Countries you would never wish to visit?

[JOLovegrove]

Totally agree, I lived in Nairobi for three years and have been to load of african countries as well as other places around the globe. How people have come to the conclusion they don't like somewhere from their armchair is ridiculous. It is true that travel broadens the mind, seems true of the opposite too, those that do no travel have a very blinkered view.

Exactly. There are some amazing places out there if you are just willing to give it a chance. I worked in Kibera, I guess you must know it. Would love to go back there at some point and help again. People say it's just a drop in the ocean, but at least I can say I did my bit.

 

[Robinjakarta]

Cape Town is lovely. Johannesburg is unsafe, with awful traffic - good steaks and wine, which is just as well as if you're there you're not going to stray very far.

Yes. Cape Town and surrounding areas make it in my book the most beautiful major city in the world that I've seen, and I've seen a few including Sydney. The other side of Table Mountain overlooks some gorgeous beaches, and the train journey most of the way down to Cape Point hugs a majestic coastline. Durban, whilst not very safe after dark in many parts, also has a lot to offer, and there are wildlife reserves where you can see everything you might expect to, lions, giraffes, zebra etc. With vibrant people and great food, South Africa is a very interesting country with a huge amount to offer, and I'd go back in a heartbeat.

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

The simple solution to your dilemma is to move. With some imagination you can maybe make it work.

My hope, is to retire on a Greek Island and see my days out there.
Nothing too remote and quiet Maybe Agios Nikolaos in Crete a small, bustling town with every thing I would need, I may even get to like the wine, until then, impossible I am afraid.

 

[Lethargic]

Very surprised so many people say Australia.

I love it out there.

Saudi is a decent call for me. I went to the UAE for a couple of days, and I am guessing it's "Saudi very lite". And I detested every minute I was there. Can only imagine Saudi is a great deal worse.

UAE is not really SA lite its a liberal paradise in comparison to SAudi Arabia if you didn't like UAE you really would hate Saudi, one place I am really not in a hurry to return to.

Some of the responses on here are bizarre but some place not high on my list are Bangladesh, Nigeria and Pakistan.

 

[Seagull58]

Mexico is great. Just go to the nice bits. Bit like saying you wouldn't visit the UK because... Croydon.

For places I wouldn't go.... Dubai, Turkey, Egypt. Oh and Tunisia which I've been to previously. Don't care if they have nice bits, they are horrible places where huge numbers of people (and women in particular) are treated like shit. No thanks.

Really want to go and watch cricket in South Africa too but the same rules apply.

South Africa is fine. One of my old Uni mates came out with the Barmy Army for the Cape town and Joburg tests and had a great time. Yes,the crime is anissue and you have to be a bi tcareful where you go but generally it's a good place to visit.

 

[Seagull58]

India. Wrong, in so many different ways . . . .

My daughter recently spent 4 months in India studying yoga, meditation and"cosmic energy".She had nothng but good to say about it. What is your concern?

 

[Seagull58]

An idle question perhaps.

I don't mean basket-case places like DRC (sorry KLL) or North Korea.

I'd like to nominate Mexico... frightens the Bejasus out of me...

I've been to Los Cabos a the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. It was great. Yeah, the jewellery sellers in the street also sell cocaine but you can always say No if you don't want it.

 

[Seagull58]

Very easy.

1) USA
2) Australia

Can't think of anywhere else I'd not go if the opportunity arose to be honest.

Edit: Southern Spain is out as well. Northern Spain would be fine though.

Why Australia? Is it because of the racism against the aborigines?

 

[Seagull58]

The US is so large and diverse it's really too big to easily fit into a yes/no thing. I love the West Coast (as long as you avoid LA) and South Florida, for example......but there are so many parts I haven't been to. Not overly keen on NYC either (over-rated) but may be due to having been there too much and mostly for crappy work trips (tomorrow as it happens). Seriously considering getting a little place in Florida on the water - lifestyle in the Keys is just bliss.

I've beent the US about 40 times, worked in LA (I agree it's a dump), Maryland and St Louis.I love San Diego and the Palm Springs area, also love Washington DC area. Not a great fan of NYC but I've only been twice so probably missed a lot. I've always been treated very well there (apart from the airports) but I have to say I'm not bothered about going back again. Main reason is the change after 9/11. As a foreigner I get treated like a criminal by immigration and on every internal flight. it really is quite extraordinary the paranoia that has taken hold.

 

[Seagull58]

Sadly, I am near the end of a tour of California and it has been fabulous. The only downside for me has been San Francisco which is filthy and full of homeless people and LA traffic. I am currently on a sun lounger by the pool in San Diego, I do not want to go home..

Really don't fancy Turkey, been once and not really my thing. Oh, and Bahrain. Where I went it looked like Beirut, I hear there's nice parts but no thanks.

San Diego is the best city in the USA as far as I'm concerned.

 

[whitelion]

I've been to Los Cabos a the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. It was great. Yeah, the jewellery sellers in the street also sell cocaine but you can always say No if you don't want it.

Baja California is on my bucket list. Great place to see the whales.

 

[Seagull58]

there are certainly plenty of problems,but they try very hard to make it better.Its a very young nation compared to what it was previously.
i wouldnt write the place off just yet,give it a go,i think you will be pleasantly surprised.

dont buy cricket tickets through official channels though,cost you an arm and a leg. Buy at the gate or ask at your hotel.

Regarding cricket tickets, the ticket for Sunday of the Joburg test in January was 100 rands from Computicket (around a fiver).Thanks to Brad we won the test on the Saturday so the ticket got me free admission to the Joburg Open Golf. In comparison, I went to the Saturday of the Old Trafford test against Pakistan when I was visiting friends in July. 54 quid!!!!!!!!!!!!

The main issue with SA is the corrupt presidnet and government suppporters and the obsession with "white monopoly capital". They just cannot put apartheid behind them. Generally, a lovely country to live inthough.

 

[Norman Baker suck my lozenge]

Syria,Saudi,Qatar,Albania,Ethiopia,Lybia and any other fly infested shithole where Kent is a more attractive option.

 

[Two Professors]

Basically any Islaamic country under Wahaab or Salafist influence,as they are full of nutters.

 

[Seagull58]

I went with work 3 years ago with some serious reservations but found a much more diverse range of views than I was expecting. Spending some time in Jerusalem I think, although not changing my views fundamentally, gave me a perspective I didn't have before and it's historical significance is much greater than the current political situation.

I went to Israel on business a number of times in the early 2000's. I was working with a retired army general and he views were incredibly liberal. He was very dismissive of hte right wing elements n the country. some of the women are just gorgeous. The mix of European, Russian and Ethiopean heritage is amazing.

 

[Seagull58]

My work involves a lot of travel and I have actually been to Dubai/UAE . I picked Dubai as it's just a tourist haven built on slave labour.

Oman on the other hand is lovely and has a lot of traditions still . But yeah I suppose I'm a little Englander

Yes,Oman is nice.

 

[Seagull58]

Baja California is on my bucket list. Great place to see the whales.

Yeah,I saw whales quite close up, and loads of pelicans.

 

[El Presidente]

Would never want to go back to Ireland again, nasty dirty place and nasty dirty people.

I presume you didn't pull when you went there?


Sent from Konnie Huq's lingerie drawer.

 

[Two Professors]

Yes,Oman is nice.

Another vote for Oman,particularly Dhofar.Beautiful countryside and wildlife,islaamic fundamentalist but tolerant of others (Ibadi).Seeing a fleet of whales from Raysut is a sight I will never forget.

 

[The Mole]

I love travelling and I'm struggling to think of any country I don't want to visit - they're maybe a few I wouldn't want to at the moment like Syria and South Sudan.

Some really odd choices here. Brazil is my favourite country - quite safe in the tourist areas. India is fantastic - I'm looking forward to returning. I've spent a lot of time in South Africa. Cape Town, Krugar Park, Stellenbosch all must places to visit on this planet. As some have mentioned ridiculously cheap to watch cricket there.

There are places like Singapore (a bit dull) I have no great wish to go back to, but I'm glad I've been there to know that.