The worst place I've found myself while traveling had to be the emergency room of the Jackson Memorial hospital in Miami on a busy Friday night, thanks to a parasite my traveling companion picked up in Peru. I think distant seconds would be the port-a-potties at last year's Celebrate Brooklyn concert series in Prospect Park, and the seats at the back of a tiny airplane right next to the bathroom. (Yes, there is a theme here.)

Posted By Valerie on June 17, 2010, 4:27 PM

A three hour trip on a chicken bus in Honduras... I will never forget stopping periodically so someone could run for a bucket of water to throw on the exhaust, armed officers coming on board to check ID of every passenger, the rain storm with no windshield wipers or defrost, twisty mountain roads, golf ball sized hail, and scariest of all...crossing through mudslides.

Posted By Kim on June 17, 2010, 4:56 PM

For me it was Disneyland Paris [I think that was its name at the time], when I was forced -- by a bunch of 20-year-old BritKids with whom I was hanging out (I was 33 that year) -- to go on two roller-coaster rides first thing in the morning. Now, on a good day I wouldn't ride a coaster ... but two of them?! Fuggeddaboudit.
So in revenge I made them ride "It's a Small World" -- but REAL revenge would've been making them ride it TWICE.

Posted By frogprof on June 17, 2010, 7:12 PM

Despite ranting about travel for 5 years, I have yet been to a place where I have wanted to get out of their as quick as I got there. Blackpool in the UK is pretty grim, a typically British seaside town that needs serious money spent on tidying it up.

Posted By Darren Cronian on June 19, 2010, 11:02 AM

The Blarney Stone is in the drain of what was called a garderobe, which means you're kissing the inside of a toilet -- a joke invented for Sassenach tourists, I'm sure.

Posted By Bard on June 21, 2010, 9:59 AM

My 15 year old daughter spent a week of her school trip to China last summer in H1N1 quarantine after being seated too close to a passenger with H1N1. She was the only one in her group to be quarantined and therefore was all alone in a moldy hotel room in hot and muggy Beijing with no air conditioning and no funtioning windows. It wasn't the trip she had imagined!

Posted By topekacruiser on June 21, 2010, 10:14 AM

The pharaoh’s tomb inside the Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, Egypt gets my vote. After squirming through a 200 foot long passage with 4 1/2 foot ceilings, I reached the tomb. It was dimly lit and rather plain. I took off my tinted glasses and rested for a minute before walking toward the sarcophagus. I didn't see the unguarded drop off and fell tearing a ligament. The pyramid had to be shut down for an hour while a team of EMT's extracted me. I cut my trip short and flew back to the US for surgery. So much for safety considerations at many ancient sites around the world.

Posted By Dave Quarterson on June 21, 2010, 10:57 AM

Almost anywhere in Jamaica.

Posted By Lee on June 21, 2010, 11:34 AM

I would avoid anything on Sun Country Airlines, unless you enjoy being stuck in airports. I learned something new, to save money some of the tiny, "discount" airlines like Sun Country use ticket agents who also run up and serve as gate agents. That means they close the ticket counter randomly; in our case one hour before the flight. I suspect that when they fill up an overbooked flight, they would rather strand passengers without boarding passes unable to get through security than provide them with compensation. Therefore, my vote where to NOT go would be anywhere that Sun Country would take me (or not). The world be warned.....

Posted By sven on June 21, 2010, 11:37 AM

Clipperton Island. Yeah sure it is a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean near Mexico but it has nothing but plastic toys that wash-up on the coral beach, inedible crabs, and squawking birds. There are no resorts, no food, no tropical drinks, and no people. The beaches are hard coral that cut up bare feet. You would have to bring everything with you that you would need. That includes shelter, food, drinks, and companionship. Don’t ever get stuck here. There aren’t even places to land a plane or dock a boat. Not that anyone ever stops here. You would be stranded forever.

Posted By CalifPeach on June 21, 2010, 12:16 PM

My vote goes for the women's toilet at the stop at the large Buddha located on the highway between the airport and Lahsa in Tibet. About 5 years ago my husband and flew into Lahsa for several days. We did not know that the airport was about 90 KM outside of the city. Because this was our first Tibetan trip and I was very excited to be there, I missed the ladies' room at the airport, which was a BIG mistake. By the time we stopped at the big Buddha painted on a several story high rock along the very bumpy road, my misstate had taken on critical significance. As soon as the car slowed enough so that emabarking would not cause loss of life or limb I jumped out and headed for the "L" shaped building which I had been informed contained a woman's lavatory on the left. Seeing two doors at the junction of the "L" on the left, one with a locked padlock and one without, I naturally assumed the unpadlocked door was the correct one --so in I went. I don't know who was more morified -- the family who lived in the bathroom and who was cooking a mid-day meal in conditions I cannot describe, or me. Despite the fact that I speak not a word of whatever language the family spoke, I quickly learned that what I wanted was behind door number 2, the padlocked door. The padlock was eventually removed and I stepped into the most squalid restroom I have ever seen. I am not a complainer, and used to be a Boundary Waters guide so I am happy to relieve myself whereever and whenever I can, including outdoors. But this experience holds a special place in my travel memories. It has caused me to say on many an occasion, "this restroom is nothing compared with my first Tibetan restroom." The only thing that even has come close is the women's rest room at a gas station along the highway heading inland in Saudi Arabia from Duba. That day, when I rejoined my husband after the rest stop, my first words to him were, "Remember the day when I visted the Tibetan family who lived in the restroom, well this restroom . . .?"

Posted By Marty on June 21, 2010, 12:59 PM

The bus ride from Sucre to Cochabamba in Bolivia. Not only was I recovering from salmonella, but the bus stopped every 30 minutes to pick up new passengers for our already-full bus. It took about 3 stops for me to realize that the passengers we picked up weren't entering our part of the bus, but rather being seated in the cargo hold below.

Posted By Andrea on June 21, 2010, 1:30 PM

If Miami Beach had an airport, why would you ever go to Miami? The Grove is OK, but can't compare to South Beach. Downtown is as dirty as any US city, every other neighborhood that you have to drive through is frightening, and we all know that you must use your high school Spanish to survive. I recommend you arrive and depart at MIA at night, take a taxi directly to the Beach, and tell the driver "do not geto offo la expressoway". Then you'll enjoy your trip to Miami.

Posted By Jon on June 21, 2010, 1:47 PM

Stonehenge is amazing. It is one of the wonders of the world and no one should miss it. Additionally, there is a wonderful, calm, spiritual feeling to the place, similar to Yosemite in California. It is one of my favorite places in the world, without doubt.

Posted By Chip on June 21, 2010, 1:53 PM

Moscow. Muscovites are dour on a good day, there weren't any good days while we were there. No smiles, no greetings, no thank yous, no courtesy. I stayed at the well known Metropol Hotel, where I was mistakenly charged for two rooms after I upgraded. 3 years later I still have not received a refund for a room I didn't stay in.

Posted By Lesley on June 21, 2010, 2:11 PM

The pit toilet at Olduvai Gorge

Posted By Barbara on June 21, 2010, 2:19 PM

The isle of Staffa off Skye. Sounds romantic: lighthouse built in the nineteenth century. Reality: Walk a good half-mile across boggy moors in western Scottish weather (rainy) dragging luggage to stay in a forlorn cottage with brown trickling bath water. No village, no meals beyond the host's. The only redeeming attraction was the moor pony who followed my daughter into the living room after she offered him cheese from dinner!

Posted By Linda Smith on June 21, 2010, 2:24 PM

Mexicana Airlines. The check-in lines got longer and longer as they kept closing windows at the airport. The flight was an hour late. The food was a funny color. They had nothing to drink except soda or beer--neither of which I drink. And the flight attendants locked the trash in the lavatory so nobody could use it. They then proceeded to sit up front and chatter for hours. We were then grounded by a storm and forced to disembark to show our papers. The flight attendants threw plastic cups at some young passengers as they walked down the steps. I gather they had been somewhat rowdy. But still!

We missed the only connecting flight that day, so the airline put us up in a hotel. The next morning, they started pulling the same thing and closing check-in windows. I started yelling, so did the man behind me. And we finally got on the plane.

On the way back, they lost our reservations. Despite having paperwork showing them, they wouldn't let us on a flight. None of the other airlines would take us either because we hadn't officially been bumped--as Mexicana said we had no reservations. I finally sat on our largest bag in front of the counter and cried while my young son tried to comfort me. After watching for several minutes, the desk clerk admitted they'd been having computer problems and honored our reservation.

I don't care how much more you have to pay. Never, never fly on this airline.

Posted By Chris on June 21, 2010, 2:27 PM

North Hero State Park in Vermont tops our list. We made a two stop here on our way to Canada. The water is polluted thick green from phosphorus runoff from farms in the islands. The park is totally unappealing. You wouldn't want to swim, canoe or fish in this area.

The own of North Hero is small and charming.

Posted By mimic on June 21, 2010, 2:35 PM

Two come to mind - the elevator trip inside the St. Louis arch, not for the faint of heart, claustraphobic or sweaty - plenty of other places to get a great view al fresco. The Dole pineapple plantation on Oahu - just skip it.

Posted By Anna Margaret Binder on June 21, 2010, 3:01 PM

Topsail (and Kitty Hawk) NC. Worst. Food. Ever. And if the wind is blowing THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO ... well...unless you fish.

Posted By Kimk2 on June 21, 2010, 3:02 PM

I agree about Mount Rushmore. I have always considered it a desecration of nature and if they want to put Ronald Reagan up there, even more so. However, I find Stonehenge very appealing and not unique since there are many others.
I would certainly add any Disney or other "theme" park as being over priced for an artificial environment and a commercialised attempt at history.

Posted By capnDave on June 21, 2010, 3:07 PM

My "Places Not To See" list would include
Pigeon Forge, Tn
I-57 in Central Illinois
I-65 in Indiana
I-80 through Nebraska
Gary, Indiana
Niagara Falls - the town (the falls are spectacular, the town is tacky)

Posted By Karen on June 21, 2010, 3:10 PM

Paris. All of it. It is the most overrated place in the world. I could go on all day about it.

Posted By KJG on June 21, 2010, 3:28 PM

Any roller coaster that has the word revenge in it! The thing took off so fast that I couldn't even open my eyes. When it did, the ride was over, my stomach was churning and I thought that I had just left the Twilight Zone!!! That was 32 years ago and I STILL remember it! (lol)

Posted By jazzie on June 21, 2010, 3:38 PM

Jamaica and Newark, both crime infested ghettos, one on a river another on an island.

Posted By Isabella on June 21, 2010, 3:44 PM

Insects create an atmosphere of horror for me --
whether it's checking my shoes each morning for scorpions in Tucson to dragon-fly sized mosquitoes in the Great Lakes areas in late summer or the swamps and bayous in Louisiana. At a lovely hotel in Instanbul, our hosts denied they had mosquitoes until they saw the splotches of blood on the walls and my swollen face!! I hate to vacation while covered in DEET and draped in mosquito netting....takes the edge off the pleasure!

Posted By Linda O. on June 21, 2010, 3:51 PM

I live in Miami and whoever was saying only the beach was a good place to visit, obviously didn't bother trying anywhere else. The Grove is great, Mary Brickell Village is fun, Coral Gables is beautiful, etc. Bayside is fun as well. There is more to Miami than just South Beach!
Now compare that to say Centre City Philadelphia in terms of filth.....no comparison at all!

I agree with Niagara Falls.

Karen @ 3:10 PM: You MUST be from the Midwest! I lived in Indiana for several years (school) and I concur!

Let's add Detroit to the list....the only city aside from Compton that I was scared to drive through at night. Well, Compton I was scared to drive through during the day.

Posted By Twiggers on June 21, 2010, 3:53 PM

On a late night drive from Boston to Hyannis, I decided to bed down in a hotel near Plymouth (home of the "Rock"). My morning departure included a quick stop at the Pilgrims' iconic promontory only to be totally disappointed by the sight of a stone not larger than a door mat enclosed in a well-like viewing structure. Just how small were these people? I have hopped on larger stones to ford a small creek near my childhood home!

Posted By Steve on June 21, 2010, 4:06 PM

Detroit

Posted By Karen on June 21, 2010, 5:03 PM

In order to save airfare, taking a non-airconditioned gasoline smelly taxi cab from Cairo Egypt across the Sinai desert to the resort of Sharm El Sheik. Between the heat and smell of the gasoline this trip will never be forgotten.

Posted By Bill on June 21, 2010, 5:28 PM

The night train between Nha Trang and Hanoi, Vietnam. Horrible neighbours (smoking foul somethings the whole way), disgusting toilets, food service ran out of food by the time they got to our "first class" cabin, and the train personnel were nasty. Never, ever again.

Posted By Sher on June 21, 2010, 5:41 PM

Cozumel, Mexico. Don't ever get sick there. In Jan. we were on cruise there, friend breathed in a bit of salt water snorkeling, had to go to hospital by ambulance, dr. would absolutely not release here when she was okay after meds.to get water out. She signed herself out and ship would not let her back onboard, back to hospital in ambulance, she was discharged next day, flew home, cost her $5000 for hospital and $560 to fly home while there on a $300 cruise from Alabama.

Posted By Genie on June 21, 2010, 6:04 PM

Whoa--I've been on that train from Prague to Budapest. It wasn't at night, but it was over 100 degrees in the train (no AC) and the Slavic border guards were definitely nasty.

Posted By Debbie on June 21, 2010, 6:09 PM

Italy in general. The sights are spectacular but the people were rude and very unfriendly.

Several times in Florence, the locals would ride bicycles THROUGH the crowds in the plazas. Several travelers were hurt - broken toes being run over and sprains from being knocked down.

There were two shops in Rome that expected me to go get change for my 10 Euro note to buy something for 8 or 9 Euros from them.

Even when we tried to ask for help in Italian, people would ignore us or pretend our language skills were so bad that they could not help us.

Several cathedrals charged for admission then forbade all photography - only to try to sell amateur pictures in the gift shops.

I will never go back.

Posted By JohnM on June 21, 2010, 6:10 PM

Hahaha @ Paris... I couldn't agree more. SO INCREDIBLY OVERRATED. I'd have to add the tropics in the summer. I have only been to Taiwan, but I was DYING- the bugs, the oppressive humidity, the lack of cold drinks/ac... ahhhh.

Posted By Maria Romano on June 21, 2010, 6:13 PM

Villahermosa, Mexico-during their first "hemis-fair", some years back. I took a Flecha Roja bus into town and found the city so crowded I could not even bribe anyone to allow me to throw my pup tent in their yard. After many futile attempts finding anywhere to stay, I took the first bus OUT of town and got off at the first stop in another town-where I easily checked into the luxury of a clean, uncrowded motel room- gasping a huge sigh of relief.

Posted By Chuck on June 21, 2010, 6:15 PM

A cab ride from Prague Airport to down town Prague tops my list. Road rage and bumper tag at 80 mph seens like the norm However, if you are a fatalist or have a death wish, knock yourself out.

Posted By J. zotch on June 21, 2010, 7:12 PM

AS far as Detroit goes--there are some good restaurants there and the riverfront is fun in the summer. As with any city-stay on the main streets and you are fine.

Posted By Kathy on June 21, 2010, 7:36 PM

Slough, England. Unattractive suburb of London, near Windsor and Maidenhead. Double culture shock because Windsor and Maidenhead are very charming, architecturally, with the Thames running nearby. Slough is next to Heathrow. The 'ough' part of Slough's name is pronounced like a painful cry 'Owwh' by the natives, but like 'sloo' by people like me who have found themselves lost there). Bad food, greasy pubs, bad accents, sullen grey and predictable streets and buildings; once you are lost in Slough, it's very hard to find your way out - bad if you've taken a wrong turn and have a plane to catch.

Posted By Virginia on June 21, 2010, 8:05 PM

Reading about Pigeon Forge brings back horrible memories, I've traveled extensively through India and China but never was so sick as I was on that trip, the worst food poisoning ever! Have no idea why we were there?

Posted By julie goodwin on June 21, 2010, 8:16 PM

Cozumel is my favorite place in Mexico. Don't compare getting sick on a cruise to the reality of a location. Snorkeling is great if you don't book an excursion via the cruise line. If you do a little research ahead of time and go on your own you will find that there are not many places in the world that compare favorably with Cozumel.

Posted By Leon on June 21, 2010, 9:01 PM

The Las Vegas Strip. Period. Boring, over-hyped, incredibly tasteless and tiresome.

Posted By gjoia on June 21, 2010, 11:35 PM

An Air India flight from Frankfurt to Mumbai...the toilets were overflowing and the whole plane reeked. Nasty.

Posted By Pat on June 22, 2010, 12:46 AM

The top of the list of worst places to visit in the U.S. has to be the Great Salt Lake. The view from the state park is eerie as there are no homes, buildings, or boats on this large lake that has a strange smell. The brownish sand near the water turned out to be fleas so thick they cover the sand and the lake bottom felt exactly like stepping on dog poop.

Posted By Rick DeHeer on June 22, 2010, 6:35 AM

You know, I think we safely say no one should ever plan to add taking a night train to their bucket list. My experience going from Milan to Rome on one was a nightmare of undesirables trying to get into our already overpacked car with a broken window that hung open all night making the room freezing cold. When one of my friends tied it shut with a belt we all woke up steaming hot and sweating profusely. Crawling over 5 of my pals to get to the dark hall to the restroom was my next and last mistake on the journey. The facility was a cesspool and to date...the worst/strongest smell I've ever smelled. With so many weirdos loitering, I was afraid I would be grabbed and sold for body parts on the way back to my car.

Another place to skip is Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. If you've ever been to a crappy street carnival with lame T-shirts, cheesy overpriced games, and questionable food then you don't really need to go there. In my opinion, it's an eyesore. Go to a real boardwalk. Navy Pier in Chicago is much cleaner, less crowded, and has more to offer. Venice beach in California is authentically seedy and exciting at once. Or go somewhere quaint and quiet on the East Coast, like Maryland.

Posted By Emily Majeski on June 22, 2010, 10:43 AM

MANILA WOULD BE HIGH ON MY LIST.

Posted By Mannie Harrison on June 22, 2010, 11:06 AM

Djakarta unless it's improved recently. The river smells, the Hilton was next to a chicken farm -- one day there was enough!

Posted By Patty on June 22, 2010, 12:53 PM

I have traveled all over Italy many times-chiefly by train. The rudeness and danger, recently it appears, is mainly a result of Berlusconi's lax immigration policies. The Italians are ulra-friendly, but I have been banged in the head on buses by Albanians in Rome,illegal aliens--often in native dress harass travelers in piazzas, and my passage on deck on the ship to and from Sardinia was blocked by surly Muslims praying on deck. Africans are everywhere, sleeping on the steps of cathedrals, washing and urinating in monumental fountains. Call me politically correct, but I think, as here in the U$A, these illegal leeches should be deported en masse.

Posted By mike Passariello on June 22, 2010, 2:05 PM

@MikePassariello.. I used to live in Italy. So many people you think are "locals", i.e. the chefs,the waiters, at the hotel, etc. etc. are Albanian, you just do not know because they have been there for years and have an Italian-ized name.

Also, I disagree that having a hospital stay and a run-around with cruise ship puts an entire locale on the list, as Cozumel was fabulous each time I went.

Posted By Marissa on June 22, 2010, 2:35 PM

A small "local" hotel in Kathmandu, where we placed bets on whether the rat would chew all the way through the ceiling before we left. (We had a full view of him the last evening, and kept the lights on all night.)

The airport (and particularly the women's restroom) at New Delhi for an overnight layover (going home from Kathmandu!). Toilets literally overflowing with excrement, women and children sleeping on the floors next to them. Hot and humid. A very long night. To stay awake, I (in a complete lapse of my travel experience) ordered hot tea - with milk. I was ill the entire flight to London, and had to be taken off in a wheelchair!

Notwithstanding the above, my two trips to Nepal were generally wonderful.

Posted By Lee Anne on June 22, 2010, 2:57 PM

To John M on the comment blog regarding Italy as the worst place to visit....REALLY...are you kidding me ? One of the most fabulous countries in the world to travel...I have been there twice (recently May 2009) and went to florence, Rome, Siena and venice....But have also been to Naples, Bologna, Pisa,Forte De Marmi, Brindisi etc...People couldn't have been nicer (a lot do not speak English so you must try a little Italian!!!) Food/hotels fabulous...Train travel . buses, metro great..sorry you had a bad time....I will definitely go back....my daughter just got back from three countries and loved Italy!!!!!!

Posted By Debi on June 22, 2010, 5:01 PM

Zurich, Switzerland Outrageous prices. Nasty locals, miserable rainy weather (in June), awful, overpriced food. Spent 18 long hours. Got the first flight out next AM. Then airport security felt up my baby sister (age 5) and mother. No metal detectors, just little private booths where you are alone and at their mercy. The guy groped me too.

Stonehenge is way cool! Overcrowded, sadly yes, but there is that unexplainable awe inspiring feeling being there.

Posted By silas on June 22, 2010, 5:22 PM

Portofino, Italy - beautiful little town, but the locals are obnoxious, the service is appalling, the prices are ridiculous...I have never felt so unwelcome in my life.

Posted By `Craig on June 22, 2010, 6:15 PM

Naples Italy. I loved the rest of Italy, but Naples was the dirtiest, most disgusting 'destination' I ever been to. The piles of trash in the streets stunk and you felt like you needed to be wearing a hazmat suit to go outside. The buildings were black with pollution. The sidewalks weren't too big to begin with, but were made single file tiny by the vendors setting up displays to sell their stolen and knock-off goods. You couldn't walk anywhere because there were so many people trying to fit through. The man who worked in my hotel warned us every time we left to wear a moneybelt, hold on to our bag, and not put anything valuable in our pockets.

Posted By Abby on June 22, 2010, 6:52 PM

Las Vegas, a town with no soul only facade.

Posted By Don on June 22, 2010, 7:09 PM

Toledo, OH. I feel badly for anyone who has to live there. A very unpleasant, unappealing place.

Posted By Jane on June 22, 2010, 9:00 PM

One doesn't go to Las Vegas looking for "soul"; like one doesn't go to Salt Lake City to party. Las Vegas is "fabulous", if that's what you are looking for. It makes no bones about being a "facade"

Posted By silas on June 23, 2010, 1:55 AM

The airport in Atlanta, GA is absolutely the worst place to travel through. As a main hub for Delta Airlines, you can not make your connecting flight no matter how fast you can run. We landed and called ahead to someone who was on our connecting flight to tell them about 20 of us were running to the gate. They refused to wait because they didn't want to ruin their "on-time" departure status. They closed the gate and wouldn't let us on because we missed it by 2 minutes. The plane was still there, they just backed up a couple feet. (that counts as on time departure). NO planes were leaving do to fog. There was no reason why they couldn't wait for us. Now, the whole group of us had to wait 5 hours for the next flight. The first day of our trip was ruined. I will NEVER fly Delta again OR have a stop over in Atlanta. I travel with a large group several times a year. They lost a LOT of business.

Posted By Lisa on June 23, 2010, 3:57 PM

I've seen some of the posts on here about Italy, and I have to agree with a lot of what's being said. Gorgeous, wonderful country, but some of the most audaciously rude people I've met in visiting over thirty countries. Not everyone, of course, but Pisa was the absolute toilet of Europe, in my opinion. Tuscany was pretentious, crowded and expensive, yet Lake Como, Cinque Terre and the Adriatic were all quite the opposite.

Posted By Christopher on June 23, 2010, 4:10 PM

Spokane, WA. Enough said. Oh, and Europe.

Posted By Dan on June 23, 2010, 9:01 PM

I am amused about some of the posts, esp those about Paris & Italy. I went to both as a poor student in the mid-70s. Loved Italy (great food, warm people)& hated Paris (good food, cold people). Flash forward to 2010: dislike Italy (trashy food, rude people) & love Paris (great food, warm people). It is not that I have changed - the people in those countries seemed to have, for better & for worse!

Posted By Bob on June 24, 2010, 1:25 AM

I shudder every time I have a connection through Bush International Airport in Houston. They take the cake when it comes to abusive, power-tripping TSA agents, shouting instructions to the masses going through security in a most threatening manner. One time a burly security gal shouted "YOU DO NOT WANT TO REACH THIS STATION WITHOUT HAVING YOUR LIQUIDS OUTSIDE OF YOUR CARRY-ON LUGGAGE!!!" I could only imagine how scary this would be for a visitor who does not speak English very well. Heck, I am a US citizen and I was scared.

Add to the list of horrid bathrooms: the "bathroom" in the Arc du Triomphe, Paris.

Probably the worst actual destination I have ever been to (and not due to a situation such as getting sick and bad flights like a lot of the stories above) would be Amsterdam. The locals were very rude, and I began to understand why as I witnessed countless tourists going on a rampage only because they were in Amsterdam. "let's go smoke pot, whoo-hoo!" "let's go shout at the prostitutes, whoo-hoo!" It was never ending debauchery. We witnessed someone getting mugged. We heard gun shots at night RIGHT outside of our window, and we were staying in a nice part of town!

Posted By Jessica on June 24, 2010, 1:26 AM

Granada,and Malaga Spain. Awful.
Graffiti everywhere. Not artistic graffiti, but just nasty random scrawlings on every building everywhere.

Dogs run loose everywhere. Not stray dogs, but dogs that people own, but let them run free. The owner is nowhere in site. It is like how Americans let cats out. So, there are dogs and poop everywhere. We even saw 2 stray dogs standing over a cat that they had just killed.

The people are not nice. (especially if they know you are American. There is anti American graffiti everywhere). We are not obnoxious tourists wearing baseball caps and screaming in English, so they had no reason to be nasty.

Unless you like endless Catholic churches there is not much else to see. Even the Alhambra isn't that impressive. Worth a visit, but once you see the Alhambra, run away from Granada.

Malaga is the same except there is nothing interesting to see.

Posted By Marie D. on June 24, 2010, 9:37 AM

@Steve. The Plymouth Rock was much bigger in the past. The reason it's so small and recessed into the ground is because people kept chipping a piece of the rock for souvenirs. It's approximately 1/3 of it's original size.

Posted By Donna on June 24, 2010, 2:49 PM

Houston's Hobby Airport - is always under construction and stinky. I will never call it George W. Bush Airport as well as I will never ever call Washington's National Airport - Reagan Airport...What a joke of an airport in Houston, National is nice.

Posted By Jay on June 24, 2010, 3:24 PM

@Barbara on June 21, 2:19pm ... I'm familiar with the pit toilet at Olduvai Gorge & I completely agree with you. Nasty!

Posted By shay on June 24, 2010, 3:29 PM

Portland - the city cant decide what it wants to be. Its not sophisticated enough to be LA and not friendly enough to be Seattle. I hated it and thought people were a bunch of rude posers.

Las Vegas - Like other posters said...overhypped gutless mean spirited town. I go back every 10 years or so just to see new stuff and usually within a day I am asking myself "why do I come here". Tahoe and Reno are much better options IMO.

Detroit - Armpit of the Americas. We should just dontate the state of Michigan to Candada. Maybe they can do something better with it.

Tijuana - Mexico has the United States as richest neighbor on the planet yet they cant get their act together to offer anything in the way of clean tourism. The whole country is corrupt, dirty, and dangrous. Maybe we can barter TJ for Michigan.

Niagara Falls - I'm from there and gotta agree with other posters. Its a dingy town. The falls are fantastic but its best to stay on the Candian side, much nicer area.

Posted By Father on June 24, 2010, 5:29 PM

With a couple caveats, the American Interstate Highway system tops my list.

Caveat One: There are places where the Interstate signs went up on already used highways, like I-94 in SE Wisconsin, which was US 41 for ages before that.

Caveat Two: In spite of heavy tolls, if you're going through Chicago, take the I system. The other roads are so chewed up it's pathetic.

Posted By James Michalek on June 24, 2010, 7:53 PM

@Father - the likely reason that you found Portlanders to be rude and lack an identity is because so many of our residents are transplants from California. It does not surprise me that you found my city to lack the sophistication of LA - we never wanted to be LA but all of the transplants up here have been slowly attempting to turn Portland into a hipster haven for decades now, driving away the true spirit of Portland and the state of Oregon in general.

Most of the long-time and native Oregonians I know (including us Portlanders) strongly echo our beloved 1970's Governor, Tom McCall, and his famous quote: "Come visit us again and again. This is a state of excitement. But for heaven's sake, don't come here to live." Unfortunately, that's exactly what has happened.

However, I still love my city and will most likely remain a Portlander and proud Oregonian until the day I die!

Posted By Jessica on June 25, 2010, 12:29 AM

Portland, OR is a great city "Father". They don't want to be LA or Seattle and Oregon as a state has more to offer than most anywhere.

Belize is a beautiful country but Belize City is ugly and dangerous. Get out to the islands or country as soon as you fly in.

I have been all over Texas, many times, and don't see a redeeming virtue. New Mexico is beautiful but Albuquerque is not. Avoid getting lost at night in Philadelphia which can be a frightening experience.

Posted By Brian on June 25, 2010, 2:21 AM

when did Taiwan become part of the tropics? Didn't they have a geography class in your grammar school?

Posted By bob on June 25, 2010, 9:56 AM

Swan Lake in western michigan. rented a summer cottage there that sounded great, on a lake. turned out to be a muddy puddle in a filthy house with rat feces all about it and mosquitos that were so fiercly biting the kids we left after one night, losing the entire week's cost.

also stayed at the best hotel in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The sewage emptied into a cesspool right behing the hotel, the locals were stinky and probably al quida sympathizers.

finallyl Salou, a beach resort near barcelona. packed with loud noisy german and british rowdies, roaming packs of dogs, and disgusting food, the only place you would dare eat was mcdonalds, which i never eat in at home since i hate them

Posted By mat on June 25, 2010, 1:26 PM

Belize City - dump!
Tangiers - aggressive locals constantly pestering tourists for $$
Amsterdam - loved the city HATED the rude locals

Posted By Ernesto on June 25, 2010, 2:46 PM

Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana and the French Quarter during Mardi Gras. Tourists let loose their fantasies and come to do things that they wouldn't dare do in their own hometowns. But watch out, a few get caught on police cameras!

Posted By Martha on June 25, 2010, 3:37 PM

Took a partial transit cruise thru the Panama Canal. Got off the ship at Lake Gatun in Panama and boarded a bus to a "Fort". The drive took 2 hours, no bathroom stops, no restaurants or snack shops, only some funny tasting bottled water provided by the tour bus operators. We arrived at the "Fort" to find a crumbling rock structure near a lagoon. Locals had set up tables selling handmade beads and such. They sent their children out to the tour buses holding arms of beaded necklaces, but no one spoke any English. Some children had been chewing on the necklaces. My mother made the mistake of giving one child an American dollar bill and was then rushed by 40 screaming children with their hands outstretched. We had to quarantine ourselves in the bus for safety. We were allowed to use the one restroom at the "Fort". It was one toilet and the floor was flooded in 2 inches of water. Next time, I'm staying on the ship.

Posted By Lisa on June 26, 2010, 12:49 AM

Yikes! After reading all the posts on this subject, I am fearful to travel and may just explore vicariously through my Budget Travel Magazine and The Travel Channel. Whew!

Posted By Lisa on June 26, 2010, 12:56 AM

MOST of Yosemite is breathtaking.......but don't hike up to the base of the major climbing routes (El Captain, Cathedral Rocks). First off you may get hit with a falling rock that was knocked loose from a smaller one above (from climbers), and DON'T OPEN ANY PAPER SACKS! The climbers defecate in them and throw them off the ledges, so as not to have to sleep on a ledge filled with poop! (My husband climbed many of the routes in Yosemite.....this is how I know of this.) Stick to the meadows, or raft down the Merced! Much more enjoyable.

Posted By Debby on June 26, 2010, 2:23 AM

"the worst place on earth--- mumbai,india.

Posted By johny on June 26, 2010, 12:34 PM

Hollywood Blvd. A lot of people still think that the stars on the Blvd. are the grave markers of past actors. Actually, that would be more interesting than seeing all the druggies, weirdos, and hookers.

Posted By George on June 26, 2010, 5:15 PM

Isiolo Kenya. The hatred oozing out of the locals was scary. Really unfortunate, because the surrounding areas are spectacular and beautiful.

Posted By Cindy on June 26, 2010, 6:53 PM

Our tour bus from Port Said to Cairo, Egypt, broke down on the desert road. While we were waiting outside in the sand for another bus to rescue us, a band of armed bedouins on horseback came to investigate. Soon, my Aunt, who has some knowledge of Arabic, told me to get back on the bus, go to the back and get out of view. She was pretty upset so I complied without a word. Turns out, the bedouin chief saw me and asked our guide "how much?" My Aunt never let me forget that she had to pay $150 US to get the guy to go away without taking me with him.

Posted By J.C. on June 27, 2010, 10:45 AM

I have traveled and lived in Europe, been all over the USA, and Asia.I could pick a single horrible place to avoid. Every place has something to offer. I think it's the traveler. Pigeon Forge also made me list it. The forest is nice. India may have not been clean, but the people were wonderful and every place can't be Disney. The French I found to be no worse than the Italians and even Americans. Be positive, you will enjoy life more.

Posted By Deborah on June 27, 2010, 8:50 PM

I have to agree Tijuana, Mexico is the dirtiest and scariest place. If you want truck loads of federally with really large guns roaming around go ahead. And if you really have a death wish take a Taxi. The worst experience ever.

Oh and Vegas is suppose to be trashy and Gaudy.

Posted By Tessa on June 27, 2010, 9:33 PM

For sheer mismanagement and incompetence on the part of city and county officials, medical personnel, insurance companies, and....so on... Colorado Springs makes the map. Nice views, but astonishing incompetence.

Posted By ratkartz on June 27, 2010, 11:33 PM

try anywhere in Iraq in the middle of summer

Posted By Ernie on June 28, 2010, 1:44 AM

@Father:

"Portland - the city cant decide what it wants to be. Its not sophisticated enough to be LA and not friendly enough to be Seattle. I hated it and thought people were a bunch of rude posers."

You must have your city name wrong, cause PDX is one of the friendliest cities ever. I'm a Seattlite, and saying that Portlanders aren't as friendly as we are is laughable - we're jerks!

And not as sophisticated as L.A.?? Maybe you missed the bustling art scene, the beautiful gardens, the Mississippi district, the excellent food, and beautiful hotels...?

Posted By Stoermy on June 28, 2010, 8:11 AM

I agree with Deborah. I've traveled all over the world and lived in a few places outside of the U.S. I can't remember one single place that I would consider a "do not visit". Don't get me wrong, I've had bad experiences in my travels but I don't let those bad experiences put a sour taste in my mouth for the entire trip.

Some of my favorite places to travel to:
1) Las Vegas (yeah, it is Sin City and that's why I love it).
2) Egypt. What a truly amazing place to learn ancient history.
3) Just about any country in the Caribbean. I liked Jamaica least but I still enjoyed myself there.
4) Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Can't say enough about this place. I was only there for a few hours during a cruise stop but I will go back someday.

Remember, look for the good things when you travel and don't dwell on the negative.

Posted By Roger on June 28, 2010, 1:47 PM

I'm with Deborah and Roger.
I find this list of complaints fairly astounding - did I stumble onto the Conde Nast Traveler forum or something?
I've been to over 26 countries, and there is not a place I've been that I'm not glad I've visited.
This is not to say that I've never encountered a rude individual or a nasty bathroom - but you know, rude people are their own problem, not mine, and I'm always sure to bring my own tissues in my purse.

I get on with my business and enjoy the beautiful, interesting or just different experiences that every place in the world has to offer.

(Sure, I make it a point to avoid active war zones... but that's just common sense, IMO!)

Posted By Althea on June 28, 2010, 5:28 PM

The two worst drives I've ever done: I-76 in NE Colorado - be sure to top off your tank in Denver (or Ogallala, Nebraska, if you're coming from the other direction), as there's almost no place to stop in between. Or, skip I-76 entirely and take I-80 and I-25 through Cheyenne, WY.

The other one is I-70 through Kansas. I about died of boredom driving east on this stretch, and then, when I finally got close to Kansas City, they hit me with tolls. Made a really lousy drive even worse.

Posted By Kaiti on June 29, 2010, 12:52 PM

KimK2...Topsail, NC - - really? I've been going there for 30 years. I look forward to being there again soon. It's a "small town" beach. So if someone told you it would be buzzing with activity, and night life, you were mis-informed. It's the most relaxing spot I know and there are many restaurants we've enjoyed over the years. If you aren't a person who enjoys the little things...like beautiful, uncrowded beaches and - - fishing, then it's definitely not your spot.

As a worst places pick... Spain. One of the many stops in Europe I was lucky to go to on a month long trip, were it not for the men we ran into. Every one of my friends and myself included were groped and cat-called to the point of looking forward to our trip's end. Beautiful scenery and great food, but I'm glad I took it all in because I wont' be going back. We didn't have any problems like that in Italy or France, etc etc. Taking in the sights while keeping an eye on every man around you is not my idea of an enjoyable trip!

Posted By Topsail Fan on June 29, 2010, 1:17 PM

How about the Salton Sea in Summer time.
While driving through the Coachella Valley, I got out of car only to have my nostrils blasted with the the most foul smelling stench I've ever experienced. I asked one of the locals where the sewage plant was. He said "Oh, that smell is from the Salton Sea. It's like that every day" And what was amazing is that the Salton Sea was still 20 mile away! Can't imagine living or visiting there.

Posted By Gary on June 29, 2010, 1:49 PM

two airports: certainly not the worst places in the world, but as far as airports go, they rival each other for rudeness and threatening behavio: Augusta, Maine and St. Paul-Minneapolis.

Posted By Marley Greiner on June 29, 2010, 8:09 PM

Multiple visits to a hot, humid, smelly porta potty, in a Kenyan reserve, while camping in the middle of nowhere in a canvas pup-tent, with lions roaring and a single guide on watch, while monkeys jumped and screamed on the tin roof, in the middle of the night, with bats hanging on the inside ceiling, thinking you were going to die from food poisoning. Other than that, a fun adventure.

Posted By Karen on June 30, 2010, 12:52 AM

Womens bathroom @ McDonalds in Downtown Seoul. Walking into a bathroom with no lighting, I discovered little round doormats. So polite as I am [but still wondering "why here and why 2 of them?"], I used the "doormats" to rid my shoes of street gunk. After the ritual I continued on in the dark, trying to find the potty and found a wall with a light switch. I flip on the light, hoping finally to find the [by now desperately needed] potty, only to discover that there were none and that the "doormats" I had "cleaned" my shoes on WERE the potties.... I should have left the light off... puddles, piles, and not to mention my "cleaned" shoes..... GROSS.

Posted By globetrotter on June 30, 2010, 9:05 AM

Puntarenas, Costa Rica. There are two reasons you would go to this port city on the west cost of CR. The first is to jump on the commuter ferry to the beautiful Nicoya Peninsula, and the second is if you were duped into staying at a beach resort. AVOID BOTH.

If you are planning on taking the ferry, be prepared to be there 4 hours early, and it will also take about an hour to disembark (total trip = 7 hours!). The pollution in the port and the local prisons make a less-than-pleasing backdrop and will ruin an otherwise peaceful vacation. Drive instead and save time and preserve your image of this beautiful country.

There are also a few resorts - which I suggest you stay away from! The water is so polluted you can smell it from the road and the beach is so dirty that the hotel will recommend you don't take a stroll at sunset. Some guide books also warn that tourists often spot dead cows floating offshore, and that the oil from the port washes up onshore every morning.

Stay away!!!

Posted By Miele on June 30, 2010, 4:14 PM

The worst place I ever traveled is pattaya, thailand. The market is very dangerous to shop since theres alot of robbers. Their police men cannot understand english which I find it very difficult to ask help. Better fly in singapore.

[url=http://www.screwtheairlines.com/?screwair6]You will find great deal here for travelers [/url]

Don't miss it!

Posted By john lloyde crus on July 1, 2010, 5:53 AM

From 1971 to 1973, I hitchiked around the world. The worst ride was in the middle of the Congo (Zaire at the time)where I was picked up in a very dilapidated bakery truck. I sat on the bare metal floor with about 8 Africans squashed into the windowless back compartment where a normal truck would have carried the loaves of bread. The dirt road was full of potholes and rivelets. We were constantly banged and jolted as we breathed in the dirt and dust that came up through a large hole on the floor. The dead monkey and leaky barrel of petrol did nothing to enhance the smell over the 7 hour trip. We left the vehicle covered in dirt as if we had just walked out of a collapsed mine shaft. Yet it was an adventure and the memory remains vivid.

Posted By Ira Cohen Kerem on July 2, 2010, 8:47 AM

To the people complaining about Italy and Paris.

"They rode bikes through a crowd in the square" Let me guess you were with a tour group?

I'm sorry I think your experience in Italy is more of a function of how you saw Italy versus how the citizens of that country really are.

First, tour groups are a horrible way to see a country. PERIOD. You're crammed on a bus and your mini-hoard blocks squares, streets and sidewalks. I live in a semi-popular tourist destination and see tour groups regularly go through my neighborhood. You're damn right I push unapologetically through a crowd of obnoxious tour groups that are blocking the sidewalk as I try to get to my destination. But just as often as I do that, I help a tourist looking befuddled at a map. Your tour group was probably taken to every over-rated tourist trap in the country.

I’m sure you aren’t rude or insensitive to the people that have to live in the city but most of the people that take these tours are very insulated from real travel where you have meaningful interactions with locals. They go on them expecting to see a few requisite sites but then expect the rest of the world to act like Americans or expect everyone to speak English and have not even bothered to learn a couple words in the local language.

I would recommend you give Italy a second chance, but not in a tour group. Find a competent travel agent, book a local hotel and flight and have them make the arrangements. Go and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city, go to local cafes out of the way. Immerse yourself in the culture and you will have a far different experience.

Posted By Brian Cia on July 2, 2010, 1:28 PM

I hate Tower of Terror! Stay away from that ride but go towards Rockin' Roller Coaster!

Posted By Steph on July 7, 2010, 11:44 AM

The washroom at the main bus station at Arequippa, Peru. The preceding night was restless because I spent it on my hotel room's toilet having contracted Atahualpa's (Montezuma's) disease/revenge. Not wanting to upset my companion's anticipation of a bus trip into the hinterland, I steeled myself and made careful progress to the station. When I couldn't hold it, I dashed for the washroom. The rotted wooden door scraped against the floor to reveal the absolute worst washroom in my extensive travels. Adding to the stench and sights was that the toilets were of the stand-and-aim variety. I gagged and rushed out.

It's amazing what the human body can adjust to because I made quick progress to being better. By the time of our arrival, I was weak but past the diarrhea stage. I will forever use that washroom as a standard to compare all others and, needless to say, I have a very low standard of acceptance.

Posted By Phil Lofters on July 8, 2010, 6:17 PM

Fast boat up the Mekong in Laos. The best way to describe it is imagine you're sitting on a sheet of plastic on a frozen lake. You're sitting on this sheet of plastic with your knees pulled against your chest, so you're in a tight little ball. And you're wearing a motorcycle helmet. Now things get really fun because the sheet of plastic is being pulled across the frozen lake at 40mph. Thump, Thump, Thump, Thump, Thump... For six hours.

Posted By Shelly on July 15, 2010, 11:20 PM

Just home from Las Vegas, and a great time. But the worst flight we have ever had. DELTA AIRLINES would not let us on our flight! Even though we were an hour before hand. They said we needed to be there TWO HOURS BEFOR OUR FLIGHT! "WHAT" And that we had missed it by 5 minutes so we could not get our passes. "OMG" The plane had not even started boarding yet. They told me we could get the very next flight they had the next morning, for $1,000. more added. Or we could stay two more days and they would get us on for the dame ticket price! I told them NO way was that going to happen. I am in remission from lung cancer and need meds. My husband less than a year ago had open heart to replace a valve and put in a double pacemaker! We did not need to be stuck in this mess. They said no other flight going out. My husband looked up and saw one going just three hours away. After calling the travel agent, he called Delta, back and fourth for over an hour and a half. We got new ticket for that flight with just but still:( $50. each more added to our tickets. And an over night layover at the next stop Salt Lake City UT. I talked to them at the front desk about what had happen. Was told a half hour before is a good time. That they should never have done that to us. DELTA at Vega said our agent should have told us this, we were not told anything other than good to be a little early to avoid long lines. I still have all the paper work sent VIA email. I am going to speak to an Attorney to see just what we can do, this was just plan wrong.
IF ANYONE HAS HAD THE SAME "PLEASE" EMAIL ME AT blueblueseashore@msn.com

Posted By Paul & Shirley on November 2, 2010, 4:10 PM

I've traveled to 17 countries in Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa. For work and for pleasure. I have to say EGYPT gets my vote for the worst place for vacation, hands down. Yes Egypt has nice places to visit and ancient ruins, however, the people there just ruins your whole experience. Too many beggars everyone there begs for money, and I mean everyone. Even if they perform sub par service they expect you go give them a tip. The most talkative people even about things they don't even understand. They expect foreigners to pay 4 times as much as an Egyptian, some people get charged even more than that. If you are budget traveler the service here sucks big time. If you are big baller and don't mind spending money like there is no tomorrow,they will be on you like flies on s**t. So, they will ruin your experience either way if you are spender or not. 4 stars hotels actually mean negative 4 stars hotel. The hotel stars ratings has no meaning here in Egypt. If you take a taxi you will end up stuck in traffic, and it is not Washington DC type of traffic, angry drivers honking their horns and cursing at each other. Women get no respect here, they think every western woman or just any foreign woman, except Gulf Arabs, is a whore, and they think those women will drop down their panties if touched in the right spot. SICK PEOPLE. This is my second time to Egypt, and I've decided to make it my last trip here. The culture of begging is not caused by poverty, they just think it is appropriate. There are worst poverty in other places I've been to, but people in those other places have self pride. If it was not my friend's wedding, I would have went somewhere else, I just have to suffer for the next five days. My advise to all the vacationers stay away from Egypt if you want have fun.

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