Worst holiday destinations
#16
Re: Worst holiday destinations
I remember by old boss telling me a tale of when he went to Kathmandu on a business trip. Being a bit of a high roller, he checked into the (best available ) hotel and promptly asked the receptionist where was the best place to eat, he wanted the best restaurant in town.
Receptionist said "KFC".
He's never been back.
Receptionist said "KFC".
He's never been back.
#17
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 0
Re: Worst holiday destinations
Fiji - we went last September and we never need to go there again. We stayed on the main island on the Coral Coast at the hotel with the best beach in Fiji. The beach was nothing to write home about, had to pay extra for kayaks, snorkelling equipment etc. It was a huge rip off. We booked a stay for 10 nights so that we could really relax. We were ready to come home after 3 days.
Did do an island trip to get some snorkelling in but it wasn't that great and the island wasn't that great.
Splashed out silly money having a meal at the posh restaurant at the hotel, they reciprocated by giving me food poisoning.
Got sick of saying "Bula" to every passing staff member. Staff and tourists start avoiding eye contact after a few days! That was a relief.
Hugely expensive for what it is......don't go! Unless you want Butlin's in the sun, then fill your boots on Denarau Island!
Did do an island trip to get some snorkelling in but it wasn't that great and the island wasn't that great.
Splashed out silly money having a meal at the posh restaurant at the hotel, they reciprocated by giving me food poisoning.
Got sick of saying "Bula" to every passing staff member. Staff and tourists start avoiding eye contact after a few days! That was a relief.
Hugely expensive for what it is......don't go! Unless you want Butlin's in the sun, then fill your boots on Denarau Island!
#18
Re: Worst holiday destinations
In fairness, my worst ever holiday was actually at the Butlins in Bognor Regis. I booked 5 days, left after 3. Terrible place. Even had my towels nicked at the pool. I suspect Fiji was far from Butlins in the Sun.
I can then closely follow this with the following:
1) a caravan holiday in Wales where it rained the whole time
2) a driving holiday in Spain where we had our passports, camera and money stolen, before we wrote off the car in an accident on the motorway
3) a skiing holiday in Italy where I had food poisoning for 4 out of the 8 days
My all time top holiday is still LegoLand in Denmark when I was 7.
I can then closely follow this with the following:
1) a caravan holiday in Wales where it rained the whole time
2) a driving holiday in Spain where we had our passports, camera and money stolen, before we wrote off the car in an accident on the motorway
3) a skiing holiday in Italy where I had food poisoning for 4 out of the 8 days
My all time top holiday is still LegoLand in Denmark when I was 7.
#19
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Worst holiday destinations
In fairness, my worst ever holiday was actually at the Butlins in Bognor Regis. I booked 5 days, left after 3. Terrible place. Even had my towels nicked at the pool. I suspect Fiji was far from Butlins in the Sun.
I can then closely follow this with the following:
1) a caravan holiday in Wales where it rained the whole time
2) a driving holiday in Spain where we had our passports, camera and money stolen, before we wrote off the car in an accident on the motorway
3) a skiing holiday in Italy where I had food poisoning for 4 out of the 8 days
My all time top holiday is still LegoLand in Denmark when I was 7.
I can then closely follow this with the following:
1) a caravan holiday in Wales where it rained the whole time
2) a driving holiday in Spain where we had our passports, camera and money stolen, before we wrote off the car in an accident on the motorway
3) a skiing holiday in Italy where I had food poisoning for 4 out of the 8 days
My all time top holiday is still LegoLand in Denmark when I was 7.
Jeez that you booked Butlins, jeez that you atually lasted 3 days, jeez that you chose Bognor. One of my earliest memories is of a "holiday" at Bacton and the wind/sand sandblasting my legs: I was about 4.
Jeez for your other misadventures, too. Mind you, it always rains in Wales, what were you expecting?
Don't think I've ever organised a holiday that wasn't at least good, although Sharm came close with the "XYZ Hotel and Casino" shambolic: on trying to find the casino, I was informed "it's under soft opening". "What does that mean?" "Its closed". I did attempt to drag the prat who told me that to the outside of the hotel to show him the big ****-off sign that shouted HOTEL & CASINO, but he seemed reluctant to accompany me.
I've stayed in some appalling hotels, mostly in Egypt, Morocco and UK, but mostly on business or just overnight pleasure trips. Last Saturday I did threaten to re-arrange some twat's jaw who had earlier in the day assured me that there was no party in the hotel's function room that night, only to return from a heavy cheese-and-wine session to find the function in full swing, with the noise still at full blast in my room. They did change my room, which was lucky for all involved.
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 182
Re: Worst holiday destinations
In fairness, my worst ever holiday was actually at the Butlins in Bognor Regis. I booked 5 days, left after 3. Terrible place. Even had my towels nicked at the pool. I suspect Fiji was far from Butlins in the Sun.
I can then closely follow this with the following:
1) a caravan holiday in Wales where it rained the whole time
2) a driving holiday in Spain where we had our passports, camera and money stolen, before we wrote off the car in an accident on the motorway
3) a skiing holiday in Italy where I had food poisoning for 4 out of the 8 days
My all time top holiday is still LegoLand in Denmark when I was 7.
I can then closely follow this with the following:
1) a caravan holiday in Wales where it rained the whole time
2) a driving holiday in Spain where we had our passports, camera and money stolen, before we wrote off the car in an accident on the motorway
3) a skiing holiday in Italy where I had food poisoning for 4 out of the 8 days
My all time top holiday is still LegoLand in Denmark when I was 7.
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 182
Re: Worst holiday destinations
I suspect most of us get around a lot. What has been your worst / most regretted holiday destinations?
For me it's probably Bali. It wasn't bad but it was nowhere near what the hype might lead you to believe. And Kuta was sheer horror.
Also in Indonesia was Pulau Ambon and Pulau Saparua. Former is a trash infested island en-route to a handful of decently pretty beaches with decent snorkelling at the latter. While the end destination was fine, it took 5 separate flights and a rickety ferry that left you thoroughly shattered, only to discover that the dive centre you were sold on hadn't really been in operation for the last five years and most of the coral were dead (to be fair we did still see some stunning ones). Altogether just not worth the time and money beyond the sense of being in a very remote part of Indonesia.
For me it's probably Bali. It wasn't bad but it was nowhere near what the hype might lead you to believe. And Kuta was sheer horror.
Also in Indonesia was Pulau Ambon and Pulau Saparua. Former is a trash infested island en-route to a handful of decently pretty beaches with decent snorkelling at the latter. While the end destination was fine, it took 5 separate flights and a rickety ferry that left you thoroughly shattered, only to discover that the dive centre you were sold on hadn't really been in operation for the last five years and most of the coral were dead (to be fair we did still see some stunning ones). Altogether just not worth the time and money beyond the sense of being in a very remote part of Indonesia.
#23
womble
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,675
Re: Worst holiday destinations
Aqaba, Jordan. During Easter. Nuff said
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2014
Location: Hilton Lounge 22nd Floor 1800-2000
Posts: 329
Re: Worst holiday destinations
Warsaw, the day the first McDonald's opened in 1992: queues around the block for a menu of hamburger or cheeseburger, double or single, at fine dining prices. We stayed on the 30th concrete floor of a faded grandeur ex Communist Party hotel, with a battle axe behind reception and a wall-sized black and white telly in the room which took since Jaruzelski was a lad to warm up. Gave it a couple of days then legged it to Krakow.
I visited Budapest on the same trip and thought it was great, in transition between the wall coming down and capitalism kicking in. I remember watermelons and orange cordial and not much else on sale in the streets. I went back three years later and it had changed hugely: bureaux de change, hair wrapping crusties playing bongos, strip bars, British Pubs and the shape of stag do's to come.
I visited Budapest on the same trip and thought it was great, in transition between the wall coming down and capitalism kicking in. I remember watermelons and orange cordial and not much else on sale in the streets. I went back three years later and it had changed hugely: bureaux de change, hair wrapping crusties playing bongos, strip bars, British Pubs and the shape of stag do's to come.
#25
Re: Worst holiday destinations
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. Basically Costa del Sol with longer and more expensive flights. In no particular order:
Locals hassling you and trying to rip you off at any given opportunity.
The best rated restaurant being Hard Rock Cafe.
Our apartment being "close to centre" despite being in the arse end of no where and needing taxis to get to and from town.
Karaoke in the hotel next door. If I hear "is this the way to Amarillo" one more effing time...
The only marginal saving grace was the diving, just.
Locals hassling you and trying to rip you off at any given opportunity.
The best rated restaurant being Hard Rock Cafe.
Our apartment being "close to centre" despite being in the arse end of no where and needing taxis to get to and from town.
Karaoke in the hotel next door. If I hear "is this the way to Amarillo" one more effing time...
The only marginal saving grace was the diving, just.
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,467
Re: Worst holiday destinations
Ireland, Cork specifically in about 1989. It was beautiful but the locals were full on knob jockeys to anyone English back then. Left 3 days early.
#28
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
#29
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Worst holiday destinations
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
I'd have to say Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. We went hunting near there in late fall and it was a lot like that movie The Revenant. The best part of the trip was the flight up there and that stunk. The small aircraft we flew on didn't have a toilet and my friend had to crap in his shirt behind the last row of seats.
I'd have to say Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. We went hunting near there in late fall and it was a lot like that movie The Revenant. The best part of the trip was the flight up there and that stunk. The small aircraft we flew on didn't have a toilet and my friend had to crap in his shirt behind the last row of seats.