Least Favorite Places

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Last week, I asked people to list the places that they would visit again and again. Paris was a popular answer, as was Vermont (read more answers from the Twitterverse here).

And one of my Twitter buddies, @thenotoriousmeg (I love her name, it sounds so gangster), had an even better question: Where are the places that you’d never return? She personally has had enough of Venice, Dublin and Cartagena – not hating on the latter two, she says. There are just other places in Ireland and Colombia where she’d rather go.

It’s a great question. Doug Lansky covers a lot of this territory in his blog, The Titanic Awards. As he says in his intro: “You see critical reviews of books, movies and plays in the media, but when was the last time you saw someone say a destination was awful? Or that they disliked a fancy new resort? Hard to imagine Islands Magazine with a cover that boasts ‘Five Islands that Totally Suck!’”

(My colleague Jayne Clark interviewed Lansky earlier this year. Article is here. And Doug, I love your site. Call me!)

He’s got a point. In my trip reports, I try to be honest about what places I like and don’t like. But I do try to keep in mind that I’m just one traveler and that a place that doesn’t appeal to me might strike a chord with someone else. For example, I’m not a big fan of Turks & Caicos. It’s too expensive for us, for one thing, and I generally prefer jungle islands such as Dominica to beachy ones such as the Bahamas. But…if I had some cash to spend and I wanted to spend my vacation mostly hanging out at a posh resort on Grace Bay, I would love it. And I certainly don’t think my personal preferences kept me from writing about Providenciales in an honest and fair way.

So, back to Meg’s question. As I said in this report, I didn’t love Key West. I don’t enjoy family beach destinations such as Ocean City (both in New Jersey and Maryland) and Myrtle Beach. And while I loved the Amalfi Coast and Capri, I felt that Ischia was the Jersey Shore of Italy. But I understand that my point of view is just that: mine, and one that’s often influenced by the situation. Could I have a great time in Myrtle Beach playing mini-golf with my nephews? Sure. Would I enjoy Ischia better if I was at the right resort with my husband instead of a cheapie one with my sister? Of course.

Anyway, enough of that. Let’s hear what others have to say. Some early answers via Meg’s query on Twitter:

@cfinjer Torremolinos, Spain. Was like a bad version of the AC boardwalk.

@KatieHammel: Venice (again!), Costa Rica (wait, that’s one of my faves!), Las Vegas

Updated, more from Twitter travel tweeps:

@CruiseEditor: Overly crowded Carib. isles like St. Maarten, duing cruise season AND Would like to add one, even as I’m heading there soon — Venice. Lovely the first 12 times but ….

@TravelEditor: Didn’t love Versailles, Belfast, Wildwood (NJ)

@PeggyCoonley: Atlantic City

@20sTravel: Prague, Belgrade, anywhere in Florida, and oh god BALTIMORE

@elizawrites: Worst trips: Limerick, Ireland and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

@joanna_haugen: not a big fan of Detroit

@katiecavic: The Denver Airport; Cisco, Utah; and most of Texas.

Now it’s your turn. Where are the places where you’d rather not return?