I travel frequently for work. Other than the occasional really great meal, I can imagine visiting most US cities for vacation.

Why people rave about vacations to cities like Chicago, Nashville, Portland, Seattle, Boston, LA, SF is just odd to me.

Again there are some great restaurants and amazing art, but I don't get going to these places for vacations.

Bali, Indonesia. Some of it was very trashy. Amazingly trashy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Something that people are now waking up to--much of italy outside of the major cities is very developing world, poor infrastructure, and inefficient.

Most places are inefficient, to keep the tourists out. You don't go to Italy for their "efficiency" you go for the people, food, scenery......

There is a ton of graft in the "PIGS" countries. Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain

My brother in law was concently solicitated for kickbacks when he gave small contracts on the military base in Italy. He had to tell people repeatedly that the US
govt pays by check and that he could not pay them in cash. This was constant.

I’m the pp who posted about inefficiency and yes this is what I mean. Corruption might be better.

Hilton head

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been to San Fran a handful of times, and it’s just underwhelming. Ditto for Seattle.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Not that it's hyped a ton, but other than the weather I really don't like L.A. Found it really depressing.

Totes.

I found Los Angels depressing AF.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Costa Rica.

It was super tacky and felt like being in Florida-in the worst way.

Wow really? Where did you go? I lived there almost twenty five years ago for a year and it was gorgeous.

Agree! Spectacular place with amazingly kind people.

CR is nothing like Florida, FFS.

I actually just assume any hyped destination will be a total let down. My other rule of thumb is any place where tourists hugely outnumber locals going about their lives will also be terrible. Florence, Venice, Iceland, and others come to mind here.

Also, London is amazing. Yes, the changing of the guard is a truly terrible experience but it is such an amazing city with so much to see, do, and eat!

Lots of letdowns but Dracula’s castle had to be the worst. So bad it’s funny.

Anonymous wrote:I thought I'd love Portland, Oregon but it was just ok. I liked Minneapolis better.

I was really looking forward to floating in the Dead Sea and riding a camel in Israel but both were less comfortable and smellier than I expected.

Can you describe what the Dead Sea was like?

I thought I'd love Portland, Oregon but it was just ok. I liked Minneapolis better.

I was really looking forward to floating in the Dead Sea and riding a camel in Israel but both were less comfortable and smellier than I expected.

Anonymous wrote:Asheville. Way more hippy and homeless that I was expecting.

+1 the Blue Ridge Mountains are gorgeous, but the town esp the culture, meh

Wild Wood, NJ - not really surprising, though we have friends who love it; Cape May - very charming.
Portland, ME - kinda crappy town, the surrounding coastal towns are lovely though

Not that it's hyped a ton, but other than the weather I really don't like L.A. Found it really depressing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Something that people are now waking up to--much of italy outside of the major cities is very developing world, poor infrastructure, and inefficient.

Much the same as here then.

Obviously you've done a lot of travel in the United States...

The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. SO unbelievably crowded so you couldn't really see any of the works of art, and just really boring. We had more fun at lunch at a local Saint Petersburg restaurant.