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Hey Pandas, What Was Your Biggest Disappointment When You Visited A Foreign Country?
Let's say you had high expectations of visiting a foreign country on vacation. So what disappointed you the most?
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#1
Paris. Touted as the romantic capital of the world. Probably one of the dirtiest cities I've ever visited with the rudest people. The mugger grannies on the metro were also pretty scary!
Final score:
35points
RELATED:
#2
India. Walking wallet as soon I touched down. Fleeced at every opportunity by anyone. I was young and naive. Got to see the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort though and other beautiful sights. But was it worth being robbed continually? Nah.
Final score:
27points
Saint Thomas 2 years ago
Got the same feeling at the Angkor Wat site in Cambodja. Didn't get robbed, but the hassling is constant. I know it's a very touristic place, and I knew I was going to be hassled. I also understand people there are just trying to make a living. But my god... First you try to negotiate or excuse yourself ("i'll buy later/after visiting the temple"). Then you become a little bit more abrupt ("NO!"). Finally the only solution - and it's not easy to do when you've been educated to be polite - is to just ignore every kid, woman or man that try to sell you something. Just straight avoid eye contact, act as if they're not there.
#3
having traveled to a few nations i can say the biggest disappointment for me is being an american in a foreign country. some of my fellow americans make me embarrassed for being an american because i have witnessed people complain that people don't speak english or don't use imperial measurements, etc. c'mon, people! when you travel don't expect people to cater to you because you come from the u.s. we are not special. just go and expand your life with the experience of being in a different nation and culture. maybe their streets aren't as clean as you expect or something like that is really miniscule. if you just accept the people and the land you will find yourself having a great time. also, take the time to find out if there are cultural things that you need to be aware of so you don't offend or put yourself in a position of being harassed. it's one of the reasons i like to travel independently rather that in group tours because you can't control other badly behaving americans.
Final score:
21points
#4
Mexico. I love the amazing weather, people, and amenities, but the food I had gave me food poisoning and the ATM stole my mother’s credit card and the bank wouldn’t let us have it back. I would suggest withdrawing money directly from inside a bank to avoid this issue.
Final score:
19points
#5
Times Square, I don't need to elaborate
Final score:
16points
Charles Chamiux 2 years ago
No, you don't need to elaborate. But, lol, my French friends visiting NYC really liked that hotdog and wanted more. Need I say more about the French palate??
#6
England, specifically Manchester.
Here me out, I love the city more than my own, for the most part. I was with people who live there and getting familiar with the culture. The people I was staying with are really nice and accommodating. It was my first international, overseas trip, so I didn't know what to expect other than what I've been exposed to in media and interactions with my British friends. There were just a few things that were starkly disappointing.
The amount of litter was astonishing, for one. I kept getting the urge to hold a community clean up group.
This is probably just my take, I didn't find the pub fun at all. On a normal circumstance I have some difficulty understanding Mancunian accents, despite speaking the same language. But when mixed with overly loud music I could hold a small conversation with anyone. There was a dance floor but no one was dancing. Wasn't sure if it would be allowed. I was too nervous to ask. Not sure what I was expecting, really. Could have just been the one pub. Maybe others are better?
Other than that, I enjoyed my visit and found many things that were far better than where I'm from. Wouldn't mind moving there.
Final score:
14points
#7
Cape Verde. From the moment you step outside your hotel multiple people coming running to you asking you to come visit their stall or shop or shoving merchandise in your face. Once you start walking, about every 10 meters there's another guy who starts talking to you to try and sell you something. You try to just say 'no thank you' and keep walking but after one day and hundreds of people harrassing you you just start ignoring them.
Once I was taking a photo of my wife (she's at a distance of like 5 meters from me) and a man just steps in between her and me and starts doing his usual spiel, 'hello my friend', 'beautiful family', 'where you from',... etc. We ignore him so he sticks out his hand and tries to shake mine, i still keep ignoring him. So he starts the 'why don't you want to shake my hand, are you racist'? I'm not racist, you're just literally the 1000th guy that started talking to me without invitation and expects me to come to your shop where you sell the exact same stuff that all other shops have and expect me to pay you 50 euros for some trinkets that can be found in little supermarkets on the island for 10euros.
Final score:
14points
Charles Chamiux 2 years ago
It's sad to visit these economically poor countries that have wonderful history when, as a tourist, you're being bombarded by locals who think just because you can afford the plane fare, you have money to burn on their wares. In a way, you can't blame the people for trying to make money, but yeah, it is a real turn-off to be bombarded by locals who harass you because they think you're a "rich" tourist.
#8
Italy. But hear me out pls!
I live close to Italy and it's the go-to place for short holidays (road trip style).
But the food/restaurants. There are VERY GOOD restaurants in Italy, like really top tier. But the issue for people like me and my friends who like to adventure and to do road trips; there are absolutely garbage restaurants everywhere, especially at the sea.
You really need to check carefully beforehand, and unfortunately the best top quality restaurants you only find if you ask locals. The kind of "most welcoming ones" outside of big cities like Milan are far from original authentic Italian cuisine.
Final score:
12points
troufaki13 2 years ago
This is true for most countries. Many restaurants are just tourist traps with bad food.
#9
I visited Ireland in April. It was the greatest place I've ever been. It was so gorgeous and the people were so welcoming. My one disappointment, and this may just be me, and it may just be because it was my first time travelling outside the US and I was so fried on the plane that I barely even realized we left Boston.
But, it just didn't feel all that foreign to me. Especially Dublin. I know a lot of where I live and what I'm used in New England was built or developed by Irish immigrants. But everything from the food, to the people, to the architecture, felt like home.
No complaints though, it was an incredible trip, and the pareidolia wore off as we headed west.
Final score:
12points
Charles Chamiux 2 years ago
You and I are both New England Yankees, and yeah, it's weird how similar and yet different visiting Ireland is. Or the UK. And for me, Poland, because my family is of Polish Russian immigrants and we lived in a predominantly Pologne-Rus community in Connecticut. The food was the biggest connection because I never learned more than kindergarten level of Polish.
#10
Mexico.
It is beautiful to visit but the employees/locals/ do not like tourists. I get it, many tourists are incredibly rude, cheap and destroy the landscape; but, not all are the same. I speak Spanish but am not Hispanic and I couldn't tell you how many people told me to go f myself in espanol while smiling at me to make me think I am being told something kind. I have never felt more unsafe and unwanted than I did in Mexico.
I wish it was different, but I know that many people who do travel there, treat staff and locals like garbage so I can't blame them.
I try to treat everyone with respect so it's hard to be mf'ed for no reason as the person smiles at me. Makes a person feel a bit unwanted.
Final score:
10points
Charles Chamiux 2 years ago
I'd love to visit Mexico, but I've heard a lot of tourists say the same things you have.
#11
Southern Spain was a huge disappointment. The people were cold and didn't even look at me when serving me. There were endless miles of British " enclaves" Maybe the reason for the coldness of the natives. The groups of feral cats everywhere were just heartbreaking.
Final score:
9points
Hugh Cookson 2 years ago
As with everywhere, get away from the touristy bits - all of the times we have visited my Sister in Law in Southern Spain (small village, in the mountains, close to a medium sized, historically important but not very pretty town), we have been welcomed warmly, even allowing for the fact that neither my Wife or I speak Spanish - we try, but end up using the translator!! Thankfully a good mix of Europeans live there and most speak Spanish to some degree.
#12
I went to Wales. It turns out it is a lot like England.
Final score:
8points
#13
i went to paris, the cooking wasnt really as impressive as everyone thinks "french food is the best" my a$$
Final score:
8points
#14
Went to Canada. Visited some parks and forest and never saw a single beaver. So, just for the fun of the cliché, I went to a zoo that kept beavers, but that very day they were away on their medical check-up 🙃
Final score:
8points
#15
in every country I´ve been to, it was the other tourists that bothered me most. entitled. rude, arrogant "guests" complaining about everything that´s different from home - why do those people even travel? and then they wonder why they are not really welcomed by local people ...
Final score:
8points
SeaLouse_Comics 2 years ago
I'm Danish American, but I've been practicing my Spanish for 25 years. I went to a McDonalds in Spain when I was there and found myself apologizing for an obnoxious "Karen" with three kids complaining about her dipping sauces costing .5€ each and her frostie cone or whatever not being completely up to the top, when that was how the machine dispensed it. Didn't speak a word of Spanish, but I did, so I basically told the staff within earshot of her that I also work in a restaurant and not all of us Americans are rude like her. They had a good laugh.
#16
Shibuya crossing in Tokyo.
Don't get me wrong, I was still happy to see such an iconic place. But most pictures you see of Shibuya are taken with a wide angle lens, from up above. It's less impressive at street level.
In fact when I first reached it, I didn't realise that was it. I kind of kept looking for it, before checking on my map and confirm that yes, it was indeed the famous Shibuya crossing.
Final score:
7points
#17
Copenhagen. It was soooo dirty, seriously, broken glass and rubbish everywhere, most eateries were closed before 10pm, and coffee was disgustingly overpriced and abysmal! I knew it was expensive before visiting but it was infuriatingly so, I mean, $27 for two McDonalds meals (which we had to eat as all the restaurants were closed!). I've travelled a lot, and for somewhere that is supposed to be the happiest place in the world to live, I've never encountered such joyless, rude, and miserable people. 1/10 would not recommend.
Final score:
7points
Lene 2 years ago
Dane here. I grew up in Copenhagen but left when I could. Ppl working in stores are aparantly more rude to costumers than in other parts of Denmark. And the prices are rediculous for so many things there. But I would very much like to tell you about other parts of Denmark, if that's ok. :) in general we sort of don't talk to strangers. We are reputed to be very friendly and open etc but I think that is AFTER you give us a beer or two. Lol. We are super friendly and talkative after the ice has been broken. And usually very helpful, as well. If you are looking for cheaper food (restaurants and bakeries) go west. The further west the cheaper prices, generally. Except for the tourist-towns. I know most people in Copenhagen and its suburbs seem to think that Funen is just a bump on the way to Jutland but Funen is totally worth a visit. Sorry.... could go on for ages about where to go in Denmark that is not a big city. I'm sorry that your time in Copenhagen was less than great.
#18
Prague. I visited a few times in the 1990s as an impoverished student and it was quite pleasant (and the beer cheap), but by the 2000s it had turned into a Disneyland for masses of tourists doing the zombie shuffle and the usual rip-off joints and scammers everywhere.
Final score:
7points
Charles Chamiux 2 years ago
Tourism is where the (particularly) $$$ are converted to €€ are. USA américains are the biggest targets. We want to experience the history and the culture, but we get targeted because we don't know the language or culture.
#19
Went to eastern Africa years back. I did a bunch of research before I went except took it for granted that spicy food was a given. Spent several weeks in Uganda and although the food was good and it was a great place to visit, I think ketchup would have been too spicy for their palate.
Final score:
6points
Charles Chamiux 2 years ago
Wait, was Uganda a French colony? Because the French no likey the spicy, and it might be a reason. In France, (I'm an usa emmigant to France) and I just die a little bit in my soul when I eat French versions of "Mexican" or curries. I went to a Chipotle restaurant and ordered a burrito with a lot of jalepeno peppers, and the employee was all "ooh, those are very spicy!" and i had to explain that I was used to the "heat".
#20
Cyprus. I hired a car and drove inland and there were a lot dogs tied to the side of the road and left to die, all over the island. It was heartbreaking and ruined my holiday. I would never go back.
This was 20 years ago so hopefully is not like this anymore.
Final score:
6points
#21
Not sure if this counts-- and it's not anyone's fault, really-- but I've travelled a lot and one thing I notice that's a little disappointing everywhere is how little there is to do for solo travelers. I don't generally feel self-conscious and as a single person I've gotten used to a lot of things, like eating alone publicly. I have no problem with most things. But it's a different thing when travelling to areas that are known tourist spots. I feel like everything is geared toward couples or groups. And there is a sense of people looking at you like your weird for being in this place alone.
For instance, I got a promotion at work and a big bonus so I decided to go to Turks and Caicos and stay in one of the overwater bungalows. I've always wanted to do that. But literally everyone was there on their honeymoon. I don't mind that, but there was no activity at all for me to do alone. It's a small island. They advertise lots of activities but you don't find out until you get there that you have to purchase a lot of things in 2s or you get a surcharge. Even if it wasn't the case, it was super awkward because every activity you did was with a bunch of couples. I was literally the only person there alone. I normally don't feel awkward by myself but in this case I really did.
Also, prices are different in some places. You end up having to pay more for hotels if you book as a single. I think that's BS. It's the same room, same bed. Whyyy?
Final score:
6points
#22
I was surprised when visiting Holland that the charming wooden windmills were actually ugly metal ones. Tons of trash and my luggage was stolen and no one seemed to care. This was 1984!
Final score:
5points
#23
I (an American) expected to find America in the answers, but so far (I got here when there were only 13 answers) nobody has said America.
Then I remembered ... people already have low expectations for the good old USA.
Final score:
5points
Ellie Ragsdale (Submission author) 2 years ago
Whoops, I thought that was a comment, not a post.
#24
Amsterdam, for a city that has a Bohemian culture and is about open expression and love…I was taken aback by how utter disgusting the city was. There was litter everywhere. Trash would blow up and down almost all the streets I had been on, it was depressing.
Final score:
4points
Charles Chamiux 2 years ago
Oh, no, sweetie, Amsterdam is not a bohemian culture, and there is no free love, or anything free there. I'm sorry you were so disillusioned.
#25
Visiting my hometown, Houston, Texas, after being gone for many years was like visiting a foreign country. I am fifth generation but had to leave in 1990 when it started getting too crowded. Returning for my fortieth high school reunion was like visiting a different place. Many old homes, including my grandparents' house, are being torn down to construct multi-unit homes. I saw multi-story apartment buildings within feet of the highway barrier. And the crowding, traffic, and pollution are worse than when I left.
Final score:
4points
Dee Lee 2 years ago
Yes. Born in Santa Barbara, CA and from a long line of natives (including Chumash). Now it is barely recognizable - my hometown now looks like a mini-Los Angeles: tourist buses clogging the streets, everything super expensive and crowded, no parking even in front of your own home, rude self-centered people, buildings takin over the foothills up into the mountains (only for the rich but ruining everyone else's view) homeless people everywhere - all chasing the dollar. No one in my family, extended or close, lives there anymore - we've been forced out as it has become utterly unaffordable.
#26
London. I always wanted to see London. Found it overcrowded and the people very rude. I sometimes have to use a cane and even given that I got shoved out of the way on a bus and almost run over by a crowd that was exiting a train. Never will forget the look on the face of the woman in the front of the crowd coming toward me on the train platform. She looked like she would not stop or even slow down for anyone or anything. There could have been a lion on the platform in front of her and she would have just shoved it out of the way and kept on going. I stepped off into a side alcove until the mob went by. Several times, in London, I took to holding my cane horizontally in front of me to keep from getting run into.
Final score:
4points
Charles Chamiux 2 years ago
I only was in London at the airport. I had a 6 hour layover and I asked my friend to show me London whilst I was there but he said "f**k, no" and showed me Windsor Castle and Runnymede, which is where the Magna Carta was signed, and then we hit a pub for food (bangers and mash because I was a tourist) and back to Heathrow for my flight to the USA.. I don't regret any of it.
#27
This was in the 90's and I was in my early 20's. Never been out of my country before. I went to Europe on a 6-month backpacking Eurorail trip. Ice in drinks was almost non-existent. I was so bummed as I don't think I had ever had a lukewarm soda before. Yep American. I am a much better world citizen now.
Final score:
3points
Charles Chamiux 2 years ago
The "no ice" is still normal in Europe. I'm lucky because my cave is underground and maintains about 40F in summer, so, cold drinks year round!
#28
In the USA.
This is 40 years ago, and US Americans know that there are regional differences in, well everything, from how you address people to what foods are called.
This is not so much of a disappointment, but an embarrassing moment, because you would believe in the USA that we all speak the same language, but with different accents, and yet I was in Texas, at a chain restaurant, and neither my server or I could understand each other despite the menu being written in English. We were both frustrated. It was the first time I tried chicken fried steak, and you might laugh, but when I now make this in France, everyone is as confused as I was back then. And the whole "pop" thing.
I still got a good meal, but it was embarrassing for me to not know more about my own country's culture, and how frustrating it was to communicate.
Final score:
3points
Charles Chamiux (Submission author) 2 years ago
And I'll liken this to my French husband visiting Québec and the Canadiens just had no clue what my husband was saying in French and spoke to him in English because French and québécoise are miles apart in vocabulary
#29
Sorry Yanks, but Hershey chocolate…! Yuk…!
Sorry denizens of Barcelona, I hated the architecture, especially the cathedral. Oh and no hablaís el español que yo entiendo.
Final score:
3points
#30
My biggest disappointment was in India, Delhi. The streets were so dirty that I really wanted to pick all the litter, people urinated on streets ( we don't in my country or you'll be charged by the city), public bathrooms were sooo dirty even in big renowned hotel chains, flies everywhere (I mean everywhere), charged way above extra to foreigners, people live in the city square like mattresses and wet clothes hanged in the city garden, some people where visibly racist. Moreover, there were a lot of beggars. I don't mind giving but someone refusing what you gave them or giving you dirty looks because its not enough or its not what they wanted was a shock to me.
Final score:
3points
saturnslipper 2 years ago
This makes me think of too many hamsters in a cage...gets very nasty and smelly..😬.quick.
#31
Cairo was the worse. The people were terrible and the pyramids were a total no event as you are hassled continually. Would never go back. I have been to 23 countries in Africa but Egypt I will give a miss
Final score:
3points
Birdy 2 years ago
Agree totally! We were ripped off at every turn - trying to get a ride to the pyramids and got dumped at an old ranch to ride in on some poor, clapped out horses. On the way back got dumped at a perfume shop. For a nation that prays so frequently through the day and night they'd take you for your last dollar and goodness knows what else being females.
#32
Prague is beautiful, but Czech toilets are a nightmare. You 'go' onto a platform, and the waste just sits there until you flush. Which means you get to smell it until you flush.
Final score:
2points
#33
I love France. Especially the north is breathtaking. Lots of great folks, food and landscapes. That being said, I gotta say that Paris (as other mentioned) was a bit disappointing. And it was very dirty.
Also Santander in Spain is a let-down compared to other towns and villages in the north.
Final score:
2points
Hugh Cookson 2 years ago (edited)
To be fair to Santander, it's one of the major Atlantic ports, but the actual town is quite splendid - easy to get round, lots of interesting and quaint places, good eateries, reasonably priced hotels and people who will help if asked. In my opinion better than Bilbao (again a lovely place but don't ever, ever try to understand the road system - think 3 ring roads around the centre - bloody nightmare !!)
#34
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
I had been longing to go for years, but when we finally got there, the nice lady said, "I'm sorry almost everything is closed for renovation. But there is a nice temporary exhibit open. An American who does glass....."
"You...you don't mean Dale Chihuly, do you? "
"Why yes, He is from your country, isn't he?"
She must have been surprised to see our shocked and aghast faces.
"Oh, no!", we cried. "6000 miles to see Dale Chihuly? We live 6 blocks from his studio in the US! (We like him just fine, but, we just see A LOT of him.)
Someday, V&A, someday.
Final score:
2points
#35
My biggest disappointment was in India, Delhi. The streets were so dirty that I really wanted to pick all the litter, people urinated on streets ( we don't in my country or you'll be charged by the city), public bathrooms were sooo dirty even in big renowned hotel chains, flies everywhere (I mean everywhere), charged way above extra to foreigners, people live in the city square like mattresses and wet clothes hanged in the city garden, some people where visibly racist like the police separated dark skinned people and white people at the airport and when we asked why they were not helping us after like an hour of standing there they outright laughed at us. Moreover, there were a lot of beggars. I don't mind giving but someone refusing what you gave them or giving you dirty looks because its not enough or its not what they wanted was a shock to me.
Final score:
2points
Madhav Anil 2 years ago
I live in India and unfortunately, you're right. Though the Government is taking steps to stop it now.
#36
Paris.Definitely Paris. I saw numerous drug deals and almost got robbed on a subway three times! It’s very dirty and all the stores are overpriced tourist stops
Final score:
2points
#37
In 1996, I took a trip across country with a friend. I would say the biggest disappointment was Mt. Rushmore. It was in the middle of nowhere (maybe it's more built up now) and you couldn't get to it from a major highway, if I recall. Then you get there and expect to swell with pride or something but it just wasn't moving to me. And the MR salt-and-pepper shakers at the gift shop didn't add any sophistication either.
Final score:
1point
saturnslipper 2 years ago (edited)
My father thought the Dakotas would be a fun vacation. Took all of us kids there on a week long trip. We traveled all the way from the Virginia to Mount Rushmore. It was huge letdown. Did absolutely nothing for me and we were all bored out of our minds! Well, everyone but dad, that is. 😝
#38
This story is of my friend's, he told me that he was utterly dissapointed by the country Thailand, he expected to see the wondorous monuments but was sorry for it as he found out that all the land was dirty, people were drinking like crazy and everyone was very rude, leave alone his guide. He saw the monuments but he was engrieved by the fact that a lot of local people just didn't respect them.
Final score:
1point
#39
I visited the USA and discovered that the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground.
Final score:
0points
#40
1st time in Brussels and with time to spare before meeting up with friends I set out to see the famous Manneken Pis...circling the Grand Place and a-joining streets I was getting tired and irritated...the famed masterpiece was no-where to be found....finally I swallowed my pride and asked for directions....Right there Madame,behind you ! and so it was,all 30(or so)centimeter (1 foot) and I had passed it 4 times and never saw it...what a let down...impressive though, the extensive wardrobe this tiny statue has, donated from all over the world..The Lace museum is worth a visit and the hot chocolate drink I found on the Grand Place...Heaven !!
Final score:
0points
#41
Belgium, maybe bad timing but it was really boring, lots of places were shut (ok it was a weekend in May), I was held at airport customs for hours, being questioned and they've searched everything but my bodily cavities; the few people we asked for help with directions only bothered to answer back if spoken in Flemish - luckily my friend lived in The Netherlands for a while - even though we were extremely polite and spoke English and French. Food was nice, but that was it.
Final score:
0points
DuchessDegu (Submission author) 2 years ago
I should've said that was in Brussels, probably it's different in other parts of the country!
#42
, therefore I wasn't allowed to practice the new language I had been learning w.anted to practice their English
Final score:
-2points
What do you think ?
Pandaroo 2 years ago
Tibet! Altitude sickness is a b*tch and nothing in the world can prepare you for it.
Charles Chamiux (Post author) 2 years ago
Except for the altitude sickness, was Tibet wonderful?
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Pandaroo 2 years ago
Tibet! Altitude sickness is a b*tch and nothing in the world can prepare you for it.
Charles Chamiux (Post author) 2 years ago
Except for the altitude sickness, was Tibet wonderful?
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