Most disappointing city

Lala

Lala

Well-known member
I went to Dublin in March, thought it was small, lacking in substance and a bit of a doss hole 😱

This seems at odds with many traveller opinions. Maybe it’s because I’m not a drinker and that’s it’s main vibe.

Really disappointed.

So which city have you visited that fell well short of your expectations ?
 
Lala said:
I went to Dublin in March, thought it was small, lacking in substance and a bit of a doss hole 😱

This seems at odds with many traveller opinions. Maybe it’s because I’m not a drinker and that’s it’s main vibe.

Really disappointed.

So which city have you visited that fell well short of your expectations ?
Click to expand...
Pretty much sums up Dublin, Lala.

I felt similar about Adelaide. I’m not sure what I expected but I thought the main city was a bit drab
 
Lala said:
I went to Dublin in March, thought it was small, lacking in substance and a bit of a doss hole 😱

This seems at odds with many traveller opinions. Maybe it’s because I’m not a drinker and that’s it’s main vibe.

Really disappointed.

So which city have you visited that fell well short of your expectations ?
Click to expand...
LaLa - sorry you didn't enjoy it, but if you look there is so much to see.

Go on the DART to Howth or Bray (yes I know its not Dublin, but both very near and pretty)

Book of Kells, The Crypt Mummies (Naturally mummified bodies),Dublin Castle, Various Museums with history of the IRA, Handel's Organ (we wont elaborate), Jamesons (yes, drink related, but really interesting.

Anyway, we can't all like the same things, and at least you've tried it.
 
In the UK; Bristol.

I've no idea what I expected, but it wasn't that. First time I went, it was a stag do, so I thought it might just have been that. No, I've been three times with work in the last 5 years and it reinforced it.

Just disappointing in so many ways; it may have been down to my expectation of it being a major regional city (like Newcastle) but felt more like an below par provincial town.

Internationally
Got to say, there's none which immediately spring to mind. That may be because I've only been to major cities where they are aware of the potential for tourism.

They will be out there, but hopefully, I don't get to visit them!
 
Bend it like Suddick said:
LaLa - sorry you didn't enjoy it, but if you look there is so much to see.

Go on the DART to Howth or Bray (yes I know its not Dublin, but both very near and pretty)

Book of Kells, The Crypt Mummies (Naturally mummified bodies),Dublin Castle, Various Museums with history of the IRA, Handel's Organ (we wont elaborate), Jamesons (yes, drink related, but really interesting.

Anyway, we can't all like the same things, and at least you've tried it.
Click to expand...
I did the city bus tour, which was fine, but only passed an hour.

But if I’m honest with you I encountered men peeing in doorways in broad daylight and toothless druggies doing deals in the street. Made me feel a bit sad to be honest.

The main shopping area was one short street.

St.Stephens Green was ok for a chill but just a bit of a park.

Just felt a bit grotty on the whole.

In contrast have done the Swiss capital Bern this month, hardly ever given a mention in travel terms but what a joy.

Yes, we are all different and I’m glad I went or I wouldn’t know that I don’t want to go again 🤣
 
Athens apart from the Acropolis wasn't too special. Never seen so much graffiti on buildings. The only reason the Acropolis is spared from the paint sprayers is that is heavily policed 24/7.
 
Lala said:
I did the city bus tour, which was fine, but only passed an hour.

But if I’m honest with you I encountered men peeing in doorways in broad daylight and toothless druggies doing deals in the street. Made me feel a bit sad to be honest.

The main shopping area was one short street.

St.Stephens Green was ok for a chill but just a bit of a park.

Just felt a bit grotty on the whole.

In contrast have done the Swiss capital Bern this month, hardly ever given a mention in travel terms but what a joy.

Yes, we are all different and I’m glad I went or I wouldn’t know that I don’t want to go again 🤣
Click to expand...
No, that doesn't sound good LaLa. It was spotless the last time I went 5 years ago - must be a sign of the times. I love Swiss Cities and Bern is a good call. My fave by a long way is Lugano (Ticino Canton close to the Italian border). Cafe Culture, warm weather and great food.You seem to be a bit of a traveller..good stuff.
 
Bend it like Suddick said:
No, that doesn't sound good LaLa. It was spotless the last time I went 5 years ago - must be a sign of the times. I love Swiss Cities and Bern is a good call. My fave by a long way is Lugano (Ticino Canton close to the Italian border). Cafe Culture, warm weather and great food.You seem to be a bit of a traveller..good stuff.
Click to expand...
I will try Lugano 👍 I’ve really taken to Switzerland, it was 34 degrees when I went last weekend. People seem to associate it mainly with the snowy alps but it has a lot more to offer than that if you’re not up high. That said I’m weekending in the Alps later in the year and really enjoyed Geneva in Feb.

As for travelling yes ! Kids grown up now, I don‘t have any other expensive pastimes and I’m not into material stuff generally so I’m going for it.

Prague in October and am looking at Salzburg soon 😀
Living life 🤭
 
Lala said:
I will try Lugano 👍 I’ve really taken to Switzerland, it was 34 degrees when I went last weekend. People seem to associate it mainly with the snowy alps but it has a lot more to offer than that if you’re not up high. That said I’m weekending in the Alps later in the year and really enjoyed Geneva in Feb.

As for travelling yes ! Kids grown up now, I don‘t have any other expensive pastimes and I’m not into material stuff generally so I’m going for it.

Prague in October and am looking at Salzburg soon 😀
Living life 🤭
Click to expand...
Absolutely LaLa 👍
 
Boston, Massachusetts, really disappointed when we visited, ended up flying to New York for a day in an attempt to improve the trip!
 
Stockholm….but it was a cruise port stop over,a very grey and drizzley day and to cap it off due to the wet conditions my better half slipped on so called pedestrian friendly crossing and landed straight on her hands and part of her face so looked a bit like she’d been in a fight and we did go back to our ship earlier than planned as this happened after a sightseeing bus tour which was well not that inspiring so maybe on a sunny day who knows.
Having said all that the cruise into and out of Stockholm with lots of small islands is absolutely stunning so 10 out f 10 for that.

Now Helsinki on the same cruise was definitely great.
The photo is Helsinki😉5D601E87-86C9-4CE3-A036-9B0D1F0B4BFC.jpg
 
I liked Sydney but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. Not quite sure how to explain it, but it just didn't click with me.

I hated every second I spent in New York.

Birmingham has no redeeming features.
 
bleach51 said:
Stockholm….but it was a cruise port stop over,a very grey and drizzley day and to cap it off due to the wet conditions my better half slipped on so called pedestrian friendly crossing and landed straight on her hands and part of her face so looked a bit like she’d been in a fight and we did go back to our ship earlier than planned as this happened after a sightseeing bus tour which was well not that inspiring so maybe on a sunny day who knows.
Having said all that the cruise into and out of Stockholm with lots of small islands is absolutely stunning so 10 out f 10 for that.

Now Helsinki on the same cruise was definitely great.
The photo is Helsinki😉View attachment 11150
Click to expand...
Great photo.

As for Stockholm that’s really interesting to hear. It’s been on my list for no more reasons than I know little about Sweden and I’m trying to push myself towards more diverse choices. Will bear all that in mind so thanks 👍
 
….sailing away 68B99AEF-1B5B-449E-9F74-9881C4889813.jpegfrom Stockholm and believe me earlier on you sail through incredibly narrow passages between island..not bad when your ship is close to 290 metres long and 33 metres wide( The Arcadia our absolute favourite ship)
 
bleach51 said:
….sailing away View attachment 11151from Stockholm and believe me earlier on you sail through incredibly narrow passages between island..not bad when your ship is close to 290 metres long and 33 metres wide( The Arcadia our absolute favourite ship)
Click to expand...
Oh jeez, I’m a bit of a water phobe so not sure that would work for me 😵‍💫 great pic though.

It does look a bit grey though as you say. I may have a rethink, the Abba museum can wait 😆
 
Lala said:
Great photo.

As for Stockholm that’s really interesting to hear. It’s been on my list for no more reasons than I know little about Sweden and I’m trying to push myself towards more diverse choices. Will bear all that in mind so thanks 👍
Click to expand...
Thanks LaLa……..maybe we just had a not so good day there( the weather didn’t help)….so don’t necessarily be put off….every where always looks so much better when the sun shines.
 
Lala said:
Oh jeez, I’m a bit of a water phobe so not sure that would work for me 😵‍💫 great pic though.

It does look a bit grey though as you say. I may have a rethink, the Abba museum can wait 😆
Click to expand...
It was well into the evening by then and was the best weather of the day😀….actually I think a cruise would be something you would enjoy once you got the hang of it…and you get to see lots of places you can think about returning too for that bit longer ……ours includes Lisbon ( absolutely worth a visit) and Pisa and Florence( though note these were originally excursions from the arrival ports).
Cruises have given us the opportunity to visit so many places including Australia ,New Zealand,San Francisco,Mexico,transiting the Panama Canal,Norway,Iceland,Russia( though definitely not not now😡😡😡) Barbados,the Canaries,Maderia,the Azores,Sweden,Denmark,Germany,Finland,Estonia,Spain,Portugal,France,Italy,and a few others.
You should think about it,but go for a balcony cabin if you do as you can enjoy the sea air that way better but the newer ships are really too big for us,this is Arcadia which is the perfect size.16C3E7DD-6476-471A-8065-A581E4EF773F.jpeg
 
Another vote for Dublin here, seems to be popular for getting pissed. I can get pissed anywhere, wasn't much else interesting going on.

In Nürnberg (Nuremberg) writing this, which is the exact opposite.
 
Shootz said:
Boston, Massachusetts, really disappointed when we visited, ended up flying to New York for a day in an attempt to improve the trip!
Click to expand...
Now that is somewhere we have always wanted to go😳…mind you New York as well ( especially as my wife has been to NY before we got together and I haven’t☹️) .Our Cousin ( on her side) did a post graduate degree in Boston and loved the place.
 
Old_Laytonian said:
I can recommend Stockholm , lots of water and very tranquil and stood next to Jenny Agutter on a bridge. She’s married to a Swede so I found out later.
Click to expand...
Now I would definitely go again if she was there and I could say hello.She was my poster girl many many years ago and she still is amazing,though not necessarily as a Nun😉
 
bleach51 said:
Now that is somewhere we have always wanted to go😳…mind you New York as well ( especially as my wife has been to NY before we got together and I haven’t☹️) .Our Cousin ( on her side) did a post graduate degree in Boston and loved the place.
Click to expand...
As someone said on the bands thread , it’s only one person’s opinion and I am open to being wrong!
 
Shootz said:
As someone said on the bands thread , it’s only one person’s opinion and I am open to being wrong!
Click to expand...
Precisely….a lot can depend on the day…..you can always get a better judgement if you are there longer…it’s one of the issues of cruising which we have been lucky enough to have done…some places can come across as fantastic and others not especially on a bad days weather😉
 
Lala said:
Great photo.

As for Stockholm that’s really interesting to hear. It’s been on my list for no more reasons than I know little about Sweden and I’m trying to push myself towards more diverse choices. Will bear all that in mind so thanks 👍
Click to expand...
Malmo is better than Stockholm.
 
bleach51 said:
….sailing away View attachment 11151from Stockholm and believe me earlier on you sail through incredibly narrow passages between island..not bad when your ship is close to 290 metres long and 33 metres wide( The Arcadia our absolute favourite ship)
Click to expand...
I knew quite a few officers and cadets who sailed on that ship. Never got on board myself, but I mentored enough of them that I could probably rewrite the ship's emergency response manual from memory.
 
bleach51 said:
Precisely….a lot can depend on the day…..you can always get a better judgement if you are there longer…it’s one of the issues of cruising which we have been lucky enough to have done…some places can come across as fantastic and others not especially on a bad days weather😉
Click to expand...
Bill Bryson noted in one of his books that your perception of a city can be hugely influenced by the method by which you arrive there. There is no better way to arrive at most places than by ship, providing it isn't a gloombound day.
 
Did a road trip a few years ago from San Francisco to Vancouver, two of my favourite cities in the world.
Loved everywhere we visited except Seattle which was a huge disappointment.
Oregon coastline and driving along the Colorado River inland to Hood River was amazing.
 
bleach51 said:
Now that is somewhere we have always wanted to go😳…mind you New York as well ( especially as my wife has been to NY before we got together and I haven’t☹️) .Our Cousin ( on her side) did a post graduate degree in Boston and loved the place.
Click to expand...
I've spent a fair bit of time in Boston. it's a great city and plenty to do.
 
bleach51 said:
It was well into the evening by then and was the best weather of the day😀….actually I think a cruise would be something you would enjoy once you got the hang of it…and you get to see lots of places you can think about returning too for that bit longer ……ours includes Lisbon ( absolutely worth a visit) and Pisa and Florence( though note these were originally excursions from the arrival ports).
Cruises have given us the opportunity to visit so many places including Australia ,New Zealand,San Francisco,Mexico,transiting the Panama Canal,Norway,Iceland,Russia( though definitely not not now😡😡😡) Barbados,the Canaries,Maderia,the Azores,Sweden,Denmark,Germany,Finland,Estonia,Spain,Portugal,France,Italy,and a few others.
You should think about it,but go for a balcony cabin if you do as you can enjoy the sea air that way better but the newer ships are really too big for us,this is Arcadia which is the perfect size.View attachment 11152
Click to expand...
Not a dig but there is something fundamentally wrong with that picture. IMO that gas guzzling mass polluting machine has no place in this setting.
 
Surprised to see Boston and Seattle on the list as they are both great places.

If you want a shit city try Wichita where I unfortunately had to visit a few times. Expectations were very low before my first visit and they were not met. Good steaks though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top