Really popular destinations you're not interested in / places you changed your mind about

[Anonymous]

I've never had any desire to go to Paris. I'd be thrilled to go almost anywhere else in Europe.

I spent a couple days in New Orleans this summer and enjoyed it much more than I thought! It was so walkable and compact.

[Anonymous]

I changed my mind about Vegas. I'm not much of a drinker and don't gamble, but I ended up going with some friends, had a great time and went back twice with my now-DH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zero desire to go to the Grand Canyon. Every time I see friends posts pics on FB, I just don't see the appeal. And when I hear about the trip, they never seem as enthusiastic as you'd expect.

Lol so true. "Ah, yep, it was really big."

Too many people get to the Grand Canyon after driving for hours and only go to the rim, get out of the car, and look at it. They see it's big, and usually in the middle of the day when the glare is strong and it's often hot. So it's not surprising they can be less than enthusiastic about it.

But for those who spend proper time at the Canyon it's amazing. The colors change throughout the day and the sunsets turn the canyon into a magical place. And doing a hike into the canyon, at least to the halfway down point, is amazing as the character of the canyon changes as you descend. You could bury the tallest buildings in the world way inside the canyon! The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa, which is 850 meters tall, and the Grand Canyon is 1,500 meters high!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zero desire to go to the Grand Canyon. Every time I see friends posts pics on FB, I just don't see the appeal. And when I hear about the trip, they never seem as enthusiastic as you'd expect.

Lol so true. "Ah, yep, it was really big."

Too many people get to the Grand Canyon after driving for hours and only go to the rim, get out of the car, and look at it. They see it's big, and usually in the middle of the day when the glare is strong and it's often hot. So it's not surprising they can be less than enthusiastic about it.

But for those who spend proper time at the Canyon it's amazing. The colors change throughout the day and the sunsets turn the canyon into a magical place. And doing a hike into the canyon, at least to the halfway down point, is amazing as the character of the canyon changes as you descend. You could bury the tallest buildings in the world way inside the canyon! The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa, which is 850 meters tall, and the Grand Canyon is 1,500 meters high!

I've had friends experience it both ways. While the outdoorsy hikers tend to enjoy it more, they still weren't wowed. They don't rave about it the same way as other trips. It sounds forced, and I get it. They spent a lot of time, money and energy to experience it and it's just sorta meh. And the pictures aren't great unless you like rocks and desert. I think only a subset of people truly appreciate that kind of beauty and that kind of trip. It's more of a check the box trip for most people. No thanks. I'd rather spend $10k someplace else.

[Anonymous]

The Grand Canyon is incredible. I actually wasn't super excited about it but decided to take my child to see it while we were in Sedona this summer. We entered via the East Rim and drove down to the South Rim and explored a bit. It was beautiful, and the vastness and depth of the Grand Canyon is something I had never experienced before. It took my breath away. It was beautiful and the colors are just stunning. It's like something from a painting. Pictures truly do the canyon no justice. It is sooooo huge and soooo deep.

I think it is definitely worth a visit. It is not an overrated attraction. It is truly a wonder. If you can, try to couple it as part of a larger trip that includes other places like Sedona, Vegas or other natl parks. I think you'll appreciate being able to experience it.

[Anonymous]

No interest in Las Vegas, Alaska, or Iceland. Not that interested in England either although I have been to London and liked it.

I used to have no interest in Belgium until we went there on a whim to meet some friends and really enjoyed it. Loved the architecture, atmosphere, history, food. I think my initial disinterest was because I didn't know anything about it.

[Anonymous]

Mexico
Spain
Ireland
Thailand

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Grand Canyon is incredible. I actually wasn't super excited about it but decided to take my child to see it while we were in Sedona this summer. We entered via the East Rim and drove down to the South Rim and explored a bit. It was beautiful, and the vastness and depth of the Grand Canyon is something I had never experienced before. It took my breath away. It was beautiful and the colors are just stunning. It's like something from a painting. Pictures truly do the canyon no justice. It is sooooo huge and soooo deep.

I think it is definitely worth a visit. It is not an overrated attraction. It is truly a wonder. If you can, try to couple it as part of a larger trip that includes other places like Sedona, Vegas or other natl parks. I think you'll appreciate being able to experience it.

I'm glad you enjoyed it, but some of us just aren't interested. If you prefer the beauty of the ocean or a pristine lake, then the GC just won't do it for you. Similarly, some people prefer cities to nature.

I only know two families who really raved about the GC (and one couple actually visits annually because it's their idea of zen). Everyone else thought it was neat to see but not one of their best vacations. For those of us who have to be selective in terms of where we travel/what we can afford, it makes sense that some of us just aren't interested in schlepping across country to see the GC. I can think of a dozen other trips I'd rather take.

To be clear: I'm not knocking your trip. Rather, I'm just underscoring how much personal preference comes into play when discussing travel.

[Anonymous]

Grand Canyon haters remind me of that scene in the movie guilt trip where barbra streisand says something like 'how much longer do we have to stand here and look at this?' They spend like 10 minutes there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Grand Canyon is incredible. I actually wasn't super excited about it but decided to take my child to see it while we were in Sedona this summer. We entered via the East Rim and drove down to the South Rim and explored a bit. It was beautiful, and the vastness and depth of the Grand Canyon is something I had never experienced before. It took my breath away. It was beautiful and the colors are just stunning. It's like something from a painting. Pictures truly do the canyon no justice. It is sooooo huge and soooo deep.

I think it is definitely worth a visit. It is not an overrated attraction. It is truly a wonder. If you can, try to couple it as part of a larger trip that includes other places like Sedona, Vegas or other natl parks. I think you'll appreciate being able to experience it.

I'm glad you enjoyed it, but some of us just aren't interested. If you prefer the beauty of the ocean or a pristine lake, then the GC just won't do it for you. Similarly, some people prefer cities to nature.

I only know two families who really raved about the GC (and one couple actually visits annually because it's their idea of zen). Everyone else thought it was neat to see but not one of their best vacations. For those of us who have to be selective in terms of where we travel/what we can afford, it makes sense that some of us just aren't interested in schlepping across country to see the GC. I can think of a dozen other trips I'd rather take.

To be clear: I'm not knocking your trip. Rather, I'm just underscoring how much personal preference comes into play when discussing travel.

So don't go. Who cares? *shrug*

We went and we're glad we did. My kid enjoyed it, has the memory, and when they discussed different types of rocks and land forms in his science class, was able to recall his experience at the GC and Sedona, which enhanced his learning experience.

Next month he will be snorkeling and scuba diving reefs in the Caribbean. We travel all over and enjoy and appreciate the beauty of everywhere we've been.

To each his own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The beach. I like an occasional short trip to a very nice beach with no crowds, clear water, fine sand, etc, but even then I have no desire to spend day after day near the beach. The concept of renting a beach house for a week, much less an entire summer, is entirely foreign to me. And kids to the mix and those opinions just get stronger.

+1 And the places most people go on summer vacation like Ocean City, Jersey shore, and Carolina beaches mystify me. You paid how much for that house rental??? And it took you how many hours to get there??? You can go to Europe for that! And the water is cold, the surf is rough and you can't snorkel. If I go to the beach it's the Caribbean or maybe Florida.

Say what???

Im very lucky not to have to economize, but even i am not so out of touch. A family of 5 can rent a small beach house for $2500/wk. This house will have a kitchen and free access to the beach. THIS IS WHAT NORMAL AMERICAN FAMILIES CAN AFFORD YOU DINGUS.

No family of 5 is taking a week vacation in ANY part of Europe for $3000. Nope nope nope. Get your head out of your ass you sleazeball.

I think people do it because it's tradition. I grew up in NJ and we always always did a 2 week trip to the same beach every year. I would miss doing that with my kids. We are in Florida now so we go to Hilton Head every year

[Anonymous]

I was pleasantly surprised by Hilton Head. Before going, so many people told me it was boring and trite.

When we finally visited for the first time two years ago, it was just what the doctor ordered, and the most relaxing vacation of my life. And this was in the middle of the summer. We had so much relaxing fun exploring the island. It was a great vacation.

[Anonymous]

I was never that interested in Japan, even though people raved about it. My DH was going for work, so I tagged along (pre-kids ha).

Japan is AMAZING. Clean, safe, super easy to get around. The food is out of this world delicious. It was all around one my favorite places to visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mexico. Why anyone would want to go to a crime-ridden country like that is beyond me (and I have been to many places around the world, including Mexico long ago).

unreal. mexico city is one of the most cosmopolitan, interesting cities in the world. felt incredibly safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New Orleans is amazing. I'm glad I finally went and I'd go again for the right occasion. But I'm in no hurry.

Interesting- I actually didn't like New Orleans at all. And I'm neither a fussy nor judgmental traveler. I just didn't find it that beautiful and interesting.