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.

Don't you just hate it when a poster moans about something but won't accept help?

Well if you do tell us you could save someone else the misery of going there ?

Well yes she doesn’t feel safe, she said but somehow she’s in Europe but thinks she’s possibly the only possible single British women in this city and it would be outing to say where she is.

which is odd.

It could easily be a case of - she’s having a terrible holiday in x city but there’s a train to Y small town that would be a better option for a couple of days then go straight to the airport home from there. MNers were just trying to help.

Paris by any chance?

😂😂 Quite! Places I returned to: Ravello, Provence, Florence, Tuscany, Geneva and Venice (in autumn or spring)

Life is too short - annual leave is too fleeting to waste on a disappointing or unsafe experience.

Then don’t bother posting ! How else can we help you with suggestions? What’s the big secret ?I don’t get it

I've left early from a trip before as it just wasn't working out, came home a few days early and felt a massive relief, so get online, look up your flight and just as you're about to click the button to buy your return flight home listen to your gut - if your gut says, yep i'm outta here, then there's your answer.

Otherwise get onto 'getyourguide' or viator and see what can be salvaged, walking food tour, cycle/segway tour, wine tasting, etc. and just uber everywhere so you don't have to feel unsafe.
I'd love to know where you are cos I'm nosy but I know you don't want to say (PM me?? lol)

I'm beginning to understand why people say 'See Naples and die' 😄(kidding, I know that's not the meaning but it seems to fit!)

The solution-led amongst us find this so frustrating. No one is asking for the hotel name just the city. Op doesn’t want help just validation she can go home. It’s like when your friend cries over how awful her boyfriend is but then refuses toto leave him or take any advice to improve the situation. Some people have a victim mentality and the idea of fixing the problem is alien to them.

Is it feasible to book taxis or ubers eveey day to take you to a nicer part of town? You can wake up in the morning, book the taxi out to a nicer part and then hang out for a while and taxi back. It may cost a bit more but would save the holiday.
I assume there are at least some nice parts of the city ?! If not then book a day trip and taxi to /from station

I see you've said day trips out are as area around station is rough - unfortunately areas around most main stations are rough (UK included).
As you seem to have internet access plan your journey, most train tickets can be bought via Trainline and then you limit your time at the station
Make the most of your time while you are all l, even if it's relaxing in a local coffee shop or the local botanical gardens

So weird
Enjoy your non holiday or whatever you do

Absolutely this…..try and salvage some of your stay my love x

We enjoy similar places so! The only place on your list I haven't been is Geneva. But I have to say I loved Malaga city and Brittany (my bit of N France), from your "discard" list. I suppose we are all different in what we like and don't when travelling. But - I haven't found anywhere yet that I wanted to come home from, even if sketchy and slightly disappointing at the time. I made the most of it TBH, the difference probably being that I didn't feel unsafe, just not quite what I was expecting sometimes!

Lonely planet book or website has great practical advice on neighbourhoods and personal safety. Might give you some ideas how to rescue your holiday.

If you come home now with a cheap flight, will it use up all of the money you have allocated to spend for day trips, eating out etc?
If there is anything left over, do treat yourself to a good day out, or nice meal out once you get home.
I'd be disappointed the holiday has panned out, but wouldn't make myself stick it out if I can get home, relax for a few days and treat myself a little

Can you reach out to local English schools and offer conversation? Its sounds lonely.

@DoIgohome hope you are ok. Feeling unsafe is a good enough reason to go home. Nothing else matters.

Hope you get home safely.

The whole of Northern France was depressing? 😂

I think a lot of people have experienced something like this at some point OP. I have changed accommodation in two cities I love because the first place was so stressful. In a city youre not enjoying it would be a nightmare. Go home if you really do feel that unsafe there but maybe sleep on it and see how you feel in the morning. If you feel a bit better in the morning see if there are other places nearby that might be better. If you are in Paris don't go to Fontainebleau right now as they had just had a massive wildfire (normally I would totally recommend Fontainebleau as it's lovely but not right now). If it is Paris, the area around Gare du Nord, Pigalle and frankly even Montmartre is grotty. You'd have a better time near Bastille or in 14 or 15 arrondissements (8, 16,17 also nice but expensive).
If it's somehere else, ignore this but maybe look up info online about what might be worth doing. There are usually group trips on TripAdvisor that might be worth joining (check reviews). In future, don't book any hotel without finding it on Google maps to check reviews and don't book anything with a score below 4 on Google maps reviews (or below 8 on booking.com). Travel companies never tell clients the full story in the brochure and reviews often help get the real picture.

I don't know where you are (obv!) and I am not going to ask. Can you get out and sightsee during the day and then get back in time for the evening so you are not out and about then? How much longer will you be there for? Im sorry it's been a let down 😓it's not fair when you have spent your hard earned money on this.

That's a lot of money to lose by having a shit time and going home early. The whole city can't be that bad, surely?

Can you look for a nice little Airbnb in a nicer part of town? Or something on last-minute.com.

Seems a shame not to try to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

What is the £1500 cost to go home? Is that the cost of a new flight? How many nights do you have left?

If so, can you commit to spending that but on a different hotel? What about a hostel with other tourists? What about moving to a different, cheaper town? Is it the kind of place where you don’t need touristy things eg you can wander around a random Italian town and still enjoy it?

She's on holiday, she hasn't moved to the mystery city!

The post reminds me of my reaction to Milan. Place of my forefathers. I hated it. Hated the druggies, the tramps, the dirt. I was so relieved to leave. Been back x2 passing through (i train it instead of flying) same opinion.

Told naples was awful - loved it! And amazing place. But maybe because people said it was terrible and it wasn't. Whereas Milan is supposed to be chic, a place to go? But instead a shithole!
Another place i detest now - Barcelona. Apart from the cathedral, I have no desire to see it ever again.

No sympathy for op (seems wants to play the victim) but loving the convo re the potential city