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Worst holiday destinations

Worst holiday destinations

Old May 2nd 2016, 9:29 am
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Default 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.
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Old May 2nd 2016, 10:10 am
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Default 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!
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Old May 2nd 2016, 10:32 am
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Default 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.
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Old May 2nd 2016, 10:44 am
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Default Re: Worst holiday destinations

Originally Posted by Millhouse
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.
Jeez...

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.
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Old May 2nd 2016, 10:48 am
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Default Re: Worst holiday destinations

Originally Posted by Millhouse
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.
where are you going next Millhouse ? just so I can avoid it
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Old May 2nd 2016, 10:56 am
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Default Re: Worst holiday destinations

Originally Posted by DXBtoDOH
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.
Anywhere with a baby...I said to the missus recently, its like choosing to go on holiday with a disabled, incontinent sociopath.
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Old May 2nd 2016, 2:30 pm
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Default Re: Worst holiday destinations

Originally Posted by DubInRiyadh
Anywhere with a baby...I said to the missus recently, its like choosing to go on holiday with a disabled, incontinent sociopath.
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Old May 3rd 2016, 11:32 am
  #23  
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Aqaba, Jordan. During Easter. Nuff said
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Old May 3rd 2016, 6:22 pm
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Default 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.
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Old May 3rd 2016, 7:38 pm
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Default 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.
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Old May 4th 2016, 8:55 am
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Default 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.
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Old May 4th 2016, 9:00 am
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Default Re: Worst holiday destinations

Originally Posted by jam25mack
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.
I've found the Irish still are.
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Old May 4th 2016, 9:33 am
  #28  
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Default Re: Worst holiday destinations

Originally Posted by iggle
I've found the Irish still are.
Had 3 great days in Ireland around Easter -- didn't detect any ill-feeling, and had some bloody good food and drink.
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Old May 11th 2016, 3:38 pm
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Default Re: Worst holiday destinations

Originally Posted by Lagoon Rd
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.
Welcome(?) back.
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Old May 11th 2016, 3:42 pm
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Default Re: Worst holiday destinations

Originally Posted by Bahtatboy
Welcome(?) back.
That's a true story- He had to go so he went in his t shirt. Everyone on the plane hated him
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