 20:28

I've only visited as a Chicago as tourist but it's is one of my absolute favourite cities. I spent quite a while after we got back plotting how we could move there.

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Agree with this, It’s one of my favourite cities. I find it vibrant and actually super friendly! Couple of suburbs I’d avoid but that’s the same for any large city.

babymamalove · 16/08/2025 06:34

DaveClifton · 15/08/2025 20:07

Crete
Florence
Whistler

Why Crete and Florence? Deciding on a trip and these two were high up on the list - would rather save my money if they’re not great

ProfessionalPirate · 16/08/2025 06:35

TheAmusedQuail · 15/08/2025 19:55

Mallorca. Too many cyclists. Massively over rated. Inland is OK but the coastal resorts are mostly just tacky. Traditional food is good tho.

Switzerland. Unless you like skiing, boring as hell. Beautiful but boring. Food is rubbish too.

Ibiza. Beyond awful. Tacky. Chavvy. Urgh.

USA. Violent. Racist. Very very capitalist. Tacky. Ignorant. (New Mexico was lovely.)

Greece (which I didn't hate but...). Scruffy. Loads of half finished buildings. Even local foods in tourist areas was awful.

Switzerland boring?! It’s one of our go-to places for a summer activity holiday.

Your post makes some extremely sweeping statements about entire large countries that makes you sound a bit ignorant tbh. Most people on this thread are restricting their views to specific cities or areas.

PurpleCoo · 16/08/2025 06:42

Reading this it does sound like many people don't do their research before traveling. I think I have enjoyed everywhere I have visited. But I do loads of research beforehand, and also tend to 'tour', so rarely stuck in the same place.

I know there are places I would hate, so avoid there. I know Vegas would be hell on earth for me, and also the middle East (places like Dubai etc).

I also research when to go to avoid peak crowds, be it time of the year, or time of the day. I also look for quieter things to do/off the beaten track for some respite. If not, I'm mentally prepared for what it will be like.

I think some is about attitude as well, and being able to see the positives and nice things wherever you go.

Othersnotsomuch · 16/08/2025 06:45

PurpleCoo · 16/08/2025 06:42

Reading this it does sound like many people don't do their research before traveling. I think I have enjoyed everywhere I have visited. But I do loads of research beforehand, and also tend to 'tour', so rarely stuck in the same place.

I know there are places I would hate, so avoid there. I know Vegas would be hell on earth for me, and also the middle East (places like Dubai etc).

I also research when to go to avoid peak crowds, be it time of the year, or time of the day. I also look for quieter things to do/off the beaten track for some respite. If not, I'm mentally prepared for what it will be like.

I think some is about attitude as well, and being able to see the positives and nice things wherever you go.

I think some is about attitude as well, and being able to see the positives and nice things wherever you go.

perhaps you should try that with Las Vegas and Dubai then @PurpleCoo

PurpleCoo · 16/08/2025 06:55

Othersnotsomuch · 16/08/2025 06:45

I think some is about attitude as well, and being able to see the positives and nice things wherever you go.

perhaps you should try that with Las Vegas and Dubai then @PurpleCoo

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Well no. Of course there will be nice things there, but my reasons for not wanting to go there are to do with my moral values (I am passionately anti gambling) and views on human rights. I'm not going to compromise my values for a holiday.

But this post is people who chose to travel somewhere because they thought it's the sort of place that would appeal to them or there was something there they wanted to see (except for the work travellers of course). It's about places that weren't as expected! My point was about making the best of the situation you are in and being prepared. It's ok to have places that you wouldn't want to go to.