Traveling isn't all sunshine and roses. While visiting new destinations can be incredibly rewarding, there are often also also pitfalls and challenges. Redditor u/HelpStay asked, "Which city or country do you have a love-hate relationship with?" Here are some of the responses.
1. "London. I love the sheer variety of everything, the food and the bustle. But I really hated commuting and relying on the horrible public transport, especially the tube. The weather was also rough, and the city was extremely expensive."
2. "Japan. I loved the nature and the culture, which is built on respect and kindness. That being said, I experienced a deep sense of loneliness while living there. I found it was particularly hard to be approached or accepted as a friend when you’re a foreigner."
3. "India. There are so many positives such as amazing people, incredible food, and experiencing the sheer diversity of one of the deepest cultures on earth. I loved learning about the history, seeing the palaces, and taking in the nature. That being said, there were some negatives. There were a lot of scammers and beggars, particularly children. As a traveler, I found it exhausting. Overall, the good experiences I had visiting India outweighed the bad, but travelers should know what to expect."
4. "Busan, South Korea. It's certainly a beautiful city with many fun things to do and see, and it boasts some of the best cafes in the country. At the same time, I felt that Busan is more or less two different, disconnected cities that have been smashed together. The traffic is worse than in Seoul, the subway wasn't very practical, and the shops and restaurants would randomly close with no warning. It was very frustrating going out of my way for a ramen shop, for example, only to find it suddenly closed. All in all, I found Busan to be a very confusing city."
5. "Amsterdam. I loved parts of the city, but exploring Amsterdam was the only time I got completely lost. I found the city disorienting, and I I blame it on the curvature of the canals. It didn't allow for wistful meandering through the streets, happily stumbling upon new things. Rather, it made me tired, stressed, and cranky."
6. "For me it's Naples. I loved the streets, the food, the views, and the people. But I hated how chaotic and noisy the city felt. There was also a ton of trash on the streets."
7. "Brazil. I loved vacationing there because I could relax in great weather with friendly people. But after a while, the lack of organization started to wear on me (I'm from Germany, where everything is very clean and impeccably planned out). Still, once I got back home, I immediately wanted to return to Brazil for an água de coco on the beach."
8. "New Orleans. I adore the culture, food, history, and the music, but I really can't stand the crime and the dirty, urine-y smell of Bourbon Street. If you go, avoid the French Quarter after dark."
9. "Marrakesh. I loved so many things about this Moroccan city: the gorgeous architecture, the picturesque riads, the delightful chaos of the medina, the colorful flowers and plants everywhere, and the wafting smells of delicious spices. But I also felt as if the city, especially near the old city, was a bit sketchy. More than once I sensed that I was being followed by men in the maze-like streets. While I never actually felt in danger, I was keenly conscious of my surroundings and constantly trying to avoid unwanted interactions. Still, I'll eagerly return whenever I have the chance."
10. "I had very mixed feelings about Rome. There is so much history and so many amazing things to see, but I didn’t like the feel of the city. I wanted to love everything about Rome, but it felt grimy and unfriendly."
11. "I have a major love/hate relationship with San Francisco. I love how artsy the city is. It also has some incredibly beautiful views and great food. But man, I hate the weather."
12. "Hanoi, Vietnam. It's such a lovely place with very friendly locals, but the air pollution is some of the worst in the world, especially for a relatively small city."
13. "Venice. Yes, it was stunning. But the food wasn’t great and there were a ton of tourists compared to other Italian cities. It made me feel as if I was at Disney World."
14. "Santorini. This Greek island it's so stunningly beautiful that it's hard not to fall in love. At the same time, the hordes of tourists and their behavior is so depressing. There are signs everywhere asking people to respect the village, and yet people still scrabble on roofs of buildings, trespass in private areas, and climb on churches all for the perfect photo. That being said, it's lovely to be ensconced in a hotel in Santorini, relaxing with a beer in hand and enjoying the view of the caldera."
15. "Sicily. Yes, the food is insane and I loved exploring the culinary scene, but it's hard to travel to different parts of the island beyond Palermo. I also felt fairly unsafe at night, which was a first for me."
16. "Paris. I love the streets, the art, the sights, the food, the language, the fashion, the history, the different districts, the shopping, and the people watching. For me, the issue is the people. I speak French relatively well, but they still insist on speaking to me in English. I found that 90% of the people I interacted with were very rude."
17. "Dubai. I had an enjoyable three-day stay, and I recommend the place to anyone. It was completely different from anywhere I've been before. It had a bit of a sci-fi aura to it with all the high-tech infrastructure and buildings located in the middle of the desert. Burj Khalifa, my main reason for visiting, was breathtaking. At the same time, people say Dubai is tacky and soulless."
18. "I hate but also deeply love Bali. I think there's an image of Bali portrayed by Instagram and Influencer-type travelers. For example, you'll see a long line of people waiting to take pictures in front of a waterfall, but no one is actually going for a swim or enjoying it. But that's not the real Bali, and you can experience this highly cultural and deeply spiritual place if you look for it. It wasn't until I made local friends and ventured away from the touristy spots that I found the side of Bali I love."
19. "Iceland. The main tourist spots are mostly overrated (but still worth seeing once, IMO), and Reykjavik is nothing special, but the nature in Iceland is so beautiful and unique. Plus, it's actually possible to get out into really remote areas that are off the beaten track, which is very fun."
20. "Havana, Cuba. I loved the beautiful architecture, but most of my experience in Havana was a challenge. I found everything from buying a bus ticket to exchanging money to be very difficult. I don't regret visiting, but I probably wouldn't return."
21. "Prague. It was a beautiful city, but it felt overly touristy, like an Eastern European Disneyland, and there were way too many street vendors selling things useless souvenirs. For all of its beauty, Prague didn't seem authentic to me."
22. "Los Angeles. I loved the landscape, how you have beaches in one direction and mountains in another. There's also so much cultural diversity. The major downside: you have to drive, drive, and drive some more."
23. "I loved Tulum but there were also aspects of this Mexican beach town that I could have done without. The beaches were beautiful, it was easy to get to (just an hour from Cancun), and I loved all the open-air restaurants and bars built into the jungle. At the same time, much of Tulum — at least along the beach strip — felt like it existed simply to be Instagrammed. Much of the Tulum I experienced felt very trendy and inauthentic."
24. "Bangkok, Thailand. It’s beautiful, the people are lovely, and the food is amazing — it's too hot for me most of the year and the sewage was very stinky. Not to mention the traffic."
Have you traveled somewhere that you both loved and hated? Tell us in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This article was written to provide travel recommendations or suggestions; however, it’s important to keep in mind your own health, community health, and COVID-19 exposure risk.