Just one thought : how funny some of you complain about a place because there were too many tourists.

Ever realized you were one of them... ?

I had compiled a list of places but now that we've been advised (see above post) not to post any opinions regarding places which are overcrowded with tourists, my list is now substantially abbreviated:

Vuckovoje (Ukraine)
Hodyszewa (Poland)

(and please ignore my previous comment about queues in Disneyland, Paris)

Certainly the volume of tourists can impact one's ability to enjoy a place... The original post asks "what places [have] turned off" other travelers with "no taste for returning" and why.

I've been to Rome twice, once when I was 17, and again last summer (I'm now middle aged). My reaction was the same both times... Too hot in summer and more difficult to get around than say in Paris. I have no desire to return.

I might return to Florence for the art, but only off season... just too crowded in summer.

I spent 4 months in Austrailia once, mostly around Melbourne... but got up to Sidney and Brisbane, Gold Coast. Wouldn't want to return. It's still a fairly new country, like the US. I can see surfers at Malibu... I don't need to travel halfway around the world. Sidney and Melbourne are just okay, in my opinion. European cities are far more interesting.

I have heard that the Cairns area, Queensland, Aust., is a different story, so I might consider that, but only after I've seen the rest of the world.

And... crowds or no crowds, Nice was a disappointment.

I went to Bellagio in early May and it was empty and lovely. If crowds are why people don't like it, they should try a different time of year.

Yes, that's why it's crucial to mention "why" the place was a disappointment. If it was the crowds... then maybe one should consider going off season. I will say that Cassis was crowded but it did not distract from my enjoyment of the town. Lovely place.

Some that I didn't like on my first trips to them were Rome and Florence, but after returning to them and spending more time, I really love them both. This last trip was great with the exception of Casablanca. Aside from the Mosque, which is utterly fantastic, there is nothing interesting to see, a very ordinary place. Maybe I should return to find the better side of it?

ROME, ROME, ROME: All three times !!! The last 2 times we begged the airlines to fly us out earlier as we couldn't stand another day in Rome (after 3-4 days). We were so desperate to get out that we went to the aiport at 6 AM only to stand by for several full flights to fly us out. That was after we studied Italian for over a year! We loved all the other Italian cities & towns.

It's taken time for my memory of Venice to soften to the point where I don't have the compulsion to go on a tirade about it every time I speak of it (outrageously expensive, crowded, smelly, touristy, repeat). I have to say I was less than impressed.

Rome was rough -- a tough, dirty city with a lot of cranky people. But in retrospect I think if I had been better prepared for those facts, so I wouldn't have expected a cleaner quieter city like Paris is, much less the expectation of a hug from every Italian.

I will go back to Rome to give it another chance. Venice, I think was good to see once <i>for me</i>.

Jules

We blamed ourselves for not liking Rome but after 3 honest attempts, we're convinced not to return.

I agree with the original poster about Bodensee. Been there twice en route and was underimpressed both times especially after hearing some older Germans rave about vacationing there. I think those who complained about Lake Lucerne probably have never been to Bodensee.

Hi Gary,

What disappointed you about Lake Constance?

((I))

I wasn't disappointed with Lake Constance, merely under impressed. Perhaps because I've been spoilt by Lake Lucerne, Como &amp; Maggiore before coming to Bodensee plus I've heard so much raving about it. To me, it simply lacks the dramatic alpine geography. So now I tend to tell people to go further south if they want to enjoy a beautiful lake considering the similarity of the Swiss &amp; German cultures. The lakes in Salzkamergut are also more interesting and less crowded.

This will be an unpopular view but I was very disappointed with Positano - a beautiful place but I found it really unfriendly!

I was not a fan of the Borghese in Rome. Not sure why, because so many people rave about it. I wonder if I was just so jetlagged/hungover, and I should give it a chance!

Siena, Bilbao, and St. Moritz

I have a love-hate relationship with Rome.

I only truly despise Las Vegas.

I wonder if some of the reaction to Rome doesn't have to do with where people stayed. There are parts of Rome that to me are just oppressively crowded with Romans and toursits. I like to find hotels in quieter areas - like up on the Aventine Hill. Granted you have to go into the heavy tourist zones to see the major sites but once you &quot;check those off your list&quot; there are many quieter areas to meander thru. One of the things that I love about Rome is how modern life is built and flows all around the ancient ruins.
I don't like the crowds but the many piazzas, churches and the artwork inside, the cuisine, the wine, the ruins....its always an enjoyable part of an Italian trip to me but perhaps best if followed up by a quieter destination. A similar statement could certainly be made about Venice.

What destination has disappointed me??? The only thing that comes to mind is the Swavorski (something like that!) attraction near Inssbruck - very cheesey IMO. I am also in general not a fan of Germany or Austria, tho I have seen lovely areas in both countries....but the countries are not high on my list of places I would like to return to.

And what part of Las Vegas didn't please you. Paris, New York, Venice, Monte Carlo or the singing Caesar at the Roman Palace? They have yet to build London with drunken bar waitresses wearing Princess Di outfits.

I admit that I didn't love Rome. I wanted to. I love the layers and layers of history of the place, but I just didn't enjoy being there. We spent 6 nghts there and there are still so many things I didn't get to see that I wanted to see, so much shopping and eating that I didn't get to do.

Do you know what I really think the problem was? Traffic. (No, we did not attempt to drive.) Crossing the street - no matter how tiny the street - was always stressful. I drive in Dallas traffic all the time and the Rome streets make the Dallas streets feel like a bucolic country lane. There were a couple of times, when faced with crossing 6 lanes of fast traffic, that we momentarily considering skipping our destination, just of avoid crossing the street! It's just nuts! After Rome, Florence and London seemed serene!

You are right about this, Missypie. I too felt the perils of crossing many a street in Rome.... not only because of cars, but those annoying vespas (I was almost hit by a vespa while walking down a narrow street). Rome has interesting ruins, but it's a stressful, graffiti-laden city -- not at all pedestrian-friendly like Paris.

Couldn't wait to get out of Naples....