Your least favorite place to visit

Niagara Falls, Ontario (the falls themselves were amazing, though, particularly partially frozen)

DTLA ( downtown Los Angeles).

Nothing comes to mind.

Miami. Can’t think of any place in Europe or I just haven’t been there yet.

No interest whatsoever in NYC, Massachusetts, or CA.

Definitely Disney World in Orlando.

Went to Disney on a high school band trip. God, I thought that place sucked and the rides were lame. I'd grown up going to Busch Gardens Williamsburg and still have season pass and Disney just did not add up.

Boston.

Somehow, I am jinxed on every trip to Boston. The highlights include:

• First trip: Chased for four blocks by a lunatic in an orange raincoat, who kept hitting the back of my leg with a cane as he screamed unintelligibly. (I was 17 years old, by myself, and absolutely terrified.)

• Second Trip: Discovered that I was deathly allergic to shellfish.

• Third Trip: Evacuated from my hotel at 3 a.m. during a heavy snowstorm.

• Fourth Trip: Spent the night in Logan airport when my flight was cancelled because of a thunderstorm. (It was supposed to be a day trip, and so I had no luggage, etc.)

I gave up after the fourth trip.

I do wonder if some of these replies are from experience or expectation. While there are plenty of places that are low, or not even on my list, I wouldn't write anywhere off without having experienced it. (Like, whole US states...?)

In a place off the North American continent. I would say Pisa. I haven't been in years and the tower was closed back then, but I found it the tackiest place ever.

Oh, I’ve been to Miami, won’t go back again. Beyond tacky and scary.

Kansas. I've driven across it four times. It's bad enough it's so boring, worse that is also so long.

In defense of Kansas, several years ago my son and my mom and I decided to do a mini road trip to Kansas. We live in Colorado. Our task was to prove that there are good things to do in any state, you just have to look for them and go with a travelers open mind and sense of adventure. So, we set out. Had a great time stopping at the Cathedral of the Plains, wizard of Oz museum, Moon marble factory, Eisenhower house and museum and the Truman house outside of Kansas City. We did some antique stores and book stores in small towns along the way. Princess Diana’s wedding dress was on tour so we saw it in Kansas City as well. So, we had a great few days and I now have a better appreciation for Kansas. Everywhere has something to see or experience, even if it isn’t a block buster site. Happy Traveling!

I know one horrible murder does not define an entire state. BUT, whenever someone mentions Kansas, all I can think of is In Cold Blood. Lucky for Truman Capote that Harper Lee could drive.

Ah all Kansas negativity. Too bad. Family origins from there. Even have a library named after a relative.

Have I been? Yes in the 80’s. Rather enjoyed the vast openness. Sunsets were fabulous. The fountains throughout Kansas City. BBQ.

Would I return? Absolutely.

Well to a 9yo boy from Virginia, Kansas was something amazing. Summer of '79 the family did a cross country trip , out and back from VA to Tacoma, WA. Took a VW popup camper and camped along the way. In Kansas there was no light pollution and I could lay in the popup bunk unzip the window and look deep into the night time heavens deep into the Milkyway. I was mesmerized, to the point I pestered dad to let me cowboy camp on the ground outside the camper.

Anywhere in Florida that is more than a mile from the ocean. Atlanta.

Kansas City (the City of Fountains) is in Missouri. Actually there are two cities, but the main attractions are on the Missouri side.

Texas. Hot, humid, unpleasant, too many guns.

Djibouti. It wasn’t my choice to go there, but spent just under a month there over a three month period back in 1979. A close second is Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T.

Thanks Stan for pointing out that the Geography category in Trivial pursuit was a weakness.

Texas - all of it! And yes, I have visited twice on vacations and driven through the panhandle between OK and NM. Those vacations where quite some time ago and they were nice. But the old state of TX ain't what she used to be and I will never, ever be back.

Sorry Scudder, but yes - the whole state!

Oh, and anyone who thinks drivng across Kansas is the pits, hasn't driven across either Nebraska or South Dakota. Not that there aren't great places to see in either state, but just driving across them to get from one place to another can be hell.

95% of Florida. OK during the winter near the beach, but it's like living in a sauna most of the year. It's also gotten crowded and traffic is awful.

Wolters World guy said Brussels. I get that.

We might visit New Orleans for the WWII museum and that's about it. Maybe a walking tour or something.

Wherever my ex is living.

KeyWest, Florida. A friend described it as Disney Land for drunks. He was right. I did like the day trip we took to the Dry Tortugas. Kingston, Jamaica is another place I don’t need to revisit. Being there during the IMF riots kind of colored my experience.

Not specifically a place, but anywhere that the main goal is to sit on the beach or by the pool doing nothing tops my list of least favourite. Doing nothing stresses me out and I wouldn't come home relaxed and refreshed.

The Amalfi Coast disappointed me; there's no denying the beauty, but transportation issues sucked the joy of of it as a day trip, and as mentioned,
a relaxing vacation on the beach isn't my thing, so an extended stay might have made my review worse.

Sorry Scudder, but yes - the whole state!

Nancy- I think if you've been there a few times it's understandable. My comment was more inspired by a previous poster who wrote off whole states with no context/experience of having been to even parts of them.

Austin, TX used to be a lot of fun. Tech money ruined it.

My brother and his family live in Dodge City, Kansas. When we went for a nephew’s wedding, all our cousin kept saying over and over was ‘why would anyone live here’. I didn’t think it was so bad.

I went to high school in Oxnard, CA, where my dad still lives. I really don't like going back there. Boring, slow, and a bit rough around the edges.

The other is northern Utah, where I spent most of my childhood. It's just plain weird.

I can't think of any places in Europe that I don't like!

Bratislava, Uluru in Australia and Northern Ireland, locations I liked least in all our world travels. Most of the Caribbean cruise ports are pretty lame. We live in Florida so cruising is an inexpensive getaway. I would not make a separate trip to them. We have more “one and done” places but the above come to mind. Large museums are not a favorite. Small art museums focusing on one artist are our choice.

I like our country. Too bad the major cities have become homeless and drug havens. Glad I visited them 10 years ago and more. I have become Disneyed out-too expensive and hasn’t been updated much since its inception. Have been to the park’s many times in the past.

I have traveled to all the places mentioned and many many more.

Oh, and anyone who thinks drivng across Kansas is the pits, hasn't
driven across either Nebraska or South Dakota. Not that there aren't
great places to see in either state, but just driving across them to
get from one place to another can be hell.

In Canada we call that Manitoba and Saskatchewan. For most, neither is a desired vacation destination, but it has its treasures. I've cut and pasted from a post I created in 2021 that there are interesting things no matter where you go.

Sometimes interesting things have to find me instead of seeking out things like I do in Europe. For example, there is a small town called Carberry which is a small farming town of about 1700 people in Southwest Manitoba, Canada. For reference, the closest American city of significance is Minot, North Dakota. While visiting family in nearby Brandon we stopped in Carberry to visit a friend and while walking through town we came upon a couple signs in remembrance of Carberry's military history. During WW1, 38,000 soldiers made there way through Carberry for battle training in trenches built to mimic what they'd be facing overseas. The outlines of those trenches are still there and are designated as a national historic site.

Wop May was born in Carberry, he's considered one of Canada's top flying ace with 13 confirmed enemy aircraft shot down during WW1 along with 5 unconfirmed. There are stories that it was he and not another Canadian, Roy Brown who shot down the Red Baron.

In WW2, Carberry was back in action as an RAF flying school . According to the sign in town, over 130,000 troops from around the world passed through Carberry during the war, including actor Richard Burton who trained pilots.
This was just a family trip and I had no desire or thought to seek out local knowledge. Thankfully it found me and it was the most interesting thing about the trip.

The museum was closed at the time due to the pandemic, but I've been looking forward to another visit since.

Reims -- the Stockton of France.

Austin -- "There's no there there"

-- Mike Beebe

Cant say there is a single place that I regret having visited.
Well maybe certain lockup in a certain southern state.

I guess there are a few places that have never crossed my mind to visit a second time; but there is enough negativity in life where so i look forward and not so much backward.

I watched the video and the guy had such a good way of looking at life that I checked out a few other of his videos. I can not recall having ever seeing someone do such a bad factual job when reporting on destinations. But in a nice and pleasant way.

The resorts of the Algarve - shivers.
Pisa - swore I’d never return but somehow been 3X.

I have come to the realization that some places I have been to have totally gone to hell since I visited (San Francisco 15 years ago, NYC last month) and /or I am easy to please and view the world through rose colored glasses!

I definitely have visited places that I felt were a bit “meh”/overrated but no place that wasn't pleasant enough to enjoy while I was there. I also have a list of places I have absolutely no desire to visit, but I can’t call any of them my least favorite place to visit if I’ve never visited them😃.

Wherever my ex is living.

Eric wins the internet for today. Well done, sir.

Since this is posted in General Europe, Venice-in 1985 when I went, the canal smelled like sewage and I also got a bag stomach bug that ruined a beautiful train trip through Switzerland. I also would not make another visit to Minsk and Smolensk, which I visited when Belarus was officially part of the Soviet Union, or boring Brussels.

Reims -- the Stockton of France.

Mike Beebe, I heard it was the Scranton of France but I probably misunderstood. Good stuff.

Disney anywhere and California

I also have a list of places I have absolutely no desire to visit ...

So do I, but I mostly keep it to myself...post it here and you will get flamed. I also have a mental checklist of places I once enjoyed, but over time have lost all desire to visit again (e.g., San Francisco) but I don't spend a lot of time dwelling on that.

Really what I have is a list of places I want to visit - call it a bucket list I keep in a spreadsheet - and it is rank ordered from most to least interest. As I have gotten older, and particularly after the Covid interruption to travel, I realize that there are some destinations I will likely never get around to...and then there are places on the list I have lost interest in (e.g., China), and I trim the list every so often, and I also add places as I learn about them, so my list is always full. If I somehow run out of places on my list and still have the desire and 'get up and go' for more, I am sure I will discover new destinations. One of the reasons I come here, and also visit other travel sites, is for information...always looking...

So do I, but I mostly keep it to myself...post it here and you will
get flamed. I also have a mental checklist of places I once enjoyed,
but over time have lost all desire to visit again (e.g., San
Francisco) but I don't spend a lot of time dwelling on that.

I wouldnt worry about being flamed. Most of the negativity isnt creative enough to fall into that catageory. But not dwelling on the negative is the best way to face life.

Really what I have is a list of places I want to visit - call it a
bucket list I keep in a spreadsheet - and it is rank ordered from most
to least interest.

I envy your organization and despite the revisions what sounds like a core of consistency. I use to have a list but found I was not disiplined enough to use it. Instead I get wild hairs and hop the next Wizz Flight to someplace I had no idea I was interested in until I got there.

I'm pretty down nowadays on places that don't have generally safe tap water. It's not so much that I want to drink tap water, but when the water system is always carrying disease, then disease never stops circulating in the local population. And then every other trip someone in your party gets brutal vomiting and diarrhea, even when you are quite careful. And being quite careful is a hassle

Last Mex trip it happened to my kid, and I didn't like seeing her suffer for days on end. I'll go back solo to surf etc, but I'd rather just take the family to Hawaii or San Diego if they want a beach vacation.

In Europe I won't return to Aachen or Tours, and Koln is only for visiting a couple hours rail stopover.

I've been to Amsterdam a lot, not really worth the crowds and annoyed "locals" anymore (the most assertively and outwardly annoyed are inevitably people who have fairly recently moved to Amsterdam, not lifetime Amsterdammers).

Been to Iceland, I'm good, don't need to go back except potentially for a surf strike mission.

Anybody over 30 years old who goes to Ios needs to grow up.

I wouldn't go back to Obernai. It's a nice town, except that it is not pedestrianized, and transient traffic is constantly moving through the core where you're trying to walk on narrow sidewalks and enjoy yourself. It's not Obernai itself, rather that there are just better choices nearby if you want to stay in an Alsatian village.

I'm pretty down nowadays on places that don't have generally safe tap water.

India was once high on my list, but I have come to realize I just don't want to deal with the water and other issues there. About 10 years ago I bought an India guidebook, and I am not kidding when I say that the first half the book focused on warnings about food borne illness, how to avoid bad water, the perils of street food, rabid dogs roaming about, poor air quality, etc. I have several friends who have been to India, and despite them taking precautions, all of them got sick. So it has dropped off my bucket list, should have made the trip years ago, I guess. Oh well...

But my travel plate is full, I have enough places to see that at my current pace of one or two trips abroad a year will take me at least 5 years, more likely closer to 10 years.

My least favorite in the US is Las Vegas.

Europe: I definitely think it’s very often based on situations - maybe even the hotel experience, too. My least favorite city in Europe WAS Pisa, Italy. But then I attended their Luminara di San Ranieri festival in June last year. Seeing the facades of all of the buildings lining the river illuminated with only the light from approximately 70,000 wax candles after watching the crane workers & groups of teenagers preparing them during the day gave me a new perspective. Plus the young couple who invited me to stand next to them on the bridge for a great evening viewing spot after I had offered to take their photo. Or was it the experience of stepping into the tiny sandwich counter on the river that night where I was convinced the room couldn’t get any louder from conversations of locals….and the decibels humorously just kept going up? Or maybe it was the slow once over look this 66 year old traveler received from the shop owner as he paused to hand me my sandwich - LOL!

Hull England, Milton Keynes England, San Antonio Ibiza, Magaulf Mallorca, Dubai, Orlando USA, Dubai, Las Vegas USA, Dubai, Atlanta USA, Atlantic City USA and Dubai.

Tangier, 1983. The several hours spent there between getting off the ferry, and taking a train deeper into Morocco, involved such a variety of truly awful experiences that we (3 friends and I) did not take that train, but went right back to Spain that very day instead, by the next available ferry.

I'll add Orlando and Vegas.

Vegas has a Beatles show, but other than that I'm not into gambling and so forth. I'd like to visit Hoover Dam and other parts of the desert SW, however. The Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree.

Agree with Jojo about places with questionable drinking water. A friend in Morocco became sick as a dog from water in the shower, maybe a drop or less, getting into his mouth.

I don't know, I guess I'm a different type of traveler because I can usually find something good and fun about everywhere and haven't regretted visiting any of the places that I've been to. Las Vegas isn't exactly my favourite place in the world for instance; however, I'd still be giddy if I were going there this weekend because it's still travel and somewhere different than home, and there are restaurants to try, shops to visit, etc. Too many of these responses seem to be based on personal prejudice and short experience. You can run into some bad travel luck anywhere, especially if you are only there for a day or two.

I get wild hairs and hop the next Wizz Flight to someplace I had no
idea I was interested in until I got there.

I had no idea I wanted to go anywhere in Europe until my wife said I did. That first trip to Europe was a Mediterranean cruise followed by a week in Rome. We haven't looked back since with visits to places we've targeted, and wow moments to some we had no idea we wanted to go to. Even my least favourite places in Europe were worth the experience.

As for Disney, which is getting mentioned a lot; I haven't had a bad trip to a Disney Park yet. It's likely not on the list again until I have grandchildren, but even after focusing on Europe for the past 10 years, my most precious photo is still from a Disney visit.

Too many of these responses seem to be based on personal prejudice and
short experience. You can run into some bad travel luck anywhere,
especially if you are only there for a day or two.

True enough, and I'm always willing to include that caveat when I say a place is not for me.

On the other hand, I also tend to make the best, and I've traveled to hundreds if not a thousand of places in Europe. It's not a zero sum thing. Rather it's optimization.

There's nothing wrong with Reutte for instance, but the Tannheimtal - 40 minutes away by bus - rolls Reutte up and smokes it.

My least favorite places are generally, losers comparatively, and many are still okay. But there are better ways I think to spend your time and money.

Also, Los Angeles. It's terrible. I've lived there not by choice, and grew up in North County San Diego, where we very much admired Orange County for keeping Los Angeles well buffered the hell away from us.

San Francisco 7 days a week 365 days a year over Los Angeles. I don't care what the media says about decline, super special place.

we very much admired Orange County for keeping Los Angeles well buffered the hell away from us.

We try our best :-)

"I've continued to find it comical that half of a country found their previous President to be less than acceptable for four years yet have no qualms travelling to a country like Hungary, where their ruling PM is the model of authoritarian government."

I was in Hungary last year on the RS tour. Having setup up a satellite office in Budapest 20 years ago with Tom who was a Hungarian immigrant, I am fairly familiar with the country. Tom (who was Jewish and lost much of his family at the hands of Hitler) left Hungary as a pre-teen with his father in '56. He wanted to setup of the office and help Hungary prosper. With that said, he made sure I knew that Hungary was allied with Hitler. "They were Nazis" he said. His cousin who still lived there agreed whole heartedly.

While on the tour,we went the House of Terror Museum. In the first room the narrator said in English: "The first victims of the Nazis were Hungary". I am paraphrasing.

I commented later that night to our RS tour guide Peter (who is Hungarian) what I heard. He said "That's Orban." Orban and his ilk rewrote history.

Tom who recently died would have turned over in his grave. He also would still be proud of setting up an office there.

With that said, I would not travel to Russia right now even if it were safe as I do not want to support Putin.

Now travel to Texas? That's a different kettle of fish. Not after getting caught in Dallas twice with hailstones the size of buicks raining down on me

David, brilliantly written. Your writing illsustrates the compleity of all such issues.

I would love the discussion, but its against the RS rules.

I will push the envelope a bit to say that I had as my guests in Budapest two Ukrainian families and the Hungarian people, and for the most part the government, treated them with love and respect .... without exception. If you wouild like to do the same as the Hungarian people have: https://www.uscis.gov/ukraine

As for Texas, from a purley tourist point of view, do not not freak out if you see someone carrying a gun. It is an open carry state.

We try our best :-)

Thank you for your service!

As for Texas, from a purley tourist point of view, do not not freak out if you see someone carrying a gun.

My sense of self-preservation tells me otherwise, especially if they're pointing it at you 😉

As for Europe, I think the last time we had an open carry policy for weapons was back in the medieval times 😂

Hungarian hearing air professional: “Mr. D, your left ear is fine, but your right ear is not so good. Do you work around heavy equipment?”
“no, its probably from shooting guns”
“you shoot guns?”
“I am from Texas”
“what do you mean you shoot guns?”
“lady, the hearing aid please”
“you have guns?”
“yes, I have guns, the hearing aid please”
“how many guns do you have?”
“a dozen or so”
“YOU HAVE A DOZEN GUNS!!”
“lady, hearing aid please”
“where are your guns?”
“Under my bed, the hearing aid please”
“YOU HAVE GUNS UNDER YOUR BED!!!”

This went on for a few more minutes. The hearing aids work great. Life goes on.

You have guns under your bed?

@Tintaldra - my same reaction 😲! I thought only James Bond slept with a gun under his pillow lol

Mr E, once again, thanks for the laugh.

I have never, ever wanted to go visit anyplace in Russia. I love to travel and see new places, but this country just never made my want to see list. I have no desire to go to Dubai either. Shopping is not on my list of travel plans.

Lots of people on this forum may be shocked by this, but Paris has been my least favorite place to visit. In the summer it smelled of urine every place we went. I hate the trains in the city, especially those ones with the doors on the platform that slam shut. They are dangerous and scary. I ride trains every day in Germany, and am used to the way train doors work. Paris takes it to a whole nother level.
It just is not a place I need to visit again.

I am not a fan of Las Vegas; it’s my least favorite place that I’ve visited. It’s something to see, but it’s just so trashy.

On the other hand, I love the Disney parks. I have to admit I am discouraged by their effort to extract every dollar they can get from your pocket. Yet I had a wonderful time with my granddaughters at DisneyWorld.

Mrs. Jo, we went to Russia in 1990 and really enjoyed St. Petersburg, Novgorod, and Moscow. I certainly would not go after their invasions of Ukraine.

Ms Jo - I’m glad we went to Russia when we did, way back when there seemed to be a chance of ‘normality’. Wouldn’t care to revisit again any time soon. And yes, Dubai - they can keep it, not for me.

Carroll - I’m glad we spent a couple of days in Las Vegas in a ‘jaw on the floor’ sort of way. Don’t understand the desire by Brits to spend a couple of weeks there, but at least they aren’t littering up the places I DO want to go and see (Las Vegas was the jumping off point for a trip to some of the US National Parks). Best Las Vegas advice we received before our visit - “Just remember, it’s not real”!

Ian

"I travelled round the world to find the sun
I couldn't stop myself from having fun"
Vegas.
Just about anywhere Florida.

Apologies to everyone, but we really liked Las Vegas. It was a super fun place and very much appeared as what we expected to be the true American culture.

Tom_MN: The 45 open carry states include Minnesota

Pete, did you say Niagra Falls?
https://youtu.be/MYP1OBZfFK0

Oh my, Murcio! Las Vegas is NOT true Amereican culture. I weep to think that anyone gets that impression!

Excuse me, Nick from Murcia. I made a typo in my respionse to your post.

Mr E
I see why you are so horrified that so many parts of the USA carry guns. It is dreadful that crime is so bad over there that people need to be armed to protect themselves. I can understand why you've escaped to Europe,

Las Vegas is NOT true Amereican culture. I weep to think that anyone
gets that impression!

Now that I think of it, I'm curious what people (Americans and others) do consider classic American culture? It certainly can't be defined in one sentence, but when I think about it, these words define my initial and off-the-cuff impressions; guns, football, cheeseburgers, Hollywood, Vegas, Disney, freedom (not necessarily as a complimentary word), New York, innovation.

Washington DC. Everything is a copy, of something else in Europe. :)

Tom, you are correct. In all my life I have seen a handgun in public just one time .... despite where I live. But I understand why some might be uncomfortable in a state where it is possible; so its a consideration of where to travel. Holidays should be relaxed an enjoyable and without worry.

Vegas true American culture lol. Yeah, the trash and kitsch culture.

I'm not defending "gun culture" but as a former military member it's a fine hobby for responsible people. There is zero to fear from gun ranges and hunters. Zero. Being scared is simply ignorance in this regard. Too much of that in this country as is. Of course the media fans those flames.

I was going to avoid negativity but .....
I just spent a few days in D.C. For years it had been one of my favorite places. But its been almost 10 years since my last visit. Now its an embarassment of a capital. I was sittin in an Uber the same day and about the same time the Lyft driver was murdered in DC. I walked up a wrong street and ended up in a place where I wish I had a gun with me. The capital and the White House are no longer the people's, they are defended compounds. This isnt the country I remember. Very, very sad.

I would never go to a Disney property, Big Mike, or any amusement park on my vacation. They are neither amusing nor a park. 😁

My least favorite place to visit is the airport. I wish we could get beamed to our first destination instead of dealing with the hell that are airports.

as a former military member it's a fine hobby for responsible people. There is zero to fear from gun ranges and hunters. Zero. Being scared is simply ignorance in this regard. Too much of that in this country as is. Of course the media fans those flames.

Couldn’t agree more, Big Mike.

Mister E - your last visit to DC was post January 2021. It is very, very said that the capital is a defended compound, but I couldn't expect it to be otherwise at this point. You're right, it isn't the country I remember, either.

Mike & Continental - I agree, anyone is who is scared of a "gun range" or a "responsible person" is ignorant. These are not what people concerned with gun violence are scared about.

There is zero to fear from gun ranges and hunters. Zero.

Zero? I had a coworker who married a girl from Virginia. He came back from vacation to see the in-laws to tell a story of a hunting trip he went on that included plenty of beer and hunting from the edge of the road firing into the forest. You can argue that this isn't hunting and you'd be correct, but it was to this group.

OK, this is taking a turn into discussing guns, which we all know doesn't work on the internet. Sorry, I can't let this stay open for the weekend. Too much opportunity for chaos. And, after all, this forum is meant to be a place for positive discussions about travel.