I also agree with Quebec. I studied there for 6 weeks(All paid for by the gov't, thank you federal gov't wanting to keep French popular) and it was a blast. I stayed from July to mid August and there was a major festival every weekend. I've never seen anythign like it. The only time there wasn't something going on in Quebec was the time the Montreal JAzz Festival was on and it was amazing.
Stay in Laval cheap and take the bus to Vieux Quebec.
Posts: 10 | Location: Canada | Registered: 14 February 2006
People will probably give me loads of grief for saying this, but I really liked Hat Yai in southern Thailand... Ok, so this was in 2003, and I wouldnt say it was 'not so visited' as the place was mobbed with chinese and malaysians, but something about the place just appealed to me. It was Chinese new year too which I guess helped, but it certainly had a 'different' kinda vibe to places like Krabi, Phuket, Bangkok etc. Most guidebooks say its a unnatractive dump, but this was one of the first times I began to question lonely planets opinion on places!
"Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it? NO SENSAE!"
Posts: 41 | Location: Birmingham, UK | Registered: 25 August 2005
Anywhere in French Canada is a wonderful destination. Hint; start every comversation in French, even if it's only "parlez vous, anglias?" (do you speak english?)
That language strategy works anywhere in the world...
Takayama, Japan has some parts of the city that will send you back to the 15th century.
Lambeau Field for a Packer game.
Posts: 57 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: 23 January 2006
Wow, what a fun post...I'm only on page three and I'm taking notes, but thought I'd contribute as well. I'm more of a small town chic than a big city one but I'll throw in a bit of both.
Pembroke, Wales- tiny, TINY town with a castle, surrounded by the beautiful rolling hills. Just loved the people and the atmosphere
Glastonbury, England- everyone else seemed to know it for the big music festival...I trekked over for Arthurian legend, and was so pleasantly surprised! Its a hippie peace love bohemian quaint town during the day, but at night the locals come out and party all night long on their "loopy juice" (the local cider of course) that the bartenders wont serve by the pint
I cant help it, I love Paris! I heard so much negativity and yet it was my favorite European city so far
St. Paul du Vence- ah....yes, agreed, artists heaven
Picton, NZ- an alternative to Nelson, which I LOVED LOVED LOVED. Picton is situated directly on the Marlborough Sounds and while the town itself is (while wonderful) not so great as Nelson, the area is just stunning. I'd have to toss a coin between Nelson and Picton.
Wellington, NZ- it really is a beautiful city in every way
oh, and a little off the beaten track NZ town is one called Geraldine, which I adored, in the South Island. They have some adorable shops and cafes and restaurants and a killer old movie theater.
"I would rather die of thirst than drink from the cup of mediocrity."
Posts: 187 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: 03 January 2004
Unfortunately, I'm not well travelled, so I can only contribute to this thread a North American destination, but...
Jasper, Alberta, Canada.
Most every foreign traveller who comes to the Canadian Rockies goes to Banff, or something in British Columbia. Big mistake. Go the extra few hours North for a less comercialized, less expensive, and less crowded taste of Canada. But you better hurry, because the secret is out and Jasper is quickly catching up.
Posts: 55 | Location: Calgary, AB, CA | Registered: 01 July 2005
Sighisoara, Romania is AMAZING. It isn't completely untouristy, but much less touristy than Brasov and MUCH nicer (i didn't love Brasov). Also, Suceava, Romania was surprising. Doi Mai is a small town on the black sea coast of Romania, it's neighbouring town, Vama Veche, is where all the tourists go, so we had Doi Mai literally to ourselves and the locals. I'm sure in the middle of the summer it is more crowded but we loved it.
Ostrava, Czech Republic is a great place for people who love city cities (though I suspect you may have to live there to love it and most tourists don't like it...) and it has the best party scene in the Czech Republic.
Ocean Springs, Mississipi is a tiny hippy village with tons of art and a great Lebanese restaurant.
Belgrade, Serbia (I think is already on the list) was AMAZING and very surprising.
Finally, a small correction, on the last full list that was posted instead of Cluj, Romania, it says Club, Romania and instead of Timisoara, Romania it says Rimisoara, Romania. I'm sure it was just a typo, and I DEFINITELY second Cluj, it's great.
Also, I live in Chattanooga, never seen it make any list before, and if anybody is headed there while I'm at home shoot me a PM and I'll take you for the best coffee in town!
Posts: 29 | Location: Cluj-Napoca, Romania | Registered: 15 June 2006
That's where mighty Sassi is and because of some reason there's hardly tourists. The whole time I was there I've seen 2 British 2 Americans and all others were Italians. Worked for me. Pretty much everything you ever wanted to see there was for free.
Nic
Attitudes are contagious, mine might kill you.--Despair.com
Posts: 639 | Location: Korea | Registered: 05 October 2005
I haven't gone through every page to make sure I'm not repeating others' suggestions, but I would add San Luis Potosi, Mexico. I stopped there to break up a trip from DF to Monterrey and it turned out to be a great, undervisited town full of character!
Posts: 240 | Location: Daegu, Korea | Registered: 09 November 2005
I know this is a little more boring than the other suggestions but Austin, TX is amazing. It has more live music and BBQ than you can shake a stick at, amazing views of the Texas hill country, 3 lakes with in the city limits and a generally better attitude than any other city in the state. You can go into the nicest resturant in the city in jeans(shorts in the summer) without getting any wierd looks. If you go, be sure to check out the Oasis Resturant, its built into the cliffs overlooking lake travis.
My favorite unheralded place is Enkhuizen in the Netherlands. Imagine a kind of Disneyland of everything one thinks of as being Dutch. It's an easy rail trip from Amsterdam to the end of the line. The town is kind of nice, too.
Jim Paris
Posts: 380 | Location: Los Angeles, Calif | Registered: 16 July 2006
- Norfolk Island is a surprisingly interesting little place I'd like to go back to - if only it weren't so far away. Even my kids loved it. It would be a perfect place to rent a cottage for a few months and write a book.
just to add to the many New Zealand spots already mentioned, and to probably stretch the concept of "city", i vote for any town along the Coromandel.. such a magical area, beautiful and misty.
i'd also like to add Conakry in Guinea, West Africa. (and i'm not biased bc i happened to have married a man from there).. actually it is such an amazing vibrant city, with music in the most public and obscure places any old time and friendly genuine people. great food, beautiful setting along the coast. a wonderful place.
when you go to donkey's house, don't talk about ears.
Posts: 73 | Location: Vancouver | Registered: 15 August 2006
I'll third the vote for Nara, but only if the weather's decent. I went there in February last year and nearly froze to death. A couple of other overlooked Japanese cities are Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Kagoshima. In other parts of the world, I'd suggest Dubrovnik, Vang Vieng, Portland (OR), Penang, Busan and Chang Rai.
__________________________ "Suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either."
