| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4] > | Off topic: The worst place you've ever visited Thread poster: Rad Graban (X)
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Erik Freitag 
Germany
Local time: 21:43
Member (2006)
Dutch to German
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One of the worst places I've ever seen is Kobuleti, a town at the Georgian Black Sea coast.
Georgia is a beautiful country with extraordinarily hospitable and friendly people, but if you have the luck to get there: avoid Kobuleti.
It is said to be a famous and popular place to spend your holidays for Georgian people today, whereas in times of the USSR it was rather for rich cadres of the Russian KP (correct me if I'm wrong). I found it hard to believe that anyone woul... See more One of the worst places I've ever seen is Kobuleti, a town at the Georgian Black Sea coast.
Georgia is a beautiful country with extraordinarily hospitable and friendly people, but if you have the luck to get there: avoid Kobuleti.
It is said to be a famous and popular place to spend your holidays for Georgian people today, whereas in times of the USSR it was rather for rich cadres of the Russian KP (correct me if I'm wrong). I found it hard to believe that anyone would like to spend his holidays there: It's really ugly and dirty, and consists mainly of one road with a lot of "plastic" slot-machine casinos, a pebble "beach" full of junk, and abandoned or half-finished concrete buildings (although you find those a lot all over the country).
Nevertheless, Kobuleti was bursting with people. Strange.... ▲ Collapse
| | | | biankonera
Latvia
Local time: 22:43
Italian to Latvian
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| a hotel in Milan | May 28, 2007 |
The worst place I can think of should be "The Best Hotel" in Milan which in fact has a totally wrong name if you ask me and should be called "The Worst Hotel". Thank God we stayed there just 1 night or it would have ruined a fabulous holiday.
The room we were given was simply dreadful - right next to the reception with no sound isolation at all (we knew everything that went on in the lobby/reception) with entrance as if to some storeroom. But the best was inside - hole in a wall with wire... See more The worst place I can think of should be "The Best Hotel" in Milan which in fact has a totally wrong name if you ask me and should be called "The Worst Hotel". Thank God we stayed there just 1 night or it would have ruined a fabulous holiday.
The room we were given was simply dreadful - right next to the reception with no sound isolation at all (we knew everything that went on in the lobby/reception) with entrance as if to some storeroom. But the best was inside - hole in a wall with wires hanging out and if you dare to want to walk in that room you have to literally walk accross the beds..
Oh, knowing what the room is like they lie to you about problems with your credit card and make you pay all in advance.
I still get chills thinking of that place.:) ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Plymouth, Lima, Gibraltar, Goa airport | May 28, 2007 |
Rad Graban wrote:
Hi all,
I really like Francesca's post and can't resist to ask what is the worst place you've ever visited and why?
Mine would be the customs/border-crossing between Romania and Bulgaria where I had to bribe someone everytime I moved.
My least favourite cities include:
Plymouth, Devon. I have to go there fairly often. It was badly bombed in World War II and hideously rebuilt in the 1950s, and again more hideously recently. Its traffic system is confusing with speed cameras everywhere, it's almost impossible to find your way out of. And to add insult to injury, we Cornish have to pay to cross the Tamar toll bridge to get into it, but the Plymouthians don't have to pay the other way to cross into Cornwall. Grrr.
Lima, Peru (but not Peru as a whole, you understand). To quote "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" - "What a dump!". Ugly, sprawling, noisy, dirty, dusty, confusing, and set in a landscape of cat litter.
Gibraltar. Had to go there several times with English companions each of whom separately insisted they HAD to see it. Uncomfortable, noisy, not interesting after the first visit, and full of fat British servicemen and their fat wives and fat children drinking British beer.
Goa airport (but not Goa as a whole, you understand). Hours of exhausting and total chaos! Won't go on.
Regards
Jenny.
[Edited at 2007-05-28 07:45]
| | | | | my experiences | May 28, 2007 |
The worst place I've ever been, was a restaurant in Mamaia, Romania. It was summer (1992) and we decided to take a table outside because it was very warm. Well, the place was haunted by hundreds of insects flying everywhere. I had them in my hair, in my face, they even ended in our drinks and food. Seriously, I felt sick, on the brim of puking and I had to return to my hotel leaving all the other people there. I know I must have been impolite in leaving the dinner table so abruptly, but I couldn... See more The worst place I've ever been, was a restaurant in Mamaia, Romania. It was summer (1992) and we decided to take a table outside because it was very warm. Well, the place was haunted by hundreds of insects flying everywhere. I had them in my hair, in my face, they even ended in our drinks and food. Seriously, I felt sick, on the brim of puking and I had to return to my hotel leaving all the other people there. I know I must have been impolite in leaving the dinner table so abruptly, but I couldn't stand it a minute longer.
Second worst place I have ever visited: an unassuming 2-star-hotel in Bruxelles, allegedly recommended by the Routard Guide, which was infested by bed mites. I scratched all night. The next morning at 6.30 I left the dumpy hotel under the astonished look of the girl at the reception desk who had asked me if I was going to pay for another night, after I answered "not even if you pay ME".
The end of the sad story: I got a room in a 4-star hotel near the Grand Place.
Priceless! ▲ Collapse
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Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:43
Russian to English
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In memoriam | In defence of Plymouth | May 28, 2007 |
Though I agree with Jenny about the 1950s town centre and the new redevelopment, particularly Drake's Circus (what a weird idea to build it deliberately at odd angles as though the foundations had slipped in all directions!), Plymouth Hoe is very attractive, a large green area high up overlooking the sea, with Georgian houses in the background. The historic Barbican area is worth visiting. It has a fine modern aquarium. And as for the Tamar bridge, the Cornish don't have to pay to get back to... See more Though I agree with Jenny about the 1950s town centre and the new redevelopment, particularly Drake's Circus (what a weird idea to build it deliberately at odd angles as though the foundations had slipped in all directions!), Plymouth Hoe is very attractive, a large green area high up overlooking the sea, with Georgian houses in the background. The historic Barbican area is worth visiting. It has a fine modern aquarium. And as for the Tamar bridge, the Cornish don't have to pay to get back to Cornwall, but the Plymouthians have to pay to get back to Plymouth! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | my worst nightmare.. | May 28, 2007 |
First of all I want to thank Rad for this parallel topic! I m really happy my idea was so appreciated!!!
then I need to give my two, no, three .. A TOP THREE (ah aha) of my worst experiences.
1. a dreadful travel by train from Paris to Milan on the New Yr's Eve holidays in 2000. I had booked on a special train going from Milan to Paris and back for a 4 day holiday in Paris, a city I absolutely love (especially the Sacre Coeur area). The train didn t move from the stati... See more First of all I want to thank Rad for this parallel topic! I m really happy my idea was so appreciated!!!
then I need to give my two, no, three .. A TOP THREE (ah aha) of my worst experiences.
1. a dreadful travel by train from Paris to Milan on the New Yr's Eve holidays in 2000. I had booked on a special train going from Milan to Paris and back for a 4 day holiday in Paris, a city I absolutely love (especially the Sacre Coeur area). The train didn t move from the station during those days, no one even cleaned it, nothing. When we had to get back, there was ICE on the floor, toilets were dirty and no water was functioning. There was mud all over the floor, and the heating and lights were gone. It took about 2 hrs to start the engines cos being off in the icy french winter apparently damaged the "battery" which had to be substituted and we had to wait another train arriving from I don' t know where in France to have a new one.
Finally we leave the station. It was night cos our train originally had to leave at 10pm.
no lights and no heating at all. Toilets still gone. IN our cabin there were -4 degrees! arrived at Dijon, my friend and I decided to step off the train, the french police was very nice (hopefully my French is very good and we managed to explain everything). They gave us a free hotel stay and free alternative train tickets to get back home the next day.
on the French trains, no one gave us problems but we soon encountered an Italian officer who menaced to throw us all off the train and leave us in the middle of nowhere in the fields around Turin.
Finally we called the police and explained our nightmare and they let us stay.
To be noticed I was carrying my heavy trolley AND this very delicate painting while my friend had this HUUUUUUGE porcelain doll, ultra expensive..
Such a nightmare!
2. My school trip to St. Petersburg, Russia. It was far 1997 and we went there for a 2 weeks exchange (cos I did Russian at school, as a third language), and we flew with Aeroflot that a t that time was nothing but a little can of coke with some wings stitched. It took us 8 hrs to get there, the wind was rough, we could NEVER unfasten our belts and all flight assistants were in business class cos LaToya Jackson was on our plane and kept asking for things (champagne, caviar, fresh fruit..).
3. a weekend in Wicklow, Ireland. With my Aussie friend Marie-Ann, we went for a relaxing weekend in this nice B&B on the top of a hill. Our room was clean but it had a window right behind the bed and there were lots of people passing by and looking inside, all the time. then we found a huge black spider in the toilet fan..and we were afraid it would be chopped by the fan and we would find its body parts all over. Then we also saw a bug coming up from the sink..YUCK! The whole place was scary cos there was NOBODY around. And the few people we met, kept stairng at us as if we were some kind of aliens..We spent one day only in Wicklow, and got back to our old Dublin the very next morning!
Fra
[Modificato alle 2007-05-28 11:42]
[Modificato alle 2007-05-28 11:45] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Dinny
Greece
Local time: 22:43
Italian to Danish
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| A hotel in Paris | May 28, 2007 |
Wonderful city - and a wonderful hotel. At the time, my 'better half' and I were working in different countries and we met for the weekend whereever would be most convenient - and nice - mostly at some half-way destination between the two countries.
I had booked the room in my name, never really thinking about the possible consequences. My better half arrived before the planned time and he checked in using his own name of course, was just given a room since nothing was booked. When I arriv... See more Wonderful city - and a wonderful hotel. At the time, my 'better half' and I were working in different countries and we met for the weekend whereever would be most convenient - and nice - mostly at some half-way destination between the two countries.
I had booked the room in my name, never really thinking about the possible consequences. My better half arrived before the planned time and he checked in using his own name of course, was just given a room since nothing was booked. When I arrived I got the key to the room I had booked and later on I checked whether Mr. 'xx' had arrived. No trace of Mr. xx in the system (and neither in the desk clerks brain). Saturday afternoon Mr. xx started to worry and checked at the desk whether there were any messages from Mrs. xx? None.
Well, to make it short we both spent all Saturday being worried sick about the other, both checking at the desk several times with no answers given. This was in the 80'es and none of us had a mobile phone.
We eventually meet the next morning in the lobby by coincidence and the hotel clerk was ever so sorry! Although we were offered a dinner and had a big bottle of champagne delivered to OUR room I will NEVER return to that hotel again!
Still love Paris though! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Apologies, Jack | May 28, 2007 |
Jack Doughty wrote:
Though I agree with Jenny about the 1950s town centre and the new redevelopment, particularly Drake's Circus (what a weird idea to build it deliberately at odd angles as though the foundations had slipped in all directions!), Plymouth Hoe is very attractive, a large green area high up overlooking the sea, with Georgian houses in the background. The historic Barbican area is worth visiting. It has a fine modern aquarium. And as for the Tamar bridge, the Cornish don't have to pay to get back to Cornwall, but the Plymouthians have to pay to get back to Plymouth!
I apologise, Jack. I guess you must be a Plymouthian. Yes, the Barbican and the Hoe are nice - and the aquarium's excellent, but you have to get to them first and, even harder, get away from them too - and I didn't mention the drunken louts and loutesses of an evening in and around Union Street. But hey, it's just my opinion.
Regards,
Jenny.
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| definitely not Libya | May 28, 2007 |
Roberta Anderson wrote: Tim Drayton wrote:
A work camp in the middle of the Sahara Desert, Libya. We lived a few years in Libya, due to my father's work, mid/late-70s. One Xmas the company organised for the families to spend a week in one of their field camps somewhere in the desert. It was my best Xmas ever!! Of course, that was through the eyes of a kid! 
I've spent 5 years in Libya (Tripoli) as a primary school kid, my father was working there as an engineer. A very exciting country, with a lot of things to discover and IMHO a great potential when it comes to tourism. I loved the place!
As for the worst place, I can't think of any. Perhaps I'll find one during my next holidays:)
cheers,
Michał
| | | | Jon O (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:43
Dutch to English
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| Bognor Regis or Littlehampton | May 28, 2007 |
These truly are the seaside towns that they forget close down..
| | | | | I've never really had bad experiences | May 28, 2007 |
Except my luggage was lost once, but then found.
My worst experience (not during a stay, just going through town) was my ride in taxi in September 2004 from CDG to a train station in Paris. It cost me 1/5 of my budget and despite saying to the driver that my train was at a certain time, I'm sure she made me arrive late on purpose because she knew I didn't know the shortest way to arrive on time and then make more money out of me. Never again will I go back after that.
[Edited... See more Except my luggage was lost once, but then found.
My worst experience (not during a stay, just going through town) was my ride in taxi in September 2004 from CDG to a train station in Paris. It cost me 1/5 of my budget and despite saying to the driver that my train was at a certain time, I'm sure she made me arrive late on purpose because she knew I didn't know the shortest way to arrive on time and then make more money out of me. Never again will I go back after that.
[Edited at 2007-05-28 14:35]
[Edited at 2007-05-28 14:35] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Añelo, Argentine Patagonia | May 28, 2007 |
During my years working in the petroleum industry I had to stay several times at Añelo, Neuquén, a small town in the Argentine Patagonia (2,000 inhabitants), placed at a strategical place in the middle of several oil fields. Staying there is obligatory for contractors with works lasting several months.
Only a few blocks have pavement, the rest have rubble, that turns into a mess during the few times it rains.
No restaurants, no internet connection (until 2005), no cinemas, ... See more During my years working in the petroleum industry I had to stay several times at Añelo, Neuquén, a small town in the Argentine Patagonia (2,000 inhabitants), placed at a strategical place in the middle of several oil fields. Staying there is obligatory for contractors with works lasting several months.
Only a few blocks have pavement, the rest have rubble, that turns into a mess during the few times it rains.
No restaurants, no internet connection (until 2005), no cinemas, no entertainment.
There are 4 "hotels", but you can't actually call them that.
There are also four "cabarets", where the workers spend their wages, as they usually live in this town for months.
After high school, people from Añelo that can not pay a college education have to choose: leave town, or stay and work as a laborer (for men), get married or work at the cabaret (for women). Exceptions are those who will work at their parents small business.
Take care,
Andrés ▲ Collapse
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EmmanuelleAn (X)
Local time: 21:43
English to French
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| Saarbruecken, Germany | May 28, 2007 |
Saarbruecken, Germany
I spent one year there after 6 months in London. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown... It's so gray and depressing. Sorry guys, I absolutely love Germany but Saarbruecken is just...not for me! Every week end I would travel to Koeln to cheer myself up!
| | | | | No such place | May 28, 2007 |
I like to travel and it is always fun, no matter what happens during my travels. So far I managed to come home in one piece and usually in good health. That's why everything is regarded as adventure, even bad experiences, and that's exactly why I travel! I noticed that I can only remember good things about my trips. If I was treated badly somewhere something it is always recalled with laugh afterwards. For example, I do not like going to my native Russia. Encountering rudeness here and there is ... See more I like to travel and it is always fun, no matter what happens during my travels. So far I managed to come home in one piece and usually in good health. That's why everything is regarded as adventure, even bad experiences, and that's exactly why I travel! I noticed that I can only remember good things about my trips. If I was treated badly somewhere something it is always recalled with laugh afterwards. For example, I do not like going to my native Russia. Encountering rudeness here and there is guaranteed. I can tell lots of stories about that. Even so, it always turns funny on return.
Yes, I can tell about a bus in Egypt that was 5 hours late. With no lavatory on the bus it stopped after 4 hours at a roadhouse for everyone to use the toilet that was shared by men and women and had no door. Or another bus from Puno to Cusco in Peru that stopped in the middle of the open for the same reason. Everyone rushed off the bus. Women squatted among men using their wide skirts to cover themselves. A meal with cockroaches served in Atlanta, USA. A group of Aboriginals in Australia that surrounded my car on the way to Uluru and demanded beer and cigarettes. A Norwegian streetseller who cheated and sold me a bread roll with nothing inside (it was supposed to have salmon in it). And so on and so forth.
I agree with Jenny about Lima. It is extremely polluted. So are many other cities in South America. Well, that's how people live there. I am sure they do not enjoy that either. But I liked Gibraltar. It was great to climb the Rock and then to have a refreshing swim at the bottom of it to wash off the sweat and dust.
Anyway, it is good to be able to travel and to see the world. I never expect the place I am going to visit to be perfect. That’s why there are no bad places for me.
Natalia ▲ Collapse
| | | | Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 16:43
Portuguese to English
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| I'll add mine: the good old USA | May 28, 2007 |
Wow, this is a fascinating topic...I really enjoyed reading everyone's stories. Some of you could write a book!
I was returning from a 7-month stay in Mexico, during the early 1970s. I was traveling with my daughter, who was around 4 years old at the time.
We came up from Mexico by train, and then had to go through USA customs. In retrospect, I figure it must have been my long hair and the fact that I wore no makeup and was carrying a guitar, but when we got inside the... See more Wow, this is a fascinating topic...I really enjoyed reading everyone's stories. Some of you could write a book!
I was returning from a 7-month stay in Mexico, during the early 1970s. I was traveling with my daughter, who was around 4 years old at the time.
We came up from Mexico by train, and then had to go through USA customs. In retrospect, I figure it must have been my long hair and the fact that I wore no makeup and was carrying a guitar, but when we got inside the customs office I was called aside. To make a long story short, they took me in a room where I was strip searched Iincluding an anal search) by a very large, intimidating female officer, while my daughter sat alone outside, absolutely terrified. I was beside myself with rage, and when they decided they were going to strip search my daughter, too, I put my foot down and told them that if they put a hand on her I would call the police. They finally let me go. The irony of all of this is that I am an American citizen and had never taken drugs and didn't even drink alcohol.
I'm glad I live in Brazil now, in spite of all the problems here. Not to say that there are not things that I love about the USA, but that experience really left me with a bad taste in my mouth for many years.
Amy ▲ Collapse
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