Place that didn't live up to expectations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hawaii.

My own fault for poor research, but I was expecting something quieter and less developed...more exotic. Instead I got traffic jams and Walmarts. It felt like Florida with better scenery. Which makes sense since it's a state.

Where did you go? I haven’t been since I was a kid and going next month. Hoping not to be disappointed as we’ve been waiting a long time for this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the coast of Ireland - like all around the edges... but Dublin was just meh. I have family there and I enjoy them but I wouldn't do more than 2 days there without them. My expectations were probably too high. There's actually not that much to see.

I had no expectations of St Louis, MO but I absolutely hated every minute I was there.

Were you with my in-laws? They can do that.

It’s no Paris, but there is a phenomenal zoo, a cool and enormous city park (I think I read maybe as big as Central Park?), good symphony and museums, a small but cool area of restaurants and galleries and bars and stuff (U. City/the Hill). But again, doesn’t make up for my spouse’s family.

I went for a wedding of a friend of my boyfriend at the time. The family hosting the wedding were rude and unwelcoming. The city was the most segregated place I had ever been- and I'm from Richmond, VA. The family lived in a gated neighborhood in a fancy house but right down the block were people living in terrible conditions.

I was very not surprised to see those white idiots standing outside of their homes with guns were in St Louis.

This back and forth could describe a number of cities — Nashville, Cincinatti, OK City. They all have features that can be fun when you visit, decent food if you know where to look (well Cincy’s food isn’t amazing but there are some good breweries and bars), but also some real issues with race and culture that can be hard to overlook if you are used to visiting more cosmopolitan cities. I think Nashville disappointed me the most because I’m a music lover and the history there is pretty amazing. It had GREAT food but yes— very segregated, plus you have to drive everywhere, and it attracts a lot of idiot tourists. Like the same people you find on Bourbon Street, only everywhere, slightly less drunk, no less obnoxious.

Cindy is funny because people will do the same thing as the person above did with St. Louis. It has a great zoo! It has some cool outdoor space! Graeters! Which yes, if you are there for a wedding or work, that’s some redeemable stuff. But if you are just visiting, it is very hard to overlook the racism and segregation, how freaking ugly the skyline and downtown are, and just the oppressive feeling of midwestern mediocrity (I am from the Midwest).

When people are like “oh, you’ve got to check out the zoo!” you know they are scraping rock bottom.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PPs on Venice and Disneyworld. I'll also add Cancun.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Same on disney world. I would recommend a day at busch gardens instead. Beautifully landscaped, interesting animals and shows, coasters are a blast lovers of that thrill like tween, teens and DH.

[Anonymous]

Most definitely Paris and Waikiki. Paris was dirty and had lots of rude people. Waikiki was not what I pictured Hawaii at all. I could've just gone to a beachtown in Florida and spent way less time getting there and less money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most places in Spain, especially Sevilla. I liked Barcelona a lot though.

Why? I'm hoping to visit. It's great that you enjoyed Barcelona.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hawaii.

My own fault for poor research, but I was expecting something quieter and less developed...more exotic. Instead I got traffic jams and Walmarts. It felt like Florida with better scenery. Which makes sense since it's a state.

Where did you go? I haven’t been since I was a kid and going next month. Hoping not to be disappointed as we’ve been waiting a long time for this!

This baffles me too. I had to go there for work for two weeks. This was not my experience at all and we were definitely driving around quite a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Egypt. Disgusting. McDonald’s by the pyramids. Blegh

Buenos Aires. Never been so bored in my life and I don’t eat red meat

Munich. So boring. I just can’t.

Geneva. I just fell asleep remembering when I lived there and have never been so bored in my entire life

Monaco. Why bother.

Could you give an example of a place where you had fun and explain why? I'm not trying to be snarky. Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hawaii.

My own fault for poor research, but I was expecting something quieter and less developed...more exotic. Instead I got traffic jams and Walmarts. It felt like Florida with better scenery. Which makes sense since it's a state.

Did you stay in Honoulu? Other parts of Oahu are much more remote and tranquil but also lower SES of the residents so you see a lot of run down little villages.

My answers would be Honolulu and Aruba.

NP. My husband and I went to Hawaii for the first time in February of 2020. We really did not like Honolulu at all- it felt like Miami to us...crowded, traffic, pretty dirty, yadayada. But then we spent the second half of our vacation in Kauai...and OMG. Everything we ever dreamed of and more. So, so beautiful. Friendly people. Loved the slow place. I really want to go back. But yeah, I would've come away from our trip being like "we came all this way for this?" had we only gone to Honolulu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised no one has mentioned NYC. Fillthy, overpriced, filled with horrible people.

You hate us cuz you ain't us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's informative how many people are saying Savannah. I haven't been since I was a kid and we were thinking of doing a short trip there but now I'm thinking no.

It's funny, I've heard this from other people but I loved it. I listened to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil on the drive down. I did find Charleston disappointing, though

[Anonymous]

I realize this is a DC message board, but as a tourist visiting, I’m sad to say DC. There was just such a dead vibe to the place, such a lack of energy compared with other cities like NY and Boston. Sorry guys.

My children absolutely loved old town Alexandria though, where we stayed - the cobblestones, restaurants, shopping, waterfront.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PPs on Disney and Nice. Disney is way dated and too crowded even on the least crowded days. Nice was dirty. We also saw a guy getting beaten/kicked either to death or within inches of his life while the police looked on without doing much.

I’ll add Alaska. Yes, there’s natural beauty but there aren’t huge differences in the landscape. The food is meh and there’s not a lot to do unless you like to fish.

For those saying Hawaii, you didn’t go to the right places! If you’ve only been to Honolulu, you haven’t really been to Hawaii. The Big Island is amazing. I haven’t been to Kauai but have heard it’s amazing too.

[Anonymous]

La and San Fran, looks like a homeless camp