Do I just go home?

[DoIgohome]

I've been on holiday for 2 days. I hate where I am (European city).

A lot of issues.
I can't find any good places to eat in a walkable distance.
My hotel is pretty grotty (not dirty, just old).
Hotel in a dodgy area and I don't feel safe going outside early morn or into the evening.
Weather is temperamental.
The city is grotty and definitely not one I like.

I've talked to holiday provider about at least moving hotels but they've refused. I've spoken to 2 different people.

Do I just give this up as a bad job, lose about £1500 and get a flight home? I can't afford another holiday anytime soon.

I'm not much of a crier but I cried tonight. I've travelled alone before so I'm usually a very confident traveller.

Isn't it?.

Where is it? The Continent is big

I would either

1. call it a day, go home and do something nice when I got home
2. take a train to somewhere nicer, stay for a few nights and then train back for my flight.

What would you prefer to do OP - clearly you do not want to stay.

I wouldn't stay somewhere I feel unsafe. It is a holiday not a required element to get to the next stage of life.

Well then what’s the point of posting for advice?!!!!! Bizarre!

You're not the only person in a hotel in that city. There is absolutely no way anyone would be able to identify you from it. You're being ridiculous. Someone might be able to give a recommendation for a cheap hotel, or a rental, or anything! But no. What's the point of this thread then? It's shit, you don't like it, but you don't want any help.

So weird.

Everyone told me Berlin was great.

I never, ever fear for my safety. I honestly thought I'd be murdered in Berlin.

Hotel was so dirty I put the keys on the bed and walked straight out.

Got a cheap hotel right across the city. Went to Ikea for dinner and a less stabby atmosphere.

Left the following morning!

I was thinking this as my parents mentioned the exact same when they went there. My dad is ex military and can handle himself, as can my mum, and they felt really intimidated. Gangs, grot and graffiti.

Crikey, I hope not. I've travelled a lot around the world and Naples is the only place I felt truly unsafe. In fairness this was a long time ago, but it was impoverished and frankly just rough.

Buy a train ticket and leave the city. Find a small village an hour or two away, preferably with a pool and nice countryside. Get a couple of books. Relax and enjoy.

Every city has interesting places and at least some nice neighbourhoods. I get being put out because of not liking the hotel or the area it’s in, but there is no way the whole city is like that.

Just a reminder to do more research before you make your booking - both to determine if you’re really interested enough in a place to make it worthwhile going there, and also to have an idea of where to stay if you do.

Have to say I’m baffled by some of the responses - “thought I’d be murdered in Berlin”. Really? I lived there for years, I cannot even imagine where you might have been.

OP if you don’t want to say where you are that is fine. The people of mumsnet are offering to help if they can so no need to be so snappy. I have travelled Europe fairly extensively and found my myself in all manner of shitholes. Always managed to find an adventure just by chatting to locals or fellow tourists. You seem resolved to not do that or enjoy yourself so maybe just go home.

To be honest @DoIgohome if you're not willing to share where you are, people really cannot help. If we know where you are people can help with suggestions for safer areas or things to do.

Otherwise the decision is just stay on a holiday you're not enjoying or come home and sacrifice the opportunity that things could improve, but only you can make that call.

What part did you stay in?

We've been a few times and its easily the most interesting city I've ever been to. If you have any interest in history at all, its a truly incredible city to visit.

Having a shit holiday, moaning about it but not letting anyone come up with solutions because we have no bloody idea where she is.......drama seeking much.

Safe trip home. 👌

Bournemouth?

Last time I was there it was full of toothless drug addicts and dodgy looking people. Lots of homeless rough sleepers as well.

So different from how beautiful it used to be in the 70s & 80s when I was taken there as a child. It has really fallen into decline. Very sad.

*Everyone told me Berlin was great.(
I never, ever fear for my safety. I honestly thought I'd be murdered in Berlin.
Hotel was so dirty I put the keys on the bed and walked straight out.,

Good grief, I've stayed in Berlin centre as well as its neighbourhoods 11 times over the last 15 years. I missed a couple of years during the covid era
I mostly went by myself and never has a problem. I stayed in decent hotel chain such as Holiday Inn, Ibis etc
All clean friendly.

I felt safe walking in different neighbourhoods and going to the Turkish market, or ghe flea market at Mauerpark.
Where on earth in Berlin did you stay!

Good!

You don’t deserve a refund just because the hotel is “old” and there’s grafiti and drunk people outside. This is proper Europe. You sound like a total snob.

I’ve been to some of the “roughest” cities in Europe that get a bad reputation (Napoli, Marseille, Paris, Malmo, Barcelona) and they were all beautiful,
and had character in their own way.

Can’t stand it when people go to cities expecting it to be a fairytale wonderland resort like on romanticised movies, to only get there and see real life and real people and do nothing but complain.

Safe trip home.

Every city I've ever been in has interesting/beautiful bits. Sometimes I deliberately include what seems to be a very ordinary non-touristy place with nothing special to see on the itinerary. To get a feel for the country in all its aspects. Sometimes the rough around the edges bits add interest- e.g. in borders and port towns.

I don't quite understand using a travel company for a city stay but as a PP said, this is an opportunity. Go to different bits of the city, get on the train, see other places.

Nowhere in the world is entirely without merit or interest - and that includes the people you meet, I've met lovely people by hanging out in cafés etc, you might be able to find a niche local interest tour depending on where you are.

Or do something completely normal- i quite like going to the cinema in other countries, it's always a slightly different experience.

Yes, this! ⬆️
No need for you to be so abrupt OP!
People with travel experience & and knowledge of cities are offering to help you and you’ve just rudely shut them down!
Whats the point of your post - seriously?

Lol

Why does anyone make pointless threads that totally waste people’s time? 🤷‍♀️

Yes, I thought of Marseille as well. I made the mistake of staying in a hotel near the station and just didn’t go out at night - ate at lunchtime and just got snacks for the evening.

But if it is there, there are non-sketchy places around that would be quite easy to get to.

I feel sorry for the (mystery, top secret) city….

Are yiu on a package holiday? I know you don’t feel safe going out on your own, but do the travel company organise trips? We’ve often been abroad with TUI and have booked on some of their trips. You get picked up quite close to your hotel so you may only need to walk 5 mins or so to the pick up point.

1. Congrats! You've just won the stupidest and most pointless thread award.
2. You're not a 'seasoned traveller'; no actual seasoned traveller is this whiny and ridiculous.