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Original poster

Places that were a let down

666 replies

DarcyDear · 15/08/2025 14:07

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.

OP posts:
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5
Nannygaga · 15/08/2025 21:47

Mauritius, beaches were lovely but nothing outside the hotels.
Kos, we were there for 2 weeks, 3 days was long enough. 😳

Mapletree1985 · 15/08/2025 21:47

Mont Saint Michel.

Magical from a distance.

Up close, it's Eurodisney. The croque-monsieur I bought at vast expense was so awful I had to throw it away even though I was hungry. Tourist tat shops to the left of you, overpriced restaurants to the right of you. Incredibly crowded.

Everything that is interesting about Mont St Michel can be seen from afar.

ByGreenBiscuit · 15/08/2025 21:48

Jumpthewaves · 15/08/2025 21:46

My cousin had the same happen every day outside his workplace in Bath. Horrible.

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I’ve seen it twice, around the corner from my house (which costs almost half a million pounds) in South East London.

i want to move.

bittertwisted · 15/08/2025 21:48

Firstshoes · 15/08/2025 21:11

Wow, just wow 😲

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I know
the whole of Greece 😂😂😂

Timeforabitofpeace · 15/08/2025 21:48

I’m surprised to see Rome. I loved it, both times I’ve been.

MangoBlink · 15/08/2025 21:49

Agree with whoever said Split.

I love Venice, I've been twice & my husband hated it. I was excited for him to see it.

I don't like Barcelona or Paris.

Barbados was disappointing. Some of it is beautiful but bits I didn't feel safe and I was bored after a few days so I wouldn't go back.

I unexpectedly loved Dubai and we went to Bari and I loved it too.

MrsMitford3 · 15/08/2025 21:49

I loved Venice but it was a long time ago. Persuaded brand new DH to go to Harry's Bar which he thought was a bit tacky and we bloody sat next to Maggie Smith and Joan Plowright.

I thought Dublin was the most disappointing city I have ever been to-and I was ready to like it!

ByGreenBiscuit · 15/08/2025 21:49

Nannygaga · 15/08/2025 21:47

Mauritius, beaches were lovely but nothing outside the hotels.
Kos, we were there for 2 weeks, 3 days was long enough. 😳

Interesting re Kos! We had a lovely week there but it was mostly spent at an all inclusive resort - the first we’ve been to so the novelty was nice. We had a couple of day trips out which were nice.

Jumpthewaves · 15/08/2025 21:49

Doitrightnow · 15/08/2025 20:59

Disneyland Paris.

I've been to Disney in Florida and expected better things from Paris. It is sooooo expensive and loads of rides were broken or shut, queues were insane (why would anyone queue for two hours for Peter Pan's Flight?!). I just felt like they were ripping everyone off by using the Disney name.

I truly believe that Peppa Pig World is much better.

We went a few months ago and the longest we waited was about 40mins. We thought it was far better than we had expected. The staff in the park and hotel were incredible, it was some of the kindest and best service we've had, which was somewhat unexpected just for a theme park.

CinnamonCinnabar · 15/08/2025 21:49

Verydemure · 15/08/2025 21:21

I always find these threads fascinating…

people have some widely differing views about the same places.

NYC is one of my favourite destinations

LA is hot, and hate the fact you have to drive everywhere. It reminds me of a new town like Cumbernauld ( but sunny and full of beautiful people)

Loved Ibiza- found it to be a glamorous, stylish place with great food…though spent about an hour in San Antonio which was a shit hole.

However, I found Great Barrier Reef a massive disappointment. Have been snorkelling and diving in much better places.

Australia…snoresville! The whole continent- what a let down.

Love Switzerland!

I love your twinning of LA and Cumbernauld but have you genuinely been around the entire continent of Australia & hated ALL of it? Even the swimming pool underneath part of the Sydney Harbour bridge?

ByGreenBiscuit · 15/08/2025 21:50

Mapletree1985 · 15/08/2025 21:47

Mont Saint Michel.

Magical from a distance.

Up close, it's Eurodisney. The croque-monsieur I bought at vast expense was so awful I had to throw it away even though I was hungry. Tourist tat shops to the left of you, overpriced restaurants to the right of you. Incredibly crowded.

Everything that is interesting about Mont St Michel can be seen from afar.

I feel like so many places have been ruined by tourist tat. Was it always this bad?

RattyMcBatty · 15/08/2025 21:50

SitOnHisFaceIfHeDiesHeDies · 15/08/2025 17:06

What did she hate about New York OP? I loved the experience but must admit it took me by surprise. It's a very rough city. Lots of litter and weed etc. I thought it would be a bit more cared for. I also found the pizza quite sickly. Great people though!

Exactly what I thought! Was surprised by the state of the road surfaces (UK cities much better) but also surprised by the friendliness and helpfulness of the people (UK lacking in this respect but I hadn't really realised until I had the experience of New York to compare it with!).

Jumpthewaves · 15/08/2025 21:51

Nannygaga · 15/08/2025 21:47

Mauritius, beaches were lovely but nothing outside the hotels.
Kos, we were there for 2 weeks, 3 days was long enough. 😳

Did you not go to the giant tortoise nature park? We loved that!

bittertwisted · 15/08/2025 21:52

Does anyone go to Blackpool or Southend or albuferia and expect anything other than what it openly is?

buffyajp · 15/08/2025 21:52

Klp122 · 15/08/2025 21:29

Completely agree. DLP is an expensive, dirty and crowded rip off. Nearby Davy Crockett Ranch is also awful. Never again.

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Completely disagree. It most certainly isn’t dirty and was far cleaner than its American counterparts. I was personally impressed by how clean it was. The onsite hotels also have better security. I love it.

Hithismyname · 15/08/2025 21:52

Dublin and I wouldn't go back to Turkey.

Ethina · 15/08/2025 21:53

Mapletree1985 · 15/08/2025 21:47

Mont Saint Michel.

Magical from a distance.

Up close, it's Eurodisney. The croque-monsieur I bought at vast expense was so awful I had to throw it away even though I was hungry. Tourist tat shops to the left of you, overpriced restaurants to the right of you. Incredibly crowded.

Everything that is interesting about Mont St Michel can be seen from afar.

We visited in February. Empty, perfect.

MrsSkylerWhite · 15/08/2025 21:54

Yes to New York. Also Sydney, Rome and Hong Kong.
Didn't think I would enjoy Japan and Singapore: loved them.

Wbeezer · 15/08/2025 21:54

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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The only place I’ve seen that happen was in Birmingham! Not somewhere I’d hurry back to.

Jumpthewaves · 15/08/2025 21:54

buffyajp · 15/08/2025 21:52

Completely disagree. It most certainly isn’t dirty and was far cleaner than its American counterparts. I was personally impressed by how clean it was. The onsite hotels also have better security. I love it.

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I agree about the cleanliness, it was pristine when we went.

Hiptothisjive · 15/08/2025 21:55

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

France is the only country in the world (except Canada of course) where I am not mistaken for an American …..I speak French and that helps with the rudeness once we converse in French but I know what you mean until that point.

PurpleCoo · 15/08/2025 21:56

MeringueOutang · 15/08/2025 17:16

Turkey.
Cambodia.
I found New York was a mixture of hit and miss.

Ooh, why Cambodia? I loved it there. I found the people so lovely, kind and generous, when they often had so little, and had been through so much. I genuinely feel like I came back a different person after visiting Cambodia. So much so, I left the private sector and went back to the NHS, where I have been ever since

mamabearlove · 15/08/2025 21:56

Abracadabra12345 · 15/08/2025 18:30

What did you hate about it? We were there for a week this spring and thought it was dazzling and magical

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Agree Abracadabra absolutely love Venice. Have been three times the architecture is stunning.

Duechristmas · 15/08/2025 21:58

Las Vegas.
Went to NYC at Christmas time and loved it

AccidentalPrawnYouFool · 15/08/2025 21:59

New York! So dirty and smelly.

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