Anywhere that requires a flight on America West Airlines.
Is America West still in business? I remember back in the day when they used to give out free booze on all their flights.
I think it’s hard to know if what someone else thinks is rude would strike us the same way. One incident doesn’t usually throw my opinion. You can still be ‘glass half full.’ My US friends used to complain about certain local behaviors when we lived abroad. I just chalked it up to local culture or their own tolerances.
I think it would bug me if someone purposely caused me extra grief for their own amusement- but I can blame that on the individual. I’m also the sort who finds New Yorkers friendly. New Englanders, too.
Ditto, @lookingforward. New Yorkers are extremely helpful. Nor did I have any issues in Paris, where everyone warned me ahead of time. I found people helpful and polite.
I think it depends. I found some New Yorkers and New Englanders friendly too. One time when I was in Vermont, one guy drove all around the bike path to find a rental car keys that I accidentally lost in the snow. I’ve never experienced that kind of friendly and helpful in California.
H had not wanted to even go to Paris but I insisted and we both LOVED it. We don’t speak French, but could usually make ourselves understood and often would find someone who was happy to help us translate as needed. It turned out to be a very pleasant stay and we would both enjoy returning.
Many big cities (and some small) have smells that can be unpleasant, depending on where you are. My D hated the smells of NYC, but we all agreed there is a lot to do there and she has since returned to visit friends there and had a blast.
Places and times can be what one makes of them. When I am rushed or the weather is challenging, it can often color my memory of a place. I much prefer relaxed trips and time to enjoy what there is in the area instead of racing from place to place. YMMV.
Back to the subjectivity, I would also add that a great variable is the context of the visit. Visiting a country where one has family makes a huge difference. Abasket just returned from Marseilles and her experience will reflect that she had local hosts. Chances are that most tourists would find Marseilles an ugly sight.
People have mentioned Brussels as dreary and filthy. I am not sure how Paris is any different but then I know Brussels really well and know what to look for and what to avoid. Fwiw, does anyone find the Grand Place of Brussels dreary? I wish I could show a few images taken at night. And then there is the food and beer scene!
People also talk about Mexico as if it were one community. A visit to the Bajio with cities such as Guanajuato and Queretaro might change one’s mind about crime infested regions.
But again, I started this thread to see how our opinions might vary about places we did NOT enjoy. I fully understand that people can have a very poor opinion of a place I like. And vice versa.
I love Italy but loathe flying Alitalia
https://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/gbatistini/sets/72157623362388263
This artist has many albums with great shots from many cities.
America West bought US Airways and merged into it, which bought American Airlines and merged into it.
My list is short but I thought of another place: Myrtle Beach. Terrible dangerous young male drivers, driving the strip at night, miniature golf courses, average beach, gift shops beyond tacky ( and I appreciate kitsch).
I agree that knowing people - family or friends - influences our experience of a place.
I was amused by how many people wouldn’t want to go back to, say, Paris or San Francisco, while for others these cities are absolute favorites. And some of these observations are just fun: bclintonk’s menacing/depressing list (#110 )was a treat to read.
Newark and Trenton? Gotta know where to go and what to eat.
Had my most recent visit to Italy a few months ago. I visited in 1973 and then lived near Florence for 4 months the next year.
My family found my old places, including the actual pizza bar I ate ate some 43 or years ago!!
But what I learned is not to try to go back period.
H wants to go back all of the time.
I want to go forward. After this expensivive “returning” trip–never again.
I found Italy so very differnt that it broke my heart.
I think that there are SO MANY tourists that the Italians are just tired of smiling.
They do not seem happy.
Re: #171: I have a sentimental attachment to Newark based on all the Philip Roth novels I’ve immersed myself in through the years. Granted, I’ve never physically been there (except to and from the airport from NYC.) But I feel I know mid-century Newark pretty well!
There is some great portuguese food in Newark.
I love to travel most anywhere, and can enjoy most places, but I didn’t care for Jamaica in the late 80s. Not sure if it’s the same now.
No reason to go back to Detroit. or Buffalo. or Pittsburgh.
Nothing really wrong with Atlanta, but nothing there I need to see again.
Never had much interest in Disney per se, but I can enjoy a nice amusement park for a day, or better yet, a water park.
Like most every other place that’s been mentioned in this thread, or would like to go if I haven’t been.
In defense of my favorite city, I’d just like to point out that the slightly garbagey smell of NYC during certain times of year is caused by the ginko trees, not actual garbage.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/06/30/smelly-trees
(Well, except for when there’s a garbage strike.)
I haven’t been many places but I have been to New Orleans and I liked it a lot. Why would you not want to go there?
My dad’s been to Sao Paulo for work. He didn’t like it. Of the places he’s been to for work (Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Brussels, Barcelona, London, Zurich, Moscow, and Calcutta) he most disliked Sao Paulo.
I guess for myself, I went to St. Louis once, and it’s an ugly city but it wasn’t really that terrible or anything.
Also used to live in Florida. I HATED the weather. No desire to ever go back to Florida.
“In defense of my favorite city, I’d just like to point out that the slightly garbagey smell of NYC during certain times of year is caused by the ginko trees, not actual garbage.”
I lived in NYC and never knew that! But I think it doesn’t matter what is causing the smell. Walking around Manhattan on a hot summer day can be quite unpleasant.