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Lonely Planet‘s Best in Europe list-your thoughts please

Lonely Planet‘s Best in Europe list-your thoughts please

Old May 24th, 2017, 11:33 AM
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Lonely Planet‘s Best in Europe list-your thoughts please

I came across this list. I'm curious because we were discussing interesting cities on the UK forum and Leeds came up. I'm also interested in your opinions on Zaghreb and Alentejo.

You can see the list here
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in...=lp-affiliates



Thanks
Esperanza77 is offline  
Old May 24th, 2017, 12:31 PM
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Rubbish - those are no doubt nice places but a zillion just as nice or nicer.

I mean Leeds assumingly the best place in UK and one of top 4 in Europe?

Northern Montenegro

Galicia in Spain

Zagreb (well I did find it especially nice but again plenty other places just as nice or nicer IMO)

Alentejo, Portugal

Gotland, Sweden

Yes all nice places but just some of many.

Pablum!
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Old May 24th, 2017, 01:42 PM
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topping
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Old May 24th, 2017, 01:54 PM
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Interesting mix of places, highly subjective.
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Old May 24th, 2017, 10:31 PM
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Just glad that the area I live in is 3rd position. However information on why it is listed is rather scant. Maybe we are meant to purchase something (ebook/paper book) to read more.
There is far more to Galicia than any of the Caminos to SdC.
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Old May 24th, 2017, 10:53 PM
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Highly subjective, as Robert said. It all depends on the eyes of the writer. If you read about what he/she wrote about Zagreb, nothing stood out to make it the "bestest" of Europe, just another "cosmopolitan and edgy" city. I've been to Zagreb, while it charmed me I wouldn't put it on my top list. Even inside Croatia I prefer Zadar to Zagreb.
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Old May 25th, 2017, 03:00 AM
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As in many "lists" I think you need to keep in mind the type of traveler who would use Lonely Planet publications. If they are not like you then any list might seem less than "perfect."

Please remember that I said like you and not better or worse than you.
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Old May 25th, 2017, 03:57 AM
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Been to all.

Moldova, apart from the Stench of corruption is pretty but I'd avoid

Le Havre, has some major brutalist architecture and just nice little art gallery, but is attractive to the Fat Boats that dump their customer there to get to Paris, Givrey and Honfleur. Personally I think it is a dump

Live in Leeds, seems to miss just about all the things that makes it a pleasant place, bizarre.

Paphos, well, hardly that exciting

Northern Germany (think of the effort that went into de-selecting Southern Germany)

Ditto Northern Montenegro

Gotland must deserve at least 30 minutes out of a life.
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Old May 25th, 2017, 07:44 AM
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Robert2016***highly subjective.***

FuryFluffy ***Highly subjective, as Robert said. It all depends on the eyes of the writer.***

Dukey1 ***If they are not like you then any list might seem less than "perfect."***

Ironic postings?
Is this not what the forum is about too. Giving ideas, help, advise to those who we may never meet or know?
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Old May 25th, 2017, 08:04 AM
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Maybe this list is designed to take some of the "tourist pressure" off of the more iconic (and IMO much more interesting) cities. These would all seem like palces you might want to go on your 20th trip to Europe?
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Old May 25th, 2017, 08:59 AM
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suec--that's what I thought when I read it, or for people who (a) had been everywhere or (b) want to go somewhere where there weren't that many people or (c) want to go someplace that is celebrating some special something.

A couple of those are on my list (e.g. hoping to get to Galicia next year) but overall, most would not be my choices for "hot places."

And Dukey, I do use Lonely Planet.
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Old May 25th, 2017, 11:31 AM
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ribeirasacra: did you actually read what's written on that link, or did you just criticize for the sake of critic? At least I read it. There are subjective articles, and there are Highly subjective articles. The lonely planet article above didn't really provide any helpful information, it was a very non-characteristic writing. Yeah, all of those destinations have architectures, landscapes and foods. Really?

Consequently, it just gave a list without much of interesting arguments.
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Old May 25th, 2017, 01:23 PM
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All these stupid lists are just lazy ways to put up another blog post or to try to sell something. Why ten and not five, or twelve? Why have a list at all? And Moldova???
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Old May 25th, 2017, 02:30 PM
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Leeds? Yes an interesting city but a top place to go in UK?

Enough said.
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Old May 25th, 2017, 11:24 PM
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I think Leeds/York/Hull is a worthwhile trio to drop by or you could stick Harrogate instead of Hull, Huddersfield or even Halifax (there is a traditional joke there but maybe not today)
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Old May 26th, 2017, 12:27 AM
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Guess what? I USE Lonely Planet, too, but I do not think just because Lonely Planet says something is "the best" or "good" means that it is.

It is called "using Lonely Planet WISELY."
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Old May 26th, 2017, 12:53 AM
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FuryFluffy Yes I did read, hence my question. I really cannot help but think the recommendations on this forums are often lists with no real reason.
Why are there fourms, guide books, bloggers or YouTube Vloggers. They all make lists or recommendations in the same manner.
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Old May 26th, 2017, 02:08 AM
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ribeirasacra: on the contrary, recommendations in this forum (fodors forum, not fodors media articles) are often personalized and with very particular reasons. They are written by common folks with generally genuine preferences, in respond to specific questions, not a piece of journalism to woo the crowd. Take for examples the front page of fodors forum at the moment: a family trip with teenagers to London, then London Dungeons is suggested to the OP, because that might be the things teenagers would want; a solo trip to Paris with a hurt heel, then 5th arrondissement is listed as the best to stay.

Of course, if people are swayed by the kind of Lonely planet article above, then it's absolutely no problem for me. I just have a (highly subjective) opinion that the writing is too vague.
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Old May 26th, 2017, 02:55 AM
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Lonely Planet's object is to sell guidebooks . . .. no? I bet few have those for N Germany, Leeds, Le Havre. . . I think many people like having ideas for paths less traveled and if this list gives people ideas and sells guidebooks, well????
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Old May 26th, 2017, 03:29 AM
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Can't say Leeds or Le Havre will ever hold any major appeal to me, but I do agree about Northern Germany. OK, maybe not for the first trip to that country, although not everyone is into the Alps and all that goes with Bavaria.

We are big fans of northern Germany. Luebeck, Bremen, Sylt (not mentioned but not that far from Hamburg), etc. Although not quite as north as the others, we also love the off-the-beaten track but beautiful areas like the Teutoburger Wald and Münsterland (which gave the world a fantastic breed of dog, the Münsterlander, both large and small)...
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