Disappointing places

[DjSki]

Welshbeef said:

Coventry - or specifically from the Stadium walk into town..... even a daytime walk brings fears of crime.

I think your expectations were too high....

[bmwmike]

vaud said:

I'll add Monaco.

Concrete dump.

They do a nice firework display over the harbour but it is vastly overrated as a place to visit.

Agree with that!! Still want to go back one day with a v10 and do those tunnels

[toasty]

Yetski said:

havoc said:

- The people were among the friendliest we've encountered...and we've been all over SE Asia, to Japan and to NZ (all friendlier than the UK by a country mile, except in Hanoi, which should have been nuked by the Yanks)

Interested as to the reason for this, I absolutely love Hanoi especially the Old Quarter, it's so good value, I find the people amazingly friendly, the foods fantastic, unfortunately 2020 put pay to 2 more visits for us, and we can't wait to go back, I don't know what's not to like, each to their own obviously.

+1 Hanoi rocks!

[DjSki]

Crossflow Kid said:

Have you been to any of the allegedly more liberal Arab states?

Another sweeping statement....they are generally all hypocrites.

[smithyithy]

whitesocks said:

Copenhagen. I felt on edge all the time I was there.

I seem to have bad luck with Scandinavian cities for some reason.

This one really surprises me. What time of the year / season did you visit? I only ask as I do find the season / weather can affect the perception of some places..

But I visited Copenhagen summer last year and honestly of the many European cities I've visited solo so far, it was one of the most relaxing and chilled out. I basically spent 4 days just cycling around, stopping off for a drink at random cafes, chilling out in the park, popping out for food in the evening, and of course did an afternoon / evening at Tivoli.

The only sketchiness I felt was in Christiania - the guys selling weed (and other things) looked pretty dodgy - more 'Albanian criminal' than 'Scandinavian hippy' - but there was no trouble at all and away from that small area the rest of the place was fine and quite interesting to explore.

I think of all the European cities I've done so far, the only one where I felt edgy in certain places was probably Barcelona where you have groups of non-native dealers hanging around in groups, and possibly Cologne / Berlin around the train stations etc where you have the occasional homeless druggy..

[anonymous-user]

DjSki said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Have you been to any of the allegedly more liberal Arab states?

Another sweeping statement....they are generally all hypocrites.

True, but it’s the so-called modern states that come across as the most hypocritical, for that very reason.

[havoc]

i4got said:

Pit Pony said:

i4got said:

curlyks2 said:

Paris, Moscow, Milan, Blackpool.

I have to ask. What exactly were you expecting from Blackpool?

My daughter was conceived in Blackpool. In the worst guest house I've ever stayed in.

Please tell me that in true Beckham style you called her Blackpool.

Fenchurch.

[blueg33]

smithyithy said:

whitesocks said:

Copenhagen. I felt on edge all the time I was there.

I seem to have bad luck with Scandinavian cities for some reason.

This one really surprises me. What time of the year / season did you visit? I only ask as I do find the season / weather can affect the perception of some places..

But I visited Copenhagen summer last year and honestly of the many European cities I've visited solo so far, it was one of the most relaxing and chilled out. I basically spent 4 days just cycling around, stopping off for a drink at random cafes, chilling out in the park, popping out for food in the evening, and of course did an afternoon / evening at Tivoli.

The only sketchiness I felt was in Christiania - the guys selling weed (and other things) looked pretty dodgy - more 'Albanian criminal' than 'Scandinavian hippy' - but there was no trouble at all and away from that small area the rest of the place was fine and quite interesting to explore.

I think of all the European cities I've done so far, the only one where I felt edgy in certain places was probably Barcelona where you have groups of non-native dealers hanging around in groups, and possibly Cologne / Berlin around the train stations etc where you have the occasional homeless druggy..

I agree with all of this, but even Chirstiana was ok and we had two 18 year old girls with us.

Many years ago, I found parts of Amsterdam in daytime quite threatening, and one of my mates was mugged. But that was 30 plus years ago.

Prague nice city but rife with pickpockets and scam artists

[irocfan]

vaud said:

I'll add Monaco.

Concrete dump.

They do a nice firework display over the harbour but it is vastly overrated as a place to visit.

glad it's not just me - we passed through there on one of our road-trips and really struggled to see the attraction at any price, let alone a millionaire's playground

Welshbeef said:

Coventry - or specifically from the Stadium walk into town..... even a daytime walk brings fears of crime.

oh no question - I had the misfortune to live there for a year. It was then that I realised why being 'sent to Coventry' was a phrase, hateful midlands sthole.

Otispunkmeyer said:

piers1 said:

Niagra - on the Canadian side, worth going for the best views of the falls, but the hotels are tired, just so bland, touristy and cheap crap food outlets.
Kissimee/Orlando - too much traffic, built for park dwellers and no effort made outside the parks

Arrrww I like Kissimmee and Orlando (Florida in general really). Love all the tatty, naff strip malls. Got to a sizzler or ponderosa for cheap eats, exit via the dollar store/gift shop (no joke!). Outback steakhouse for a bit more up market.

One of the best things we ever did in Florida was beg our parents to take us to see some oval racing at a run down, backwater racing circuit. Wooden bleachers, Red neck city. The stock car racing was ok....but the trailer home racing, figure 8 school bus racing and the demo derby at the end made up for it. It was fantastic! Though the gallon of pepsi I got from the concession tasted like it was made from fetid swamp water.

I'm just gobsmacked by how bad the traffic has become in the Orlando area. I think I read somewhere that Florida gets 75million visitors a year - they all seem to visit Orlando, the place is rammed and the driving standards are not great.

[blueg33]

DjSki said:

Welshbeef said:

Coventry - or specifically from the Stadium walk into town..... even a daytime walk brings fears of crime.

I think your expectations were too high....

I was born and raised in Coventry - I left to go to uni, and apart from visiting parents and the odd site visit, I have no desire to go there again. Mind you, its better than it was when I was in my teens. The Specials had good inspiration for Ghost Town

[havoc]

Yetski said:

havoc said:

- The people were among the friendliest we've encountered...and we've been all over SE Asia, to Japan and to NZ (all friendlier than the UK by a country mile, except in Hanoi, which should have been nuked by the Yanks)

Interested as to the reason for this, I absolutely love Hanoi especially the Old Quarter, it's so good value, I find the people amazingly friendly, the foods fantastic, unfortunately 2020 put pay to 2 more visits for us, and we can't wait to go back, I don't know what's not to like, each to their own obviously.

The French colonial vibe does look good (well, under the soot and grime). And the food WAS good (albeit almost everything we had was loaded with chillies...even the stuff that shouldn't have been).

But this was the 3rd stop after Saigon and Hoi An (which were very typical SE Asia cultures...warm, hospitable, wanting to help, equally good food...), and the people in Hanoi were very clearly more stand-offish / reserved / serious in the main (much more 'Chinese'), and there were a few encounters where we felt on the receiving end of (oblique) racism. To top it all, while I was wandering taking photos (was maybe 20-25 yards away across a large square, not far), my wife had a rather unpleasant encounter with a small group which could have got worse if I hadn't turned around and started walking back. Broad daylight, open square...only found out after we'd walked away which was in hindsight probably a good thing.

shirt said:

havoc said:

However...

shirt said:

barbados. the 'best' restaurants would be 'good' at best even in your average uk city. there's no real charm anywhere and the beaches aren't that great as to make the rest worthwhile.

...

- Sorry, but you must have eaten in the wrong places. Most meals we had were good to very good, and Tides was nudging michelin-star quality. Had far worse meals in the UK at 'rated' places...

Comparisons with the UK and the Med and yet still finding reason to scoff at my opinion.

You started the comparison with the UK chap.

FWIW, I think the UK has a very good restaurant scene...not just in London but nationally. Admittedly for every hidden gem there are a dozen Red Lions or Little Chefs, but the point is we are good at creating/training chefs.

Barbados...is a small island. Depends what you're looking for. We enjoyed the food there, moreso than Italy which is touted as a foodie culture.

[anonymous-user]

Welshbeef said:

Coventry - or specifically from the Stadium walk into town..... even a daytime walk brings fears of crime.

How does Coventry disappoint though. No one goes in with high expectations!

[anonymous-user]

blueg33 said:

Prague nice city but rife with pickpockets and scam artists

DIdn't notice this when we were in Prague.

[cuprabob]

Welshbeef said:

Coventry - or specifically from the Stadium walk into town..... even a daytime walk brings fears of crime.

Nobody speaks either

[blueg33]

Landcrab_Six said:

blueg33 said:

Prague nice city but rife with pickpockets and scam artists

DIdn't notice this when we were in Prague.

Mate had his wallet lifted by a girl, we spotted her and gave chase - ran round a corner and there she was with about 15 dodgy looking blokes. The chase then reversed and we had to leg it as there were only 4 of us.

On the same trip one guy bought entrance tickets to a night club that didn't exist.

And the guys who got pissed and went to the lap dancing clubs came back poor, but saw absolutely nothing......!

[vaud]

bmwmike said:

Agree with that!! Still want to go back one day with a v10 and do those tunnels

I'd go there for a race but would stay further along the coast (e.g. Nice, or up in the hills)

[Shnozz]

blueg33 said:

smithyithy said:

whitesocks said:

Copenhagen. I felt on edge all the time I was there.

I seem to have bad luck with Scandinavian cities for some reason.

This one really surprises me. What time of the year / season did you visit? I only ask as I do find the season / weather can affect the perception of some places..

But I visited Copenhagen summer last year and honestly of the many European cities I've visited solo so far, it was one of the most relaxing and chilled out. I basically spent 4 days just cycling around, stopping off for a drink at random cafes, chilling out in the park, popping out for food in the evening, and of course did an afternoon / evening at Tivoli.

The only sketchiness I felt was in Christiania - the guys selling weed (and other things) looked pretty dodgy - more 'Albanian criminal' than 'Scandinavian hippy' - but there was no trouble at all and away from that small area the rest of the place was fine and quite interesting to explore.

I think of all the European cities I've done so far, the only one where I felt edgy in certain places was probably Barcelona where you have groups of non-native dealers hanging around in groups, and possibly Cologne / Berlin around the train stations etc where you have the occasional homeless druggy..

I agree with all of this, but even Chirstiana was ok and we had two 18 year old girls with us.

Likewise am baffled by this. My partner is from Copenhagen and I have never seen any sign of bother or even areas that felt particularly threatening. That includes many an afternoon sat in Christiana. The only thing at all perhaps slightly ‘dodgy’ was that in pre-covid times some sellers wore face masks as a few tourists blatantly ignore the no photography rule there.

[Jakg]

HTP99 said:

bloody tourist said:

Definitely LA as already mentioned. What a st hole!

A colleague went a few years ago, he was very dissapointed, he said he struggled with the vast disparity of wealth and homelessness, he said literally you'd turn a corner off a fancy boulevard to be greeted with awful and obvious homelessness and poverty.

Exactly this.

Struggled with homelessness and poverty in the US, but when we got LA it was waay worse, including the traditional tramp-pushing-a-shopping-trolley.

We entered a rougher looking area and then realised that's where our AirBnB was!

Email says not to mention it's an AirBnB to the other tenants, and the flats "ceiling" was actually the floorboards of the flat above.
I think we stayed there for maybe 30 mins before trying to find a hotel somewhere-anywhere-else, and ended up heading to Santa Barbara at 10PM...

This was in West Hollywood, which was meant to be ok.

[Robertj21a]

Landcrab_Six said:

blueg33 said:

Prague nice city but rife with pickpockets and scam artists

DIdn't notice this when we were in Prague.

No, nor did I on a number of visits over the years.

[pidsy]

blueg33 said:

Sal Island Cape Verde. A cross between a desert and a waste disposal site.

I’ll add Boa Vista Cape Verde to that.