Place that didn't live up to expectations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is better for a beach vacation with kids: Puerto Rico, DR, Aruba, Bahamas, or Mexico? Talking about staying at a resort the whole time and really want nice sand and clear water.

Not DR (crummy beaches)

Aruba: check out Divi. The high rises further down the beach are nice, but crowded.

Mexico: might be what you’re looking for. Splurge for a nice resort.

Bahamas: like Mexico, but closer and with better beaches. Crowded unless you go with a higher end, boutique resort.

PR: can you afford Ritz Dorado or another villa in Dorado? Or Four Seasons? Rent a car. The island is fun and safe. Don’t stay put at the resort. Explore! FTR, we’ve stayed at a mix of hotels (not high end), and still have a blast.

Plenty of islands in the Caribbean are better than the ones you listed, fwiw.

Thank you! This is very helpful. Which other islands should I look at for resorts with kids? We've never been to the Caribbean. We generally do middle of the road Marriott hotels, so not super luxury.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is better for a beach vacation with kids: Puerto Rico, DR, Aruba, Bahamas, or Mexico? Talking about staying at a resort the whole time and really want nice sand and clear water.

Not DR (crummy beaches)

Aruba: check out Divi. The high rises further down the beach are nice, but crowded.

Mexico: might be what you’re looking for. Splurge for a nice resort.

Bahamas: like Mexico, but closer and with better beaches. Crowded unless you go with a higher end, boutique resort.

PR: can you afford Ritz Dorado or another villa in Dorado? Or Four Seasons? Rent a car. The island is fun and safe. Don’t stay put at the resort. Explore! FTR, we’ve stayed at a mix of hotels (not high end), and still have a blast.

Plenty of islands in the Caribbean are better than the ones you listed, fwiw.

Thank you! This is very helpful. Which other islands should I look at for resorts with kids? We've never been to the Caribbean. We generally do middle of the road Marriott hotels, so not super luxury.

If money is an issue, then your dollar will go further in Mexico: cheaper flights, all inclusives, etc. Start there and post back with the resorts you are considering for more input.

Beaches Turks and Caicos would likely be super fun for your family, but it’s pricey.

Your budget ultimately dictates any recommendations that would be useful. Do some research, then post a new thread with your preliminary options and budget. Then we can help with btdt recs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who like New Orleans - would you recommend going with tweens for a long weekend trip? What would be your suggestions for activities with 10-12 year olds? When is the best weather?

Definitely recommend. Things to do...

-Beignets at Cafe DuMonde
-visit Jackson Square
-WWII museum
-French Quarter
-St. Louis Cemetery
-Ghost Tour
-Swamp Tour (they have shuttles from hotels)
-Eat

New Orleans is fun. Yes, it's dirty and a little loud, but stay off of Bourbon Street later in the evening and you'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Orleans - what a disgusting pit. I felt like I needed to delouse after visiting. Gross half dead addicts everywhere.

+1

Also, the food and the weather, both horrible. I cannot imagine living there.

Damn. I was thinking of visiting this Spring, but now I won’t!

You have to go and find out for yourself. Don't let anonymous posters on DCUM decide for you. Personally, I love New Orleans. It's probably the most unique city in the U.S.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Orleans - what a disgusting pit. I felt like I needed to delouse after visiting. Gross half dead addicts everywhere.

+1

Also, the food and the weather, both horrible. I cannot imagine living there.

Damn. I was thinking of visiting this Spring, but now I won’t!

You have to go and find out for yourself. Don't let anonymous posters on DCUM decide for you. Personally, I love New Orleans. It's probably the most unique city in the U.S.

New Orleans is my favorite US city. The food is amazing, but do your research ahead of time, like anywhere else, if you are a foodie. You can find bad food anywhere if you just sidle up to an open door.

Spring is great, earlier they better. In the dead of summer it’s far too hot.

[Anonymous]

San Miguel de Allende -- not as beautiful as I was expecting and too many expat American women walking around wearing Eileen Fischer. But we were staying in Guanajuato and went for a day trip, so maybe staying there would be nicer? Would choose Oaxaca any day, in any event.

San Antonio, TX. I did enjoy visiting the Alamo but could take or leave the rest of the city, including the Riverwalk.

I would say Managua, Nicaragua, but my expectations were low so it didn't disappoint, if that makes sense. I really enjoyed other parts of Nicaragua, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:La and San Fran, looks like a homeless camp

So bummed about San Francisco now. Used to love to visit — good restaurants, scenery and chill. Have no desire to return.

[Anonymous]

Don’t really really understand the hype about San Diego. Balboa Park and the Zoo are nice but there are similar attractions in other cities near the beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Lucia
Zion Natl Park
Santorini (didn't live up to the hype)

Wasn't surprised to see Athens on this list, but Athens is amazing IMO. Maybe it's bc I went in with low expectations?

Curious--what did you dislike about St. Lucia? We've been considering a trip.

Not PP and I’ve never been there, but my best friend went there on her honeymoon and said it was depressingly impoverished and seeing how poor the island was just made her feel sad and overly privileged the whole week. YMMV obviously. She isn’t a big traveler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Great Barrier Reef. Washed out corals.

Oh no really?!?! I lived there for a year in 2001 and went on a 2 day snorkel trip off of Cairns. The reef was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and I’ve been waiting until my kids are old enough to return. Am I too late?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Barrier Reef. Washed out corals.

Oh no really?!?! I lived there for a year in 2001 and went on a 2 day snorkel trip off of Cairns. The reef was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and I’ve been waiting until my kids are old enough to return. Am I too late?

Tunnels Beach on Kauai was much better, and less expensive to get to. Bleaching is a problem for the Great Barrier Reef.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Barrier Reef. Washed out corals.

Oh no really?!?! I lived there for a year in 2001 and went on a 2 day snorkel trip off of Cairns. The reef was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and I’ve been waiting until my kids are old enough to return. Am I too late?

I was there five years ago and we saw very vibrant coral. In fact, they had to point out the few bleached pieces of coral in the area where we were. So, not too late, but time might be running out...

[Anonymous]

Portland and Seattle were both kinda "meh" to me.

Miami felt very plasticky & fake. I guess too many fake books?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Barrier Reef. Washed out corals.

Oh no really?!?! I lived there for a year in 2001 and went on a 2 day snorkel trip off of Cairns. The reef was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and I’ve been waiting until my kids are old enough to return. Am I too late?

National Geographic had an article saying half of the reef was dead due to climate change.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/great-barrier-reef-coral-not-recovering-climate-change

[Anonymous]

We didn’t like LA, the entire state of Florida, Greece nor Provincetown.