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.

LA is a horrible sprawl City.
To those saying they can have fun anywhere, we still enjoyed ourselves in the places we didn't like, but we still won't go back to those places.

I was underwhelmed by Sorrento. We stayed just outside it and the lack of places to go for a walk and the very busy and noisy traffic reduced its charm considerably. Fortunately the hotel was lovely and being able to visit Pompeii and other places of interest made for a good holiday.

LA - hated it. Filthy and very average aesthetically.

Love love love Lindos in Rhodes, Greece. We went for a wedding and I heard it was very hilly and old fashioned - both are true but it has the most wonderful rustic charm, little narrow alleyways for restaurants and and market stalls and the most magnificent beach. We've been back a lot and I would happily go every year for the rest of my life.

I loved Madrid - we spent 4 glorious days there without the kids. We were completely besotted with the Tapas Bars, the atmosphere, the people, visited a few art gallerys in the morning - Prado was amazing, spent the afternoon eating and drinking, went back to our hotel to sleep off the lunch time drinking and then continued doing more of the same to the small hours.

Love Australia - been three times, each time in a campervan travelling miles for 3 weeks at a time - some of our best holidays.

Was very disappointed in New York - it was a long time ago but it was awful, rude, aggressive locals, too many 'no-go' areas. I know it has changed dramatically since I went, but just can't bring myself to return. OTOH LOVED San Fransisco and California.

Lived in Dubai for 15 years - kids grew up there - and if you get away from the glitz and 'look at how much money I -probably don't- have' it is an interesting place with an amazing history of how it got to what it is today.

Was pleasantly surprised with Fuertaventura - last minute bargain holiday and loved the place.

And loved Istanbul - streets were so alive, glad we stayed in the European side away from the major tourist attractions, glad we went a few years ago.

North Cornwall: took hours to get there, full of tourists, pissing down with rain, beaches meh. Much prefer Devon.

Marrakech: a big steaming dump. Felt slightly threatened, hated the treatment of their animals, rubbish everywhere, dirty, full of rip-off merchants. Stupidly hot. The resort we stayed at was ok until a coach load of British holiday makers rocked up. Then the whole place turned into a ghastly 18-30 style booze camp. I felt awkward being on an all-you-can-eat-and-drink holiday during Ramadan too...

Oh god! Unfortunately my lasting memory of LA is the stench of a dead and decomposing chihuahua in a handbag outside the hotel

Was only there one day. Wouldn't bother going back.

Unexpectedly good places where we visit
Again and again are:
East Dorset (Lyme Bay region) - lovely atmosphere and villages.
Northumberland and Cumbria
Loire Valley
Edinburgh and most parts of Scotland
South west coast of Ireland

We loved Daylesford, Australia - visited a few times before we had kids but years later we returned with a couple of 5 year olds and it became very clear to us that Daylesford was an adult's playground where children were not welcome.
Planning another trip to Australia soon - heading to the west coast this time - any recommendations on where we should go - we like bushwalking so would be happy to do an overnight hike?

MadHatter that is so sad

Hate Paris. Love Berlin.

Stately aren't most of the places of interest in Istanbul on the European side?

They were when we went - Topkapi palace, various mosques, the market etc. They are all on the western side of the Bosphorous, which I believe to be part of Europe.

I loved Istanbul as well and am glad we went in better and safer times.

I'm loving this thread. I have a solo trip to Thailand planned at the end of this year, not finalised which areas/islands in the south to visit yet so good to see a few of those on the hate lists for feeling unsafe as I'm already nervous enough to there alone.

UK loves for me: York, London, Edinburgh, Liverpool: all have a similar good vibe with lots to see and do.
UK hates: Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield, Lincoln: very dull. The cathedral area of Lincoln is beautiful but the people are just not visitor-friendly, in my experience.

Dominican Republic for me too. Hated it and couldn't wait to get home. Was warned to not go off the resort and constantly harassed by the holiday reps to make charitable donations. I also got heat stroke, a water infection and Tummy bug whilst there.

Places that lived up to expectations were:

New Zealand (the most beautiful place on Earth)
Kenya
Northern Spain (so much nicer than the South when you get good weather)
Tuscany
Cape Town
Maldives
Sri Lanka
San Francisco and northern California

Also for Benidorm - if egg and chips isn't your thing the Old Town is spectacular. Wonderful Tapas bars, little narrow streets and plenty to see. I would go again and stay in the old town

Agree theydontknow. Love Berlin, hate Paris too!

I think it's partly due to standards of hygiene

I know several people who didn't care for the Domican Republic. All for the same reasons stated on this thread. Doesn't sound like much of a destination if you can't leave the compound.

Nickname I think the area known to be more European is on the Eastern side of Istanbul - the side where Taksim square is situated.

Nothing to do in Lanzarote . There's loads to do in addition to the volcano national park. Bus travel round the island is cheap and easy too.

Caves
boat trips to neigbouring islands or just other areas of the island, glassbottom boats etc
visit small inland traditional towns
walking, cycling
Cesar Manrique house
Cactus garden
water park
vineyards
Camel rides
Massive Sunday Market in Teguise, if that's your thing
Eating/drinking/tapas etc
beach and watersports like diving, snorkelling, jetskis
Visit main town Arricife
Kids stuff like playparks etc
Airport museum.

And that's just what I can think of without resorting to google.

Dublin - boring, grotty, run-down. Actually Ireland in general - I just don't get why people rave about it. Its wet, boring and empty and its almost impossible to get a decent meal or a decent cup of coffee. Greasy spoon? Yup! Cappuccino? You're having a fucking laugh!

Australia - it takes 24 hours to get there, you have horrendous jet lag, the weather's not as nice as Europe, and the beaches are pretty, but the sea can be REALLY rough and scary. The cities are modern and bla. The shops are crap. Everything is really expensive. Not much to do unless you're into hiking and there are loads of bugs, huge spiders, mozzies, etc.

But I loved Orlando! Having had zero interest in going there or to any of the theme parks we went (at my ILs behest), and had a fab week. All four of us really enjoyed it and are already planning to go back and do all the stuff we didn't do the first time.

Lanzarote I grew up thinking it was Lanzagrotty, but we loved it. Okay, its not a sophisticated place, but for sun, sea and enough to amuse our kids for a week it was great. The weather was amazing every day (I realise not everyone gets this - we were lucky), and we liked the stark, volcanic landscape. The capital (Arrecife) was a bit grotty and Puerto del Carmen looked a bit tacky, but we avoided those and had a great time.

I'm not keen on Dublin either. Had a couple of days working there and the food was just dreadful. Like really bad 1950s British cooking - all grey meat and very very overcooked vegetables. It says a lot that the least hideous thing I ate while I was there was McDonalds.

Loved Doolin lahinch and the burren co clare for the Irish holiday you all hoped for in Dublin (but were disappointed ) and Sligo / Donegal is Ireland's best kept secret - the meat beautiful beaches, lakes, mountains, scenery, food, craic and culture !

Loved Sydney,
Hated New York - loved San Francisco and LA

Really disappointed with Fiji, loved the Cook Islands

Hated Thailand LOVED Cambodia and Laos

Liked Barcelona, disappointed with Paris

Loved Rome though it was a complete tourist trap

Loved Athens and Cyprus though I really was doubtful about the holiday we had booked there :).