Highly touted places you've visitted that disappointed you
 

Where have you gone and then thought to yourself, I don't get it, why is this place so written up? <BR><BR>Perpignan--France, not really interesting at all, about 1 hour did it<BR><BR>Holloko--Hungary, a long drive way out into the middle of nowhere for a dull little village<BR><BR>Rothenburg ob der Tauber--Germany, ok but other small towns in the area were certainly more vital and at least as interesting<BR><BR>Marialansky (Marienbad)--Czech Republic, another 2 hour walk around (max)and then you're done<BR><BR>southern coast of Brittany (western part)--fine if you are looking for generic beach resorts, but not much else. The northern coast, on the other hand, is another story.<BR><BR>Honfleur--Normandy--ok if you want to be jam packed with tourists, eat at overpriced restaurants, and do a lot of shopping<BR><BR>Carcassone--France, 2 hours did it for us because this is not a living breathing place it is a tourist place

It is not in Europe, please do not laugh: it is the Galapagos Islands for us.And it cost us a fortune.

The Lake District, Chester, Edinburgh, Galway, Adare, Leeds Castle and Athens. Those places that I was pleasantly surprised with: Paxos, Lisbon, Limoges, Loch Lomond, Girvan, Donegal and Cobh. Those places that never disappoint: London, Oxford, St. Mawes, Stourhead, Paris, Cognac, Baddesley Clinton, Lincoln, North Wales and Dover.

Siena, and Toulouse. Just couldn't get excited about either place. Still waiting to have the opportunity to change my mind, though...

At the time of my visit, I was a little disappointed in Siena and cranky a lot. My four days there were at the end of a whirlwind two weeks in Italy. Looking back on it now, my weariness was all directly related to the rental car that I picked up in Siena and used to travel to Florence, Pisa and Assisi. The traffic around Siena can be interesting to say the least, and I fought for parking at every turn. Got caught in a horrendous trafic jam near the Fortezza trying to get to the Stadio. Kept getting conflicting info about whether cars get towned out of the Stadio on Wednesday market day and eventually moved the car three times for no reason. The traditional maps of Siena seen in pratically every guide book are of but a small part of the Centro. So we spent a lot of time getting lost trying to find the Supertstrada. Now I find I think a lot about Siena, especialy some of the great restaurants we ate at, the peacefull streets, the people, the wonderful buildings, etc. It was all the fault of that damn car. Now I can't wait to go back.

Wasn't there a long thread on this just a couple of weeks ago?

Stonehenge<BR>I'm not blaming the many-ton stones or the Druids who I'm sure broke their backs, it just did nothing for me

Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Apart from the sunshine, there really is nothing of note here. Its a volcanic island, therefore the scenery is like the surface of the moon. I found it very creepy.

<BR>The Alhambra in Spain<BR>Monte Carlo<BR> The bridge on the river Kwai in Thailand<BR><BR>Nothing in France disappointed me.

Adare, Ireland. Built up as &quot;the prettiest village in Ireland&quot; with &quot;all the thatched roof cottages&quot; etc etc. Not so true...what is there, about three or four cottages in a row? It was OK but other villages and towns in Ireland are MUCH nicer. Sorry but it was a real let down.

Pisa

San Tropez and Munich

PISA, PISA, PISA......Stratford-on-Avon.....Nice...and LUCERNE!!!!!

Was pretty disappointed in London and the Cotswolds...hugely amazed by North Wales

Disappointments:<BR>Macao<BR>Tangiers, Morocco<BR>Bolongna, Italy<BR>Bay Islands, Honduras<BR>Mont St Michelle, France<BR><BR>Note; it wasn't the entire country, just those specific places. To be fair, in most of those places, I had a bad experience that might have colored my opinion, and really should go back to each someday.

Black Forrest, Dublin, and Pisa.

I agree with EnglishOne about the Canary Islands. Boring and not really swimming weather over Christmas. We went because it is closest to London that might have swimming over Christmas. Morocco is better and the weather is almost as warm. If you live in London you really want warm sunny weather but the Canary Islands are not worth it.

My top three are Stonehenge, Cotswolds, Pisa.

IRELAND

Rome, Stonehenge,and Berlin.<BR>I was particularly dissapointed in Berlin, especially since when I was there this past summer the Brandenburg Gate was all covered for restoration!

The Effiel Tower (however it's spelled...sorry) Nice view once you get to the top. The line to buy your pass and then all the lines for the lifts made it not worth it for me.<BR><BR> I was pretty bored after 5 minutes at Stonehenge.

again, not Europe but really didn't like Tahiti and Moorea at all.

Innsbruck - brownish smog filled the valley, truckers taking leaks along the frontage road from the south entrance into town . . .<BR><BR>Peak District (UK) - don't drive too fast or you'll miss it.<BR><BR>Paris - what IS the big deal here?<BR><BR>

In eleven trips, I have not visited any place in Europe that disappointed me. <BR><BR>And I wonder if I ever will.<BR><BR>

Siena<BR>Cotswolds<BR>Fountainblue<BR>Lyon<BR>Cost a del Sol

In reading great number of places some people were disappointed in the question came to mind Why do they travel? It is rare for my wife and I to be disappointed. Because even if is not what we had hoped for, we will find it interesting.

Salsburg, Austria. They must have good PR people.

I would not say I was never &quot;disappointed&quot; in a place, I might say &quot;it is not what I expected&quot;, but I would not let my trip be spoiled by too high or just wrong expectations. I can find something to like every place I have visited so far, in Europe, Scan., Asia, Mexico and the USA.

LUCCA, ITALY: Been there 2 times. Read all the raves about this place. Cannot see it myself. First time we were with another couple so I thought that maybe we missed something. Second time was on a tour. They showed us the same stuff. Nice wall, cute flea market, a few churches...not much else.<BR><BR>INNSBRUCK: Been there about 5 times for various reasons. Old town is nice, but not worth a special trip unless you ski. Stay in Garmisch instead.<BR><BR>VIENNA: Beautiful, large city but still not worth a special trip or to stay a long time unless you are on a guided tour with a special function planned. Only time I really enjoyed the town was with a group that had a private show with Vienna Boys Choir in a castle after a horse drawn ride through town.<BR><BR>Trouble is with a post like this is that if you leave it long enough every town and city in Europe will be covered by someone. Then you are back to zero. Everyone has different wants and tastes.<BR><BR>Did I mention LUCERNE?

Versailles

Capo - I feel the same! There are definitely some places I like better than others, but I've never been disappointed --- and don't expect to be in the future!

Stratford on Avon. Yawn.

Yes Capo-I have to concur and revoke my remark. I'm not a fan of big cities...so of course London and the crazy tube system was a mess to me...but oou UK trip was the most amazing of my life-so obviously nothing could be counted as &quot;disappointing&quot;. Waiting a year to go back to the UK (we leave one week from today, on 3/26) now that's the disappointment.

I guess it's kind of like the movies...sometimes there is a movie that EVERYONE just raves about, and you get so into the hype that you can't see the forest for the trees. When you finally see the movie, you think,&quot;Was that it??&quot;<BR><BR>For me, it was Vienna. I feel privileged for the opportunity to go there, but I expected soooo much more! Not to mention the people were kind of indifferent.

Kristina - I was considering a visit to the Bay Islands (Honduras), what about them let you down? I may benefit from knowing about your experience.<BR><BR>The only place that has let me down is Chile. I guess after all the trauma the Chilean people have gone through, it is understandable that they are a bit distrusting of others. We ordered some fruit that was out-of season (we didn't know). No one told us and the people that worked in the cafe and people around us were laughing at us. That has never happened to me anywhere. Plus Santiago is a very ugly city - most of the older buildings have been destroyed in earthquakes.

I agree on Santiago, Chile. I was also disappointed with Buenos Aires. It was touted as the Paris of South America. NOT! No where near Paris. However, if we went back to Argentina or Chile, we would focus on the natural beauty of the countries. The cities are nothing special, at least compared to European Cities.

I shamefully regret that Greece was not our favorite place.. I think a lot of it had to do with us both contracting about the worst stomach virus we've ever had in our lives within two days of landing. I don't think we recovered fully until after we returned home. The Greek people were wonderful and I loved some of the things.. but seriously to this day the smell of greek food makes me nausiated... *sigh, I may go back one day, but not for a very long time.

Just saw the mention of STRATFORD ON AVON. I agree! Sorry I missed that one in my previous post.<BR><BR>We were there in 1990 and it was not too bad. Touristy, but okay. We returned in 2000. Boy! They have gone to burger joints, tshirt shops, trinkets, trinkets and more trinkets. Big garage to park in. Not a quaint town at all. Needs to be torn down and rebuilt. Disney people must have shown up and worked it over. Worth a miss unless you have nothing else to do that day.

Stonehenge...what a waste of a trip<BR>Tacky expensive to go right up to and over rated<BR>Muck

Nice, Pisa, Sienna