"Been There, Done That" vs "Must Return"
 

As I was reading through various topics tonight, I was struck by the wide range of what people enjoy in their travels. What is a truly special experience to some, is just mildly interesting to others. It's part of what makes the world interesting, but for travel advice, you will likely be happier giving more weight to postings from people who enjoy similar tastes.

So I thought I'd throw out a post asking folks to rate places on a 1-10 scale for THEMSELVES, with 1 being a "I'd rather sit in a hotel room watching incomprehensible TV than go to that site", and 10 being a "I return here again and again instead of exploring more of the world". 5's are places that you may well return to sometimes because of some external factor (cost, going with someone else, etc).

I'll throw a few of mine out; some are regions/cities, others are specific attractions in an area. I figure I can't afford any 10's, or I'd never see anything new (actually, there was one "10" for me in the US, but it's no longer an option).

I know I'm not in tune with the norm, that's not the point. You can and should have your own different values for many of these places.

London - 8 so much to do and see

Paris - 5 in comparison with London, I can't enjoy the theatre.

Venice - 9 I'm not sure why; it surprised me that I liked it so much.

Munich - 2 Another big city (I may not have given it sufficient chance).

Oxford - 5 Fun to visit once.

Devon/Cornwall - 8 We really enjoyed this area

Scotland - 7 Also enjoyable, but didn't grab us quite as much (could have used more time there, though)

Cote D'Azur - 5 I'd go back, but not as a top priority, and not spending lots of time in Nice or Monaco.

Provence - 6 Maybe because we live in California, while we enjoyed Provence, it didn't really grab us.

Normandy - 8 It was a combination of the villages, the friendliness of the people, the D-Day connection...

Calais/Pas-du-Nord 2 Nothing much to see, and unfriendly in feel.

Salzburg region - 9 People and scenery; we really enjoyed.

Rhine River - 5 The most scenic areas were interesting, but we liked the Mosel better.

Mosel River - 8 Charming towns, low key, nice people.

Black Forest - 3 Didn't compare to the forests and mountains elsewhere (including here in California).

Versaille - 6 Being trashed in the revolution takes away some of the feel of continuous history from the place.

Stonehenge - 3 Just doesn't do it for me.

Tower of London - 9 But this one does; go figure.

Westminster Abbey - 9 Deep sense of history.

St Pauls - 5 Another big church

Notre Dame - 6 Maybe the trashing from the revolution effect

Chartres Cathredral - 9 The stained glass, and the preserved surroundings, and the magic on our first visit.

Neuchwanstein - 6 Well worth a first visit, not so much a draw for a return.

Chiemsee - 7 The lake setting is special.

Hampton Court - 6 Again worth visiting once, not as high for a return. Suburban surroundings.

Windsor - 7 The town adds to the draw here.

Blenheim Palace - 7 Village, house, and park all work together on this one.

Throwing a few of my top non-European ones in; Great Barrier Reef - 9, Yosemite - 9, Hawaii - 6 (but volcano is 9), Williamsburg - 7, ... Oh well, it was fun thinking back to some of those trips; with the current exchange rate, we're doing less overseas travel.

Of the places I've been (scale being hypothetical as my European travels are limited):

Rome, 9: The more trip reports I read, the more I want to go back!

N Ireland, 8: Much left undone from the last visit.

England, 5: Return would be nice, not necessary (except maybe to go to a Premiership match)

Paris, TBD: we leave in 5 weeks! Again, though, the more I read, the more ready I am to go!

Hi C,

Interesting question,

Paris - 11
Venice - 10
The Dordogne region - 9
The Amalfi Coast - 8
Copenhagen - 7
Prague - 6
London - 5
Naples - 4
Amsterdam - 3
Munich - 2
Rodez - 1

((I))

Paris -10 – been there bunches of times but it keeps calling me back, just got back and would go again tomorrow

Northumberland area of England - 10 – Beautiful area and friendliest folks ever

Mull - 10 – I could live there

The rest of Scotland - 9 – If I could just learn the language

Rome - 5 – just doesn’t draw me like the others

Venice - 6 – after several visits, the charm wanes and it starts to look more touristy

Belgium - 9 – especially Brugge, Ghent, Antwerp

Amsterdam - 5 – maybe if I was younger

Germany - 5 – I’ve seen the highlights, not dreaming of seeing them again

Anywhere in Eastern Europe - 9 – I’m always pleasantly surprised

Paris-9
Venice-9
Positano-8
Capri--7 (Blue Grotto-1)
Vegas-9
Siena-9
Key West-9
New Orleans-8
Sicily-summer-2
Sicily-fall--8
San Franciso-8
Anywhere with my loving wife--12

1: France, anywhere. 2: Rome

Been so many places: but I will take a stab:

Paris: ( like Ira, but I'll say 12, just to be different): I do go back frequently

Cote D' Azur: 10 : spent a summer here and would go back in a heartbeat

Normandy: 5: enjoyed, but once was probably enough. If had the occasion to go back, would go

Barcelona: 10+: loved it loved it

Madrid: 3: not high on my list again

London: 10: Love this city, but find it hard with exchange rate and we are luxury travelers to boot!

Small towns in England( oxford, Great Milton, etc): 3-4: Not really a small town gal nor is DH a small town guy
Cuties though

Ireland: 3: Saw the whole country. Once was enough. People: great. But to tell the truth , I need more bustle and more of a Med feel

Scotland: 3: As above. Again, lovely, glad we went.

Amsterdam: 3-4: once was enough. Good time though

Germany: 4-5: I'm just not a big fan of Germany for personal reasons, but very glad to have experienced Munich and Berlin for the history

Austria: 5: Seen enogh of it now. No need or draw to go back. Lovely and highly recommend

Prague: 7; Darling, darling

Switzerland: 7-8: Would want to go back and spend a bit more time

Croatia: 9-10: A winner all around.

Slovenia: 4: cutie, but I'm done

Greece: 12-13!!! LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT. Would move there!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Italy: 12-13: Go back as often as I can. Capri: 13+! Florence: 13+, rome 12, Venice: 10, Milan: 5, Amalfi Coast: 13+ Naples: 5, Vatican: 7 ( would like to do it again)

Belgium: 5. Am going again this summer as a layover to home. Excited to see Brussels again, especially for the chocolate and mussels and the Grand Place ( my favorite square in Europe), but would have not made a special trip again if not for a layover.

Hungary: 7: Needed more time there. I'm half Hungarian

Montenegro: 4: Pretty, but one of those that I did and now done

Monaco: 10+: love all of it. Like this kind of setting. To eat at Louis 15th again would be my idea of heaven!

Mexico: 8, going again for New Year

Japan: 9: would like the chance to go again

Thailand: 12+ LOVED IT!!!!

China: 8: Would love to explore more of it, especially Shanghai

Argentina: 13+ Ready to pack up and move to Buenos Aires!!!

Uruguay: 4: Cutie, but no burning need to return

Brazil: 6: need more time to explore outside Rio

Canada: 9: the flight is cheap and it's close, why don't I go more???
LOVE MONTREAL!

In anticipation of my summer trip I am going to guess the following:;

Copenhagen: 7
Stockholm: 8
Russia: 7-8

nice thread, thanks!

I forgot to add under Italy:

Tuscany Hill towns: 12+: Not being a small town gal, but these are different. Love them: siena, Montalcino, Pienza, Greve in Chianti....aaaaahhhhhhh!!!!

Paris - 10 - been there twice and could go back again and again

London - 8 - great city, but exhausting

Lynmouth, England - 10 - darling town, would love to go back

Tintagel, England - 8 - I'm a King Arthur buff - what can I say?

Oxford - 5 - loved it, but spent 6 weeks there in college, so I think I've been there, done that

Barcelona - 11 - I loved this city, but only had 3 days there. Not enough time.

Collioure - GORGEOUS - 10 - I could live here

The Lot Valley - 12 - I want to move here for real

Cadaques - 5 - Dali's house was cool, but not really charmed by this town.

Florence - 10
Portovenere - 10 GREAT food

Venice - 8 - only would go back if I could rent a flat and cook my own food

Salt Cay, Turks and Caicos - 5/10. This gets a 5 b/c we had terrible accommodations and the island is very rustic. It gets a 10 b/c it is gorgeous and quiet

The Florida Keys - 8 - been there several times and we always enjoy it, but it's crowded and pricey

Tuscany/Montalcino - 10 - loved the villa we rented there

Verona 10
Florence 10
Siena 10
ok, just about anywhere in Italy 10
Madrid 6
Barcelona 7
Granada 6
Sevilla 4
Toledo 2
Majorca 6
London 7
Edinburgh 5
Languedoc 7
Monaco 3
Ireland 4
Wales 4
Middle East 1

Forgive me if I don't use your number system, but the places I visited to which I'd love to return are:

Barcelona
Florence
Costa Rica
Arizona
and always Paris

Good idea.

Paris -- 10
Rome -- 10
London -- 9 (lived there a while)
Mexico City and colonial Mexican cities -- 8
Northern England/Scotland -- 8
Naples -- 8
Normandy -- 7
Florence/Tuscany -- 7
Sevilla -- 7
Amalfi Coast/Capri -- 7
Madrid -- 6
Belize -- 6
Venice -- 5
Amsterdam -- 5
Brussels -- 5
Switzerland -- 5
Vienna -- 4
Germany -- 3
Caribbean & Mexican beach resorts -- 2
Disney World, West Africa, Vatican Museums (until they get the crowds sorted out) -- 1

Sticking just to Europe, I'd happily return to most of the places we've been. There's no place (knock wood) so far that I'd absolutely hate to visit again. In the middle ground are:

Munich 5 (nothing wrong with it, there are just so many other places in Germany I'd rather go to)
Amsterdam 4
Ghent (Belgium) 3 Would far rather go to Leuven.
Maastricht 2.5
Milan 5 (same as Munich, although if I were going with a huge shopping budget, the ranking would skyrocket up to a 10!)

Paris 10 -- always a thrill and feeling of "being home"
Marseille 10 -- loved sitting in a cafe overlooking the old port and the sights and sounds in the Arab quarter. It calls me back
Arles 8 -- want to wander through the Roman ruins again
Aix 3 -- Other than Cezanne's atelier, I was not impressed
Rousillon 9 --loved the colors and general ambiance
London 5 -- I'd return for the theater and museums, but there's no thrill for me there.
Morocco -- 10 plus. Enchanting country
Madrid - 8, my first stop in Europe many years ago; evokes romantic memories
Ireland -- 9 loved the southwest coast: Mizen Head, the Beara Peninsula, Glengariff, want to visit Dingle and Galway.
Florence 6 -- Too crowded but I'd return with hopes for a better experience
Rome 8 -- Lots more to see there
Venice 10 -- but I've only been once many years ago and it was not filled with tourists so I may feel differently next visit.
Prague 5 -- I waited too long to go; it was filled with English-speaking tourists and I had the impression the Czechs were tired of tourists crowding the city, even in October. I enjoyed the architecture and food, but ...
Germany 4 Kind of been there, done that, doesn't call me back
Amsterdam -- same as above
Brussels -- 5 I wasn't impressed but have been reading some good things so may go again if in the neighborhood.

Interesting thread... I've only been to a few places in Europe though so I don't have much to contribute!

Amsterdam - 9 - SO much to see there and I'm dying to go back.

The Hague - 3 - Maybe because we went on a rainy day but this city disappointed me.

Brussels - 6 - Grand Place wowed me but, don't really have a desire to go back.

Brugge - 10 - LOVED this quaint town!! Want to take my husband there someday.

hi, curmudgeon,

glad you liked Cornwall and devon so much - what was their appeal, exactly? [always difficult to be objective when you live somewhere touristy, like cornwall].

my list is;
Paris, 8,
Rome, 8,
the loire ,10,
venice, 9,
sw france, 6,
madrid,3,
switzerland, 6,
germany, 6.

probably missed out a lot and will kick myself later.

regards, ann

My picks (included non-Europe too):

10 Egypt - fascinating
9 Morocco
8 Venice
8 Dachau Concentration Camp - rated for impact
8 Baveria - beautiful; Germany nice and clean
8 Santorini
8 S. Korea
7 London
7 Istanbul
O.K. I could go on and on so better stop there!! So many memories! Next trip - China 9/07

Hi Ann,

About Cornwall and Devon... We didn't have preset plans when we visited the area, so as we found an area we liked while driving, we would look for a B&B. As an example, when we drove into Newquay, we found it completely uninspiring, but heading a few miles up the coast we found a small village that really charmed us where we stayed for several nights. We enjoyed a number of the small port towns such as Padstow, visiting a few of the old big estates, and the character of some of the older small villages. Coming from the western US, where a 50-year old industrial building may be "historic", and the size and mechanization of the farms prevented the development of villages, it's the contrast that made the area so enjoyable to us.

Hi C,

Fun question. Here's my list (my husband and I just got back from a 3 week trip to Italy:

Rome: 10 - Can't get enough of this wonderful city. Borghese Gallery is a 12!

Florence: 10 - Loved the shopping and they have great food, too. Loved seeing David again.

Tuscany: 10 - Loved all the hill towns. The countryside is beautiful.

Siena: 10 - Our favorite hill town. We love to hang out in Il Campo and people watch.

Venice: 5 - We are glad we went but don't have any real desire to go back. Seemed too much like Disneyland to us. But had some great food there (we were there 5 years ago).

Paris: 5 - We haven't been for about 15 years. We are thinking of going back. We like Italy better. We loved Versailles.

London: 5 - London is great but very expensive. We've been twice now and feel we've seen enough.

Germany: 5 - Enjoyed the castles and walled cities but don't feel the need to go back.

We've really enjoyed all our travels to Europe, but our favorite is Italy and we want to go back and see even more of this wonderful country.

What a great thread! Here's my choices.
Italy-10 anywhere there especially Venice and Calabria.
France-8
New Zealand-8 a fantastic place to visit.
Australia-10 Too big to only go once!
China-4
Cambodia-9 Siem Reap and Phnom Penh!
Ireland-9 both Northern and Republic
England- 9
Wales- 7
Peru-8 Cusco and Lima
Switzerland-7
Austria-7
Caribbean- 10 anywhere!
Mexico-Puerto Vallarta-8 Matazlan- 5 Cancun-5
Costa Rica-5
Panama-5
Belize-8
Nicaragua- 5
Canada- 9
Suz

Fun question, thanks.

Israel 10+
Russia 2
Georgia 7
Switzerland 9
Lugano 10
Zurich 4
Geneva 4
Lausanne, Montreux 9
Zermatt 8
Venezuela 6
Spain 8
Granada 10
Barcelona 9
Madrid 8
Seville 6
Arcos 5
Italy 10
Verona 9
Venice 9
Positano 10
Varenna 10
Tuscan hilltowns 9
Siena (cathedral inside) 9
Rome 9
Florence 9
France 9
Paris 9
Provence 10
Monaco 5
Carcassonne 6 Great, but 2-ce is enough
Lyon 6
Dijon 6
Sweden 7
Denmark 7
Norway 8.5
Amsterdam 5
coastal Holland 9
Brussels 5
Vienna 6
England 7

London - 10 is it because I know London a bit better, because my goddaughter is there?, is it the tube? I don't know, I just really love London

Paris - 6 I feel guilty that I didn't love it more, although truly I enjoyed it. Laure says I have to come back when she has her baby so maybe it will grow on me

Edinburgh - 7 Love it, but not as big a draw back as London

Madrid - 3 Glad I got to visit, probably will visit again on business but I doubt vacation

Switzerland - okay, I know it's a whole country, but I've had three business trips there and I think it's beautiful. I HAVE to make plans for a vacation there.

Outside of Europe

Australia - 15. Next one in November.
Belize 8. Loved the people we met in our travels there.
Colorado 9. Mostly never tire of it, but getting hard to fit in the domestic trip.
NYC 10. Enough said.
Texas. It's a bird and warm weather thing. Oh, and golf. I can't believe I vacation in Texas (long standing parents from Texas issues)

Practically everything is an 8 and above.

I give Madrid a 2 - wouldn;t bother again.

Munich gets a 6 - OK - but only if I'm doing something else in the area.

Scotland - 13 - love it so much I want to live there
England - 9 (been to Scotland and England several times but cannot get enough)
London - 7 (would like to return but probably only once more)
Wales - 9
Rome - 9 (would never tire of that city)
Venice - 8 (would like to return once more)
Prague - 9 - loved it
Czech countryside - 9
Croatia - 13 (want to live there in the winter, Scotland in the summer)
Germany - 7 - would definitely return
Paris - 2 - not all it's cracked up to be - would never return (food's good, though)
Tuscany - 8 - would love to return
Switzerland - 7
Austria - 9 - find Austria to be magical
Provence - 8
Iceland - 5 - beautiful but would not likely return
Sicily - 9 - love the laid-back lifestyle
Rest of Italy - 9
Niagara Falls - 1 (so disappointing that I am still bitter about it!!)

Next year Romania - I can tell it will be a 9 already
Next year Turkey - I believe it will be a 9 also

hi, curmudgeon,

thanks for your comments upon Cornwall. I think we'd all agree about Newquay, though it does have some good high-end accommodations.

locals tend to avoid Padstow in season too [as well as St. Ives, see other thread], but then we tend to avoid most places unless we have to go there!

regards, ann

10- Lac Leman area, Switzerland
10- Venice
8- Paris
5- Amsterdam

Paris 8, London 6, Amsterdam 5, Brussels 5, Antwerp 3, Rotterdam 3, Cotwolds 8, Stonehenge 1, Versaille 7, Bath 7, Windsor 7, Haarlem 5.

• Paris 10 - could return every year, especially in late spring
• Chartes 10 - gorgeous
• London 7 - been there twice and will probably not return
• The Cotswalds 8 – beautiful
• Lake District 8 – wonderfully romantic
• Ireland 10 - loved it so much in 2003 that I went back again in 2004 and can’t wait to return again
• Rome 9 - so much to see
• Florence 10 – had the good sense not to go when it was hot and crowded
• Venice 10 – it just haunts me
• Milan 5 – good museums, great shopping
• Bologna 5 – good food
• Italy overall 12 – my favorite country
• Amsterdam 8 – fun city and cute
• Vienna 5
• Switzerland 8 - beautiful
• Munich 6 – fun city
• Black Forest – 6
• New York City 10
• Kauai 10
• Sedona, Arizona 10
• Santa Fe, New Mexico 8
• San Francisco 9
• Seattle 8
• Las Vegas 0
• Dallas 1
• Florida 2

I was just getting used to the new format and was perusing threads I had contributed to over the years.

I remember this one as one of my favorite threads and since my posting, I have to add a few more places:

South Africa : 10+++ We went last year: Cape Town and environs, wine country, Joburg AND Botswana also a 10+++: One of my most memorable, fantastic trips to date: SOOOO diff than Europe, safari is just about the coolest thing you can do, loved every inch of what we did!!

Las Vegas -1! I hated it. After all the traveling around the globe, DH wanted to go to LV for his bithday this past July. Ugh! Even though we stayed at the Bellagio( it is very nice) , the whole atmosphere was a circus! Had good, albeit expensive, and not necessarily worth it meals. Highlight though was Bette Midler: outstanding. Never, ever want to return. ( however, I would go outside LV, we did not as we just went for the weekend)

Barbados: Just returned last week, rate it about an 8. Lovely island, clean, felt safe, very nice people, Hilton was lovely. Just very pricey meals ( I know you can eat for cheaper, but we did want sit down meals in nice restaurants), but the cost did not always justify. but overall the experience of the island was very nice.

Next up in about 4 months is Egypt, Jordan and Israel and I know these are going to rate about a 10+( hopefully, although I know there will be some drawbacks). Very excited!

Hmmm..

Paris 10! Love it!
Madrid 8 Making my 4th visit this spring
London 7
Dubrovick 5 (Overcrowded for my taste)
Istria 8
Tuscany 9
Rome 7
Vatican 3 (Just because of the museum. Profits over quality of experience seemed to be driving factor here 'Pack em in')
Florence 8
Mont St Michel 4 (hmm. there's a trend. Sites run by the Catholic church seem overrun LOL!)
Normandy 9. (Major WWII History buff)
Greek Islands 8
Athens 7
Switzerland 6 (cost pushes it down)
Spain overall 8
Mexico 4
Belize 8
Jamica 2

That's all I can think of now.

Interesting! I just need to think of the places that I've been and how I should lump them together....

London - 3 (what can I say...I'm just not a huge fan)
Cotswolds - 7 (would love to return)
Wales - 7 (same as above)
Vienna - 8
Florence - 2 (not a fan)
Rome - 10+ (one of my faves)
Berchtesgaden region of Germany - 10+ again
Paris - 8
Czech Republic - 8
Slovenia - 5
Croatia - 10+
Montenegro - 10+
Bosnia - 9
Umbria - 6
Tuscany - 6
Rhine/Mosel - 8
Switzerland - 9
Ireland - 6
Amsterdam - 8
Austria - 10+
Japan - 10+
Turkey - 10
Belgium - 3
Mexico - 2

tripgirl, just a quick aside but I can't wait to read your trip report. Your exact trip (Egypt, Jordan and Israel) is one that we've considered numerous times.

Trcy

I'm not as well traveled as many of you but I'd say Paris, Venice, and London: 10
Florence: 7
Rome: 5
Luzerne: 8
Copenhagen: 6
Stockholm: 8
Mexico: 5
Vancouver and Victoria: 8

Places within the places:

Tower of London: 10
British Museum: 10
Victoria & Albert: gift shop :D
The Accademia: David: 10
Hadrian's Villa: 8

Santorini 10
Ephesus Turkey: 10
Dubrovnik: 9
Pula, Istria Croatia: 10 - I really loved this city and the Roman Amphitheatre
Budapest: 8 loved it
Vassa Museum in Stockholm Sweden: 9
Brugges: 9
The Alsace region of France: 10
The Rhine and Bavaria: 10
Brussells: 0
Tallin: 8
Tower of London and Windsor: 10 would always go back
Copenhagen: 8 For political interest

Venice - 9
Florence - 10
Rome - 9
Amalfi Coast - 9
London - 8
Bora Bora, Moorea - 9
Alaska - 8
Vancouver/Victoria - 8
Kauai - 8
Maui - 7
Canadian Rockies - 9
Caribbean - 7
Sedona, AZ - 10

I'm also not nearly well traveled as most here, but I do have favorites and not so favorites.

10 - Venice
9 - Paris, Provence, Umbria (and surrounding area/towns for a week)
8 - Positano, Capri, Edinburgh, St. Andrews (the Old Course, of course), Salzburg, Athens, Santorini, Inverness and the Scottish Highlands, Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Denali National Park
7 = London (MANY years ago), Vienna, Nice
6 -Japan, Bangkok, New Delhi, Sabratha in Libya, (MANY MANY YEARS AGO)
5 - Barcelona, Monaco, Florence
2-4 - CDG, FRA, and other assorted airports from hell.
1 - Life never gets that boring!

Sam

10 Paris (I could live in Paris)
10 Venice
10 Florence
10 Athens, unexpectedly wonderful.
8 London, Bath
8 Tuscany
8 Rome
6 The Lot (glad to see somebody else mentioned it as well)
5 Cinque Terre
5 Sorrento
3 Giverney - completely underwhelmed for some reason. Loved Monet's water lilly pond, but hated the restrictions of the garden. Felt as though I was in a retail nursery!!
We loved Cinque Terre and Sorrento (and surrounds) but don't feel any overwhelming desire to return.

This is a great post.

Rome - 10
Paris - 10
Tuscany - Val D'Orcia - 10 (the Italy of my dreams)
Wales - 9 (N wales-charming villages and people, awesome castles)
Orvieto - 8 (felt at home here)
Tuscany - between Florence & Siena - 8
Venice - 8
Bologna - 7
Ravenna – 7 (although I would not have to return)
London - 6 (city did not grab me, but I acknowledge I still have tons to see)
Edinburgh - 6
Siena - 6
Loire Valley - 5 (Pretty, but so many more stunning and interesting places to see)
Brussels - 4
Florence - 4(But I would actually like to return if I can figure out when it is not crowded)
Milan - 3 (Including the Cathedral, which I think is overwrought)
Assisi – 3 (Except for the Basilica, which is a 10)
Como, Italy - 3 (but we did not have much chance to explore; if I returned, I would try another town on the lake)
Pisa - 2 (Sorry, even the Field of Miracles did not grab me)
Chiasso, Switzerland - 1 (blah border town)

This thread illustrates wonderfully why there is so little of interest on Fodor's Europe forum for us fans of Greece. Of the 37 so far -- and that includes constant travelers that have been perhaps a dozen times Paris, London, Rome, and to many many European destinations, only 3 have seen fit to visit Greece (tho one does say she would move there).

Even though we were in Greece for only a total of 2 days (1 day Athens/Cape Sounion, 1 day Santorini), we thoroughly enjoyed our experiences in both places. After studying western history, civilization, and philosophy throughout high school and college (MANY years ago), I was really eager to go to Greece.

That being said, however, I do think that at least for many American travelers (and I am one), Greece is not as accessible and perhaps a bit more intimidating than western European destinations because of the alphabet/language differences. Perhaps that's not a "good" reason, but I offer it as a hypothesis. I am having some similar qualms for our upcoming Baltics/St. Petersburg cruise.

Sam