Place that didn't live up to expectations

[Anonymous]

I think we need a thread of the most impressive places you've ever been.

I suspect many of the places on this list would also appear there.

[Anonymous]

We also did not like the Outer Banks. It's not beautiful, and it's just not interesting. Beaches are okay, but I'm from Florida and to me, they were a disappointment.

[Anonymous]

I hated Seattle.
NYC was too big and I felt afraid of all the huge buildings around me. No breathing space.
Boston is good but only un the summer. Winter is freezimg.

[Anonymous]

LA
Athens - sad

OP who said paris was nuts but I assume that’s been covered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Savannah - I got a very sad vibe from it. It was uncomfortably mournful.

But that is to be expected. I would be worried about anyone that did not feel that way when going past Emanuel AME church in savannah.

But I found savanna to be a very worthwhile visit.

Do you mean Emanuel AME in Charleston SC?

[Anonymous]

I was also disappointed by Savannah. I enjoyed the visit but it was a little depressing. I was there about 4 years ago and it felt like the middle of a recession/depression. So many storefronts were closed/ empty. Also, bachelorette parties everywhere and not in a good way. There are some very beautiful aspects but overall it felt empty and past its peak and not in a good way.
On the other hand, I’ve loved New Orleans

[Anonymous]

Papeete (the capital city of French Polynesia, on Tahiti). It is congested and dirty and when I traveled there as a young woman alone, I was harassed even by very young boys. I could not wait to get out of there. If you are chauffeured to an artificial resort, it maybe feel different.

Having said that, Moorea and Bora Bora (other islands in French Polynesia) are very beautiful. The latter is, however, very expensive.

[Anonymous]

LA is very spread out. It has no center. You need a car and the driving is awful.

[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?

It is hurting, for sure.

[Anonymous]

We did not like Turks and Caicos, perhaps because we did not do an all inclusive resort (we rented a home). When you drive around it is extremely dry and rugged-looking (not tropical or green). There is a lot of poverty. We had to put little flags up when we snorkeled to that boats did not drive over where we were--which was disconcerting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did not like Turks and Caicos, perhaps because we did not do an all inclusive resort (we rented a home). When you drive around it is extremely dry and rugged-looking (not tropical or green). There is a lot of poverty. We had to put little flags up when we snorkeled to that boats did not drive over where we were--which was disconcerting.

The flags or markers while snorkeling is a pretty common thing. Shouldn’t be necessary anywhere but many places do it out of an abundance of caution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did not like Turks and Caicos, perhaps because we did not do an all inclusive resort (we rented a home). When you drive around it is extremely dry and rugged-looking (not tropical or green). There is a lot of poverty. We had to put little flags up when we snorkeled to that boats did not drive over where we were--which was disconcerting.

The flags or markers while snorkeling is a pretty common thing. Shouldn’t be necessary anywhere but many places do it out of an abundance of caution.

I prefer to snorkel places where boats are not allowed (rather than relying on operators, half of whom may be drinking, to notice the little flag!)

[Anonymous]

Nashville: dull and dirty. I was expecting a charming Southern town and ended up with a seedier Bourbon St.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Savannah - I got a very sad vibe from it. It was uncomfortably mournful.

A lot of very old Southern towns are like this. Maybe because of the ghosts and all the bad things that happened over the years. And those swamps, although so so crucial for conservation and native species, are very creepy.

Well the city is built on top of cemeteries.

[Anonymous]

Bali. Probably already mentioned a few times on this thread (I didn't read the first 15 or so pages). Very crowded, very commercialized. Did have some nice things about it but it's not the tropical paradise of travel promotional materials.

Places like Paris and London - I've been to both many times and as the years go by they lose more of their magic. A lot of changes in both cities since the 1980s. They're far less English/French and much more "international" and without wanting to get into politics it does mean these cities have lost much of what made them unique.

Cambodia. Went for the Angor Wat. It was nice enough. But I'd already seen many temple complexes and when you've seen one the rest tend to run into each other. There is a fascinating history at Angor Wat but Thailand is just a more enjoyable experience that I wouldn't go back to Cambodia. Food wasn't so interesting.