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Holiday destinations that were unexpectedly lovely OR awful.

916 replies

NickiFury · 31/07/2016 18:33

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.

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 02/08/2016 11:44

Countingto10 we stayed at the mandarin oriental in Vegas as well. Gorgeous isn't it?

practy · 02/08/2016 11:50

I think in the UK, many of the worst areas for racism like Mansfield, are not places where tourists would visit.

practy · 02/08/2016 11:51

Las Vegas is kitschy, but fun. You have to just go with it.

countingto10 · 02/08/2016 12:21

BitOutofPractice. I think it is probably the best on the Strip, DH pushed the boat out as it was my birthday and booked a suite. The bellboy said everyone who stays are pleased they picked it - you only have to look at the checkin queues in the other hotels Shock. Was quite expensive but we had good wins on the roulette wheels on the last day - enough to cover half the bill which DH was very pleased with. He also bought me a very niace handbag Wink

baringan · 02/08/2016 12:26

Lots of Australians that we met had a real axe to grind about being part of the commonwealth. It was boring and rude. We were tourists not delegates from Buckingham palace. In fact if you mention Australia to dh he immediately says (in terrible Oz accent) "we don't want your bloody queen' which was the sentiment we got from several random Australians.

BeastofCraggyIsland · 02/08/2016 12:46

I absolutely hated Dubai, although to be fair I didn't expect to like it as its really not my kind of place. I was only there as ex-boyfriend was on a business trip for 5 days before we flew on to Kenya/Tanzania (which were amazing).

On the flip side though, I loved Las Vegas when we stopped there on a road trip from Phoenix to San Francisco. It was so kitsch and tacky it was hilarious, although 4 days there was enough.

I've travelled extensively in Latin America and spent periods living and working there and although it overall contains almost all of my favourite places in the world, there are also some truly grim and dangerous towns and cities there, particularly in Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Despite what people usually think, Colombia is stunning though, and the people are lovely.

My 'unexpectedly better' place is probably Bolivia - after spending a lot of time in Peru I thought it wouldn't compare. I was so wrong!

Bali is ok but I vastly preferred Lombok and the Gili Islands. I spent a month in Australia and found it enough but 3 months in New Zealand went by in a flash.

Anither place I was keen to leave was Zimbabwe, it felt seedy, unwelcoming and dangerous. Zambia, Malawi and Botswana are all amazing though, especially Botswana.

In the UK I never tire of Dartmoor, the beaches in Cornwall and the north coast of Northern Ireland.

BeastofCraggyIsland · 02/08/2016 12:47

*another

augustwashout · 02/08/2016 13:12

What a shame about copenhagen sounds awful.

Agree on "Oh and Cannes, which I went to for a work do and was really excited about. Hugely disappointing. It's the fact that the whole beach is divided into tiny segments belonging to each hotel that annoyed me most"

i too was so disappointing by it, you can barely see the beach. So many other far lovelier towns around there.

augustwashout · 02/08/2016 13:12

What a shame about copenhagen sounds awful.

Agree on "Oh and Cannes, which I went to for a work do and was really excited about. Hugely disappointing. It's the fact that the whole beach is divided into tiny segments belonging to each hotel that annoyed me most"

i too was so disappointing by it, you can barely see the beach. So many other far lovelier towns around there.

LunaMay · 02/08/2016 13:14

I'm not suprised about some of the Australia comments, i'm Australian and even i cringe at some of the crap that gets spewed out over fbook etc. I have never encountered it in 'real life' though.

I'm jealous of you guys being able to take of on holiday everywhere. The furthest i got was Tasmania which was beautiful and freezing (to me anyway).

DrDreReturns · 02/08/2016 13:22

I love Germany. Berlin and Munich were both amazing, so much to do.
Just got back from the Isle of Wight which was lovely.

KERALA1 · 02/08/2016 13:33

Lanzarote was heaven - don't understand the snobbish sneering from a few when we told them we were going. Stunning empty beaches of every type.

Egypt is a hell hole full of vile sexual harassers ime. Went in my early twenties with a female friend. Despite dressing carefully and respecting local customs every other man either hissed, spat or called us whores or made obscene sexual comments. I will forbid my dds from going there - dangerous and unpleasant.

KERALA1 · 02/08/2016 13:37

The final straw was paying £40 for a donkey ride and my friends donkey died with her on it. Bad enough but she's a vegetarian animal lover type so was really upset.

augustwashout · 02/08/2016 13:45

*Nothing to do on LA!!!

Loved it - west hollywood, if your into films and stuff you can enjoy all the wonderful hotels and bars. I loved thinking of Liz Taylor etc in the Polo Lounge, Mr Chows etc thats what i did there Grin also love santa monica and totally agree with Carls, Shutters hotel, gorgeous...

augustwashout · 02/08/2016 13:47

I witnessed much racism to the Aborigines there.

augustwashout · 02/08/2016 13:53

PregnantAndEngaged Tue 02-Aug-16 10:39:16

What a nightmare scenario Grin I have never been anywhere that allocated two sheets of loo paper and to find that place when you have dirohera Grin

I loved Marrackech and went to some amazing bars and restaurants there, with luxury loos and no loo roll enforcement Grin

KilgraveMadeMeDoIt · 02/08/2016 15:11

When I was 17 I went on a "girls holiday" with a few friends to Magaluf. It was utterly shite and wouldn't return even if I was paid. Two of us actually paid to come home 3 days early of a 7 day holiday, it was fucking awful.

About 10 years ago I went to Egypt and hated it, we actually returned last year and loved it even though I was very sceptical about it. We stayed in a different area though. Would definitely return, we can't wait to go back next year.

Drbint · 02/08/2016 15:12

Loved: Istanbul and Cairo. Amazing food, lovely people, loads to see and safe walking around at night.

Boring: New Zealand. Beautiful as it is, friendly as people were, it left me stone cold. Don't know why.

Recommend: the Isle of Man once you leave Douglas. Niarbyl down to Port Erin is stunning.

absolutelynotfabulous · 02/08/2016 15:12

I loved LA too. I had very low expectations but it is so interesting imho. I'm not remotely interested in studios, but I spent a long time sitting outside a caff near Rodeo Drive trying to be "spotted" I wasnt. I saw Ru Paul in the street!

We drove a lot too-up to San Fran on the Pacific Coast Highway. Best holiday ever apart from Rio.

KERALA1 · 02/08/2016 15:15

Oh god we going to LA next week! Eek! It is our big trip first time taking kids out of Europe we have been excited all year! We love beaches, planning to do the whole Hollywood thing and take dds to Disney/Universal studios, San Diego and a few nights in Sequioa/Joshua Tree. Bit disheartened now!

I dont like Switzerland. Yes beautiful landscape but snooty and overpriced. Nearby Austria and Germany way better. Same landscape but without the snottiness and much much cheaper and more friendly to families. Loved Austria.

To the poster looking for tips for Berlin you MUST go to their outdoor pools they are amazing. There is a Guardian article on Berlin swimming pools they are fab. The Jewish museum was great too.

Also enjoyed Antwerp and Ghent. Liked most places bar Egypt due to sheer naked misogyny.

Graceflorrick · 02/08/2016 15:17

Don't be disheartened. LA is amazing - you'll love it.

littlepooch · 02/08/2016 15:20

Hated - Langkawi. The food was revolting, the other people staying in our hotel made me feel very uncomfortable. Our hotel was expensive and supposed to be amazing it was crap quite frankly. Never again. I also dislike Singapore. It was so flipping boring, I just wanted to come home. It was part of a SE Asia trip and after the amazingness of Thailand and Cambodia it was a real bump down to earth.

Loved unexpectedly - Majorca and the Algarve. I thought they'd be really over crowded with no identity but I loved both.

areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 02/08/2016 15:46

Don't worry, I love LA, much prefer it to New York. Far more creative vibe there, plus A LOT of dottiness to observe. I especially love Venice, go for a walk around the canals early Sunday morning - so beautiful and atmospheric. It can be a bit edgy, but that is part of its charm. It doesn't have so many sights per se but is just a fabulous place to hang out.

I too love Lanzarote and also think bits of Torremolinos are gorgeous

PrivatePike · 02/08/2016 15:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HyacinthBouquetNo1 · 02/08/2016 15:52

Worst place- Alcudia, Majorca, we went in August, had a few nice days but it rained terribly mostly, absolutely chucked it down, had to just stay in hotel room watching shit TV. The swimming pool was freezing too so i hardly went in. Alcudia was dreary, reminded me of Blackpool! Went to a zoo place one day or maybe animal rescue place, was such a depressing dump. Animals kept in terrible conditions. The island had no scenery and was boring. Kicked myself for booking it and wasting money.

Best place - Cyprus, love the weather, the atmosphere, the scenery, just returned from our 7th trip and wouldnt go anywhere else nowGrin

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