I loved Florence, but perhaps that's because I majored in European history with an emphasis western civ.-ancient through Renaissance. The city/culture made everything I'd read about come alive! A co-traveller liked it, but was the type to say, "I'm just about churched OUT, and if I see one more religious painting..." Come on!

My husband, the uber-beer-reviewer, had literally dreamt of going to Oktoberfest in Munich. While in Vienna on business (a city we both adore btw), he decided to weekend at the fest and take the train. He emailed me that he was sooo disappointed. Apparently, all he saw were "groups of drunk Italians and Spaniards," and he couldn't seem to get inside the main haus. He said there were "cheesy carnival rides" nearby too. We've been around lots of drunken folks (nothing against Italy and Spain--love 'em), but he had built up this image in his head which was just too different. He said he went to another of the famous beer halls and had a better time.

I loved, loved Florence; however, the only part I liked of Milan was The Last Supper, and I wouldn't go to Pisa again unless I was being paid to do so. (Like suze and Amsterdam, though, I would be willing to give Milan another chance, but no way for Pisa.)

I love almost every place in Europe that I've been to but I wasn't crazy about Florence either. I always thought it was because I only stayed two days and I didn't much like the hotel I was in. But I also wasn't too impressed with Salzburg or Brugge but the weather was cold and rainy when I visited both so that may be why.

I didn't have a good time in St Petersburg. It was a very grand city, the hermitage was unbelievable, and overall there were lots to do and see. But the people we met were uniformally cold and I felt very conscious of being a tourist who was barely tolerated only for our contribution to the economy. So in the end even though the city was impressive, the lack of opportunities for even the most minimal cultural exhange made the trip pretty disappointing.

Tyler, I think you are probably right. We try to venture off the beaten tourist path, at least a little, every time we travel. We have always been pleased with the results.

And count me in as someone who would LOVE to go to Istanbul, and Turkey in general.

Tracy

I agree with Gary_Mc, we too disliked Vienna on our 1st time there, very hot and humid, got lost a lot, thought we'd never go back however, we returned a few days later during the Christmas season and found a whole different experience. We were originally going to stay only 2 nights but ended up staying 7!

My biggest dissapointment a recent trip to Greece - Athens, 3 day bus tour and then a 4 night cruise. This was the only fully organized tour we've been on and don't care to do another.

Worst city visited: Athens

Most Unfriendly: Madrid

Didn't meet expectations: Rothenburg, Salzburg, Florence

Monaco
Gordes, France - so overwhelmingly touristy on the day we were there we left ASAP.

txeagle, we enjoyed Rothenburg very much but we were there on their annual weekend celebrating the Meistertrunk so it was a very festive time. Maybe try it again then if ever you can.

Funny enough...and please don't flame me now...I actually prefer Florence to Rome. Eeeek!!!

The horror, I know...I know.
But I really do. Maybe the second time around I'll fall in love with Rome. When we went it was really hot & humid (even though it was October). And I just remember sweating and being uncomfortable and the crowds...my Lord the crowds didn't help with the heat! I wanted to scream

oh yes...I knew there was another one. Heidleberg...Germany.

I had a really bad breakfast experience :-&amp; that has defiled <i>every</i> memory of that town.

WE didn't like Amsterdam last year much - cool weather and being used as a dinner table every night by the local mosquito population didn't help. But we loved Haarlem and the bulb gardens. And Heidelberg, which our german friends kept saying was &quot;sehr romantisch&quot;. [but you can have too much of the museum of pharmacies, even with your own personal german guides in tow.]

A bad day in Birmingham is better than a good day in Stockport.

We spent a day in Hondarribia Spain 2 years ago and couldn't really find the 'quaint' fishing village that had been described to us so many times. Oh well- I bought a cute shirt at a boutique and we had some nice pinxtos and wine

I don't dislike Florence but it certainly wasn't my favorite Italian city..neither was Venice. It's a toss up between some of the hilltop towns in Tuscany and Umbria and Rome.

I didn't like Luxembourg City very much. Kind of grim, damp and dark. Basel, Switzerland was clean and dull. I liked Florence a whole lot, however.

Lake Garda....Did we miss something?? We circled the entire lake....and my impression is one big camping site after another &amp; a cheesy-carnivale atmosphere at the southern end.

Salzburg, both times: once in the heat and humidity of August, once last December, when the city was wall-to-wall bodies. Many Italians had come up for Christmas shopping, as it was some sort of holiday, and the city felt more like Italy than Austria.

Didn't especially Like Milan either.

Another vote AGAINST Florence. Except for David - it's wonderful.

The blue grotto in Capri. Also the grotto in Malta. However, I love boat rides and enjoyed them only for that fact.