Because I am mostly a tag-along traveller, I often don’t choose the places I visit. That suits me fine because Steve’s business travel often takes us places I would have never picked myself, and many of those destinations turn out to be way more fun than I expected. There have been a few spots, though, that do not inspire me to return. They are not necessarily horrible places, but they either have deficits I find hard to overcome or simply leave me wanting. I offer you here, the travel destinations I’m not keen to revisit. A few might surprise you. If you love these places, feel free to push back and give me a reason to want to return.
Why some destinations disappoint
The thing about putting places on the not-going-back list is that the adjudication often relates to context. Case in point, when we first visited London, England several years ago, it was stormy and windy the entire weekend. It was gloomy, to put it mildly. I had no desire to go back. The weather made everything we did on that weekend getaway a bone-chilling misery. But as a tag-along traveller, back I went two more times. I now adore London and visit any chance I get. In some cases, you’ve got to give a place a second (or third) chance.
Nevertheless, here are the top five places that as of today I’m not keen to revisit:
#1 – Prague, Czech Republic
Reputation: Charming, fairytale-like city with beautiful baroque architecture and romantic street scenes around every corner.
What I didn’t like: Within moments of disembarking from the train, someone tried to hustle us to take a “taxi” ride that was twice the amount it should have been. When we politely told the guy we weren’t interested, he persisted in harassing us.
We avoided the taxi scam but succumbed to the restaurant scam when we were charged for things that came with our meal but that we didn’t order. The extras went beyond the usual bread and pretzels that arrive on the table before you order that you routinely get charged for unless you send them back. We complained to the waiter and manager to no avail.
It was June. The streets were crowded. We were relentlessly approached by people begging or presenting us with some “bargain” or another. We were always on guard, which made it difficult to enjoy exploring the city. It felt like one big tourist trap.
Redeeming features: We visited the Prague Zoo, and it was the BEST zoo we’ve ever visited. It had suffered a massive flood five years before our visit and got a modern revamp. The enclosures are designed to make you feel as though there is nothing between you and the animals and the gondola that takes you soaring over the site is a pleasure.
The chair lift at the Prague Zoo offers a terrific view.
Will I give it another chance? Maybe. When we visited, it was the last stop of a multi-city European holiday, which means we were fatigued. That probably influenced our perception of Prague.
#2 – Orlando, USA
Reputation: Theme park capital of the world including “The Happiest Place on Earth” – Walt Disney World.
What I didn’t like: If you’re into theme parks and specifically, Walt Disney World, Orlando’s a splendid place, I’m sure. If you’re not visiting one of this city’s 14+ theme parks (14!!), Orlando is not easy to love.
Granted, I was staying at a hotel conference centre tagging along on Steve’s work travel, which was not nearby to anything worthwhile. It was also perpetually freezing because the air conditioning was set to frosty. To get anywhere other than a grocery store a 20-minute walk away, I needed a car. Worse, the traffic congestion is epic, which makes being in a vehicle even less enjoyable than it already is.
Overall, Orlando just didn’t seem to have a soul to me. From my perspective, it was just freeways, theme parks and chain restaurants that serve way too much food per portion. Desperate to experience something “authentic” in the city, I asked the hotel desk staff how I could spend a few hours experiencing the real Orlando. The best suggestion they could come up with was a nearby outlet mall. Seriously.
Redeeming Features: After some Googling on my own, I found Thornton Park and took a $30 Uber ride to get there (yup, desperate). Its mix of restaurants, shops and picturesque green space gave me some reprieve from that chilly conference centre. It would take a lot to lure me back to Orlando. Sorry, Florida (I love Miami!).
Lake Eola, which is adjacent to Thornton Park, is a nice escape.
#3 – Dubrovnik, Croatia
Reputation: Historic beauty against the backdrop of the sublime Adriatic Sea. Walking the Old Town’s ancient walls offers spectacular views.
What I didn’t like: The massive, sudden influx of tourists from a docking cruise ship made my experience of the Old Town an equally massive drag. I don’t care how beautiful a place is, when thousands of people descend into a relatively small area, you are not going to have a pleasant experience. “Strolling” along the fort wall was akin to cows being herded to pasture – poking along while trying to avoid bumping into the person in front of you. Ugh.
Note the endless line of people making their way along the wall.
Redeeming Features: Dubrovnik is undeniably beautiful! Had we stayed longer than a couple of days, perhaps I would have left with a different impression. We were on a small bike and boat tour and sailed to other islands, which I enjoyed a lot more – Korčula, for one. Dubrovnik really needs to rethink how it manages its tourism. The present situation must be intolerable for locals, and it’s not sustainable for those who rely on tourism either. I have no desire to return.
#4 – San Francisco, USA
Reputation: Cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf—natural beauty combined with many attractive sights and activities.
The view from our hotel room: A nice American city.
What I didn’t like: I actually enjoyed quite a bit of San Francisco, but I wasn’t as charmed by it as other travellers seem to be. My expectations were far too high. So many people have raved about San Fran to me over the years. When I finally visited, I was left with the modest impression of a nice American city on the water. No big hearts and stars from me. The drive along the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles, on the other hand, blew me away. Gorgeous!
Redeeming Features: Cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge was pretty sweet as was a hike along the Coastal Trail at Lands End.
#5 – Bengaluru (Bangalore), India
Reputation: A temperate climate (by Indian standards), dubbed the Silicon Valley of India, gorgeous gardens and parks.
What I didn’t like: I’ve visited this city twice on tag-along trips and both times it felt like an endurance test. Bangalore is relentlessly noisy from the constant honking of vehicles and streets choked with traffic that doesn’t adhere to any roadway rules as far as I can tell. Walking in the streets is challenging as sometimes there are no sidewalks, and other times there are partial sidewalks interrupted by mounds of refuse and broken concrete. Bangalore demands that you attend to your surroundings at every moment. You must monitor traffic, navigate walking, maneuver around many other people while contending with constant noise and pollution from traffic. As a North American from a sparsely populated city, it’s overwhelming.
Once you find your way into one of Bangalore’s pretty parks, you will not want to leave.
Redeeming Features: There are many terrific things about Bangalore, especially its people, who are exceptionally friendly, helpful, and eager to make you feel welcome. The gardens and parks? Yup, they are lush and lovely (I didn’t want to leave them). The running tours I took were outstanding. I love that there are cows in the street (although, I’m not sure they love it), and I love that the tech industry is thriving – people are exceptionally talented and industrious in this community. The reality is that I will likely be back to Bangalore, and when I return I will do my best to take a fresh perspective. It’s a city undergoing rapid transition. Things are changing. I just hope the parks don’t get paved over by the city’s ever-expanding urbanization.
Let me have it!
So, am I out to lunch? Do you love one of these cities and think I have it all wrong? Tell me why!
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Ha! I can’t agree with you on Prague or San Francisco but experiences are experiences and they all shape our opinion.
We’ve been to Prague 6 times now for a combined 7 months. It’s where we get our dental/medical done as well as pick up new phones or computers. Prague is a wonderful city but go in the Old Town when there are lots of tourists and it can be too much. The thing is that there’s a lot of beauty everywhere – last year when we were there a month I think we only crossed the Charles bridge once…
SF is all about nature and I remember renting a bike back in 2006 and riding everywhere. Most beautiful nature I had seen. But it’s spread out and a bike the best way to see it…
Dubrovnik – totally agree. We lived a year in Split and it’s a much nicer city. Bengalore – like you, I could not cope with ANY Indian city.
Thanks for your perspective — certainly a more informed one than mine with respect to Prague. It’s difficult to shake a poor first impression, but I recognize there was a bit of travel fatigue involved when we visited. We did rent bikes in San Fran and enjoyed peddling around (despite the hills). I regret we didn’t get to Split on our trip to Croatia as I’ve heard so many good things. I’d be willing to give any of these places a second or third chance. I just wouldn’t go out of my way to go back.
I loved San Francisco, have been twice and would go back again in a heartbeat. Stay away from the Fisherman’s Wharf and downtown – spend your time in Noe Valley, the Castro, the Mission, Bernal Heights or other interesting neighbourhoods. Golden Gate Park is great and so is Sunset Beach. The transit system is really solid and the food, especially Mexican places like Papalote, are so good. Give it another chance!
Ok! Good to know about transit. We cycled or walked wherever we went. We didn’t explore many neighbourhoods. We had limited time, which didn’t do us any service for getting off the beaten path. We did spend some time in Golden Gate Park and it was lovely. Thanks for weighing in!
I’m with you on San Francisco! Fun place to visit on a tagalong trip (it’s where my husband’s employer is based, so he travels there a couple of times per year), but I wouldn’t prioritize going there on a vacation if we were paying all of our expenses out of pocket.
Interesting. I was expecting pushback on that destination, because so many rave about it.
I love the way you’ve structured this post highlighting the city’s reputation and then saying what you didn’t like and what were the redeeming features. I was surprised to find Prague and Dubrovnik on the list. I’ve not been to either city, but have heard great things about them. Reading what you didn’t like I can understand the reluctance to return. I’ve been to Orlando and to San Francisco, Both visits were decades ago so my perceptions may need updating, but I’d agree with you about Orlando. I liked San Francisco and would like to return, but it is not a top priority. I agree that the Pacific Coast Highway is spectacular. I’ve not been to Bangalore. Although I’d be willing to visit the city, I suspect I’d share your opinion based on what you didn’t like.
Thanks, Donna. It’s an interesting topic to explore, and obviously subjective. Are there places you’ve been that others might be surprised to learn you’re not keen to revisit?