Where did you absolutely hate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not go back to India. Hard in many ways.

Only, if you are traveling like the poorest of the poor.

I only luxury travel to and in India. I fly business class in middle eastern airlines (Emirates or Etihad), stop over at Abu Dhabi or Dubai, go in luxury and comfort and minimize the impact of jet lag, Then, I either stay with my family/friends who have extra room, AC, well established homes and servants - or I stay in expensive 5 star hotels. I hire the best and most expensive touring vehicles available and drivers that are known to the family or have great reviews. And I travel mainly with family or friends. I also shop a lot and get all my bulky stuff couriered to US.

India is not a place to do on shoe-string budget travel. If you do that then you have to be inconvenienced sometimes. However, India is still incredibly cheaper than US or Europe so it boggles my mind that westerners want to travel in the way the poorest of the poor are travelling there. If you spend a fraction of your money that you spend in a Western country and stay in good hotels and take taxis from proper registered taxi service, you will have an experience of comfort and luxury.

Nothing beats the food in India. Not one country I have visited has better food than India (ok, Thailand is amazing food too).

Sorry but no. We traveled richest of the rich. You still see things out the windows of your "best and most expensive touring vehicle". The poverty is appalling and the way Indians treat their most vulnerable is appalling. But I'm glad you go back and do all your shopping and can't relate to your countrymen. Just intent on getting the shopping done and the food shoveled in, huh?

What a weird thing to say. For many of us India is our country of origin. We go back to see family, and yes we travel business class, stay in nice hotels, shop and eat while we’re there.

And like the pp pointed out: the abject poverty and obvious caste system doesn’t bother you at all.

Remember the Seinfeld episode with the wedding in India? Even the bride’s Indian parents refused to go.

It’s my homeland. I go to see my family. If that sounds strange to you then so be it. And Seinfeld was a comedy show in case you didn’t know.

Of COURSE it makes sense for people to go whose family lives there. The point is whether it is an enjoyable place to go just as a normal tourist. I think most people in the latter case say it’s an experience and they might be glad they did it once but it is rarely a spot tourists fall in love with.

This. People go to India to see family. That’s a completely different experience, and if it’s your home country you’re likely unbothered by the poverty and abject suffering.

For everyone else, it’s will be disturbing and overwhelming and claustrophobic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New York City -- The entire city smells like Mary Jane. My clothes reeked of it. Crowded, extremely overpriced, too much crime. Liberals have ruined that city.

Oh honey, it's the libs who made NYC great. Media, fine art, design, fashion, music are all owned by the libs.

And all that crime too! Libs own that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Charlotte. What a bland, sprawling suburban hellscape. The Applebee's of American cities.

You went to Charlotte for a vacation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't care for Paris. Too ancient looking for me! I didn't like their sandwiches with thick buttered bread and hardly any cheese or meat. No ice in drinks. Milk purchased on the shelf at room temperature. Their pastries and confections were beautiful looking, but the taste did not equal the appearance. And the Mona Lisa was small!

Troll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New York City -- The entire city smells like Mary Jane. My clothes reeked of it. Crowded, extremely overpriced, too much crime. Liberals have ruined that city.

Oh honey, it's the libs who made NYC great. Media, fine art, design, fashion, music are all owned by the libs.

I guess that's the problem with progressivism - they can't leave well enough alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try not to write off any place I've only been once so with that said I wish I never had to go back to Scottsdale, Orlando, Las Vegas, and maybe most of Nashville.

I have no idea how Nashville got to be a trendy city. It's a gentrified strip of bachelor and bachelorette parties that is accessible unless you have a car and can drive to gentrified boutiques and southern restaurants. It is not remotely walkable, the weather isn't great, and the people who visit are a menace to the actual people who live there.

Internationally I have this far enjoyed most places but obviously the US based conference circuit hasn't taken me to as many mid-size international destinations. There are definitely some I don't think I'd want to spend weeks in but I don't even want to spend hours in Nashville.

I grew up in Nashville, and I don't get this either. Everyone I know from high school and college hates the tourism (which used to be country music based and was mostly of the old Opryland theme park). When did people start thinking they should wear cowboy boots and hats in Nashville? It's the South FFS, not Texas. Also, Nashville hot chicken? Ninety-eight percent of Nashvilleans never heard of it in the 70s, 80s, 90s. So funny to me. East Nashville was about as safe as Southeast in the Marion Berry days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Austria. I found the people to be aggressively rude. Vehemently anti-American. I was actually insulted multiple times during my stay for being American. For example, one time I asked when my breakfast order would be out as I’d been waiting for a long time. I asked politely and the waiter yelled at for being an American who can’t enjoy her holiday. I was told to calm down too. It was such an extreme overreaction.

Never experienced this in any other European country.

Spoke the other day to a friend who went skiing there and told me how rude everyone was. I told her I know exactly what you mean!

Not surprising at all this country welcomed Hitler with open arms. I’m sure they do it again today in a heartbeat.

Interesting. I was in Austria during 9/11, and the Austrian government faxed every American in a hotel condolences and made phone calls back to the US free.

I've never noticed them to be anti-American, but I also speak German.

[Anonymous]

Dubai, Las Vegas, Panama

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Austria. I found the people to be aggressively rude. Vehemently anti-American. I was actually insulted multiple times during my stay for being American. For example, one time I asked when my breakfast order would be out as I’d been waiting for a long time. I asked politely and the waiter yelled at for being an American who can’t enjoy her holiday. I was told to calm down too. It was such an extreme overreaction.

Never experienced this in any other European country.

Spoke the other day to a friend who went skiing there and told me how rude everyone was. I told her I know exactly what you mean!

Not surprising at all this country welcomed Hitler with open arms. I’m sure they do it again today in a heartbeat.

Where in Austria were you? Can you give examples of negative interactions outside the hotel? How were you identified so easily? When was this? I’m curious because this thread has been helpful in thinking of destinations and potential pitfalls to avoid.

It’s a common misconception but Hitler was actually Austrian.

I have traveled a bit through Austria and find the people strange. Lived in Bavaria at the time and had no issues with Bavarians. But Austrian interactions were always a little off.

Wow who knew the sleeper hit of this thread would be that Austrians are rude! I had no idea. Lots of hits on google.
"why are austrians rude"

I'll let you know what I find out. Maybe stems from being an EX-empire?

Strange, I don't find Austrians rude at all. Maybe because I'm German? I'm from the North of Germany, so they definitely know I'm not Austrian as soon as I open my mouth. (Kind of like US/UK)

[Anonymous]

Fortunate that I’ve enjoyed and would return to most places I’ve travelled and vacationed. However, Virginia Beach (ocean front), St. Thomas, and Jamaica are the exceptions.

Virginia Beach: trashy, people smoking on the beach, absurdly overpriced food even as compared to places we normally visit for beach vacations like Cape May and Rehoboth, and a couple of sketchy interactions. For example, one woman offered to take my picture with my kids (ages 10 and 12). I’m not often in pictures other than selfies so I said yes. She then demanded I pay her to return my phone.
We were also followed by a man who seemed drunk and was cussing at us as we walked on the board walk.

St. Thomas: Overpriced and found the locals / staff we interacted with rude and on the take. Asked someone for directions and he wanted money.

Jamaica: Yes, the resort was lovely but outside was impoverished and we were constantly warned about crime by hotel staff and by friends of friends who live there.

Lastly, and this is just my experience, while I would certainly visit Dubai, Morocco, and Turkey again, I would not go without a male escort. My experience was that being a solo woman in these places is dicey and you will absolutely be treated as different, less than, or an easy target if you are a female solo traveler. Either have a male escort or go with a reputable tour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Costa Rica

Same for me, but mainly due to the mosquitos. No amount of off spray worked and I returned with way too many bites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fortunate that I’ve enjoyed and would return to most places I’ve travelled and vacationed. However, Virginia Beach (ocean front), St. Thomas, and Jamaica are the exceptions.

Virginia Beach: trashy, people smoking on the beach, absurdly overpriced food even as compared to places we normally visit for beach vacations like Cape May and Rehoboth, and a couple of sketchy interactions. For example, one woman offered to take my picture with my kids (ages 10 and 12). I’m not often in pictures other than selfies so I said yes. She then demanded I pay her to return my phone.
We were also followed by a man who seemed drunk and was cussing at us as we walked on the board walk.

St. Thomas: Overpriced and found the locals / staff we interacted with rude and on the take. Asked someone for directions and he wanted money.

Jamaica: Yes, the resort was lovely but outside was impoverished and we were constantly warned about crime by hotel staff and by friends of friends who live there.

Lastly, and this is just my experience, while I would certainly visit Dubai, Morocco, and Turkey again, I would not go without a male escort. My experience was that being a solo woman in these places is dicey and you will absolutely be treated as different, less than, or an easy target if you are a female solo traveler. Either have a male escort or go with a reputable tour.

Would love to visit Morocco and Turkey one day (not dubai) but will not bother giving any place my money where women are less than

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fortunate that I’ve enjoyed and would return to most places I’ve travelled and vacationed. However, Virginia Beach (ocean front), St. Thomas, and Jamaica are the exceptions.

Virginia Beach: trashy, people smoking on the beach, absurdly overpriced food even as compared to places we normally visit for beach vacations like Cape May and Rehoboth, and a couple of sketchy interactions. For example, one woman offered to take my picture with my kids (ages 10 and 12). I’m not often in pictures other than selfies so I said yes. She then demanded I pay her to return my phone.
We were also followed by a man who seemed drunk and was cussing at us as we walked on the board walk.

St. Thomas: Overpriced and found the locals / staff we interacted with rude and on the take. Asked someone for directions and he wanted money.

Jamaica: Yes, the resort was lovely but outside was impoverished and we were constantly warned about crime by hotel staff and by friends of friends who live there.

Lastly, and this is just my experience, while I would certainly visit Dubai, Morocco, and Turkey again, I would not go without a male escort. My experience was that being a solo woman in these places is dicey and you will absolutely be treated as different, less than, or an easy target if you are a female solo traveler. Either have a male escort or go with a reputable tour.

Would love to visit Morocco and Turkey one day (not dubai) but will not bother giving any place my money where women are less than

Well since American women make 84 cents for every dollar men make, it’s time for you to immigrate!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fortunate that I’ve enjoyed and would return to most places I’ve travelled and vacationed. However, Virginia Beach (ocean front), St. Thomas, and Jamaica are the exceptions.

Virginia Beach: trashy, people smoking on the beach, absurdly overpriced food even as compared to places we normally visit for beach vacations like Cape May and Rehoboth, and a couple of sketchy interactions. For example, one woman offered to take my picture with my kids (ages 10 and 12). I’m not often in pictures other than selfies so I said yes. She then demanded I pay her to return my phone.
We were also followed by a man who seemed drunk and was cussing at us as we walked on the board walk.

St. Thomas: Overpriced and found the locals / staff we interacted with rude and on the take. Asked someone for directions and he wanted money.

Jamaica: Yes, the resort was lovely but outside was impoverished and we were constantly warned about crime by hotel staff and by friends of friends who live there.

Lastly, and this is just my experience, while I would certainly visit Dubai, Morocco, and Turkey again, I would not go without a male escort. My experience was that being a solo woman in these places is dicey and you will absolutely be treated as different, less than, or an easy target if you are a female solo traveler. Either have a male escort or go with a reputable tour.

Would love to visit Morocco and Turkey one day (not dubai) but will not bother giving any place my money where women are less than

I have heard that Morocco is a no go for women traveling by themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not go back to India. Hard in many ways.

Only, if you are traveling like the poorest of the poor.

I only luxury travel to and in India. I fly business class in middle eastern airlines (Emirates or Etihad), stop over at Abu Dhabi or Dubai, go in luxury and comfort and minimize the impact of jet lag, Then, I either stay with my family/friends who have extra room, AC, well established homes and servants - or I stay in expensive 5 star hotels. I hire the best and most expensive touring vehicles available and drivers that are known to the family or have great reviews. And I travel mainly with family or friends. I also shop a lot and get all my bulky stuff couriered to US.

India is not a place to do on shoe-string budget travel. If you do that then you have to be inconvenienced sometimes. However, India is still incredibly cheaper than US or Europe so it boggles my mind that westerners want to travel in the way the poorest of the poor are travelling there. If you spend a fraction of your money that you spend in a Western country and stay in good hotels and take taxis from proper registered taxi service, you will have an experience of comfort and luxury.

Nothing beats the food in India. Not one country I have visited has better food than India (ok, Thailand is amazing food too).

Sorry but no. We traveled richest of the rich. You still see things out the windows of your "best and most expensive touring vehicle". The poverty is appalling and the way Indians treat their most vulnerable is appalling. But I'm glad you go back and do all your shopping and can't relate to your countrymen. Just intent on getting the shopping done and the food shoveled in, huh?

What a weird thing to say. For many of us India is our country of origin. We go back to see family, and yes we travel business class, stay in nice hotels, shop and eat while we’re there.

And like the pp pointed out: the abject poverty and obvious caste system doesn’t bother you at all.

Remember the Seinfeld episode with the wedding in India? Even the bride’s Indian parents refused to go.

It’s my homeland. I go to see my family. If that sounds strange to you then so be it. And Seinfeld was a comedy show in case you didn’t know.

Of COURSE it makes sense for people to go whose family lives there. The point is whether it is an enjoyable place to go just as a normal tourist. I think most people in the latter case say it’s an experience and they might be glad they did it once but it is rarely a spot tourists fall in love with.

This. People go to India to see family. That’s a completely different experience, and if it’s your home country you’re likely unbothered by the poverty and abject suffering.

For everyone else, it’s will be disturbing and overwhelming and claustrophobic.

The trick with India is to go for longer than two weeks. It's sensory overload at first. But eventually you get used to it. And then you can really see and experience things. India is not relaxing or "fun." India is like a theater experience - it's a tragedy, a comedy, a farce. It's very full on. Not for everyone.

My hate city is Vegas. Can take it for about 48 hours and then a profound depression sets in. I find more joy in Kolkata than I do in Vegas.