It would be impossible to think that one could love every single place in the entire world. Although I frequently claim to, and usually only write about the places I really do recommend and love, there are a whole lot of places that just didn’t really do it for me.
The thing is, I could never say that I hated a place, nor could I say I’ll never go back. It’s just not my style. In the same manner that I’ve never really had a bad date (interesting dates, definitely, and funny dates, but never a really godawful one), I like to think that I’m generally pretty easy-going and can make the best of a bad situation. But, just as I politely sipped my pint of beer on those mediocre dates, realising I would rather be at home watching Better Call Saul, there are a few places I’ve been to that I realised I’d rather move on (or go back to my room to watch Better Call Saul). I completely recognise that, in a lot of these situations, I was lonely or sick or in a weird place in my life or I just didn’t meet the right people – my so-so destination might be your favourite place in the world. I am also in no way not recommending these places, just acknowledging that I haven’t had the best time in every place I’ve ever been, contrary to what this blog might promote. So, in no particular order, here are a few of the places I didn’t love.
Singapore (even though the fire show at the Night Safari was pretty damn cool)
1. Singapore, Singapore. I thought I may as well start off with a controversial one. I have heard from oodles of people that Singapore is one of their favourite cities, and I can totally see why. It is such an amazing blend of cultures, full of great food and interesting architecture. For whatever reason, however, I just didn’t click with it. I was hot all the time, tired after travelling through Southeast Asia and the Subcontinent for almost seven months, and I got bedbugs. I also didn’t really connect with any other travellers there, so I did most of my sightseeing and restaurant-hopping alone. I would love to return in order to see it with fresh eyes, because I imagine I would actually really enjoy it if I was in the right mind-frame. It all goes to show that so often the reasons we do or don’t like a place are completely circumstantial.
Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
2. Koh Phi Phi, Thailand. I know, I know, what is wrong with me?! A beautiful island in Thailand with turquoise water and soft white sand and I didn’t fall immediately in love?? I don’t really know how to explain this one. I just didn’t have that great of a time there. While the beaches were indeed beautiful, I was with a strange group of people who all knew each other well and would invite me out but then ignore me and/or tease me for being Canadian (yes, you know exactly where they were from). I’m a strong believer that the people make the place, and this was a classic case of not meeting the right ones to hang out with. While I’m totally fine being on my own, I do find it more difficult on an island like this one, where there is a definite party vibe. I wanted to party and drink and socialise, but something just wasn’t clicking, and I didn’t end up meeting anyone I liked very much. That happens from time to time, and I accept it. I also accept that this means that I will have to return to the island and try it again. While I loved many other Thai islands – Koh Lanta and Koh Tao instantly spring to mind – I didn’t fall head over heels for Koh Phi Phi.
3. Lloret de Mar, Spain. I hesitated putting this one on the list, as I was just there for TBEX Europe 2015, a large travel blogging conference. The people at TBEX and the tourist board for Costa Brava did so much to entertain us and I was constantly wowed by their pride in Catalan and Spanish culture (the opening night party was particularly wonderful). The conference was held in the resort town of Lloret de Mar on the coast of Spain, just north of Barcelona, and it was… not my kind of town. Although it was on the beach, which I normally love, a lot of the city was clearly set up to be a party place and catered to people who wanted a cheap holiday for a few days. Think clubs pulsing with teenagers, gaggles of bachelorette parties, and pubs advertising cheap English food and happy hours. Hey, to each their own, but it’s not the sort of place I personally enjoy spending a lot of time (in any country, including my current home country). The surrounding areas in Costa Brava looked absolutely stunning, and I heard many rave reviews of the rest of the region, but I didn’t meet many travel bloggers who vowed to return to Lloret de Mar.
Vang Vieng, Laos
4. Vang Vieng, Laos. I actually have no idea what the state of Vang Vieng is right now. When I visited in 2011, however, it seemed to be at its peak… or, some might say, at its lowest depth. Known for many years as a party place in central Laos, my friend and I decided to spend exactly twenty-four hours there while travelling from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. When we visited, you could rent an inner tube for the day and float down the river, stopping at bars for beer or mushroom shakes. A series of diving boards and rope swings were set up around the river, too, and wooden docks heaved with half-naked partiers too drunk to remember their own names. Dozens of tourists died here in its heyday, drowned or drugged or victims of the rocks that seemed to appear out of nowhere. What was once a beautiful little town situated in an oasis of green hills had been turned into a bit of a freak show. It was hard to find a restaurant that didn’t serve only pizza, or that didn’t play an endless loop of Friends on TV. It was not for me. I do not want to sound like a party-pooper, because I really do love to party (see Exhibit A, Exhibit B, and Exhibit C), but Vang Vieng just had a creepy, dirty vibe to me that I personally did not enjoy. I spent the day exploring some caves and waterfalls instead, and left immediately. It was a beautiful place, and I’m sure many have had a great time, but I was not a fan.
Jaipur, India
5. Jaipur, India. If you’ve followed this blog long enough and/or follow me on social media (especially Instagram), you know that I love India. It’s one of my favourite countries, and a month there was nowhere near enough time for me to see what I wanted to see. I travelled mostly through Rajasthan, visiting New Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Pushkar, Udaipur, Agra, Varanasi, and Amritsar in that time. I can honestly say I connected with every city on some level, and have magical memories from each of them. Well, almost. I just remember not really clicking with Jaipur. Who knows why? Maybe I was feeling a bit sick, or was tired, or the traffic was especially bad that day. I just didn’t feel as strong a connection to Jaipur as I did to the other cities I saw. I’m sure I could if I visited again, which is why I try to never say that I would never return to a place.
6. Cairo, Egypt. I was so excited to go to Egypt, mainly to see the pyramids at Giza and float down the Nile. I arrived in Cairo directly from Marrakesh, a city I’ve been to a few times and really love, and I was instantly disheartened by Cairo. The main reason? I did not feel safe there, not even in the day. While it was cool to see The Egyptian Museum (even though it was completely run-down when I saw it in 2008) and the pyramids (even though I didn’t realise that they were surrounded by fast food restaurants until I got there), I was harassed so much that I didn’t even want to leave the hotel. In marketplaces, in restaurants, even in taxi cabs, I was questioned and leered at and groped. One storekeeper actually pulled me into his shop and locked the door behind him – it was terrifying. I was appropriately dressed and didn’t go out at night, but I hated the attention I got. I would like to go back to Egypt – I also visited Alexandria and didn’t experience quite the same level of harassment – but I would like to go with a group or (and here’s where the feminist inside me weeps) with a man.
Jungle trekking in Costa Rica
7. Costa Rica. HEAR ME OUT, OKAY? It is kind of weird to put an entire country on the list, but I have to admit that of all the countries I visited in Central America (all of them except El Salvador), Costa Rica was the one I didn’t feel much of a connection with. To be fair, I only spent about two weeks there, and my experiences were limited to three regions: near Liberia (in the north), in central Monteverde/Santa Elena, and in Cahuita (on the Caribbean coast). Don’t get me wrong, I liked Costa Rica very much. It was beautiful and lush, and I had a lot of fun zip-lining and spotting wild animals and trekking through jungles. Compared to how much I loved Guatemala and Honduras and Nicaragua, however, I never really formed a strong bond with Costa Rica. Perhaps it was because it was the most expensive and the most touristy of the countries I had been to so far on that trip, but that normally doesn’t bother me. Sometimes there really is no explaining why certain people – and certain places – have chemistry. I would absolutely love to explore more of Costa Rica in the future, however, because I know that I could easily change my mind.
The beach in La Serena, Chile
8. La Serena, Chile. I hate to say this, but I do not have one good memory of La Serena. Apparently it is beautiful at the right time of year, but when I was there, in November of 2012, it was cold and windy and empty. I did not meet any other travellers save a friendly Australian couple I hung out with once. I took exactly five photos, this one of the beach being included. I walked around aimlessly for a couple of days and then gave up and went straight to Santiago. But yes! Of course I would go back, because I’m sure it is absolutely gorgeous on a sunny day, when the promenade is filled with puppies and laughter and people eating ice cream*.
I think it goes to show that, as mentioned, why we do or don’t like a place is often circumstantial. I would love to return to all of these places and see how my second visit compares to the first.
Which places in the world have you not particularly clicked with? Why?
*please don’t send me hate mail, this is just my personal experience
67 comments
i thought i was the only person in the world not obsessed with costa rica. 🙂 i enjoyed my time there, but i just found i clicked more with every single other central american country way more. ive been to CR a few times and have given it multiple opportunities to change my mind and it just hasnt. but i wouldnt be opposed to returning because im feeling very beach deprived in the middle of germany.
i have not clicked with: paris (been six or seven times and just cant do it), klaipeda (lithuania), republic of georgia (ok- i love georgia but i liked armenia a lot more and it left me tainted the entire time i was traveling in georgia), astana (kazakhstan), gothenburg (sweden), amsterdam, chiang mai (thailand), guayaquil (ecuador), costa rica as a whole, montreal, philadelphia (i have a sister that lives there so this will hopefully turn at some point)… hmmm… that is about it i think! i have clicked in some way with most other places. oddly enough, ive been to most of these places multiple times and i always enjoy myself, i just dont desire to return in a hurry. fortunately, my list of places i have connected with is much longer 😉
now off to send you some hate mail regarding singapore… 😉 (kidding, i just had way too much good food there haha).
Thank you so much for your comment and input, Megan! Who knows why we click with certain places (or people) and not others. For example, I absolutely loved Chiang Mai and Montreal. And YES I would love to go back to Singapore for the food alone… I definitely ate some amazing dishes there.
Thanks again!
Don’t apologize for your experiences! I’m totally on board with you with Lloret. Aside from the little old town bit with the alleyways, there was literally nothing I enjoyed about it. I wouldn’t really go back there, but I have to admit the beaches in the area are beautiful. I personally disliked Marseille (just lacked any sort of soul) and Malta. I think it’s an island to be enjoyed with others. By yourself it’s… boring. I also was constantly harassed by the men (something I didn’t expect), which -from talking to other women traveling alone- was apparently quite common behavior. You’re right it is always such a personal experience. Fun read!
Thanks for your comment, Milou! That’s interesting to hear about Malta, I had a great time there but I was with my mum and we weren’t harassed at all. And I’m glad that you can relate to the statement about Lloret!
I have heard this same thing about Cairo, Egypt from several people. It is on my bucket list of places that I really want to see, but I would want a group/man with me, too. And yes, the feminist inside of me weeps for that statement as well. Kudos to you for going by yourself in the first place. 🙂
This is a well written article and gives great perspective that while traveling is full of incredible rewards and adventures, there are always a few days, cities, experiences that just aren’t all rainbows and butterflies. 😉 Sometimes those experiences make you appreciate the good days even more though. Keep up the good work and keep having cool adventures! 🙂
Thank you so much, Jessica! I hope that you have a great experience in Cairo, I really think it depends on who you’re there with. Happy travels!
I’m with you on Vang Vieng. Whilst the surrounding Karst scenery was stunning, I couldn’t wait to leave the place almost as soon as I arrived!
Totally! Apparently it is really turning around now which is nice to hear…
We can’t like everywhere we travel to! I really enjoyed reading about your picks.
One of mine stands out…
I flew directly from sunny, summertime Seattle to cold, rainy Dublin one summer and as soon as I hit the streets, I felt like I wanted to cry. Actually I did cry, on a street corner. It was just the bummer weather and everyone rushing around in suits and ties, not to mention the hostel was a complete shithole with a room the size of a closet (doesn’t help things). I also wasn’t digging the Temple Bar scene, near where I was staying. It may be because of this that I haven’t been back to Ireland, but I’ve heard so many wonderful things about the countryside that I think I’ll give it another go.
That’s really interesting… I LOVE Ireland and felt an instant connection to Dublin! Just goes to show how circumstances affect our perspectives. I would definitely recommend the countryside!
We spent a bit of time in Santorini. It was beautiful but very touristy. Not my speed – granted I’m older and not into partying, but I felt it lacked the warmth and culture of some of the other Greek towns we visited.
Hmm very interesting! I was there in low season so I had a very strange experience there. It was certainly beautiful but I would like to visit more of the not-so-touristy places in Greece!
This was a good read. Your experience with the shopkeeper in Cairo sounds awful! My friend and I didn’t feel comfortable sightseeing in Egypt on our own either, so we hired a guide for Cairo. I really think it made a difference – plus she was able to show my friend all the best belly dance stores in Khan El-Khalili!
Off the top of my head, the only place I can think of that I didn’t click with at all is Charleston. I’ve heard so many good things about it from other people, but on my two trips, meh. Give me Savannah or New Orleans any day.
Thank you so much, Polly! I would really like to visit Charleston one day, so it’s interesting to hear your thoughts about it. In fact, I’d love to do a road trip of the entire south… I’m also dying to see Savannah!
Yes yes yes to everything about Costa Rica. I just spent two weeks there and, with three weeks left before flying out of Panama, decided to cut that part of my travels short and return to Nicaragua. I feel like it’s a place I’d like if I was on a proper vacation: one week dropping cash and exploring and then getting the heck out.
Thanks for your comment! That’s interesting to hear about Costa Rica, it seems like a few others feel the same way…
I can’t help agreeing with you with you on Singapore, Koh Phi Phi and Vang Vien. The latter two are beautiful, but entirely destroyed by tourists and Singapore just seemed a little soulless to me (sorry!!!). At 18 at the time, I did go tubing, had a great time and accidental smoked opium. I’m strangely glad that I experienced it, but glad that it has been banned (if travellers tales are to be trusted).
I’d add to your list: Surfers Paradise in Australia, Hanoi in Vietnam and a lot of the beach towns in Ecuador and Peru. :/
An accidental brush with opium?! I want to hear that story! I haven’t been to Surfer’s Paradise but I did enjoy Hanoi. I quite liked a couple little beach towns in Peru but I preferred the inland cities better! To each their own…
I felt the same way about Jaipur – I was completely underwhelmed by the city and did not click with it! It’s a shame the people you met in Koh Phi Phi ruined your visit! Although, I was with a great group of people in Koh Phi Phi and had a few fun nights out, but still disliked it. Phnom Penh is another place I was happy to leave!
Thanks for your comment, Ashley! I wasn’t crazy about Phnom Penh either, especially because I quite liked Siem Reap. Interesting that we both felt that way about Jaipur…
Interesting…my husband and I were (are?) planning a trip to Costa Rica this fall but I just keep hearing from people who didn’t love it. We went to Santorini on our honeymoon and I really didn’t love it…at all. We went to Crete from Santorini and I LOVED it there…but Santorini? I couldn’t wait to leave. I really don’t want to be disappointed on another trip so I’m starting to lean against Costa Rica.
Thanks for sharing!
I’m sure whatever you choose, you’ll have a good time! Of Central America I would probably recommend Nicaragua…
Glad I skipped Koh Phi Phi and just stayed in Koh Lanta longer instead! I had a feeling I wouldn’t like it for some strange reason, though I should probably go check it out myself. I
Isn’t Koh Lanta amazing?! I’d love to go back!
With so much traveling it makes sense that some places are awesome, and some just don’t hit the spot. I agree with you and Kate about Costa Rica though. After Guatemala and Nicaragua it just seemed full of tourists from the USA, and I found it hard to find places to visit that weren’t on a tour, I love hiking but even that didn’t seem to be an option most of the time. Again, other reasons were in play, my travel partner had left, I didn’t click with anyone knew, I’d been in Central America for a few months and was ready to go somewhere different. it was the start of the rainy season and grey most of the time, raining for a bit most days. On the other hand, I did some of my best diving on the Pacific Coast there seeing white tip sharks up close was amazing!
I also didn’t click with Utilla, Honduras, it didn’t seem the party place I expected, just concrete and drab, especially compared to Caye Caulker, Belize. I guess sometimes it just isn’t right, even if on paper a place ticks all the boxes of things you like and want to see/do. You never know until you actually get there and see if there’s chemistry… this is making me think of online dating, I guess they’re pretty similar in a way. looks good on paper, but in reality, there is no bond!
The not so great places just make me appreciate the better ones even more so, and have also taught me to move on if I’m not keen on a place, so it’s still a good experience in the scheme of things!
Thank you so much, Gemma! I loved reading your perspective on things and really agree with your last sentence. I always try to keep a positive attitude no matter what, and I hate to discourage anyone from seeing a place.
I really loved Utila and didn’t connect as much to Belize, isn’t that funny? Again, it was all about the circumstances… I had a great diving group and made some good friends in Utila, so there you go.
Fantastic read! I completely agree that there are just some places you really can’t click with. Sometimes its only temporary, but other times you and the place just don’t get on.
I completely agree with you about Koh Phi Phi. I didn’t like it at all. It didn’t help the weather was terrible, and everywhere was flooded with dirty water, but I didn’t like the vibe of the place. Vang Vieng I think is on the way up again. I was there last year for a quick stop over. Most of the dirty party scene has gone, and there are some nicer places opening up along the river. You still can’t escape the friends bars and the dodgy teen traveler bar crawls though! Perhaps in a few years it will have had a complete revival and the town will match the beauty of the area.
Manilla was another place I just couldn’t love. Like you with Cairo, I never felt safe there. In fact, if I hadn’t been with my boyfriend, I don’t think I’d have left the hostel, especially not after dark. I couldn’t seem to find enough redeeming features to get past that feeling, and its what I remember most of all.
Thanks, Jennie! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I also didn’t connect to Manila at all, but I was only there for a short period of time so I should probably give it another go.
I’m glad to hear that Vang Vieng is turning around! I’m sure it is beautiful now…
I love reading about the places that people didn’t love, people don’t talk about it often enough. I really liked Singapore but it is the only place I have been in Asia (so far) so that’s probably why – I have nothing else to compare it to. I have absolutely no desire to visit Vang Vieng (I’m not into that type of seedy paty destination either) and although Koh Phi Phi looks beautiful, I don’t think I am going to visit because of the mass tourism there now. I completely understand your thoughts about Cairo. I ended up going on a tour as I was travelling by myself and it was a couple of months after the Arab Spring and I wasn’t comfortable travelling solo there. It definitely helped travelling with other people but I still got a lot of unwanted attention. I paid extra at the museum to view the mummies of the Pharaohs and found that very interesting, I also loved the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar. Places that I haven’t loved were Venice, New York, Montreal, Athens, Riga, and Surfers Paradise and the Great Ocean Road of Australia. I didn’t hate any of them, I liked them all, but I just didn’t fall for them. I would definitely be open to revisiting all of them though (except for Surfers Paradise, urgh)
Yeah, I like reading about it, too! As much as I want the whole world to be beautiful and amazing, the reality is that there will be a lot of places we don’t connect with when we travel.
Interesting that a few people have mentioned Montreal and Sufers Paradise… thanks for all of your input here, it’s really cool to see the places other people have fallen (or not fallen) for!
I know more than more person who has had a similar experience in Cairo. I’ve never visited another country that I didn’t like, but I’ve been to several places in my home country (the US) that I don’t care to go back to. They’re mostly places that are over-commercialized and touristy.
Thanks for your comment, Camille! That’s too bad that so many people feel the same way about Cairo…
I completely agree with you on Jaipur. I loved everywhere else I visited in Rajasthan, but just somehow did not click with Jaipur. Even living in Bangalore, the traffic in Jaipur was too much for me, as were the constant barrage of questions from shopkeepers: “which country, madam?”, “you want shawls / carvings / kurtas?”, etc. And then, when my friends and had dinner at the revolving restaurant, we were hurried through our meal and ushered out [of the empty restaurant, I might add] before completing even one circle over the city — which only takes 45 minutes! I wouldn’t mind going back with a local and getting to see a non-touristy side of the city, but it has been probably the one place in India that has not resonated with me in some way.
Also, you need to come back to India and explore the south! Karnataka has a lot of wonderful places to visit, and Kerala is also pretty great. I’d love to hear what your experiences of the South are as compared to the North.
xx
Oh no, that’s too bad to hear about Jaipur! Interesting that a few of us feel that way, I wonder what it is.
I definitely want to see more of India, I would absolutely love to see the south! I’m hoping to go back in the next few years…
Hey Brenna
Interesting about Egypt and sadly not the first time I’ve heard such stories.
With that in mind, Marrakech is on my list. I really wanted to live and breathe the chaos of the Medina but instead I was harassed & grabbed the entire time.
Aw, that’s too bad. I also had some harassment in Marrakech but it was nowhere near how bad it was in Egypt…
I lived in Singapore for a year and a half and only started liking it about four months in, once I’d found the right group of people to hang out with (and places to eat)! I’m fond of it now but still don’t know how travelers say they ‘fall in love’ with the place after only three days there!
Yeah, I guess it’s the same with falling in love with a person! Sometimes it’s fast, sometimes it takes time.
Totally agree about Cairo. I wanted to love it so much, I wanted it to be epic, but it was just sleazy and intimidating
I’m sorry to hear that you felt the same way… isn’t it a shame??
I really liked Singapore but I think you’re right, it depends on the people and circumstances. It was Christmas, I stayed with friends and went out for amazing meals and cocktails, I had just spent three months backpacking around SE Asia and it was nice to have a bit of luxury… I also enjoyed Vang Vieng because we hired bikes and explored the countryside and went tubing at 10am when the river was peaceful and we even encountered some wildlife.
I was underwhelmed by Paris but I know I need to give it a second try and to Polly who didn’t click with Charleston, I lived there for a year and it took me a good four months to feel at home. I’m glad I stuck it out and have been back many times and always love it 🙂
Yeah, I really do think it depends on the people/circumstances. I’m glad to hear you got to see the nice side of Vang Vieng! I like Paris a lot but I’ve also been a few times… I hope you get to see it again soon!
[…] words about not always connecting to a place you’re visiting really resonated with me, especially her words about jaipur. summed up my experience there in one […]
I too didn’t jive with Singapore. It was wildly expensive and felt very sterile and contrived. I also have to admit, Koh Phi Phi didn’t quite do it for me either. The view point was worth the hike up, but the narrow streets with all the bell ringing bicycles got on my nerves. Great post; a fun read.
Thanks for your input, Wayne! Interesting that a few of us felt the same way about these places…
We all have that ‘not-my-type’ place and for me it’s Paris. It just didn’t live up to the hype…
Yeah, I think we all have that city/place! Funny that a lot of people have mentioned Paris… I love it, but I can see why others don’t!
I had a similar Costa Rica experience, especially Cahuita. I spent the day driving there and immediately felt uncomfortable, like people were peering at me through their window shades. I drove across the country the next day and had an amazing experience on the west coast. Maybe try that side of things next time.
It’s really interesting that so many people are mentioning Costa Rica! Cahuita was actually my favourite place in CR, but to each their own… I definitely need to go to the west, that’s for sure!
Just wondering if it was all of egypt or just cairo people seem to dislike. Ive got a 15 day egyptian trip planned for September and am starting to feel a bit nervous about all the negative comments ive been reading. I feel like I should have done a bit more research before I booked!
Interesting array of places right there. Singapore I was not a fan with the first time but second time round getting out of the city helped win me over.
St. Petersburg was my most recent one. Maybe it was the hype? Was too many people for my liking and the sites were not overly unique (imo). Five days and I was dying too get out. Also got a hell of a fright on the first day when the cannon at midday went off right next too me. First impressions haha. Seeing the bridges open at 2am was easily the highlight.
Moscow on the other hand, loved it!
Very interesting – I loved St. Petersburg, but didn’t feel as much of a connection with Moscow! Thanks for your comment, I love getting everyone’s input.
I thought I was alone on Cairo. It was always at the top of my bucket list and I was able to spend a month there. I have never been somewhere I felt more uncomfortable in nor found its residents more unfriendly.
Unrelated I also recommend to tourists who may know natives of the city to avoid traveling to places like the Pyramids or museums with those locals. I live in New York City, we get our fair share of tourists and if long lost friend of mine was excited to see the Empire State Building I may not be as excited to go to the top with that friend as they would. I would hate for my lack of enthusiasm color their adventure and you might find that like I did the first time I saw the Pyramids and was unenthusiastically told “There they are. Now what do you want for lunch?”
I’m sorry that you didn’t have a good experience in Cairo! I think it depends on the local, I’ve definitely met some locals who are really excited even about the popular sights in their city. I know that I still get very excited to show off the big sights of London!
Even though I am sure that you had mentioned not loving these places, I liked hearing about your experiences again. Just like you, so much of the reason why I particularly like or dislike a place is about the people. For example, I didn’t fall in love with Rio de Janeiro like so many people did. It might have just been that I was tired of travelling or didn’t see the all of the cool places to visit, but my heart just wasn’t in it! I would really like to go back again( since it has been seven years) and see what I think of it now 🙂
Thank you, Zalie! I think that we should go back to Brazil together… I really liked Rio, but I totally understand when your heart isn’t in a place.
I would definitely go back to Rio with you! Or anywhere for that matter 😉
Let’s do it! 🙂
It is quite easy to dislike a location for quite irrational reasons. Some places really click with me and some don’t. In the last twenty years my travels have been limited to Europe and the only country that I did not like was Austria. It has efficient public transport, it is clean and tidy, safe and is well organised – but I did not enjoy it. I love exploring the countryside and occasionally getting a bit lost and then unexpectedly finding something of interest. There was no chance of that where I was in Austria as every path and all points of possible interest were signposted or labelled so intensively that there was no chance of any surprises. For me this took away one of the main reasons for travelling. I admit that this is quite illogical as I sure that Austria has much of interest for the visitor but it isn’t for me. For me the most interesting area to visit was the Picos de Europa in Spain – you have to find your own path with very poor maps, but occasionally you may find the most brilliant places.
[…] few months ago I wrote a post entitled “Just Not My Type: The Places I Didn’t Love“. It was fairly well-recieved, in that I think people like to read not only about all the […]
I’m so late reading this but I would like to add my two cents.
I absolutely did not like Amsterdam when I went there years ago. it was my last stop and I felt it was too grimy and I just didn’t feel at home. Same goes for Germany even though I was visiting friends. I just didn’t feel comfortable there.
I visited Costa Rica last year and I really really loved it! My bf and I rented a card and we drove from San Jose to La Fortuna. Stayed there for a couple of days before driving down the Pacific coast to Quepos! It was amazing!
I don’t like Oslo, Norway. Seeing as I’m a foreigner living in Norway I’ve been there quite a few times (Visa, passport, just travelling via etc), but I’ve never liked it. It might be the dialect (which is obviously just my personal issue) or the fact that everytime I’ve been there I’ve been either a) on a schedule or b) really, really, really tired. But even this summer, as I sat below the castle in the sun and ate my lunch, having nowhere to bee for another 5 hours, it just didn’t click. But that’s ok. I don’t need to love Oslo 🙂 Also, I really loved this post. And your entire blog!
I personally really enjoyed Oslo, but to each their own! I find I can’t fully enjoy a city if I’m rushed or tired, so perhaps that’s it. Thanks for your comment, Elisabeth. 🙂
Another fantastic read! I’m planning to go to Cairo soon and you confirmed some of my fears :/ I’m going with my boyfriend though, so hopefully I’ll feel safer.
I’m obsessed with Costa Rica, although none of the areas you mentioned in this post. I really didn’t enjoy Bucharest at all – I couldn’t find anything redeeming about that city. But, as you say, to each his own!
Really honest post – and really appreciated. It’s interesting that a majority of them, for you, seem to be in the Far East. I have to profess to feeling the same way to be honest. After spending time in Singapore, I felt really stifled by the rules and regulations (having spent a lot of time in Greece where NOT abiding by the rules seems a national pass time!) i.e.: coming out of the shopping mall and waiting for a taxi, I accidentally didn’t wait in the line ‘properly’ and the attendant put me and my partner to the back of the line !
Hong Kong I struggled to like too. I tried as I’d read so many positive experiences about the place, and I will admit, I met some wonderful local people who showed me around, but maybe, like you, I was in a place in my life, for some reason or another, I was struggling, but Hong Kong didn’t float my boat.
Thanks for your honest.
So interesting! I just returned from three weeks in India and felt the same about Jaipur. I planned two days there as I thought I would love it but I also did not connect with the city. Conversely, I felt the opposite in Jodhpur, Pushkar and especially Udaipur to the point that I miss being there. That being said, my hotel in Jaipur, Royal Heritage Haveli, was one of the most lovely of the trip. Pradip and Angelique Singh run a gorgeous and inviting historical haveli that gives you every reason to stay in rather than venture out. 😉
Cairo was always at the TOP of my list of travel destinations. When I had the opportunity to spend a month there in 2000 I jumped at it. I have traveled extensively since I was a child and this was the first country I experienced overt Anti-Americanism (Pre 9/11) and just out and out rudeness. (I was raised in both Los Angeles and New York City so I think I can recognize rudeness when I encounter it.) Maybe because I am a guy I never felt unsafe but people had no trouble insulting me to my face, showing blatant discourtesy and making me feel completely unwelcome. If it was isolated incidents I might’ve been able to brush them off but this was the common thread wove through my month. The most noteworthy incident was traveling from Sharm El Sheikh back to Cairo via a very well appointed tour bus. A friend of mine who is Egyptian living in Cairo arranged this excursion during Eid. We were in the middle of the beautiful and desolate Sinai at night when one of the coach attendants starts loudly arguing in Arabic with my friend and it’s clearly about me. My Arabic is non-existent so when he started yelling at me I didn’t know the context nor how to respond. It all just ended and he went away. My friend told me they wanted to throw me off the bus because their insurance didn’t cover foreigners to ride in it and I should never have been allowed to board (this was how I arrived in Sharm too btw but no problems then.) The only break in my unpleasant trip to Cairo was a week in Jordan where everyone was lovely. Let me add to those that think this might be perhaps a message regarding Arab nations as being like Egypt it is most definitely not. I recently returned home from 6 months in Qatar, Oman, UAE where truly I found the people to be amongst the most pleasant memories of my journey.