Fashionable denigration of places that aren't so bad.

Received wisdom is that some places are terribly uncool, and they must be slagged off. I've found that some of these destinations are worthwhile, in and of themselves.

-Bali
-Cancun (at least downtown)
-Miami
-Brussels
-Roatan
-Los Angeles
-Singapore.

Others?

I'd say that most places can be enjoyed. And that slagging off a place tells me more about the traveler themselves (not enough money to enjoy it, not very adaptable, poor attitude, etc) than the location.

halfnine wrote:I'd say that most places can be enjoyed. And that slagging off a place tells me more about the traveler themselves (not enough money to enjoy it, not very adaptable, poor attitude, etc) than the location.

I generally agree. That said, there is little to redeem Nouadhibou, Mauritania. Shoulda been there before the tourists ruined it.

San Salvador
El Puerto La Libertad
Jakarta

busman7 wrote:San Salvador

What is there to do in San Salvador at night that's safe, other than hang out at shopping-mall nightclubs and restaurants in Zona Rosa?

El Puerto La Libertad

People don't really denigrate La Libertad - it's off the map for most people. I like it there.

What did you find about Cancun that made you throw it on the list?

Untracked wrote:What did you find about Cancun that made you throw it on the list?

In Centro, there's excellent food, the best nightlife in the region, and a vibrant Mexican city of 600,000. Also, the most connected airport in southern Mexican is there. You need to distinguish between the Hotel Zone and downtown - they are vastly different cities. Granted, it has exactly zero historic architecture, since the city has only existed for about four decades.

Athens.
People seem to love to hate on Athens. I liked it because it was kind of an old world version of LA. Yeah it's hot, and yeah it's crowded, and yeah there are a lot of tourists, but there is much to love about Athens. And I do.

Most overrated 'real' place that indy travelers seem to love? Prague. I didn't love Prague. I don't get the hype. I give Prague a solid....meh.

Felix the Hat wrote:Received wisdom is that some places are terribly uncool, and they must be slagged off. I've found that some of these destinations are worthwhile, in and of themselves.

-Bali
-Cancun (at least downtown)
-Miami
-Brussels
-Roatan
-Los Angeles
-Singapore.

Others?

What did you find worthwhile in Singapore?

Been there 10+ times for short periods. Will be there for about 3 months starting in late June. Not looking forward to it at all, except for the income. Insanely boring after the first 3 days, which I've done.

The food in Singapore is the best.

Felix the Hat wrote:The food in Singapore is the best.

Food in Vietnam is the best & I don't care fore Vietnam

Bucharest.

It's not a place you'd spend a week, but it's a really interesting city that absolutely everyone I've talked to told me to avoid. If you're in Romania, it's worth a couple of days to see the capital.

Felix the Hat wrote:The food in Singapore is the best.

It's OK, but I'd pick several other countries first, starting with Thailand and Mexico.

Kathmandu. Everyone rags on it but for a place to chill out and get some work like I needed to at the time it's actually quite excellent.

People like to rag on my current hometown of Amsterdam cause it's too touristy or Paris is better or other such s***, it's my best way of knowing they've never gone off the tourist trail here!

Warsaw. I love it, but I've read a lot of bad reviews. Of course it's a big city with all the ugliness, traffic etc. that brings with it, but there is also a lot worth seeing, so I think people who don't like it just have the wrong expectations.

Venice. Heard it was overcrowded, smelly, boring. I went there in february, no bad smells then, and found it fairly easy to wander away from the crowds, with plenty to keep me occupied for 4 days. And there is just no denying that it *is* extremelly pretty and unlike any other city.