Holiday destinations that were unexpectedly lovely OR awful.

[NickiFury]

Torremolinos - ex booked it and I really didn't want to go. It was beautiful, amazing food, beach, perfect for kids, been back loads since.

Thailand - I hated it from the moment I left Bangkok airport, Krabi down by the coast was ok but the rest of the time was awful, I actually cried with relief when we touched down at Heathrow.

Tbf it was very hot the day we went to London we were on a campsite in surrey i think we rushed it

Hated Florence. So soulless and so, so crowded. We did find a quiet pocket of beauty but most of the day was spent being jostled.

Loved Paris with a passion. It's magical.

Loved Disneyland, much to my surprise.

Most places I can find something to appreciate.

Loved Ibiza, I also hated Dublin as many posters have said. I can't really explain why though.

I really don't like Blackpool.

Dublin - really disappointing. Was expecting a beautiful Georgian city it it was no different to any other city. Should have gone to Liverpool instead for architecture!
Rome and Lourdes amazing!

Love Verona, Lake Garda, Caorle, Lucca, can't list them all, just have loved all our Italian visits. So great for children and wonderful food and drink
Liked Pezenas but not Montpellier
Liked Orlando, it is what it is!

Gran Canaria was ok, wouldn't go back.
Hated Jamaica, room burgled, couldn't leave the Sandals complex safely, horrible place and horrible people.
Caravan on a park in Wales when Ds was playing in a football tournament was utterly hellish.

Hated: Edinburgh

Loved (having not expected to): Zurich; Sydney, Norfolk

Re: Sydney, though, we all thought Bondi was hugely overrated

Great thread!
I unexpectedly loved Torquay despite rain and cold weather mid August. Can see why it's called the English Riviera (to an extent!)

Was massively underwhelmed by Paris. We stopped off after travelling from Lake Como through the South of France on honeymoon and I was so disappointed. Expected to love it and didn't.

Nobody really likes Blackpool

I love Torquay/paignton even when we hired the grottiest caravan ever still had a nice holiday

Also...

Loved: Liverpool

Hated: Dorset

Hated: Carmel, CA. Twee and dull

Isle of Wight we went for two weeks and were bored to tears.

Love Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

arse end of nowhere

I'll look up that film, cheers

I'm glad we went but Venice really is stinky and gross. Not romantic at all. It's an interesting place and some beautiful buildings but all that water isn't nice!

Poor Dublin but I have to add my name to the list of those expecting something more Irish/ drinking Guiness by a roaring fire listening to a traditional band and not just any old city full of hen parties.

On the back of this thread I am now going to be looking at the Costa del Sol, Lanzarote and Ibizia for my next holiday instead of places to be avoided at all costs.

Disneyland Paris was dire. Just depressing.

I expected Bologna to be dull but I loved it so much, was also pleasantly surprised by Mallorca - I was a teenage snob and thought of it as a crappy brits abroad destination but there was a lot of beauty!

Milan always leaves me underwhelmed.

Marrakech was beautiful but ruined by the harassment.

Really disliked Tunisia, men looking at my daughter and I a lot ( she was 12), very uncomfortable and felt unsafe without a man with us which I resent hugely. Sharm el Sheikh, so much hassle and hustling!
Dubai, filthy rich and slavery side by side, just horrid. Not overwhelmed by France, and been a few places there.

Loved Verona (the opera was wow!) Ibiza, Zante and Kefalonia.

And nearer home, Portmerion in Wales, ridiculously beautiful with Italianate architecture, and the views over the sea

New York - first time stayed in midtown and it was noisy, humid, and all the sights were shit.
Second time stayed in Harlem, visited friends and fell in love with it. Central Park is still shit though - full of roads and no grass you're allowed on.

St Ives and a sub-Butlins holiday camp were actually lovely.
Blackpool is depressing as fuck.
Abu Dhabi ppretends it has the culture Dubai lacks. It doesn't. And it rained when I was there so was just a muddy building site.

Florence, Venice and Paris are all lovely especially in spring/ autumn. Aix and Avignon were unexpected gems.

Loved Portofino, Italy, parts of Switzerland (for the stunning landscapes), Orlando, Florida and Florence.

Wasn't so keen on Amsterdam.

Marrakech was an absolute dump. I gagged on its smell the entirety of my visit.

We went to Skopelos (where Mamma Mia was filmed) and it was just breathtaking. Eating breakfast every morning on a terrace, with swallows flying in and out, and the view of jewel blue seas below us.

Favourite holiday ever must be the West Coast of Scotland, but we were incredibly lucky with the weather, and it was too early for midges. Wonderful views at Loch Fyne, Jura, Skye, Port Charlotte and Torridon.

NickiFury
Do you have any AD hotel recommendations?

Our favourite one is fully booked When we want to go next

We've been about 10 times so are familiar with quite a few areas, just usually stay in the same hotel as we totally fell in love with it!

Thanks

Where do you usually stay? We stay with family but always treat ourselves to a night or two in a hotel. We've been staying out at Yas for the water park the last few times but were at Saadiyat at the St Regis once and that was gorgeous, proper waves and coastline but that was for a birthday treat, wouldn't usually pay that much. Had some brunches at the Intercontinental and used the pool area, that seemed lovely too. Some great deals on Booking.com at the moment too. If you're not bothered about being too Central or by the beach you'll get somewhere amazing.

Dislike:-
Athens - dirty and grim
Madrid- only the Prada to recommend it
Barcelona - meh

Love:-
Seville - my favourite holiday ever
Split and Kurcula(polling??) in Croatia - gorgeous
Nashville - awesome in a tacky way
Monte Carlo - totally loved watching the "rich people" ...which we aren't!!
Paris - just love the vibe, even the rude Parisiens
Mykonos - so pretty.

Not "polling"... spelling!!

Oslo - booked a super cheap spur of the moment deal without knowing the first thing about Oslo. One of the best places I've ever been.