First of all, I'll NEVER do this again!!! But it was fun nonetheless. The "results" are very unscientific and I'm not going to give any percentages, etc., but here's how it shakes out (as of 9 July 7:00 PM EST):

"Charm': described most often as visually pleasing. Also as small, friendly, having character/individuality, indicative of the local area, decorated in good taste, warm, comfortable, having old world ambience, having modern conveniences, clean, not overrun, understated elegance and class, the local language is predominantly spoken, and having the services/shops desired.
Some other "definitions" of "charm" included the following: depends on individual tastes, and some of the best of all (I think): "Has not been remodeled since WW II," "What it used to be before it became touristy," and "I know it when I see it."
Locations described as "charming" included the following: Rothenburg, St. Paul de Vence, Venice just after sunrise, Notre Dame (when the tour busses aren't there). Be sure to read the locations described as "touristy" below.

"Touristy"..the word used most often was some variation of the term "crowded." Other words/descriptions: "I know it when I see it", phoney, commercialized, created/maintained just to get money, depends on tourists for economic viability, no historical significance, mostly souveniers, changed/fabricated to cater to tourists, showy/inauthentic, selling t-shirts with the location's picture on it, where only English is heard (except in England..in England apparently a place is "touristy" where only American is heard). Tour busses lined up, takes longer to get in than to see it, it depends on the individual, and anywhere Fodorites have already visited!
Interestingly, a few said that a "touristy" place draws a lot of visitors because it DOES have historical significance and is a cultural icon..but the key here was the number of folks who visit as a result.
Places described as "touristy" (remember the "charming" places above): Rothenburg, St. Paul de Vence, and Venice at 1 PM. The fake gladiators at the Colosseum were described as an ultra example of "touristy" but the Colosseum itself escaped! Cinque Terre (Rick Steves, are you listening???) was described as charming BEFORE it became touristy.
So, if nothing else "charming" means pleasing and not crowded and "touristy" means crowded, and I guess as a result not pleasing.
Thanks everybody.

=D>

Oh, you're welcome! It was my pleasure.

Aw, I hope you do come round and field another one, scientific or not.

Who knows? It could lead to a whole glossary of terms.

Intrepid's Old World Encyclopedia of Traveling Hyperbole

and meant to add that it was a fun thread

Bravo, Intrepid!! \/

Those really are two words used so often and not always meaning the same thing.

While it's not worth starting a whole thread on this odd word, I have wondered about one slang word that I've seen quite a few times on this board but have never seen or heard any place else but on Fodors. It's "faboo." Does anyone feel like commenting on it?

I guess Faboo could be in the same catagory as just plain Fab!
Or my favorite word these days, FAV!

Buona notte, cmt~

Here's what I found about "faboo" on the internet:


http://www.slangsite.com/slang/F.html

http://www.angelfire.com/ok2/stephj/sunnydaleslang.html

http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Stonewall/4219/

http://www.panikon.com/phurba/alteng/f.html


But I still never heard or read it actually used outside of Fodors.

I guess Cinque Terre was very Faboo before it got touristy!

Good job, Intrepid.

I started saying "faboo" years ago but quit because it was being overused by my friends!

Fun and interesting..thanks, Intrepid!