laurie_ann

I live here but I can't tell you how many time in my travels in other countries when I have met someone and they learned where I was from they said something like "I went to Chicago once for a [conference][class][business trip][diverted flight for weather][name other reason you didn't actually choose Chicago for it being Chicago] and I LOVED IT! SUCH A GREAT CITY!"

laurie_ann

I live here but I can't tell you how many time in my travels in other countries when I have met someone and they learned where I was from they said something like "I went to Chicago once for a [conference][training course][sales meeting][diverted flight for weather][name other reason you didn't actually choose Chicago for it being Chicago] and I LOVED IT! SUCH A GREAT CITY!"

Leely2

laurie ann, I used to visit Chicago frequently when I was a dating a guy who was in a PhD program at Univ of Chicago. Though I thought the city was good looking and had some interesting sights, I never warmed to it. Too Midwestern at its core for me. Like, "This is a sophisticated city...for the Midwest."

A few years ago I had to be in Chicago for a week for a conference. Absolutely loved it! I would happily go back. Since the mid-90s Chicago has progressed--and so have I.

Cleveland, OTOH... I'd say, "Not as bad as I thought it would be, nice even, but in no way great."

goddesstogo

[QUOTE=Leely2;17271832 Cleveland, OTOH... I'd say, "Not as bad as I thought it would be, nice even, but in no way great."[/QUOTE]

Well, OK. Let's say "great as compared to what I was expecting", not like in a lecture on "Great Cities of the World". London and NY would be in the latter category for me but I wouldn't have named them here because they wouldn't be unexpectedly great. But sure, let's just say 'better than you expected' where you had a great time. That would broaden the category, I think.

Leely2

That does open things up a bit!

pearlatkings

Sapporo, Japan

It's a quaint little city, not a lot of skyscrapers as compared to Tokyo and definitely a lot of nature and local mom and pop stores. It's really the complete opposite of Tokyo. The vibe is chill and relaxing like living in a small town. The food was unexpectedly good for me as well. I so love their dairy! I've had the best-est ice cream here! I recommend that you visit Otaru and walk through those little shops there selling homemade ice cream. It's good for people who just want to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of the city and just explore small cities and nature at its best.

zebec

Thx for this Pearl! We've yet to visit Sapporo and value any kind of personal impressions and reportage.
I am done. the gelato addict

Grotter

I feel like I've been hearing this lately too. I'm still somewhat reluctant to believe the hype, but maybe we'll give it a look for our next trip out that way. I would guess it's fairly affordable to stay/eat and find some fun there.

eigasuki

My first reaction - Dusseldorf. Went because Tour de France 2017 started there. Expected a drab industrial city, was blown away by the architecture and the food.

Agree with starrs My first European trip was to London and Italy with Italy my main goal. Paris was on the way - loved my time there so much more than the Italy leg and have been back several times.

Special mentions to Darwin,Aus and Lourdes.

mrwunrfl

Matsuyama, because that is where I fell in love with Japan. I expected it to be good because it has a famous castle and hot springs. Both were unexpectedly good. The Japanese people I encountered made the visit unexpectedly great.

Even getting to Matsuyama over the Seto Ohashi bridge system and leaving on the hydrofoil to Hiroshima were great.

Bangkok met my high expectations, so that city doesn't qualify here.

Sao Paulo did not meet my low expectations. I only went there because the airfare was dirt cheap and my visa was still valid, I bailed out of that place with no plan or expectations for Buenos Aires. I;d have to say that BA is a great place to visit given that I returned there twice.

Jerusalem was unexpectedly great. Not a city, but Yellowstone NP was too. Those are the two "don't miss" destinations in the world, imo. that I have been to. Istanbul was great.

That was fun to reminisce.

Melnq8

Lugano.

Didn't expect to like it at all, but really, really liked it.

Nicolettaaa

London.

Its a fantastic city I would want to see again and again. Every time I've visited it I've discovered different aspects of this wonderful city and I have always been amazed.

goddesstogo

Wow, I'm so happy that this thread has taken on a second life!
We're hoping to go to Cleveland again in the late summer or early fall and will do these things for sure: baseball game, market, the Mexican restaurant we like and the R&R Hall of Fame.
And as far as London goes, if you told me that I could only travel to one city for the rest of my life, I would choose London.

Surfergirl

Two places my husband wanted to go to that I had no interest, primarily because I was frightened to go: Madrid and Mexico City.

Madrid because prior to our trip to Spain there had been bombings (the ones in '94, not 2004), I LOVED Madrid . . . incredibly beautiful and a great vibe.

Mexico City because of the robberies against tourists. When we went there, they seemed to have figured it out and had police cars with flashing lights on practically every street, which gave me a sense of security. Again, a beautiful, colorful city with great art.

goddesstogo

I've never had any desire to go to Mexico City but friends who just came back from there loved it!

annhig

Just got back from a few days in Bath. I know that it's a lovely city but it was definitely better than I was expecting. And the centre is much bigger than I remembered which is just as well as there were a lot of people about.

Lady

Loved Strasbourg. Hope you do too.

goddesstogo

It wouldn't take much convincing to get me to go to Strasbourg (or just about any of the places mentioned here, for that matter).
Family stuff is keeping me at home for a while and also I just can't seem to muster up the energy to do the complicated kind of trip planning I used to enjoy doing. I may have to resort to using a travel agent next time we're able to get away.

shelemm

When you're ready, maybe you have reached a moment when it's not necessary to do all that planning. Oh I know how interesting, educational, and fun it can be, but it is possible to fly somewhere and just figure things out as you go..

goddesstogo

I'd at least need hotels. I'm well past the age where I'd be willing to wing it for that.
I'm probably going to go the travel agent route. Or borrow itineraries from friends which is what I did about an hour ago. A friend sent me all the details of her Sicily trip.