Easy - The Cinque Terre and Rue Cler. I bought into the hype for both places and expected magic. The reality was definitely not magical.

I agree about Versailles. I think the decadence turned me off more than the crowds. But the gardens were beautiful.

Massive overcrowding at the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. Good guide, great art, but my memories are of packed corridors and "Silencio!" repeated every five minutes as the whispers of hundreds of people in the chapel inevitably rose in volume. No time for the Raphael rooms, but I don't expect to return.

We had an experience like Mike's at Versailles too, though my wife never got airborne as far as I heard. Next time, if there is one, we'll look for one of those King's Apartments tours I've read about here.

Taormina. After touring some beautiful places in Sicily we come to this town, on the top of many peoples list of places you must visit. We did, with 10,000 of our newest friends, paid way to much for just OK food, wandered streets with many stores hawking tourist stuff. The Greek theater was nice, I was able to replace my old Ecco shoes when they fell apart as there was at least 2 shoe stores per block.

I agree with Dick on the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, it was a zoo. The massive crowds made it impossible to enjoy.

I was also underwhelmed at the island of Murano. The irony is that with all the stores on the island, I actually found the drinking glasses I as searching for in Rome.

Sandy

The disappointments I most remember were not related to weather or crowds of other tourists; they were 100% on me--poor choices of destination. I like going to less-well-known spots, and that sometimes leads me to places whose charms turn out to be too subtle to justify the time required to reach them, given the Schengen Zone time limit. I don't recommend Burgenland (Austria) or--except for beach lovers--quite a list of islands to which I have trekked: Cies Islands in Spain, Egadi Islands in Sicily, and Porquerolles and Ile de Re in France. And off-season Ponza (Italy) was borderline at best. Those are all pleasant places, but I think they're best for someone who's looking for a placed to veg out or is spending a month in the vicinity and just seeking a casual day-trip for a change of scenery. There are so many far more exciting spots for the typical overseas tourist.

Come to think of it, I do have one disappointment due to crowds: a mid-day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park in 2015. But it was my third trip, so I really can't complain.

The only disappointments I've had were when sights I was really hoping (and planning) to see were closed for renovations or under scaffolding, etc. I've never really been disappointed in the places I went although there were places that I planned more time for than was actually necessary.

I am adding the Changing of the Guard” at Buckingham Palace. Short people should just find some pictures because all your going to see (well, pre-Covid) is some stranger’s head and shoulders.

We’ve felt similarly about the Vatican, the Coliseum and Versailles. After our first trip to Rome we decided we never needed to go back because of the heat and the crowds. My only memory of the Vatican was trying to keep with the group and not get crushed. Fast-forward 13 years and it’s an entirely different experience. We were back in Rome at the same time of year and now we love Rome. We went to the Vatican/St.Peter’s Basilica at the end of the day with a private guide and practically had the place to ourselves. I’m not sure if it’s because we have more travel under our belt and know how navigate better, follow the RS guidebook advice or read and ask questions on this forum. Maybe all of the above.

We’ve learned that we don’t like crowds. Fortunately, we’ve seen many of the spots that have become wall-to -wall, so we can concentrate on lesser known places.

Two absolutely lovely places that were disappointing to me: Bruges and San Gimignano.

Both postcard perfect. But once I got beyond the pretty facades, both felt like they were putting on a show for tourists. They just lacked authenticity for me.

All the responses hit the target on the nose. Ya got to follow the RS guide book recommendations to visit these areas. My 2 visits to Versailles the gardens and out buildings a pleasure-the house a nightmare. The Vatican museums and all other large art museums around Europe are a crowded night mare. The Dali museum in Cadeques Spain is part of our don’t visit list. We have started visiting smaller museums. Spend the night in any popular town and enjoy it early and late. You have to be a real Monet and garden enthusiast to enjoy Giverny. It has been overrun with tourists. Never have gotten in line for the Eiffel Tower, but relax in the nearby park and overlooks across the seine river.

My top 3 disappointments:

-The Mona Lisa - I can say I’ve seen it in person but afterwards, a good photo of it would’ve been fine for me. Never going back to that room.

-The Book of Kells at Trinity College. Could’ve spent more time at the library upstairs tho.

-Tallinn, Estonia. Even tho it was a business trip in winter, I was looking forward to some extra time to play tourist there. I didn’t like the food, and there was an unpleasant odor everywhere I went. I’d go back during better weather to get a more positive impression. But I doubt I’ll like the food any better.

Interesting comments.
I have few negative experiences traveling.
We would never go to a theme park like Disney in Europe.
Versailles was great. I have visited twice and enjoyed it both times.
The Sistine Chapel and Vatican were fantastic. I have been there twice and found the Sistine Chapel to be the most amazing work or art in the World.

Still, when did I experience some disappointment?

Hawaii, Oahu and Maui. Enjoyed both, but wasn't blown away. I expect the big island would be better.

Did a great three week tour of China. Loved it, but hated the terrible air pollution.

Last time in NYC, visited the Freedom Tower next to the 911 memorial. It was too foggy to see the city. That was disappointing.

Overcrowding at the Vatican museum. We did an early entry tour so got to enjoy the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael rooms in peace but the rest of the museum...unbearable.

Toledo, Spain. It’s a common day trip from Madrid, but I like to stay overnight in day trip towns to avoid the rush. However, in this case avoiding the rush = very dead, boring evening.

Durnstein. Just didn’t like it.

Vienna after 2 -2.5 days (was there for 5). I liked it fine but I was ready to move on, while usually I like to linger in places. I think it was as simple as the architecture and food weren’t my personal preference so once I saw the tourist highlights I wasn’t as into my usual activity of “wander, eat, and enjoy the vibe”.

Of course I’d gladly return to any of these places now. All are much better than being stuck at home!!

Our first visit to Cinque Terre in 2008 was so nice we went back in 2012 - if our visit in 2008 had been like 2012, we def would not have gone back. It was even basically the same days during the 3rd week of Sept - big diff was first time was weekdays and 2nd was a weekend. Trains and train stations packed, the villages swarming. I would like to return again someday but would def go more off season like mid-April or Oct.

Munich in 2010 - but that was our fault. We were there during Oktoberfest for only one night - yes, one night. And we don't even drink beer. It was kinda interesting seeing everyone in their 'fest get ups, but we had planned to arrive around noon - (un)fortunately, we had a wonderful couchsurfing host in Augsburg the night before and ended up staying in Augsburg until prob 6pm or so, meaning our half day was shot. The next day we had to leave at 4pm to go to Salzburg. So we had all of about 6 hrs to look around - hubby totally forgot we were even there. Next time we will do it justice!

And I'll speak for my husband - Prague last year. Nothing against Prague - he ended up with food poisoning and was basically confined to the hotel room for about 24 hrs...we had 4 nights, so he got to enjoy an afternoon and the next day, then he was out - couldn't even go to the tour of Prague Castle I booked. I - on the other hand - really enjoyed walking around by myself, at my own pace, going where I wanted to go when I wanted to go, not having to keep looking behind me to see why he was walking so slow, have that expensive delicious steak ;). He is a much better map reader than I, so I did get slightly misplaced once or twice, but nothing major.

And Amsterdam was a bit of a disappointment - but only because we had 5 nights there, and 3 of our 4 days we did day trips (Den Haag, Keukenhof, Haarlem). We still had mornings and evenings, but after leaving I felt like I didn't really see Ams. I also ended up sick one night (I'll blame Burger King, but all the cigarette and other smoke in the air made my throat feel like hell) and had a throat so sore I could barely swallow food for 2 days. Again - love to go back for 3-4 nights and just concentrate on Ams itself.

I’ve learned to never save the best for last. If you have something high on your desire list give it some flexibility in your itinerary if timed tickets aren’t an issue. On an art themed trip to Paris we saved the Louvre for our last free totally unstructured day—it was to be devoted to the museum entirely. Up to this point we’d been too busy with teaching, grading and end of semester activities. So on that early morning in December we walked over to the glass pyramid to find no line and my first thought was “great no line”. It wasn’t until we got really close that we realized people were being turned away, there was a strike that day. I had to go sit down on a ledge and recover. On the flight home the next day my husband said we should just return for spring break and go on our first day to the Louvre. We didn’t return until the following year but we have never left a site unseen to the last day of our trip. Our last day in any city is usually more about wandering and reflecting.

Check-point Charlie in Berlin, it is just a little white hut with a couple of pretend Guards standing outside, my late mother could have taken both theses guys without having to take her coat off. Loved Berlin, loved the museum beside Check-point Charlie, but the site itself was the most disappointing place I have every visited.

We spent two nights in Paestum and it was two nights too many. Other than the fabulous Greek ruins, the town is nothing. Marginal lodgings available although we found one great restaurant for both dinners. We walked to the sea to have something to do after viewing the ruins and saw a dead rat in one road and a dead kitten on another. At least it wasn’t hot as it was late autumn.

Overall underwhelmed with Amsterdam. The crowds were bad the weather worse although the silver lining was the quality of dining we found in Haarlem where we stayed.

I agree with Lane about San Gimignano. A false front Disneyesque experience,

Agreeing with what Mona said:

I’ve learned to never save the best for last.

I too found the Coliseum uninteresting and the Sistine Chapel unenjoyable because of the unruly sweaty mob. I also was disappointed by Giverney because there was little to see, and because apparently the same unruly sweaty mob was there too. Everything else has been great 🙂.

Jeff , the museum did give a reflection of that time and showed the whole story, I especially liked the various bits about how folk escaped the country, but the actually hut is just a joke and does not reflect the actual place. on that same trip I went to the House of the Wansee conference, went into the room where the conference was held and the Final Solution decided upon , a chill went down my spine, never experienced anything like that before, now that really is a house of horrors.

Agree with lots of the above. Try to avoid the crowds and the heat as much as possible. But doesn't seem to work too well. eg Amalfi in October - rammed.

But my bête noire is Salzburg. I don't know why and cant explain it, but the few times I have been there I really couldn't wait to leave.

The food in France. I like heat and spice, but in France that isn't what the food is about. We tend to frequent higher end restaurants and there was no doubt we were being served high quality meals with rich ingredients, but I just found the food dull with no kick. On the bright side, I've never been on a European adventure that I haven't lost a few pounds.

Similar to Dick, my memories of the Sistine Chapel are “Shushshshsh! No photos!” repeated over & over and crowds down the corridors.

Yes, Versailles is crowded, but most of my time has been spent in the gardens both times I was there.

The only other disappointments were two classes that were cancelled last minute - a photography class in Lucca and a pastry class in Paris. I was able to sightsee, instead, but I love having some experiences (cooking, etc.) that I can apply back home afterwards, too.

Florence in June ... last June to be specific.
Our first visit was back in the '80's when we first fell in love with the place. Had returned a few times since but only for a few days at a time, and which was not nearly enough to satisfy us.
For a major anniversary last year my wife opted for a return to Italy - the first two weeks driving around Tuscany and Umbria and the last two settling into a little self-catering place we'd discovered in the Oltrarno area on a previous trip. I actually felt guilty about "short changing" the city for the countryside ... until we got there. The crowds and the heat were unbelievable, especially around midday. Our usual strategy of going out early in the morning and later afternoon was a decent workaround and since we'd seen most of the major sights on earlier trips we were able to avoid the worst of the congestion. Still, we found ourselves looking for day trip excursions to get us out of the city for a day, so in a perverse way it turned out to be a blessing in that we discovered nearby towns and villages (Montecatini for example) that we otherwise would have overlooked.
Driving around the countryside was an absolute pleasure. Spending two weeks in the city of Florence not so much. Fact is, if we ever return to northern Italy we won't be staying in Florence, but rather in a nearby town (Lucca, Siena, etc) and day tripping in as the spirit moves us ... and our patience allows. Sad to say it, but the ancient city that was once one of our favorite travel destinations has lost much its charm for us.

Absolutely the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. I've been to each half a dozen times, and none of them were pleasant. Still worth doing, but be prepared for a struggle. You'll be happier if you set the bar low. That way, everything is a win. The Sistine Chapel management is atrocious. Rather than controlling the crowd and access and limiting the direction people move, it's a free-for-all--hundreds of people in a giant room packed like sardines in a can and surely in violation of every fire code in the world. My husband uses a wheelchair and while I don't advocate this, I can tell you it improved the experience for both of us. In the museum, I found that people were much kinder and more considerate with him than when I was alone. In the Sistine Chapel, they were not. The pushing and shoving meant that he ended up with a young woman in his lap. She acted like it was HIS fault for being in the way. I was not amused.

Reims, the Fresno of France.

The slogan of of this generic splat of a town should be "Welcome To Reims -- HA HA! You're In Reims Now!"

What little charm the town once possessed was chased out by the Germans in 1914 and has been loathe to return ever since.

The town is very clean. VERY clean. It's like what a town would be if it were modeled on a very tony food court in a Palo Alto mall. A very tony food court that's occasionally visited by Germans going on holiday en masse and overstaying their welcome. The streets are wide -- and very clean. The cafes are all chains -- and very clean. The streetcar is punctual and painted a bright purple -- and very clean. There's nothing wrong with things been clean, orderly and well run -- as an American, the novelty was delightful -- but this place is pretty much what Catholics believe Purgatory is like.

Here's a quick tour of Reims to spare you the time and expense of actually visiting the place:

1. Notre-Dame de Reims: Yeah, ok, I'll give this a thumbs-up because of the history and the Chagall stained glass windows. Also, some ponce got bored in the 1600s and carved the date into the base of a pillar, thus ensuring future generations will know that while history doesn't repeat itself, sometimes it sits in Reims for 400 years wishing it was somewhere else.

2. The Museum of the Surrender: Here, World War 2 came to a formal end. Well, the part of World War 2 Americans care about because they liked Band of Brothers, but couldn't quite get into The Pacific. Things start with the mandatory viewing of a movie where de Gaulle saves France by showing Allied Forces that you take a right at Bayeux and the city with the big pointy thing is Paris -- you can't miss it. Then you move on to a collection of WW2 uniforms, which are modeled by mannequins lifted straight from a 1950s Sears. At this point, you realize that all the German mannequins, including the Waffen SS guy, are slyly smiling, but all the American mannequins look like they're suffering from a particularly onerous case of constipation and are in the end-stages of relieving it. This explains more about the French than you will ever know. Finally, we come to the table where the surrender itself was signed. It's a table -- a historic table, yes -- but I've been to Ikea before. It's alleged that after signing the terms of capitulation Alfred Jodl muttered, "Thank Christ that's over!" He didn't mean World War 2, he meant his stay in Reims.

3. Everything else: Yeeeeeah...

From the moment you step off the train in Reims, to the moment 30 seconds later when you start regretting that choice, Reims will inspire awe in the sense that you won't believe so much apathy and total lack of inertia could be packed into so small an area without collapsing into a singularity of "Meh". There is one good thing about Reims, however: once you arrive back at Gare de l'Est you will never be so happy to see Paris again for the rest of your goddamn life.

-- Mike Beebe

While checking into my hotel in Piazza Armarina, I spotted a notice in the lobby sa6ing that the Villa Romana was closed for upkeep for the next three months. Still had a wonderful time in this small town - especially watching a soccer match in the restaurant while savoring a wonderful dinner. Next day I arrived in Siracusa to visit the Teatro Greco. Chiuso! Closed to give the employees time for Christmas shopping and preparations. Great reasons why I returned to Sicily and visited both sites. When life gives you lemons, drink lemoncello!

I've been to a few truly awful towns for work, but thankfully I've never visited anywhere on holiday that I really disliked. However, a few places or sights have been mediocre, including:-

Bratislava, Slovakia. The rest of the country is lovely, but it was unlucky with its capital (especially in comparison to what the Czech's got). Bratislava is mostly dull and the bits that aren't dull are ugly. Even Brussels might be preferable.

Charleston,.USA. Again, the rest of the country does have some good bits, but this city is hugely overrated. A handful of buildings from a few hundred years ago is neither historical nor charming.

And there seems to be a long list of statues that for no obvious reason are considered must-sees, but are actually underwhelming. Top (or bottom?) of my list would be the Little Mermaid and the Manneken Pis.

Compared to other large cities like Rome, London, Vancouver, Chicago and Berlin, I found Pairs underwhelming - not actually horrible, but mostly just not that great. And it smells funny, although it does have a very nice tower.

Nick:
"Bratislava is mostly dull and the bits that aren't dull are ugly. Even Brussels might be preferable."

Damn, dude, I thought my review of Reims was a little harsh! -- you totally went full Brussels!

-- Mike Beebe

I was disappointed in my experience at The Villa Romana at Piazza Armerina. The mosaics were very impressive and beautiful but once you enter into the maze of a walkway in the hoards of people there is no way out. You just get swept along the winding boardwalk by the crowds. We were there in September and it was extremely warm and crowded. The walkway snakes from room to room and we were body to body. It felt very claustrophobic to me. Difficult to stop and take it all in and appreciate what you are seeing. I, like several of the others here have mentioned, now seek out and prefer smaller, lesser known beauties to visit. I will still go to places that I think are important to see but I hate to fight crowds. In Sicily, I loved visiting the ruins at Selinunte. Very few people there and you could just roam, explore, take your time and appreciate what you were seeing. I also visited the ruins at Agrigento. The ruins are outstanding but there were so many people there, all vying for that perfect photo. I much preferred the visit to Selinunte over the visit to Agrigento.

Firstly I wanted to mention that I have been incredibly lucky to have the privilege of being able to travel the world, I think a lot of people envy our experiences, both the good and "disappointing". The few experiences that I consider "disappointing" were not necessarily bad, just different then what I was led to believe through reputation/word of mouth. Some of these disappointing experiences may have been due to a lack of planing on my part, sheer bad luck, or even personal taste, I'm not sure. Here's some of mine, mostly to do with local culinary expectations:

Italian food in Italy: There is so much more to still explore in Italy, but the area between Venice and Roma - I have had very bad luck with the local cuisine, for me all was very forgettable, the only thing I remember was a very good Prosciutto e Melone in the central market in Ravenna. Honestly I have had "better" Italian food outside of Italy haha, particularly some Gnocchi in Wroclaw, Poland or Tuscan Steak in Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Grand Canyon, USA: I bought into the hype of Grand Canyon, particularly from images of old western movies, but meh, there are much more breathtaking vistas in the south west, Zion and Monument Valley come to mind. It did not help that the place felt like a Disneyland with so many people.

Local Cuisine in New Zealand: I was disappointed with the local gastronomy in New Zealand. Almost like it's imported wholesale from England, from bland fish and chips to mushy mince pies. I was expecting there would be more of an incorporation of local indigenous ingredients, like in Hawaii, but that was far from the case. I thought since these places were surrounded by water there would be more local seafood, I've talked to a few locals about this and they told me that almost all the local fish they catch is exported to China and Japan, leaving little for locals.

Gdansk, Poland: Gdansk was a bit of a blur for me, admittedly I caught some bad food poising while on a day trip to Gdynia. I am pretty sure it was the flounder (which they are famous for) at one of the restaurants on their waterfront pier. It kind of ruined the rest of my time in Gdansk. It did not help that it was unpleasantly cold and windy in the city, even in the Summer.

Maybe I have been lucky. Maybe I keep my expectations low. Maybe I am easily impressed. But I don't really have much in the way of travel disappointments. Sure, there were things that didn't go exactly as expected. I might have slept in a train station a couple times when I missed details like the "hotel" I chose did not have a front desk person after dark. My timing might have been off and I arrived at the peak of crowds instead of off hours. I might have insulted the entire country of Austria at a beer garden in Salzburg. But all of those type of experiences turned into great stories to tell and have a laugh over once I was back home.

My only true disappointment was Ireland. Not the country or the sights -- it was the tour guide. He was too busy writing a travel guide book and was late turning it in so he spent most of his time working on that. We did get everything promised in the itinerary, but it felt more like a My Way tour rather than a fully guided one. There was none of the on bus lecturing, nothing "extra" added that wasn't being tried for inclusion in the guide book, included meals that were on the brink of not qualifying for a homeless shelter offering (soup, lots and lots of meals of thin broth soup limited to one bowl and one slice of bread and asking for more made me feel like I was in Oliver Twist), an overall sour look when questions were asked that interrupted the writing and a grumpiness that was hard to ignore when we were on parts of the sight seeing that didn't allow for the writing. But we made it through and overall enjoyed the tour well enough. At least the beer was good at every stop.

Mark:

"I might have insulted the entire country of Austria at a beer garden in Salzburg."

You're telling this story and you're telling it now!

-- Mike Beebe

This thread just reminds us that everyone's taste is different. Charleston is my #1 favorite city-the food, the sad history, the houses, the beach. I love places with interesting walks and Charleston definitely fits that bill! And I love Hawaii too(have never been to Maui though)

My worst experience was my only trip to Venice in Aug 1985. The canal smelled like a sewer and despite being careful (and not even brushing my teeth with the water), I got such a bad case of GI problems that I slept (drugged) through a beautiful train ride through Switzerland. For the record, the only other time I've gotten sick on a trip was after eating tomatoes in Moscow. I've been to Ecuador and to Guatemala three times and did not get sick.

Edited to add: Assisi-I'm just not into pilgrimages and I was on a day bus tour whose guide barely mentioned the Giotto paintings. Of course, it probably also suffered from the fact that we went to Orvieto first and its cathedral is stunning.
And of course, Brussels.

Prague. We visited there in June 2004, only a few weeks after joining the EU. It was so jam packed, I can't even imagine it now. I was also put off by the roving stag parties shouting obscenities and availing themselves to the sex tourist trade.

Cinque Terre. Too hot, too busy. That said, as time passes I'm starting to remember it in a better light and since DH wants to return, I might give it another chance someday.

Isola dei Pescatori. DH wanted to stay overnight on the island, which sounded fabulous. It shut right down after day trippers left -- completely. There seem to be residents, but I guess too few to keep anything open. We couldn't find anywhere to eat until we came across a private group being seated in a restaurant and they didn't mind us being there. The second night we ate at the hotel restaurant (it was expensive, which was why we were looking for a cheaper option the night before). And it was a long way out of our way for a two-night stay. Poor choice.

If you insist. ;-)

We were on our own in Salzburg. I found what appeared to be a happy crowd inside a tent at a beer garden so I went in. I was quickly served a mas beer (I ordered the local brand and that seemed to impress the waitress). Music was playing, people were dancing, all was good. Then the band leader made some announcement (my German is OK, but not good enough to follow along when drinking and the Austrian accent throws me off anyway) that I didn't really understand. Suddenly everyone was standing and the band played a very serious song. I did not stand immediately. At the end of the song, everyone drained their beers. Those at the table around me slammed their mugs onto the table upside down, made a tut tut sound and went elsewhere. I could not even get another beer after that even though all those around me were. Turned out it was the Austrian national anthem they played and it was insulting to not stand. It was also a political campaign hosting the tent. Unfortunately for me. From that point onward, every time I am in a German/Austrian beer tent and everyone stands, I immediately do so too!

Mark,

That is fantastic! I mean, it must have been pretty embarrassing at the time, but you're right in that it makes for a great story!

-- Mike Beebe

Being herded around like cattle at every stop on our river cruise a few years back. I can say I saw the places, but there wasn’t enough time to really enjoy them. We pretty much figured it would be like that, but we know, essentially, tours are not for us.

I think the best way to avoid disappointment is never go to the same place twice; with the exception of a great city like London. However, London is so Cosmopolitan now, it is not very English, anymore...so don't go there expecting any real ye olde charm...that is not reality based. If you never been there The Tower of London is still real. The great Museums are still great. If you go to the edges of town you can still find some village atmosphere. I do find the practice of over-interpreting every historic landmark irritating with too many kid-friendly displays that actually take away any awe or feeling of discovery of a place. The main problem of course is nonmetered access to everywhere which leads to ruin of many places. Only so many buses should be allowed in specific time frames. Now with breaks to do cleanup and restoration. Cruise Ships in Venice scare me. We tried to travel with few reservations, we usually drive...so if a place is too crowded or boring we drive on. Now you can call ahead if you need to guarantee a space by the end of the day. It should be interesting to see how this year works for the Travel Industry.

Honestly in over 50 years of travel, none. Well, maybe the Mona Lisa.

Believe it’s because I choose to travel off season. Thus no summer travels when hordes dominate. Also believe it’s because I most often travel solo.

So into the crown of the Statue of Liberty, the apex of the Washington Monument, Bright Angel Trail into and out of the Grand Canyon, eerie dawn boat ride thru the canals of Venice, solo sun rise strolls through Hyde Park or past the Colosseum. Afternoon in a November solo in the Gardens of Hampton Court. Just me and the swans. Hiking along the Dingle Way or through the Gap of Dunloe or strolling around the Washington D.C. mall. Had the Last Supper to myself and the Italian guard who simply looked at her cell phone the entire time I was in the room.

November & December have been my UK and Ireland, travel months. Same with other parts of Europe and Cuba. Honestly 99% of the time weather was fine, very little rain. Anyway, that time of year seems to keep the masses in check!

The food in Rome. I was pregnant at the time and nothing tasted good. I don't blame Rome, I blame my husband.

We were very disappointed in Neuschwanstein Castle, a waste of a day and a night in a hotel room nearby.
Taormina, and I had read about the over tourism. Luckily our hotel was set off by itself with beautiful sea views So we could get away from cruise ship tours. And to add to our brief stay, I got a bad case of food poisoning, had a doctor make a house call, and had to delay our flights home for several days.

I agree with the Book of Kells, underwhelming. Library is really cool. Zurich would be another place that just did nothing for me. Although I have been to Nice France a few times now, I always come away asking myself why I went again.

Stonehenge--lots of tall rocks that did not inspire me in any way, and you could no longer even get close to them because people were ruining them, as people left unattended will often do. It was part of a 3 stop tour that included Windsor Castle and Oxford, and people are usually pleased that I saw it so there's that.

I agree about the palace of Versailles, but found that spending time in the nearly deserted Hamlet area on a cold afternoon more than made up for any disappointment.

My only sorrow in Prague was going to see Mucha's Slav Epic and there was a sign out telling people the exhibit was suddenly closed due to falling plaster...the rest of the National Museum more than made up for it, though.

Keukenhof was like a floral version of Disneyland hell--very crowded and full of strollers and selfie-takers and I suppose everyone is right who says get there at the earliest time they open to avoid all that, if only for a minute or two.

I think the best way to avoid disappointment is never go to the same place twice; with the exception of a great city like London.

I agree the magic can be gone on a 2nd visit. On a trip to Italy we went to Perugia for 2 nites and it was magical! The big piazza, the architecture, food, you name it. We liked it so much we went back and the 2nd time it was still nice but the magic of discovery was gone.

A lot of people seem to love Venice but we've been there twice on tours and that's once too many times. To me if you want a city with lovely canals, history, museums, places to stroll, then you want Amsterdam which is one of our favorites. Venice seemed more like a set piece than a real city, and after a few hours the tiny alleyways started to seem overwhelming.

Didn't like Halstatt, another RS favorite, very much. A 15 minute walk and you've seen everything. You can kill a bit more time if you go to the salt mine tour (that was actually fun) but if we go back to the region I'd much rather stay at a larger town on a lake than at Halstatt.

I hate to carp, though, and had to rack my mind to come up with places we didn't like. They have fortunately receded in memory. The thing about travel is you don't know before you go. Guidebooks gush about so many places, but until you're there it's hard to say if you'll feel the same way. One thing I like about the RS guides is he actually expresses opinions instead of praising everything, but even with that I'm not 100% in agreeement with his choices.

To have a chance at getting decent Italian food we find you must get at least 4 blocks or more off the tourist routes. Wandering in adjacent local shopping/business areas has turned up a few great local food experiences. You won’t find them in any guide book. Nonna must have been cooking!
I am still enjoying this armchair travel. Brings back memories of all these places. Like others said, the experience may not have been great but at least we can say we’ve been there.

From the moment you step off the train in Reims, to the moment 30
seconds later when you start regretting that choice,

Do you remember when your Mom would tell you not to touch something because it's hot and you'd burn yourself, so then you just had to touch it? Now I have to check out Reims.

A little background: January 1976, age 21, art history major who dreamed about going to Europe since 6th grade:

1. The Vatican Museum: Every sculpture of a human male had its “you guess what” chopped off or had an added leaf/shield to the original statue. And these statues lined the hallways... I was horrified that art would be defaced and that the priests had such an unhealthy fixation. PS, there were no crowds so didn’t miss one...

2. St. Peter’s: I was so disgusted by all the dead bodies in glass caskets that I left and waited for my Catholic friends outside.

I have never managed to gather up any respect for the religion since. However, all my trips since have been great and I have returned too many times to count, but not to the Vatican and only once to St Peters in 2000 for my step daughter. There was only one dead body that time.

We took a day trip from Trier to Luxembourg. We regretted not just spending more time in Trier. We took the Hop-on/Hop-off tour when we arrived in Luxembourg and found nothing worth hopping off.

Mont Saint-Michel was underwhelming to me. While impressive from a distance, once on the island it was disappointing. It seemed to be primarily souvenir shops and overpriced restaurants. We went out of our way traveling between Bayeux and Amboise to spend a night in order to visit MSM. I would have preferred to spend that night in Bayeux instead.

@Mike Beebe- Reims, the Fresno of France. You made me laugh so hard!

Can’t say I have been disappoint in my travels. A few places were not my cup of tea, but a few places delivered more then expected.
The changing of the Guard was and interesting example. My father wanted to see it so. We went on one of the “we do it all” days.
We were early and I was talking with a couple of London Police about why some have the helmets and others have hats (their reply was hilarious call those with hats lazy as they drive cars vs walk everywhere). They then told me where to stand for the best view so we moved there and were first up against the fence in the perfect spot. That was very nice of them.
The crowd was crazy tight packed in. It was so packed together that In some countries the lady who was stand behind me and I would now be married!

Probably the most disappointing thing was the HOHO bus tour in London, normally my father and I like those but the traffic is so crazy in London that the bus takes forever to get anywhere.

Allan - I on the other hand really liked Reims and wouldn't mind going back for a second visit. I thought the Cathedral and Palais du Tau were beautiful and interesting. Given Mike Beebe's dismissive comments on this forum about D-Day sites in Normandy, I don't understand why he would even bother with the Museum of the Surrender in Reims. If you're not into World War 2, don't go.

Agree with San Gimignano - just a little too cute. And it is annoying when what you want to see is covered in scaffolding or closed for renovation!

I haven't been in the Sistine Chapel in about 25 years, but it is hard to see much when you are worried about getting stepped on (I'm short) by people who are walking around and staring at the ceiling.

I was in the Uffizi last fall - never a disappointment, but it would make a big difference if the powers that be would ban photographs. Way too many people standing right in front of pictures and trying to take selfies.

It would help if there were separate lines for people who just want to see the Mona Lisa (or the David). Maybe a moving sidewalk is in order!

I guess it's good that the world is so large and so full of so much that we don't all have to like (or dislike) the same stuff!

Amsterdam the 2nd time didn't do it for me at all. The DH had never been so we spent 6 nights there after a great week in Paris. A lot of the city was under noisy, dirty, torn-up construction, and the few old churches open to visit seemed to be doubling, annoyingly, as modern art museums. We got pretty tired of dodging bikes who were riding pedestrian routes because of the construction, and most of the museums of interest were either closed or partially so. The weather (Sept.) was damp, overcast and chilly as well. We did eat and drink much better than in Paris, and had a very enjoyable, sunny day in Edam so all was not lost but I don't need to see it again.

Munich was also so-so, although I'm glad we did it.

We loved Bruges, Paris and Florence. The history of Bruges was interesting, and we enjoyed its art museums, some of the churches and the architecture very much. It seemed like most of the day-trippers didn't care about wandering far from the Markt or Burg so it wasn't hard to find breathing room. 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. visits being letdowns hasn't been the case for some favorite destinations. Grand Canyon? Done it 3 times and it still takes my breath away! Carlos, you have to get away from the village and most popular overlooks, and stay IN the park if you didn't! :O)

This has been a very interesting post. I have to say I haven't had any truly disappointing experiences, but maybe a few were underwhelming. Like others, the Book of Kells wasn't that impressive to me. I appreciate the history and the art, but the experience of just walking around for a minute to see it wasn't a big deal. Glad I saw it, don't need to do it again. The Long Room in Trinity Library, though, is amazing.
I think the main thing is to know what to expect and be realistic in those expectations. It will be hot in August. It will be crowded in many places. Try your best to research the best times to go. And, if something is disappointing, well, then, that's a travel experience too. I'll just be glad to go back to Europe at some point!

christa said "Keukenhof was like a floral version of Disneyland hell--very crowded and full of strollers and selfie-takers and I suppose everyone is right who says get there at the earliest time they open to avoid all that, if only for a minute or two."

I just want to counter that with my experience - my husband is def not an early riser, so getting there early is not something we'd ever do. We took the bus from Ams, arrived after noon, grabbed some fries from the food truck in the parking lot, then rented bikes from Rent A Bike Van Dam, took a ride around for a few hours passing some amazing tulip/hyacinth fields, arrived back mid-afternoon (around 3-4pm) - the lines to get in were gone, the parking lot maybe half full, flower pavilions had barely anyone in them. We had been talking a few days earlier to a fellow from Vancouver and he said he went first thing and it was crowded, so I'd suggest going mid-afternoon - we still had plenty of time - about 3 hrs going by the time stamp on my first and last photo in the garden - to look around. We were there mid April.

Also want to mention - we did the Vatican and Sistine - we did the after hours tour with Walks of Italy - still some crowding, but compared to what others experienced, it can't have been bad. Sistine wasn't bad at all; some rooms like Raphael rooms were crowded, but not so that you couldn't move.

Santorini last October. 3 nights there were 3 too many. Overpriced, overcrowded, overhyped. The sunsets were the prettiest of my 2 weeks in the islands (Crete and Naxos were marvelous), but hardly compensated for the rest. And I got pickpocketed there to boot.

The only other disappointing place I've been that comes to mind is Singapore. I wasn't expecting much, found less. I had about 1 full day there. It was unavoidable on a 5-week trip to Southeast Asia. I really didn't like it - it was like Disneyland on steroids - everything is artificial and pristine. There isn't a native plant in the whole city, and the fake flowers overwhelm the real vegetation in the parks. Thanks to a friend of a friend, I knew to spend a few hours in Little India, where life felt real.

Carlos - My first visit to the Grand Canyon was my first visit to the Southwest and it wasn't crowded. I did think it was pretty awesome. A few years later I had the chance to tour much of the Four Corners and of all the national parks, GC is my least favorite. Zion is my favorite place on earth. Monument Valley was a big disappointment, I'm not sure why. Maybe the road I drove was not the "scenic" one, but I didn't see signs for any others.

Like Suki, I was underwhelmed by Neuschwanstein Castle, huge crowds and (to me) unattractive interiors. I was on an RS My Way tour and we stayed in Fussen which was very pleasant and somewhat compensated for the disappointing day.

Christa, at last I've found someone else who saw a pile of rocks and thought, oh look, a pile of rocks. My visit was part of a 5-day tour and Stonehenge was the only disappointment.

I've been to sights that disappointed, but in places where lots of other sights and experiences were excellent.

Szentendre, Hungary. I’m not a big fan of big crowds, but always anticipated them when going to popular, world renowned sights. This however, was beyond belief. On a sunny Saturday in late September, we got to the top of the main drag after walking from the train and saw what looked like the Ohio State Fair midway multiplied to the third power. Fluttering flags and thousands of racks of postcards and keychains and who knows what in the open doorways of every shop amid wall to wall people as far as we could see is all I remember. We turned on our heels, sought out the TI and took a cab to a reconstructed Hungarian equivalent of Williamsburg, Va featuring buildings from across the country. I have always subscribed to the notion that as a tourist In a crowd of tourists I have little room to complain, but this was overwhelming.

I think this has been an interesting thread and underscores for me just how differently people perceive and react to places, events, etc. Some of my all time favorites are other people’s greatest disappointments. Safe travels and good health to all.

I've liked everywhere I've traveled but there are some areas that I don't wish to see again.

Brussels: Should have listened to my boss from Belgium that Brussels was nothing special but it was a day trip from London on the Eurostar. I was impressed, with the beer, chocolate and waffle stands. However, the place itself seemed cold and sterile. Antwerp and Ghent were much nicer.

Topkapi Palace-I don't think there was any ticket limit or crowd control as it was massively crowded. Couldn't see the exhibits and lost my family inside as tour group shoved their way past-this was shoulder season. I liked Istanbul but the crowds and shoving made it a nightmare and I probably missed 50% just trying to get out.

I like everywhere I've been, but some places I wouldn't recommend or go back to.
I had seen lots of photos of the island of Procida off Naples; so
having visited nearby Ischia and loved it a few years before, I thought to see Procida last year.
It did nothing for me at all, and I wouldn't go back.
Nothing wrong with the place, just not much to hold my interest.

The lake district of northern Italy was slightly underwhelming. We enjoyed the main villages/towns, gardens, villas and sacred mounts which we visited but for the first time did not really enjoy driving around. Between and around the lakes is not easy or interesting. Also, the swathe of land between Turin and Milan, just below and above the main highway, was as ugly as it gets for me in Europe.

Last fall we based in Ladenburg for ten nights, to take in the area around Heidelburg, the Odenwald, Taunus and the German Wine Route. We’d visited the area and some of the places many years earlier and were slightly disappointed on our return. Heidelburg itself lost some of its charm for me, half the store fronts in Michelstadt were shuttered with cardboard in the windows, Miltenburg (in a nice location) more of an ordinary main drag. Bad Homburg was a real disappointment, a large outdoor shopping strip and ordinary park. We did like Kronberg, Budingen alot, the Odenwald countryside, and Bad Wimpfen was as pretty as we remembered.

Given Mike Beebe's dismissive comments on this forum about D-Day sites in Normandy, I don't understand why he would even bother with the Museum of the Surrender in Reims. If you're not into World War 2, don't go.

Wait, what? What dismissive things did I say about the D-Day sites? I had a little fun with my visit to Bayeux, and mentioned that Omaha Beach was unremarkable today, but I didn't say anything in the least "dismissive" about any of the sights. In fact, I'm planning to expand on that trip report to include more of my feelings about visiting the beaches and countryside. I don't mind you pissing on any of the endless number of things I've written in this forum, but if you'd stick to things I've actually said, I'd appreciate it.

Also, World War 2 is my second favorite world war, so there.

-- Mike Beebe

"Underwhelming" may be a more accurate term than "disappointing," along with the sentiment that we're glad we visited but don't care to go back again. There are so many variables to account for like weather, fatigue, crowds, GI or health issues, burnout from seeing your 45th museum or church, and so forth. I'll admit a hot and muggy day being jostled by sweaty crowds makes a great story later, but isn't much fun at the moment.

Mike Beebe - I read your trip report and I found your comments to be dismissive - so there - no urination, simply observation. Maybe you were just trying a bit too hard to be funny or cheeky, No offense intended.

You made some excellent points, Big Mike, as have some others! Cramming too many busy, top attractions into too little time might be added to that list?

2 places immediately come to mind as major disappointments. First was the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Too many people pushing and shoving and finally my claustrophobia kicked in big time when we got to the Sistine Chapel. I had to flee and meet my husband outside. The second one was Warwick Castle. I first went there in 1978 and, as an Anglophile history nut, was entirely captivated by it. I brought my husband for his first visit in 2011 and was utterly disappointed. In the meantime, it had been sold to a private company that had turned it into a faux Disney World for kids and families. All wandering around what I had thought of as rather hallowed ground trailing candy wrappers, ice cream cones and crying babies. Shuddering, we fled. And it was rather expensive as I remember. Cheesy costumes, fake soldier cutouts....ugh.

"Underwhelming" for me at least. Not bad, just meh.

• Paris - I just can't seem to get any kind of personal connection with this city. London, Berlin or even Tokyo, yes, but not Paris. What am I missing?
• Rotherberg ob Der Tauber - I mean it was quaint but honestly many of the towns in Germany are. The one highlight of the town was the night watchman (that guy is very entertaining) but the actual town was just ok.
• Hallstatt - Again, so many similar town/lake combos in the Alps that are not overrun with tour bus day trippers.

DJ

Great post, so here goes:
-Anywhere in Italy or Spain during the summer. (We learned our lesson)
-Cinque Terre. It has become so touristy and crowded
-Ireland. It's ok except for a few highlights. Yes, I liked the Guinness. I think it a good place to go if you haven't traveled before.
-Nice. Avoid during the tourist months.
-Pena Palace in Portugal. Just say no.

The Museum of the American Indian in Washington. I'd expected so much more - and there seemed to be many video displays with very little context given. (The anthropology museum on the university campus in Vancouver was what I'd expected, but I didn't get there until later)

Museum of modern art in Bologna - awful. The grafitti on the nearby garage doors was far better, and free.

Nobel peace prize museum in Oslo. Not quite sure what I expected, but I walked away profoundly disappointed.

Otherwise, I've been very lucky. Some of the things that other people have mentioned, I really like (but totally agree about Warwick Castle)

Rick Steves Best of Ireland Tour was a huge disappointment. The guide spent most of the tour talking about how much fun he used to have as a guide. It seemed that he was "over" being a guide. His sullen teenaged daughters also joined us for a portion of the tour. This was my 6th RS tour and I really questioned if RS was for me.

Vatican Museum..

Bodies pressed against each other so tightly you could barely breath.... No way to see the art and every 10 feet there was ANOTHER tour group lecturing on the Sistine Chapel and blocking access to the art.

NEVER AGAIN!

Based on a lot of these answers the first place I'm going next time I'm in Rome is the Vatican, I might be the only person there because the rest of you are never going back. I'm not an appreciator of art but it was the highlight of my trip to Rome in 2014. The stories our guide told us of the history behind the art were fascinating. Maybe being 6'2" helped because I could stand back and look over most people. My wife is only 5' and hated the experience. I will agree that the Sistine Chapel was disappointing. Not because of the crowds but because all I could think of was a ceiling version of doodle art. Remember that from the 70's? https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GCEA_enCA764CA764&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=doodle+art+posters+70%27s&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiTg9q8ueHpAhVLip4KHY0qD-EQsAR6BAgKEAE&biw=1680&bih=939

I remember 2: the Spanish steps. Maybe it’s just me but I don’t get it. It was disappointing.

Another one in Mexico, the only time I’ve been to Acapulco: I always heard about the beautiful bay and how breathtaking it is... When I saw it I was like “mneh”. I personally liked the bay at Zihuatanejo better. Also it’s filled with pesky vendors. Sorry, I know that’s their livelihood, but it was too much, they were everywhere: getting down from the car, while trying to eat they were at restaurants, or while trying to relax at the beach with my eyes closed they would actually grab my shoulder to wake me up! I couldn’t have an entire conversation with my husband because one vendor would interrupt us. I never returned. End rant.

Edit: typos

Afternoon drive through the Black Forest out of Freiburg im Breisgau.

Mer de Glace outside Chamonix, France was profoundly sad. One of RickSteve’s earliest shows featured Chamonix including the Aguille de Midi (loved it) and the Mer de Glace which forever fixated on my must do list. In 2018, I had the chance to tick that box. I loved the beauty and outdoor activities Chamonix had to offer. I’d go back in a heartbeat. That said, I can say I came away troubled and sad visiting the Mer de Glace. The train from Chamonix to Montenvers is beautiful. From the train station you catch a cable car which use to traverse the valley to the glacier itself. Unfortunately the glacier has receded hundreds of feet over the years. Now to reach the glacier you have to walk some 420 stairs in addition to the cable car. At various points, the years the stairs were extended are noted. After a grueling stair master workout, you arrive at the entrance to the glacier only to find it’s a soggy cave with bales of hay covering areas where the roof has melted through. After such a sad commentary on global warming we realized we still had to hoof it up 420 stairs plus a cable car ride to catch the last train back. All the while I’m trying to console our 20 year old daughter whom is in tears over the devastation mankind has exacted on the planet while checking my watch and calculating how many more steps we have to make the train. In hindsight it opened our eyes to what a change had occurred from that early RS show to now. I’ve blocked a lot of that experience out of memory but it did have a profound effect on me. What was once beautiful and mystic has disappeared forever.

I don't know that I would classify these as disappointing but rather in the category of "I've seen that, I'm glad I did, but I don't need to go back": Dublin and Brussels. Just about everywhere else I've been in Europe is on my list of places to return to, but these are not.

We enjoyed our trip to Ireland in 2019, but honestly next time we go to Ireland we won't spend any time in Dublin (other than at the airport) and will focus on seeing more of the smaller towns and rural charm that Ireland seems to have in abundance. While they are totally different places, for some reason I expected Dublin to be as interesting as Edinburgh and for me it just isn't close to that. As for Brussels, in fairness we only spend 1 night there. The rest of that trip was in Amsterdam and Paris, and I'd take an extra night in either of those locations over any time in Brussels again.

I usually find that the reason I am disappointed is not a direct reflection on the place I am visiting but more so the sheer amount of people there. I find it hard to enjoy things when they are overcrowded

Jane, I agree. i was thinking back a few years ago during a Paris summer when we were on the top floor, no A/C of course, and no fan. It was so hot we didn't sleep well and that definitely impacted our sight-seeing the next day, which was also blazing hot.

Then a cold front went through and it was like going to heaven.

hey hey all
fun and interesting topic/answers, how different places for different folks.
looking back more than a few years "10", cruised the greek isles from venice. was not a happy cruiser on santorini, so so crowded, it was october. took cable car up went left while others went right. walked thru some not so crowded alleys and shops, stopped for a great meal with homemade wine and ouzo at a small family owned restaurant, overlooking caldera.
strolling thru a few more shops, my friend was so determined to buy a big ceramic planter and she did. of course i thought she was nuts, "are you carrying that on board and back to states?" of course not. i'm having it shipped LOL 4 months later it arrives on her doorstep. after that long transaction, i'm sitting outside waiting and the tribes/crowds start heading down to cable car for our tenders to ships. pushing and shoving was so insane, probably should have rode the donkey down. don't need to go there again. favorite island was corfu, mykonos, crete. only my 2nd cruise, first was a transatlantic inaugural, carnival splendor (rome to florida) loved it.
traveling after this trip, i've become more trip savvy, learning and understanding reasons why and why not with lots of laughs and few sorrows.
took the train for day trip to reims and really enjoyed. did a CV2 tour of town then to the countrysides, vineyards, private champagne house with nice size tasting. back to town for a sit down snack and more champagne tasting before train ride to paris. to each their own on visiting.
aloha

Not counting all the family vacations of my youth (where all I cared about was running around and going places where my parents or the sign told me I can't go, which usually ended up with a swap on the rump from my dad) or trips before I got married (where all I cared about was drinking and girls ... not necessarily in that order ... which usually ended up with too much of one and not enough of the other), I don't think there were any travel experiences that were truly disappointing. I usually have a detailed plan (my good ol' Excel spreadsheet) and have researched wherever we plan to visit, trying to avoid busy times and crowded situations and, when I know that will not be possible, I can at least get mentally prepared and try to make the best of it.

Sure the over-crowding, hot weather and constant sales pitch from selfie-stick hawkers (sometimes when I felt a little mischievous and just to see their reaction, I would ask if they have one that will fit my camera, then I whip out my big 35mm Nikon ... one guy even wanted to try and make it work) have caused some experiences to be less enjoyable ... and I will admit that after being pushed (literally) past my breaking point, I power-shifted from neutral into overdrive, straight into 'ugly American' mode. I forgot my manners (pushing, shoving, no apology when I crushed someone's flip-flop-wearing foot with my Merrell Moabs ... funny how many people can give it but can't take it), which just added to the misery. But I know not every day or place is going to go as expected, so I try to roll with it and move on.

Yeah, like others have mentioned, there's been some places where I have no desire to return, whether that be from a less than enjoyable experience or just the "been there, done that, didn't buy the 20 euro paper thin way to tight t-shirt that says I Heart (City of Your Choice)" experience. But I guess if there has to be some disappointing experiences, those would have resulted from my attempt to 'see it all' ... sometimes without really seeing it. Then later I kick myself for not seeing something while I was there (I'm guessing that's the subconscious intentionally interfering so now of course I tell myself I have to go back) ... so that adds to the disappointment of the experience. And then we have the situation where I thought something would be cool to see or do and my wife (and in my earlier trips my 2 girls) were not totally on board, which led to frustration from all involved and we all know how those always seem to turn out ... not pretty.

There will always be some disappointment on any trip, the key is to not let it ruin the the good times and good memories.

Don't be sad Barbra! Just figure out where the Tourist Traps are and don't go there. There are a lot of real places left to visit in Europe. They may be without Big Hotels and Coach Tours or direct Rail. You may have to travel making your own arrangements. Start reading about the areas you are interested in and design your own trip. You can take local tours to take advantage of price breaks. Bon Voyage!

Barbra, great post and I can't help think of "Barbra Ann" by the Beach Boys every time I see your name. My apologies!

Perhaps if you visited or lived in Europe during the 1980s or before it might be a bit of a jolt at how jam-packed everything is now, which may not much bother a newer visitor. I mean, "yay" more people can afford international travel.

Off-the-beaten-path and off-season may be the way to go for more veteran travelers.

Reims, the Fresno of France.

Wow, Mike, you nailed this one! We celebrated the arrival of our 2016 Mini Clubman with a big road trip from Germany to Brittany, with an overnight at Reims on the way, a few nights in St. Malo and Bayeux, then back via Rouen. The entire trip was lovely except for Reims, which was just so...blah. People here complain about Strasbourg (which I love) but that's Reims to me. The Cathedral has it's historic import and that's great, but the rest of the city? Plus we got food poisoning from steak tartare from one of those indistinguishable chain brasseries on one of their wide boulevards, which didn't help.

I'm an unwitting contrarian, but I thoroughly enjoyed my one night in Brussels and would consider returning (it was on the Fete National, which was unexpected and fun, and was a nice relaxing stop at the end of a long and trying family trip) but see no reason to ever return to boring Bruges. I loved Paris on my 1st, low-expectations trip and have remained in love with it ever since. Amsterdam is one of my favorites - my suspicion for people who don't like it is that they are staying in and spending too much time in the center.

In terms of my host country, I really don't get the obsession with the Black Forest and it's next door to me. It's fine, has some charming villages and pleasant scenery, but a lot of it is heavily touristed and I don't know why international travelers base entire vacations around it. The nearby Swabian Jura is more scenic and dramatic and less touristy, but convenient to many wonderful places. Same for the Allgaue region, the Lech area in Bavaria, etc.

Rothenburg odT IS charming but too tourist compared with nearby similar towns. Fine if you're doing the Romantic Road, but again, people base entire country-wide trips on going. Silly. Nightwatchman IS pretty good, though.

I think Neuschwanstein was lovely in the winter and appreciated it as part of an overall visit to the area, the Wittelsbach museum and Hohenschwangau. But I knew that many people found it overrated before I went and had visited Romantic-era castles before so I had no expectations to be dashed. It's very lovely in the snow and if you know what you're doing with prebooked tickets and the like.

Oktoberfest is was meh, Volksfest is better, but that's irrelevant because I think it will be at least 2 years before there's a chance either is running again. Giant beer fests are disease vectors to begin with. Fest flu is absolutely a thing.

A few years back we got caught up in the Brugge madness. Not very well thought out on our part and very expensive but we took off anyway for a day trip from Amsterdam. Yes, it’s charming and yes it’s very quant but it was a total waste of time the way we did it as a day trip. On arrival it started to pour and never stopped raining the whole time, we saw very little, ate a few bowls of tomato soup to stay warm, bought some chocolate and returned to Amsterdam. Never stopped raining, a total waste of a day away from Amsterdam and a big lesson learned.

Disappointment, to me, means you had high expectations and the reality fell far short of that.

There are many places I've gone that I wouldn't recommend to friends. The list is long but they were only mildly disappointing because my expectations were either muted or nonexistent.

Last May I returned to Ireland to see things I had missed in my first trip (in May 2000). Biggest disappointment of the trip for me (maybe bitter disappointment) was Dingle. The town was 100 percent tourist and the sights on the peninsula were largely "reproductions" (not real) and charged admission. I wouldn't recommend Dingle to anyone. Ring of Kerry has better sights and less crowds since most people only drive the circle as a day trip.

Another disappointment on the trip was York. I flew to Leeds for a weekend to visit some friends. We spent a day in York. 20 years ago, the Shambles was my vision of medieval perfection. Today, it's like a Harry Potter theme park. It's dressed up, in a fantasy novel way. To me it's lost much more than it's gained.

At this point, even a disappointing travel experience would be a welcome diversion from the "no travel" quarantine experience.

Second time to ... almost anywhere. Because the first time was so amazing that you wanted to recapture the magic.
That said, subsequent visits have their own charm in feeling comfortable and more relaxed (you already saw the "must do" items so there's time to just savor the place.) So I will go back to Paris any time I get the chance.

Laura B., I agree with you about Paris. I've been 6 times and hope to return in October 2021.

Laura B. Goode, I agree. I've had good second (and third) trips but nothing is as magical as the first time.

Dublin is a good place to fly into, get a rental car, and get the hell out of Dodge.

1 would be the Leaning Tower of Pisa. What a waste of time.

2 probably the Mona Lisa.

I'm sure there are others, but these two came to my mind immediately.

What Brad said about high expectations. When we went to Belgium I had no expectations at all and quite enjoyed it as opposed to Amsterdam which I thought I would love but came away disappointed.

Whoever mentioned Reims missed the ONLY reason for visiting. The champagne houses and vineyards. Spend a weekend visiting the ancient cellars and touring the surrounding vineyards getting in a few tastings. Producers range from minute family businesses to the huge luxury marques and there aren’t many more enjoyable ways to spend a couple of days.

One of my biggest disappointments is Lyubljana. We stopped for an afternoon on a RS tour. It was crowded and we got there late so nothing was really open that I recall. The coolest think we’re the signs advertising a marathon and a statue of a dragon. Otherwise we sat stuffed in a booth at a bar having drinks......it was lost on me.....zzzzzzz........

Venice. Huge crowds, bad smells, and just ok food. However, I really hyped up Venice in my mind before going, and it was the last stop on a month long trip. I think I was tired of slogging through tourist packed destinations. I've learned that leaving big bucket list cities to the end of a trip doesn't work for me.

Cinque Terre. It wasn't worth the frustration, heat and exhaustion to hop along and explore all the towns. I also didn't expect it to be that busy in September. The best day I had in the Cinque Terre was simply staying put in my base of Manarola, swimming in the harbour, eating gelato, and drinking wine at a bar up on the hill as the sun set. I have a tendency to want to "see it all" when I go to a place but the other towns left me underwhelmed. My time would have been better spent just fully enjoying Manarola.

Galway. The city was ok, but not as great as I had hoped. But I also slept in a horrible B&B and the city was packed due to the long weekend.

I think our impression of a place is hugely shaped by other factors in play at the time (crowds, heat, exhaustion). It's interesting to hear how people can have such different experiences in the same place.

A gondola ride in Venice - completely lacking any romance. Just an overpriced 15 minutes with a scumbag along what must have been the stinkiest canal in the city. Sadly, it's hard to enjoy Venice, with the predatory vendors circling St. Mark's Square like sharks.

Primary themes of this thread appear to be:

1. Crowded places are very hard to enjoy, no matter how great the site itself actually is.
2. Weather (e.g., too darn hot) can affect your travel enjoyment in a big way.
3. Perhaps as a corollary of item 1 in this list, places with the burden of high expectations often fail to meet them.

Good things to keep in mind as we all plan for / dream about our next trips (whenever that might be).

Steve

Good summary, Steve. Crowds, weather, travel companions, health and hyped expectations can make or break any experience.

St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Crowded and a very boring guide.

Fun thread. What's so interesting is how different everyone's opinion is of different places and experiences. Some places that I've really liked (Venice, Galway, yes, even St. Paul's) are others' disappointments.... good thing it's a big world and we can all find what we like!

My husband and I went to Ireland nearly 20 years ago and absolutely loved it: the beautiful scenery, lovely people, super fun pubs. However...... we almost starved to death. Carlos' description of New Zealand made me laugh, because it's exactly what we experienced in Ireland, right down to hoping for good seafood and being told that it was all exported:

"Local Cuisine in New Zealand: I was disappointed with the local gastronomy in New Zealand. Almost like it's imported wholesale from England, from bland fish and chips to mushy mince pies. I was expecting there would be more of an incorporation of local indigenous ingredients, like in Hawaii, but that was far from the case. I thought since these places were surrounded by water there would be more local seafood, I've talked to a few locals about this and they told me that almost all the local fish they catch is exported to China and Japan, leaving little for locals."

We lived off of horrible cheese sandwiches at pubs (one slice of cheese between two slices of white bread) and grim dinners that were so inadequate that we'd be hungry again an hour later. We both lost weight -- who wants to lose weight on vacation???

I would go back to Ireland in a heartbeat, but I would sure scout out better food before my trip.

Mont St Michel--very over rated and not really special

Forgive me but we had an interesting gondola ride in Venice. This was in 1996 or something and although I can't remember the price it was expensive for us. The odors were overwhelming at times and Mary said she saw a turd floating by. It's funny as heck now but not so much then. Romantic expectations vs reality.

We no longer travel to Europe from mid June through August and try (and sometimes fail) to avoid the major bank holiday in late May.

For me it was taking a tour inside the Vatican on a Saturday, December 8th.

It was the feast of the Immaculate Mary, a weekend, and the start of Christmas in Italy. Did not plan that too well.

I bought the tour from one of the religious stores in The Piazza. The tour was not that expensive anyway - around thirty or so Euro.

What I was very disappointed in to begin with was that we were supposed to have a small group around 10 to 12 people. The tour was to begin at 10:45 outside in the Piazza.

It was pretty much on time but then they kept adding more and more people to our group. That was kind of a distraction to not only us trying to listen to the guide but the guide herself.

The Italian guide was nice but she spent too much time on telling us of her credentials. For me, listening, seeing, and watching would have been the proof.

Unfortunately, that day it was not nice weather. The crowds were starting to get enormous. There were other groups as well of course.

The walk to the entrance for the tour groups was crazy. the guide walked very very fast and those who were not by her side could not hear a word she was saying.

it was impossible because of all the people walking every which way. those of us behind we're just trying to make sure that we stayed with the group.

she did hold a pointer with the sunflower so we could see where she was.

Once we got to the entrance to the Vatican, there was a line to queue for security.

In my group were two couples from England. We befriended each other and chatted away while waiting. We laughed about how clueless we were to tour the Vatican; especially on a busy weekend. We didn't research that well, lol.

After about a half hour, we went through security. We went to an information desk to get earbuds and audio devices.

The rest of the tour was a disaster. Wall to wall people. She was way ahead. Could not hear most of what the guide was saying on the audio. Audio kept going in and out for the reception.

some of us laughed and said that the single guy that was glued to the tour guides shoulder is the only one who benefited from the tour, lol.

When we finally reached the Sistine chapel, that was a big improvement and really worth the tour after all. We were allowed to stay in the Sistine chapel for about 20 minutes or so.

I thought that was a long time considering the amount of people in the Vatican and in the Halls.

Not complaining just grateful that we were allowed be in awe of the chapel.

She brought the group out to the steps of St Peter's basilica.

The group parted. I wished the Brits a good time in Florence as they were headed that way the next day. They didn't want to go into St. Peter's because they figured they would have the same experience as in the Vatican, lol.

I couldn't blame them. I decided to go in.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was in for a treat and a bond with Saint Peter that I did not know I would have.

As I walked in, I was pretty lucky because there were no crowds.

I was extremely surprised considering what I just experienced at the Vatican.

My first surprise was the Pieta. I really love that and had always wanted to see the real thing and here I was. When I was younger, I got a Pieta figurine as a gift, made in Italy. To me that was always very special for different reasons.

St Peter's basilica was like a breath of fresh air. No crowding, no pushing, no guards yelling to be silent, lol.

As I passed one of the altars, they had cushioned pews to sit and pray or reflect and rest.

The rest of the basilica was absolutely jaw-dropping gorgeous and one could admire in wonderment for a long time. I must have stayed in the basilica that day for about 2 hours.

Also mesmerizing was the sculpted Nativity and the beautiful Christmas tree.

I visited the basilica again on that vacation and many times on other trips.

Guedelon castle, 2008 - We were on the Rick Steves Family Tour (an absolutely great tour, by the way) and this was an unannounced "surprise" stop. It was pouring rain and we were told staying on the bus was NOT an option. I know there was a lot of skill involved in recreating this castle, but I just remember stepping through lots of mud puddles, getting soaked, and being fairly disinterested in the long explanations that were given. I do also remember being faintly surprised that there were a lot of French families and school children who seemed very excited by the castle.

Thoroughly enjoyed all the responses. I was 30 years old in the early 1980s before finally taking the plunge and travelled to Europe for the first time but had extensive travel experience traveling the U.S. and Canada and learned to never go to places where all the tour busses go. Nothing wrong with that because I've taken and enjoyed a few of them myself but for me as a solo traveller through Europe, I want everything to be a new discovery and for the most part everything I explored has been a true and authentic gem. Like Jeff, I went through Checkpoint Charlie in the early 1980s when it was actually the real deal. I'm still backpacking it, staying in hostels, and can't wait until I'm allowed back.

This has been a wonderful thread here and I missed my favorite TV program being engrossed in it. It goes to show you how things are going around here, at least.

The Mikes have it with their wonderful depictions of trips gone sideways - I laughed out loud and I don't usually do that. Thank you.

The Louvre - I do a quick imitation of the Louvre with the 3 major attractions; the Mona Lisa (small little picture which I can't understand the significance), Winged Victory (arms out, wings and no head - that's the hardest part), and the Venus statue. You know what I mean. I won't waste my time there as it is too large.

I totally agree on San Gimignano - really? tacky, tacky, tacky.

Brussels - stayed in a hotel there in the '80s that we could afford. Dirty was all I could say. We were thrown out of one museum - actually I had them walk us out as the whole place was full of armed guards and my hubby needed to use the men's room and he took too long. Police surrounded me, yelling at me why I was waiting there, and I told them. I asked to be able to leave after that treatment. Also, one time I almost lost my meal when I took a sip of a raspberry beer. Worst taste ever. And it was a huge glass.

Singapore - the only place I have ever been that has to manufacture tourist attractions. Gondola ride to the island, orchid gardens, etc. If you want to buy ruby earrings, ok, but why else go? It is clean.

So I was on one RS tour and I was used to the lovely way they offer wine in Italy. Want more? No problem. I like 2 glasses of wine with my dinner. The first one in complementary, but I would stop the server and ask for a second. Each time on this tour, the server would say "you will have to pay for it!" I know, I still want a 2nd glass. It became a bit of a joke that the white haired wino didn't look good for the money. I probably should have gotten out a 10 spot and put it next to my glass so they knew I was not going to run out on my tab.

Being given a tour of the Vatican Museum by a cranky guide who kept yelling at us to keep up. How? Sometimes it is good to take a mental health day. And in the Sistine Chapel, I was standing right next to a guy who starts taking pictures. Wow. More yelling.

Fortunately my tour of Ireland was in the 70's and I had a couple tours of Europe in the 80's so I have many fond memories prior to the crowds.

Hope others pipe in on their other disappointments for us all to enjoy. All I would like to know is how to appropriately say Reims without it sounding like you are clearing your throat. Ideas?
Clementine

Choosing the wrong hotel/accomodation.

Three really pop up for me. The Mona Lisa, Venice Torcello and the Roman Forum. Mona because the experience was like looking at a postage stamp of the image in a very crowded room. Torcello, cause so little is there that is left. and even the bell tower is a repro. The Roman Forum, because I couldn't figure out what I was looking at. Its been dug up, re-jiggled, and messed with over so many generations that its just a mush. Sort of a tasteless gruel of history. Biggest surprises and joys, are always the ones that you just happen upon that are not in guides. :)