crefloors

I also wondered about the possibility of being a troll, but it doesn't really matter. Just wonder why this is posted on US Board unless it was done in error.

I had some friends years ago, before I had ever been to Europe, take a European Trip and when they came back they had absolutely NOTHING good to say about ANY of it. So, remalama, is not alone. I'm just glad I never felt that way and have loved every minute of every trip. Can't please everybody.

NeoPatrick

I know the poster had asked about an American breakfast in Rome, but in Paris the place is "Breakfast in America". There's one on Rue Ecoles in the fifth and another one somewhere in the Marais. It's really superb, but I'm sure the poster wouldn't be happy with it for some reason.
I've lost track of their itinerary, so not sure if they've been to Paris or not yet.

cheryllj

ramalama isn't alone. Some people just don't enjoy travel. Most of them aren't on this board, however, since this is a board mainly for travel enthusiasts.

It's not an issue of the "truth" about traveling, though. One person's "dirty, depressing sight" is another person's delight. It's all a matter of opinion. But I can assure you that I did not find the Eiffel Tower either dirty or depressing, and it was worth every penny. Ditto the Tower of London, the D-Day Beaches, the Anne Frank House, the cliffs of Capri, etc.

sundown

The part that made me laugh was the bit about the poopy shoes. From stepping in real poop, to figuratively stepping in the poop here!

I know it must have been shocking that Europe was expensive. You certainly couldn't have researched that before going. Oh, wait...

enzian

Patrick----on the "2 hour lunch in Paris" thread, she said they would be back in Paris in October.

I was thinking this person is just really young, but she says her mother is 80, so. . .

TxTravelPro

I am really puzzled by this post. Maybe you should have gone to Paris, Las Vegas?
I am not a typical traveler. Here's why:
I don't enjoy going to tourist spots. I hate crowds.
I don't have much money to spend.
I hate people telling me how to dress.
I hate long flights.
I am not generally into modern art.
I dislike theater and live music.
This would certainly indicate that I am not a good traveler, right?
Wrong!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Europe.
I love teeny tiny towns in No Where, USA.
I love every US city I have been to... well, maybe not Orlando.
Every place has something for everyone.
Seriously. In Paris I walked miles and miles a day, looking at the beautiful buildings and interesting shops, Cemetaries and people.
I ate from markets and street vendors.
People in Europe were friendly... or at least I thought so.
I never caught anyone looking at me 'funny' for what I was wearing... though that has happened in NYC.
I noticed the look/comment and I used it as part of my comedic approach in my presentation the next day.
Bottom line, I think possibly the problem is you, my dear.

nytraveler

Some people don;t like travel. If you don't, perhaps you shouldn't.

For those of us who do - it's not boring or depressing. (And not to be critical, but people who are generally bored or depresed - usually have a problem other than a bad vacation.)

I have had some disappointments in travel (not liking a particular city for example) - and some places (hotel or restaurant) have not met expectations. But that can happen at home too.

But I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every trip I've taken. (But, them I plan trips that I know I'm going to enjoy - rather than pick out what I can brag about later.)

And the only place I've ever been that I felt was a fantasy was Disney World - and there it's intentional. (ALthough not something I will repeat.)

April

I don't think it's a weird post at all. Even here on the forum, posters will often get slammed if they give an honest, negative opinion of a place. I do research, I love to travel, but that doesn't mean I'm going to love everywhere I go.

zlaor

Good post, I can see your point (even though it could have been stated more eloquently).

I don’t think he’s talking about “being lied to”, he’s talking about the hype, and that the sites usually never meet your expectations. They promise you a personalized tour, which is not what you get.

Most people will never stand alone in the middle of the coliseum in Rome like a gladiator, but will walk around with the rest of the tourists.
Yes, that does shatter your fantasy.

We just came back from Israel where we zipped around from site to site ( http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...2007/tpod.html) and nothing can live up to the build up of Jerusalem, especially if you step out of the car and you smell … piss!!!

Here are some points we learned:

Preparation as mentioned before is key (you look at three stones and two columns and hear the guide say “this was a palace”.) that way you can put everything in context. Out of context nothing is impressive, or worth visiting.

Expectations. I told my wife before we left a sentence I first read on these boards that “the difference between Israel [Europe] and the US is that in the US 100 years is old and in Israel 100 miles is far”. You have to be prepared to go to sites that have been around for thousands of years. Guess what? That’s what they’re going to look like.

Be adventurous, let yourself enjoy the trip. So, the hotel room is not up to your standards of cleanliness (we actually have friends who don’t go anywhere because the wife is a clean freak and must stay in a place which meets her expectations ... no place does), or the pasta is not as delicious as you thought, or the people seem rude, or whatever. It’s a new culture where their definition or rude, clean, or tasty is not yours. Try new food, experiment, learn the language … you’ll enjoy much more.

Highlights. Tour of just highlights is missing the point of traveling. Zipping around the country with a checklist, taking the obligatory picture and moving along simply sucks.

dmlove

I agree with a lot of what zlaor says, except this:

Yes, that does shatter your fantasy.

No, it doesn't. I don't have to be standing in the middle of the colisseum "battlefield" to imagine what it was like.

Expectations are the key - if you expect everything to be "just like home", you will definitely be disappointed.

zlaor

dmlove,

LOL, shatter your fantasy from the view point of what ramalama was saying ... not "your" fantasy.

I saw it happening a lot.

eurotraveller

There is nothing wrong with stating an opinion but to suggest we feel the same way?! That is just wrong!

This statement:

"And to those who have been where I just came from, why not tell the truth instead of continuing the fantasy?"

And this one:

"...to be able to go home and brag...I was there!! Too embarrassed to admit they were suckered!!"

These statements portray what the op thought but to insinuate that most of us feel that way? Come on!

I read some of the op's other posts. Why would you stress yourself out and try to find lunch in Paris with just 2 hours between trains? I think many people who are well traveled know that it is better to just grab a bite at the train station and do a little people watching.

And to blame her experience on media and propaganda? That just borders on ludicrous!

Sorry you had a bad trip in these fabulous countries. Personally, I enjoyed them all! If you ever decide to brave the foreign world again maybe you should go to an all inclusive style resort that caters to your American taste.

missypie

I think a lot of people should put a whole lot more time into research and planning than they do. Once we get an idea of what a place will be like, we need to imagine how we will feel about being in that place, even if our secret feelings might be unpopular or not-PC if broadcast to others.

If, for example, you secretly hate the French for not joining us in Iraq, don't go to France. You don't have to tell others WHY you aren't going there. Just don't go. If the terrible (for the US) exchange rate will leave you feeling ripped off at every turn, don't go to Europe. If you hate humid weather, don't go to New Orleans in the summer. If you feel paranoid when others around you are speaking a different language, visit only countries where your language is the native language.

If a person will admit his own quirks, likes, dislikes and even prejudices to himself, he will be able to avoid destinations that he is likely to hate.

I will say that independent travel can be a huge hassle that is physically and emotionally draining. I can see that in a few decades, as I age, I might want to take tours, where someone else handles the details and the luggage.

elsiemoo

ramalama, some people just don't like change. They are happier settled at home but travel somewhere just because others say they should. (I have family who will NEVER leave their part of the state, much less go to Europe!) Tell everybody you're a homebody, and don't waste your money traveling!

NeoPatrick

It never ceases to amaze me how many "Pollyannas" there are here. Some are defending this post as if it said "not everything is perfect". huh? Did you read the actual post. The poster used phrases like "Trying to hard to have a good time", "fought hand to hand in the trenches", "look at boring, dirty, depressing sights", "too embarrassed to admit they were suckered", and even "skip all the big cities". Was there even a mention of "sure, some things were beautfiful" or "worth our time"?

There is not a single shred of evidence that this poster enjoyed even a second of the trip. Not one positive remark about even the smallest detail. Read that post once more and then pretend again that this is just a post about things not quite living up to the overhyped press places get. This sounds worse than someone who has just returned from a year in Iraq! Even most of those soldiers come back with SOMETHING they found to have redeeming quality. Not this poster!

GoTravel

tee hee hee hee hee!

Poopy shooes!

tee hee hee hee hee!

missypie

Good point, Neopatrick, but maybe it's just one of those trips where something goes wrong at first and you just start feeling out of sorts and insecure and wish you'd never even thought of the trip.

My first ever trip to Europe was the obligatory two weeks in Europe after the bar exam. We started in Frankfort, Germany. We had German mark travelers checks and American dollar travelers checks and the restaurant we chose on the first night didn't take either, so I was left at the restaurant as a "hostage" until my husband could come up with some cash. (Pre ATM days). Besides that, the superfast traffic on the streets really scared me. I remember going to bed that night regretting the whole trip. I would have willingly gone home the next morning.

The rest of the trip had a lot of fantastic parts and a few more big bumps and I was glad we went. However, if the next day, a car had almost hit me, then the next day we had been mugged, then the next day I stepped in dog poop, and the next day the place we wanted to go was super crowded....you get the idea....I might have hated the entire trip.

Leburta

ramalama:

Maybe you ought to consider cruising. You're right in that that travelling can be a hassle -- all worth it to those that have the stamina and love to see new things and experience adventures. Cruising gives you the opportunity to do that while having people wait on you hand and foot. Your only hassle then, if it can be called that, would be getting to your port city and later to get back home. In between, you can see as much or as little as you want, rub shoulders with crowds or not, adventure or not. There are also cruises to suite a variety of budgets.

vjpblovesitaly

Ramalama,

Your last name wouldn't happen to be Ding Dong, would it??

suze

Some people should stay home. You sound like one of them. Not everyone is a natural traveler. If a BAD attitude brings on the bad, well you'll be in first place. Your generalizations about three entire COUNTRIES is absurb. And your attitude is the pits.