Yeah, I'm a little puzzled by the dislike of Helsinki. It's a place I've rather enjoyed. Been there twice, but not recently (1993 and 2000).

It's always seemed to me a place where there's a cool party going on that I didn't know about or couldn't get into if I did.

- It's great for those interested in architecture or urban planning. Odd mishmash of styles in the city center, then whole neighborhoods of art nouveau period buildings. They make dense apartment blocks stylish and functional. OG Saarinen (the father, not the son), OG Aalto stuff that got replicated (poorly) throughout the US.
- Saunas.
- Marimekko, Iittala everywhere. Everything is so stylish and thoughtfully designed.
- A Finnish colleague laughed at me when I mentioned seeing a TV report about the Finnish obsession with tango and said "That's not real." So I come out of random Helsinki subway station around 5 in the evening and see about a dozen couples taking a tango lesson and dancing all over the city square.

So my turn for hate: Vienna. Visited one year between Christmas and New Year's. Cold city with nasty people. Soviet-level rudeness from service staff. Hideous architecture -- solidified my dislike of everything baroque.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I strongly disliked Helsinki and would never go back. It was boring and locals were outwardly rude to tourists.

That’s discouraging. I was randomly born there and I’ve always wanted to visit as an adult, but this is a little offputting.

Not pp. but I enjoyed Helsinki, though was there on a conference and did some sightseeing on the side. It has fun stuff to do. I visited in June. Combine with one of the Baltic states for diversity.

Anonymous wrote:I strongly disliked Helsinki and would never go back. It was boring and locals were outwardly rude to tourists.

That’s discouraging. I was randomly born there and I’ve always wanted to visit as an adult, but this is a little offputting.

Costa Rica. Its not as safe as it use to be now. I heard a lot of people are now opting out of Costa Rica and instead traveling to El Salvador.

Anonymous wrote:Can’t say I hated it, we enjoyed Prague, but the crowds were exhausting. It was like being in Disney. I also got a Prague card, thinking it would save me from standing in the long ticket line. Well, guess what? I had to stand in the equally long line to convert Prague ticket to a paper Prague castle ticket.

I just read Dan Brown’s “Secret of Secrets,” which is based in Prague. Not my favorite Dan Brown book, but his descriptions of Prague were captivating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Upstate New York. Buffalo, Albany, Rochester & Syracuse are all crime ridden dumps and the whole area is depressing. Ithaca minus Cornell's campus is in the middle of nowhere and a bunch of hippie spots that aren't worth visiting. The weather is horrible- grey, cold, depressing

I think Buffalo is not that bad: Lake Erie is really pretty and the fall colors up there are gorgeous, plus it's a very short drive to Canada. Agree on the others.

Agree. I like Buffalo. I’m not going there for a true vacation, but for a quick visit, I think it’s nice. I also really like Niagara Falls. For me, it’s like the Grand Canyon- been many times, but always blown away by it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Upstate New York. Buffalo, Albany, Rochester & Syracuse are all crime ridden dumps and the whole area is depressing. Ithaca minus Cornell's campus is in the middle of nowhere and a bunch of hippie spots that aren't worth visiting. The weather is horrible- grey, cold, depressing

I think Buffalo is not that bad: Lake Erie is really pretty and the fall colors up there are gorgeous, plus it's a very short drive to Canada. Agree on the others.

These are cream of the crop compared to Binghamton.

No one goes to Binghamton for vacation. Trust me. I went to college there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lima, Peru.

I loved everywhere else traveling in Peru but Lima felt like a way different scenario. Streets and different areas felt like I was going to Cairo, Egypt except its in Latin America (which is weird because Cairo was my most recent trip at the time), buildings are all in bricks with empty windows and are probably unfinished and it is extremely crowded with probably the worst traffic I had seen in any city.

I find it weird how so many people compare Peru to Egypt. They aren't even related aside that their cities do look a bit similar.

Lima was okay. I spent only 3 days there but it really is a hit or moss. Excellent food, but people were not nice.

DP

But I wonder if the perceived similarities are the crowds, chaos, bad driving, and overall trash/filth in a touristy area where the locals aren’t welcoming and personal safety can be an issue? Plus the rundown buildings?

FTR, I’m the kind of traveler who is low-maintenance and enjoys seeing anything new and different, but I know tons of seasoned travelers who enjoyed Egypt and Peru overall for select reasons but readily admit the reality of how the main cities are (crowded, dirty, chaotic, and sometimes not safe…particularly if you are American and even worse if you are Jewish).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lima, Peru.

I loved everywhere else traveling in Peru but Lima felt like a way different scenario. Streets and different areas felt like I was going to Cairo, Egypt except its in Latin America (which is weird because Cairo was my most recent trip at the time), buildings are all in bricks with empty windows and are probably unfinished and it is extremely crowded with probably the worst traffic I had seen in any city.

I find it weird how so many people compare Peru to Egypt. They aren't even related aside that their cities do look a bit similar.

Lima was okay. I spent only 3 days there but it really is a hit or moss. Excellent food, but people were not nice.

It looks more like Afghanistan.

Anonymous wrote:Lima, Peru.

I loved everywhere else traveling in Peru but Lima felt like a way different scenario. Streets and different areas felt like I was going to Cairo, Egypt except its in Latin America (which is weird because Cairo was my most recent trip at the time), buildings are all in bricks with empty windows and are probably unfinished and it is extremely crowded with probably the worst traffic I had seen in any city.

I find it weird how so many people compare Peru to Egypt. They aren't even related aside that their cities do look a bit similar.

Lima was okay. I spent only 3 days there but it really is a hit or moss. Excellent food, but people were not nice.

Anonymous wrote:Lima, Peru.

I loved everywhere else traveling in Peru but Lima felt like a way different scenario. Streets and different areas felt like I was going to Cairo, Egypt except its in Latin America (which is weird because Cairo was my most recent trip at the time), buildings are all in bricks with empty windows and are probably unfinished and it is extremely crowded with probably the worst traffic I had seen in any city.

I lived there for 2 years and liked it a lot, but it's a little difficult to pentrate, so to speak, on first/short visit so I can totally see what you are talking about. There is a reason most guides basically say to use it as an entry and exit point to the rest of Peru for a vacation. Even as a fluent Spanish speaker who had lived in other Latin American cities, there was a learning curve before I felt like I could navigate it well and come to love it. That said, super nice people, some amazing neighborhoods, and I rank it up with Tokyo and Paris in best food anywhere and I have lived in 20+ countries.

I strongly disliked Helsinki and would never go back. It was boring and locals were outwardly rude to tourists.

Anonymous wrote:Lake como. Tourist trap. Unbelievably busy. Super expensive

I loved Lake Como, but visited in the winter. It was lovely and there were no tourists.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't like New Orleans. Had a creepy strange vibe. Very unwelcoming.

I loved New Orleans. There was a communal spirit of friendliness there. Where were you that felt creepy?

The parade routes and the French Quarter during Mardi Gras.

NP but you didn’t interact with any New Orleanians except the bartenders on Bourbon. Locals don’t go to the Quarter for Mardi Gras. Visit again at a different time, or do a smaller parade uptown. New Orleans is amazing, friendly and has such a unique culture.

Lima, Peru.

I loved everywhere else traveling in Peru but Lima felt like a way different scenario. Streets and different areas felt like I was going to Cairo, Egypt except its in Latin America (which is weird because Cairo was my most recent trip at the time), buildings are all in bricks with empty windows and are probably unfinished and it is extremely crowded with probably the worst traffic I had seen in any city.