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.

Those saying Berlin, have you got any tips for best things to do?

I'm going there in a few days.

Loved California. Drove along route 1 from LA to San Francisco and had an amazing time. Also really liked New York.
Have really enjoyed Rome, Budapest, Amsterdam, Prague, Paris and Berlin but only ever been in the winter so much quieter

Absolutely loathed Luxor. I was so excited about the valley of the kings and all the temples but we were pestered continuously and didn't feel safe.
Going to Dorset later this month, getting a little concerned now. Anything good to do with 2 primary age DCs?

I have literally never been anywhere I haven't enjoyed, bu to research things a LOT before booking or going anywhere. Some places have been hampered by the weather, and in goa and Cambodia I was too distracted by the poverty to really be able to love the touristy things. Even Pisa, which pretty much universally slated, I spent a pleasant few days in because i wasn't expecting much.

mrsfrankieheck so am I!!!
(Great name)

What part of Dorset, beady? We live just over the border and go into Dorset regularly. Farmer Palmers near Poole is great - whole day activity and still ok in poor weather. Kingston Lacy, National Trust, near Wimborne - child friendly, loads to see and do, Swanage - DS recommends Santa Fe on seafront - went there with DH last week, Steam trains from Swanage to Corfe and then the castle, and model village, Lyme Regis and much more. Hope you have a great time :)

Im just back from Dorset we go every other year and love it

not rtwt yet, but really surprised about Copenhagen - DD and I were there last month for a funeral - we loved it. No signs of anything the PP saw. We walked for miles, used the metro and trains, never felt uncomfortable. It's so interesting how different people have different experiences.

As a family we can generally have fun in a cupboard and have had very few disappointing trips.

But one place which just doesn't make me feel the love in the south of France.

Most recently we stayed in a beautiful house recommended by a friend who goes every year and we thought this time. But no.

Really disliked Los Angeles. There is fuck all to do. Venice Beach was an absolute dump.
Disliked Barbados- dull
Loved St Lucia ,Serbia and Istanbul

Forget Budapest- amazing place lovely people.

I didn't like either Sardinia or Corsica at all, despite absolutely loving the Mediterranean in general. And I loathe the South West coast of France (south of Bordeaux, down to Spain).

Nothing to do on LA!!!
Universal studios
Disneyland
Other theme parks
Hollywood
Beaches

Oh yes, there absolutely nothing to do there

Disney Florida - expected to hate it - but it was great fun, would never go back though.
Venice - sure it was very pretty but it was too touristy, too much like a theme park rather than a real place to live, the food was over priced and very dull. Wasn't too keen on the Amalfi coast either, again a bit too touristy. But bizarrely loved Rome and Florence.
Didn't expect to love Paris, refused to go for many years, had heard too much about snooty Parisians, but dd wanted to go and climb the Eiffel Tower. I loved it, found the people lovely, great atmosphere, great fun and will definitely return.

Can we have more detail about what was wrong with Norfolk? I'm biased because I come from there but I think it's wonderful.

I LOVED Seoul. Amazing city, heaps to see and do, fantastic street food, lovely but cheap hotels and so much fun going out in the student area. Am dying to go back.

Turin- overlooked as an Italian destination I think. Gorgeous city. It has a cinema museum in a wonderful Art Decco building that is amazing, I've been four times and could still happily spend a whole afternoon in there before going to a little local backstreet pizza place then walking to the bars along the river.

Hated Gibraltar. Town centre is dull as dishwater. Big rock covered in monkey shit and mean looking monkeys.

Pisa is SO boring once you've seen the tower. Overpriced lacklustre restaurants too. Also Padua. Was expecting a stunning Renaissance town but the buildings were blocked by endless market stalls. Didn't find anywhere decent to eat/drink. Was only there on a day trip from Venice and was glad to get back.

Malacca in Malaysia. Thought I would love it as loads of history and expected nice food. Hated it. Open sewers so it sank, horrible hostel where the owners dog shat on the floor inside and she only cleaned up once a day in the evening. Lots of ugly concrete buildings. But the thing I found hardest was that a lot of the locals would ignore me or confirm with my dh that what I had said was correct e.g. I'd we were in a taxi and I had said where we wanted to go. Just found it strange and quite a culture shock. Other towns in Malaysia seemed less traditional. ...

Nothing to do on LA!!!
Universal studios
Disneyland
Other theme parks
Hollywood
Beaches

Nothing on that list appeals - that's why we drove straight past LA!

Those saying Berlin, have you got any tips for best things to do?

The KaDeWe is the biggest shop in Europe, you can't get over the size until you've been. The whole of the top floor is a restaurant. And it makes a change from curry wurst.

Hated Amsterdam. We have family over there and were really disappointed with it. We did a loop through the red light district and I've never felt as uncomfortable in my life, Dutch friends don't go there after dark and this was early evening. I found the city pretty soulless.

Paris is an absolute shithole. Smelly, dirty, pretentious and full of rude people.

Love Tenerife, despite its 'boozy brits abroad' reputation. Lots to see and do, lovely beaches, friendly people etc.

Oh just thought of another one - fecking Tobermory! No I didn't expect it to be full of dancing bus drivers and a bright pink castle, but SOME recognition that lots of families might want to visit and part with their cash might have been nice... like a child-friendly restaurant, a touristy toy shop or visitor centre or even you know, a smile? It was just grim, badly planned seafront with cars zooming by, barely any shops, several scary dark pubs where people glared at you if you walked in, and general atmosphere of misery.

Luckily we didn't actually go there for a holiday, just a day trip but never again.

The other place I was seriously underwhelmed by was Portugal. It was very windy, the sea was freezing and we didn't find any of the places we went to had any soul. People rave about Alvor, Carvoiero, Lagos, Villamoura and we just came away thinking that we'd missed something as they all left us cold. They were slightly tacky and full of loud Brits.

Loved Bangkok, everything about it but booked a private tour guide which probably helped.

Exactly Stately- I visited these places and thought that they were dull

Ukraine was awful.

LA is essentially a working city, rather than a tourist one.

Better to stay in Santa Monica (preferably in the Loewes or Shutters) and hire a car to see the Hollywood sign, the Chinese Theatre, the Getty (utterly fab).

The beach is wonderful and very quiet mid week. The pier is a great place to eat and drink in the evenings.

A love a couple of days in Santa Monica .

Hated Mendocino, California - very dull, full of restaurants flogging overpriced 1990's style gourmet fusion crap, the town needed some serious investment, things looked really run down. We struggled to find good restaurants for family eating, no American diners - ended up eating mediocre pizza and driving to the next town along in the hope of find good interesting food.