Anonymous wrote:what about Moscow (not in the winter of course)? anyone not like it?

Never ever. What an awful country.

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Anonymous wrote:Italy

Where did you go?

Rome and Naples. Total dumps

Naples is terrible, but if you think Rome is a dump you didn’t do it right.

Naples is fabulous!

Don’t think you’ve actually ever been to Naples.

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Anonymous wrote:Italy

Where did you go?

Rome and Naples. Total dumps

Rome is a dump? Too many old buildings for your liking? You prefer more urban renewal I suppose.

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Anonymous wrote:I want to hear about why the people in Amsterdam weren’t nice. And the assholish ones in Spain?

The same propaganda people who come here and try to get us to foam at the mouth about trans kids, Central American gangs and holistic admissions steep Dutch people in propaganda about how we Americans are all shooting each other and letting all of the poor people die in the street without medical care, and about how people from other countries are generally moochers.

There’s certainly an element of truth in the stuff about America, but it’s being hyped up, distorted and used by people who mainly just want Putin to get Ukraine.

What? Dutch people weren’t friendly without knowing where I come from. Everything closed early, the weather was crappy, and people appeared to be uptight. Not my vibe, won’t come back.
I adored Spain and its people, though, guess they did not get the propaganda memo yet.

DP, and fair enough, but I don't think that makes them a-holes. Fair to say you found it overrated, but it's a different culture, not personal animosity. I lived in Vienna, Austria for 3 years and loved it, but the Austrians aren't American and it's definitely not a 24/7 culture. Some people hated that, but that doesn't make the Austrians a-holes.

Did not say they are a-holes or don't think so. Just not my destination. I think one should explain why they find a destination overrated, since experiences are subjective.

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Anonymous wrote:Italy

Where did you go?

Rome and Naples. Total dumps

Naples is terrible, but if you think Rome is a dump you didn’t do it right.

Naples is fabulous!

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Anonymous wrote:Hawaii-

Can you share more about what you found overrated about Hawaii? I’m considering a trip there next year.

Which islands were you underwhelmed by ?

I just feel there are equally amazing beaches/tropical destinations easier to get to from the East coast.

DP - such as?

I love Hawaii, but the trip is so long from here.

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Anonymous wrote:Italy

Where did you go?

Rome and Naples. Total dumps

Naples is terrible, but if you think Rome is a dump you didn’t do it right.

Bottom line folks: nearly every spot on earth that has a tourism industry is suffering from overtourism, thanks to increasing incomes worldwide and an increased ability to travel for leisure. Add to that the effects of Instagram and other social media and you have the situation we have today. I say this as someone who lived overseas the first 20 years of my life, have travelled extensively, and visited many of the sites mentioned here in the 60s and 70s before they were turned into objectified Disney-like caricatures for the benefit of tourists.

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Anonymous wrote:I want to hear about why the people in Amsterdam weren’t nice. And the assholish ones in Spain?

The same propaganda people who come here and try to get us to foam at the mouth about trans kids, Central American gangs and holistic admissions steep Dutch people in propaganda about how we Americans are all shooting each other and letting all of the poor people die in the street without medical care, and about how people from other countries are generally moochers.

There’s certainly an element of truth in the stuff about America, but it’s being hyped up, distorted and used by people who mainly just want Putin to get Ukraine.

What? Dutch people weren’t friendly without knowing where I come from. Everything closed early, the weather was crappy, and people appeared to be uptight. Not my vibe, won’t come back.
I adored Spain and its people, though, guess they did not get the propaganda memo yet.

DP, and fair enough, but I don't think that makes them a-holes. Fair to say you found it overrated, but it's a different culture, not personal animosity. I lived in Vienna, Austria for 3 years and loved it, but the Austrians aren't American and it's definitely not a 24/7 culture. Some people hated that, but that doesn't make the Austrians a-holes.

Anonymous wrote:what about Moscow (not in the winter of course)? anyone not like it?

Moscow is amazing in summer and winter, I’m sad that I will probably never go back there.

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Anonymous wrote:Rome

Greatest city in the world.

Achingly beautiful, amazing food, excellent mass transit, 20 minutes to the beach.

from Rome?

By train - Ostia.

Not true. Pp said 20 minutes to the beach from Rome. The train takes 45 minutes so there is no “20 minutes to the beach” from Rome.

I have nothing to say about the beach, but Ostia is very cool.

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Anonymous wrote:what about Moscow (not in the winter of course)? anyone not like it?

Moscow seemed bleak and cruel to me. Maybe I'm projecting. It was also November and very cold. St. Petersburg on the other hand is a beautiful city. Wouldn't go to either for the foreseeable future.

November is the worst time to go. I am surprised you managed to like St. Petersburg in November.

Russia is defined by winter. In St. Petersburg, you can wear your fur hat and get all Dr. Zhivago-like. Moscow was like being in Mordor.

November is not winter. Moscow in winter can be magical.

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Anonymous wrote:what about Moscow (not in the winter of course)? anyone not like it?

Moscow seemed bleak and cruel to me. Maybe I'm projecting. It was also November and very cold. St. Petersburg on the other hand is a beautiful city. Wouldn't go to either for the foreseeable future.

November is the worst time to go. I am surprised you managed to like St. Petersburg in November.

Russia is defined by winter. In St. Petersburg, you can wear your fur hat and get all Dr. Zhivago-like. Moscow was like being in Mordor.

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Anonymous wrote:Bali.

I have never understood the appeal -- it's such a long flight and there are so many other tropical destinations that are closer. It's just resorts. If I'm flying to that part of the world, I want to actually experience local culture a bit more than that. Just go to Hawaii.

Why would you just stay in resorts? There is more to Bali than that...

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Anonymous wrote:what about Moscow (not in the winter of course)? anyone not like it?

Moscow seemed bleak and cruel to me. Maybe I'm projecting. It was also November and very cold. St. Petersburg on the other hand is a beautiful city. Wouldn't go to either for the foreseeable future.

November is the worst time to go. I am surprised you managed to like St. Petersburg in November.

I dunno, March is pretty rough too.

At least in March there is hope for summer, no such hope in November.