Yeah, that's basically how I feel about our international trip over the summer. We vetted everything, planned a lot, but our kids just didn't like the destination that much and it felt kind of like a bust. Like you, we made the most of it and still managed to have fun, but it wound up being a lot of money for less fun than we've had for much less money.

But I don't really regret it. I think with time, the fun memories will stick out more because we were in a far flung place we'd never been before, and the struggles will fade a bit. I also view it as a lesson in what works for our family. I'm already planning our next big trip and I've decided to do something super kid-centric. DH is a bit resistant, but I think this trip helped him realize that making the kids happy can make our experience a lot better too. Maybe these next few years we do more kid and family oriented stuff, and then once the kids are middle schoolers, we can try another international trip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is how I felt about the Del on Coronado Island. Shabby and in great need of a refresh. DH insisted we stay there even though it was totally overpriced.

I wasn’t impressed by the Del either.

Oh yes, same, when we went back in 2013. But they’ve renovated much of it now and it’s really nice.

I also feel disappointed by almost every house around deep creek. They’re always 20% worse than they look

I read TripAdvisor reviews very carefully and am pretty good at knowing what I’ll get. I find it way more reliable than this forum.

Anonymous wrote:Boar's Head Inn, I'll never go back. Was told they don't like to seat "women who are alone". This was the dining room.

They thought I was a hooker? Idk

Is that even constitutional? da fuq.

I find that if we post a honest review of a hotel or a city that's negative, some PP pounce and argue with you, calling you a snowflake, that you're not cut out for travel, etc. on this forum.

If those are just trolls, trying to stir things up, that's unfortunate. Whatever the reason, it makes me hesitant to post negative reviews on this forum.

I agree to review multiple sources. I tend to be fairly detail oriented so I'm either aware there are some downsides and so there are no surprises or I know enough to book something else. But that does take time, which isn't always easy.

Anonymous wrote:You win some, and you lose some.

Live and learn.

Don't return.

Me again - I personally won't go back to Nemacolin, but at least now I know.

You win some, and you lose some.

Live and learn.

Don't return.

Boar's Head Inn, I'll never go back. Was told they don't like to seat "women who are alone". This was the dining room.

They thought I was a hooker? Idk

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Felt this way after dropping quite a bit of money on an East Africa safari earlier this year. We didn't go 'all out' -- we did a mid-range package with mid-range places, and it got so boring after 3 days. We were ready to go home. Plus the food was horrible and the accommodations, though they looked so luxe in the photos and the reviews, weren't like that at all.

That said, 'you don't know what you don't know' - and I don't regret it because if I wouldn't have done it, I would've regretted it. I'm glad for the experience but never, ever again

Can you give an example of where you stayed? Planning safari to Kenya and Serengeti now…and this is s big concern!

If you have any foreign service friends ask them if they have any pals in Kenya who could give you good recs for companies to go with.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is how I felt about the Del on Coronado Island. Shabby and in great need of a refresh. DH insisted we stay there even though it was totally overpriced.

To be fair, the Del was very charming and beautiful before Hilton bought it and ruined it.

Nope. Google says Hilton bought it in 2017. We were there before that (I’m the first PP who mentioned it here) and it was definitely shabby then.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for posting about Greenbrier and thanks to the PPs who gave info about Homestead and Hershey as well. For years I've considered all of these places, and this helps me not feel bad about not having pulled the trigger because of price.

I’m a Hershey Lodge PP, and while I thought the Lodge was a dump, we have enjoyed the Hotel Hershey several times. Last year, we went for just a night near Halloween, and the Hampton Inn in Harrisburg was perfectly fine, too. Don’t let the Hershey Lodge keep you away from HersheyPark!

Anonymous wrote:Felt this way after dropping quite a bit of money on an East Africa safari earlier this year. We didn't go 'all out' -- we did a mid-range package with mid-range places, and it got so boring after 3 days. We were ready to go home. Plus the food was horrible and the accommodations, though they looked so luxe in the photos and the reviews, weren't like that at all.

That said, 'you don't know what you don't know' - and I don't regret it because if I wouldn't have done it, I would've regretted it. I'm glad for the experience but never, ever again

Augh! I know that must have been expensive!
African safari is one place not on my bucket list.

Anonymous wrote:I mean, it's a bummer, but why dwell on it? Life doesn't always work out the way you want. We stayed at an AirBandB that was a total ripoff. I haven't thought about it since the day after we got back.

People dwell on it because they overspent on the vacation, which is becoming increasingly common. You didn’t think about it because it just wasn’t that much money to you.

I go to trip advisor and read the most recent reviews and also the worst reviews. You can usually get a sense of the place that way. I always look at traveler photos as well- not just what the hotel shares.

Anonymous wrote:This is how I felt about the Del on Coronado Island. Shabby and in great need of a refresh. DH insisted we stay there even though it was totally overpriced.

Still plenty to do in the San Diego area though! Staying at a not-so-great resort there is a lot better than in a more isolated locale.