Destinations that have most exceeded/failed to meet your expectations
May 4, 2007, 1:05 pm
#76
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan Former E
Posts: 1,022
Loved:
St. Petersburg
Moscow (although much different that I was expecting)
Luxembourg
Northern and Southern Belgium (trained through Brussels, so no comment)
Mossel valley in Germany - Trier.
Nova Scotia
New York City
Last summer, I wasn't expecting anything much from Belgium and was more looking forward to Denmark. I was dead wrong. Loved Belgium (excellent food, excellent beer, very decent people willing to help idiotic foreign bikers meandering around their countryside
).
Disappointed
Orlando
LA
Denmark (very blah and overpriced)
PEI. Way too commercialized with Anne of Green Gables.
St. Petersburg
Moscow (although much different that I was expecting)
Luxembourg
Northern and Southern Belgium (trained through Brussels, so no comment)
Mossel valley in Germany - Trier.
Nova Scotia
New York City
Last summer, I wasn't expecting anything much from Belgium and was more looking forward to Denmark. I was dead wrong. Loved Belgium (excellent food, excellent beer, very decent people willing to help idiotic foreign bikers meandering around their countryside
). Disappointed
Orlando
LA
Denmark (very blah and overpriced)
PEI. Way too commercialized with Anne of Green Gables.
May 4, 2007, 5:21 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1MM, Delta Plat
Posts: 11,224
We were most disappointed with Singapore. I think Hong Kong and Shanghai blow it away.
May 5, 2007, 7:57 am
#81
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: US Gold, NW Silver, MR Silver, SPG Gold & OpenTable VIP
Posts: 611
rapid city, sd and the greater black hills region far exceeded my expectations.
while in college, my family relocated to rapid city from philadelphia where i had lived for the first 20 years of my life. my sister and i dreaded heading to the high plains but once we were out there just fell in love with the whole region.
it certainly could use some more cosmopolitan ammenities (namely a bakery) but i always love heading out there to visit...plus RAP is one of the best regional airports in the country...amazing service and all the employees there really take pride in EVERY aspect of the facilities functionality.
while in college, my family relocated to rapid city from philadelphia where i had lived for the first 20 years of my life. my sister and i dreaded heading to the high plains but once we were out there just fell in love with the whole region.
it certainly could use some more cosmopolitan ammenities (namely a bakery) but i always love heading out there to visit...plus RAP is one of the best regional airports in the country...amazing service and all the employees there really take pride in EVERY aspect of the facilities functionality.
May 5, 2007, 12:58 pm
#82
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: DCA
Posts: 20
Exceeded:
Ha Long Bay: Vietnam (a unique holiday experience)
Paris (always something to enjoy)
Montreal (Paris meets Chicago: great quality of life despite winter)
NYC (no place like it, so much in one city, can overwhelm many, but has it all)
Cape Cod/Provincetown (just like the postcards and then some)
San Francisco (lived here for 14yrs, great to visit, great to live,must like "fog"
San Diego(what SO CAL life should be)
Sydney (only after a second visit)
Thailand (not so much Bangkok)
Portland, OR
Hawaii (touristy in some areas, but never dissapoints, Aloha spirit!)
Hong Kong (gotham in Asia, still interesting)
The following I enjoyed but had bigger expectations:
Oslo
Vail (incredible skiing, but expected more of a ski town/village feel)
Brussels
Frankfurt
Mixed:
Los Angeles: LA is a real dichotomy. Currently have lived in Hollywood area for the last 2 yrs. If your like many from mid America or abroad seeking a well mannered, best of So Cal, intrigued of Hollywood, ease of getting around, and not to be overwhelmed by extreme wealth, poverty and superficiality this is not the place for you! On the other hand, if your here to make the dream, become a succesful actor, writer, director, musician, or to work in "The Industry" in general...or you grew up here, tolerate multi-cultural, fast paced and living in a land of extremes, you might find this place to be absolutely wonderful. LA can grow on you or frustrate you.
Personally, I find some of those in entertainment industry fascinating, others irritating. However the sprawl and the congestion make the quality of life, less appealing. This city is "to each his own".
Ha Long Bay: Vietnam (a unique holiday experience)
Paris (always something to enjoy)
Montreal (Paris meets Chicago: great quality of life despite winter)
NYC (no place like it, so much in one city, can overwhelm many, but has it all)
Cape Cod/Provincetown (just like the postcards and then some)
San Francisco (lived here for 14yrs, great to visit, great to live,must like "fog"
San Diego(what SO CAL life should be)
Sydney (only after a second visit)
Thailand (not so much Bangkok)
Portland, OR
Hawaii (touristy in some areas, but never dissapoints, Aloha spirit!)
Hong Kong (gotham in Asia, still interesting)
The following I enjoyed but had bigger expectations:
Oslo
Vail (incredible skiing, but expected more of a ski town/village feel)
Brussels
Frankfurt
Mixed:
Los Angeles: LA is a real dichotomy. Currently have lived in Hollywood area for the last 2 yrs. If your like many from mid America or abroad seeking a well mannered, best of So Cal, intrigued of Hollywood, ease of getting around, and not to be overwhelmed by extreme wealth, poverty and superficiality this is not the place for you! On the other hand, if your here to make the dream, become a succesful actor, writer, director, musician, or to work in "The Industry" in general...or you grew up here, tolerate multi-cultural, fast paced and living in a land of extremes, you might find this place to be absolutely wonderful. LA can grow on you or frustrate you.
Personally, I find some of those in entertainment industry fascinating, others irritating. However the sprawl and the congestion make the quality of life, less appealing. This city is "to each his own".
Last edited by friendlyflyer; May 5, 2007 at 4:46 pm
May 5, 2007, 6:17 pm
#83
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Gold, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,382
My turn
Exceeded:
Berlin--an affordable European capital. Dynamic and cosmopolitan.
Athens--gets a really bad rap, but I've been twice and I love it. I don't think it's dirty, and since the new metro, you can get around easily. No so expensive as other European capitals. I guess my expectations were really low, and it far exceeded them. Nice new airport, too.
Delphi--perhaps the most breathtaking ancient site I've ever seen.
Delos--also in Greece, but you have to put up with the overrated Mykonos to see it. I guess you could call me a big Grecophile.
Rio de Janeiro--I was not expecting such extreme scenic beauty and gorgeous beaches. (When you look past the poverty.)
Atlanta
Toronto--I go all the time now, but was really surprised on my first visit.
Failed:
Istanbul--I think my expectations were just too high. It's fine, but I was somewhat disappointed. Aggressive rug salesmen dogging your footsteps, crooked cab drivers, minimal transit.
Boston
Seattle
Munich--I almost forgot! Bleah. Everything closed up at 7PM, rowdy drunken soccer fans drinking beer on the subway and screaming, foul stench in the air half the time, very little to recommend it other than its nice museums.
Paris is still my favorite, but I can't say it really exceeded my expectations, which were very high.
Berlin--an affordable European capital. Dynamic and cosmopolitan.
Athens--gets a really bad rap, but I've been twice and I love it. I don't think it's dirty, and since the new metro, you can get around easily. No so expensive as other European capitals. I guess my expectations were really low, and it far exceeded them. Nice new airport, too.
Delphi--perhaps the most breathtaking ancient site I've ever seen.
Delos--also in Greece, but you have to put up with the overrated Mykonos to see it. I guess you could call me a big Grecophile.
Rio de Janeiro--I was not expecting such extreme scenic beauty and gorgeous beaches. (When you look past the poverty.)
Atlanta
Toronto--I go all the time now, but was really surprised on my first visit.
Failed:
Istanbul--I think my expectations were just too high. It's fine, but I was somewhat disappointed. Aggressive rug salesmen dogging your footsteps, crooked cab drivers, minimal transit.
Boston
Seattle
Munich--I almost forgot! Bleah. Everything closed up at 7PM, rowdy drunken soccer fans drinking beer on the subway and screaming, foul stench in the air half the time, very little to recommend it other than its nice museums.
Paris is still my favorite, but I can't say it really exceeded my expectations, which were very high.
May 5, 2007, 10:53 pm
#84
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: OW/AA, DL, UA; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,936
Exceeded:
Iguazu Falls....absolutely incredible.
Failed:
St. Thomas, USVI---could be any-suburb america, with palm trees, and a lot more crowds (esp. Charlotte Amalie at cruise ship time). Glad to get off the island and spend more time on St. John.
Iguazu Falls....absolutely incredible.
Failed:
St. Thomas, USVI---could be any-suburb america, with palm trees, and a lot more crowds (esp. Charlotte Amalie at cruise ship time). Glad to get off the island and spend more time on St. John.