Worst place: Dubai. By far. Just terrible, in all aspects. Fake, ugly, extremely hot, extremely superficial, extremely environment UNfriendly, extremely polluted, just cars and huge highways everywhere, just money and brands and pretending and air conditioners, ... Just terrible.
It's not fake, it's just new because it has just been built, it lacks greenery, it gets its funding from superficial people, rather than taxes, which I find cool, the air is polluted for half the year, the heat is unbearable and the air conditioned malls basically substitute the streets, sure ... but calling the people unfriendly... I don't know man, I've found Dubai residents to be the most likely people to help you out when you need something, much more so than Europeans. There's a ton of people online who have never even been to Dubai just randomly spreading hate and you sound like one of them. Every place has pros and cons, stick to the real cons, please.
Least favourite place was Dubai and the UAE in general. Feel like it’s the place you go if you want to take photos to pretend you are rich. Not much substance there in my experience. Favourite places were Bangkok, Marrakesh, and Edinburgh.
Dubai’s hideous. Too hot. Nothing to see here. Just dodging the sun in soulless, air-conditioned malls surrounded by pretentious wannabes. With you on Edinburgh, Marrakesh (and Morocco in general) but never been to Bangkok.
As someone currently going through a divorce with a person whose parents are “Disney adults” and who was routinely forced to go to all the Disney parks while in the marriage, I count NEVER having to return again as one of the silver linings of separation. Why people obsess over such a manufactured fantasy when there are so many authentic places you could visit instead blows me away.
I'm so sorry you were married to a Disney adult. I loved Disneyland and Disney so much as a kid in the 80s and 90s but I can't imagine making it a lifestyle as an adult. Something wrong with them.
I have one of those as a friend. Made her first husband go there every year, then after divorcing him she dragged her adult kids every year. Now she's remarried and they're more financillay secure, so she drags him there 3 times a year. I cannot fathom wasting all that money for some amusement rides. I can spend a week in Europe for the same amount, and have a much more fulfilling time.
I live 20 minutes away from Disney World. In fact, I've worked for both Disney and Universal here in Orlando and I could not agree with you more Mark. I avoid it like the plague. Overpriced, over crowded, over hyped, and over valued; there are much better places to go and things to do with your time here in Florida; believe it or not.
@@Shauma_llama Crowds, crowds, crowds. So expensive. The last couple of years they have been raising the admission price on a pretty regular basis. I think it's close to $200 now. The lines are horrendously long and in the summertime Florida weather, no thank you. Food is ridiculously overpriced. Fights between people and families break out all the time.
@@BruceMusto I think it's fine if you go once or twice, obviously with kids or teenagers involved. The only park I would go to often if I still lived in florida would be Animal Kingdom, the rest can get pretty boring in my opinion.
While I agree that Brussels is not as wonderful as other cities in this part of Europe (Amsterdam and Bruges are amazing), we had an excellent experience there. They have outstanding restaurants, a very interesting large art museum, and close proximity to other cities. We did great day trips to Ghent and Antwerp - both worthwhile. And - we lucked out to be there during the Belgian Beer Weekend in the main square. So much fun. We also did a chocolate tasting tour and a Belgian beer tour - - also super interesting and fun.
I'm not into beer, so that's not my jam in Belgium, but I LOVED Ghent when we visited last year. The Ghent Altarpiece was one of the most amazing works of art I've ever seen, and I've visited many of Europe's greatest art museums. I enjoyed visiting Bruges and Bastogne on different trips as well. I've never been to Brussels, though.
@@lisalu910 You didn't go to Brussels ? Where did your plane land ? To go to Bastogne you need a car or maybe there a special bus for Muricuns ? Nothing to see there anyway it's just a litle town that's been destroyed in a recent war like many cities in Belgium , like Dinant, Leuven, Tournay, Nivelles , Veurn, Ieper etc, etc ...
thanks so much for spilling the tea on Disneyworld. I always found that the "dark secret" of these amusement parks as well, that in reality you stand waiting in line all day mostly bored. Very cool kids to realize you can have more fun playing at the hotel pool haha!
@@jgw5491 yes, Disney is a lot more impressive when you've never left your small stagnant town but constantly see the movies and parks on tv. To see this super pristine technologically advanced place can leave a very strong mark even on a young adult. And Disney was a lot more futuristic back in the 90s when there was no internet, videogames were lowpoly and tvs were small.
As a Texan I say our lackluster tourist destination is the Alamo. Much smaller and blander that what history books make it seem. Plus it’s wedged in so many touristy spots and a mall.
Another fellow Texan and I loved the Alamo. It was moving. I thought of all the lives that were lost there.😢 Graceland and the Alamo were not as big as I expected but it didn't diminish the experience for me. 😊 I read that there are other missions as well as the Alamo to visit but so far I haven't. Remember the Alamo!
It’s gone downhill over the last 20 years. Weird political agenda, too many people, sky high prices. Universal Studios is much much better and more fun!
Disney world has become woke programing for our children. Should be banned by law all things Disney as they've proven themself as partisan hacks and most likely pedo aswell
@rhinnwai95 Agra is a dump (no offense). Nothing outside the Taj Mahal and the fort there. Yes, other cities are a lot more welcoming, despite their fair share of scams there. Mumbai is incredibly safer than many Western cities. I haven't been to Chennai although I stayed for 4 years in Karnataka. The entirety of the south is mostly humid haha. Jaipur too was nice (although in Rajasthan, I liked Mount Abu and Udaipur more than Jaipur).
Ok, I am so happy to hear Disney. I feel like a freak for having absolutely zero interest in going there. A lot of relief that I’m not a bad mom for never taking my kids there. Like why would I pay money (and a lot of money!) to go somewhere and be marketed to? Why would I pay to basically be inside a commercial? It seems ludicrous to me.
I went to Disneyland as a kid and it was pretty great. Granted it was dumping rain when we went so the park was empty. You could basically walk on to every ride. What really kills Disney for me is the amount of people there normally. The rides and the experiences are carefully curated and really well themed something you could get at other parks like Universal studios so Disney is no longer unique in that respect but its still pretty neat. The people though really kills it. Pirates of the Caribbean and The haunted mansion are great but not so much when you have to wait 2 hours to get on the ride. If I want another well themed and expensive experience I will go back and see the Gol Stavechurch again in Oslo. Cant get much better themed than walking through a nearly 1000 year old wooden church.
Yes! I feel like Disney took a page out of PT Barnum's playbook: Hmmm, let's see....yeah, yeah, let's get people to pay a super high price just to get into a place where they are now a captive audience. And we'll have them do what?? Yeah, yeah, pay incredibly high prices for junk that has some sort of Disney logo on it. God it is awful!
Went to Disney for years and years (mid 90's - 2010's) and, in my opinion, the experience has gone downhill overtime. The amount of people is truly overwhelming to the point where it feels like it's taking over the theming. Also the app sucks to have to use, feels like the opposite of immersion. They need to stop building hotels and remember why people went there in the first place- to escape from chaos and stress.
THANK YOU for saying Disney World. For me Disney World/Disneyland (have done both), plus Las Vegas are top of my list of places I've "been there, done that, don't ever want to go again".
@@lisalu910 for me "never been/never want to go/couldn't make me go if you paid me" would be any Carnival cruise or any all-inclusive resort. Those are "travel for people who don't actually like travel but want to Instagram like they do"
Vegas is fun about once every 5 or 6 years for a weekend. Two days. No more. It is sensory overload and I just feel like I need a shower several times a day.
@@Travelbug71 I'd only ever go to LV if the trip is fully comped (don't care by who -- casino, my work, etc). I won't pay a dime of my own money to go there.
I like Brussels. It's like a middle ground between Paris and Amsterdam, sprinkled with some typical Belgian surrealism. Brussels is all about the quirky off the beaten track sightseeing, not the obvious city center sightseeing.
hmm... I don't know. It's still a pretty average City. London has mainstream sightseeing, but has A LOT of "off the beaten track" sightseeing, as does Berlin, Paris, etc.
@GeekyMedia Brussels actually has A LOT of sightseeing - both mainstream and off the beaten track. Some amazing architecture (sometimes a mix of great and awful modernist sh*t), some good museums, weird hidden spots, cool cafés and a big choice of good restaurants. There's many accessible green spaces and parks. It's also WAAAY smaller than London or Paris, less overwhelming, more laid back but still very multicultural. It's also pretty dirty (definitely in the city center), often badly organized, sometimes hard to navigate, doesn't really have an authentic identity anymore, etc. But it has a lot to offer🤗
I went there to stay with relatives on the southern edge of it and in the first week wondered whether I would get to the city centre. The roads and tram lines didn't seem to go there only to the inner city or they skirted past them. We didn't live near a Metro or train station. Then I accidentally found the tram behind some shops as we lived by a tram terminal so I went back the next day and jumped on it. It went round the houses a but bit the journey was so scenic taking me past different types of architecture. I would imagine I was in France, an Alpine village and Morocco.
For me, it was Santorini. Very, very overrated. It was a cruise port stop, lovely town and beautiful views, but the crowds were unimaginable. You couldn’t even walk into the shops, or around the town. I was there just before the busy season! The wait time for the gondolas was over 90 minutes, so we decided to walk down the “famous steps”, not really understanding what it meant to share them with those poor donkeys. My sister slipped and broke her arm. I almost fainted from heat exhaustion. Go there at your own risk…
Difficult to skip on Santorini but I wouldn't go in June, July or August. Naxos was fantastic and relatively inexpensive when I went some years ago, and I wish I had spent some time on Paros.
We went to the island of Aegina instead. Only a 40 minutes boat trip from Athens, and absolutely lovely. Not too crowded, great weather, fantastic food. Loved it.
Oh good golly! Yes! Last September four of us took a seven day cruise of the Greek Isles. One of my friends had made a restaurant reservation on the island to watch the "famous" Santorini sunset the evening we would be there. But then I started watching a UA-camr named GreeceExplained. He is a tour guide in Athens and Santorini. He gave a very detailed description of what to expect when arriving by cruise ship at the island. He mentioned the often insane wait times for the gondola. So I did the math and realized we would not have enough time to eat at the restaurant, watch the sunset, travel back to the gondola, wait in line for it and a tender boat before the cruise ship left. So I had to break the news to my friends. They watched the video I sent to them explaining it all and had to agree it would not be possible. First thing in the morning at Santorini, one of my friends got us our tickets for the tender boat. We caught an early one. Happily there was no line at all for the gondola. We returned to the ship early evening, so the wait time was about 20 minutes for the gondola. We got freshened up, bought a cocktail and went on the top deck of the ship to watch the sunset. It was gorgeous! I actually think it was better to do it that way than from the island. Because to watch the glow from the sunset on the white cliffs of the island was beautiful. Then to see all the lights on the island come on as it got dark was magical. It was enjoyable being on the island. But I would never do Santorini again.
I don't get the whole adult Disney (or really any theme park) thing. It was fun as a kid, but now I would rather go somewhere with actual history and/or culture going on. Plus, I would probably just be bummed that half the things I liked as a kid aren't there anymore.
It's fun in your 20s with a group of your friends. I look at it as sort of enjoying that last hurrah of childhood pleasures before it starts to get old which i find nothing wrong with in my opinion.... I've done theme parks well into my 20s and early 30s but now that I'm reaching my 40s, I've become more of a museum, culture, walk around quaint shops in historical areas kinda guy. Mostly because I'm less tolerant of rides now.
@@knucklehoagies I went to Disney World the first time when I was 11 and hated it. Living in Atlanta, we went to Six Flags now and then in my teens, and I barely tolerated it even then. So that kind of thing isn't fun for everybody - regardless of age, some of us just don't like the theme park atmosphere.
@@lisalu910 no shit i didnt say it was fun for everybody and i am aware it's not everyones cup of tea. I was responding to the OPs comment about theme parks being fun as a kid but not so much as an adult and that he/she did not understand the whole "groups of adults going to theme parks" thing. I don't care about your own personal experiences. I'm speaking for those who like or have liked theme parks before.
i honestly don't even like Bellewaerde anymore but it is likely way better than disney parks, they are busy but never extremely so and you can in fact bring your own food and drink if you wish so that is fine, it helps that people don't come to Belgium for the amusement parks specifically, still the allure dies down quite a bit when you are an adult
For me the places that are the most disappointing are the places I want to go the most, expectation is such a factor in anything. Usually the places that I enjoyed the most were the ones that I wasn't even planning on going or didn't know anything about it.
There is a of truth to that. The more you plan for a certain destination the higher ones expectations tend to get for that destination which makes it a lot harder for that place to live up to what you were expecting.
@@DamienYuen7718 totally, I had so much expectations to travel to Berlin, everyone I knew who went there said that it was their favorite city, and in just a matter os 6hs it went in to my Do not go if possible list
For me I was dying to go to Dubrovnik ever since I randomly found it on Google maps years ago and book my trip for last May. Months later, and I booked a trip to Rome because there was an extremely good airline deal/ cheapish hotels 2 weeks before my flight. Dubrovnik was beautiful, but it was mostly crowded by Americans and British tourists. There were no local cuisine restaurants that werent high end. Everyone spoke fluent English and so I didnt get a goof feel for the local culture. I then found out recently that Dubrovnik is one of the most touristy cities in Europe in terms of the amount of tourists vs locals. Rome, a last second trip, was beautiful, with waaay more Italians than tourists (French, German, Chinese, and sometimes British). There were a lot of local, cheap, Italian cafes and restaurants that served local foods. So overall I agree with you
I agree with this--I'm like this with movies too! I just returned from Finland and had very low expectations--because I didn't know anything about the country or area I'd be in--and now I want to return and explore even more of it!
Brussels: +Chocolate +beer +nice and walkable - The strange fascination with peeing statues is a bit iffy, but not Akihabara iffy. -Politicians -Lots of prostitutes -lack of sunlight Solid C tier in terms of Europe. B+ tier in terms of the US. A tier in comparison to some really bad places my ancestors lived. As for his "would never go again" choice of Orlando, that competes with Las Vegas and the central part of Long Island as the worst part of the developed world.
Brussels is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. I personally prefer it to London or even Paris. Architecture is amazing, food and beer amazing. I'm really suprised that Mark was not that impressed.
Los Angeles for me. I wasn't expecting much, but still disappointed. My wife chose LA, I chose Nashville. At the end of the trip she was like "You were right, Nashville". And it should be noted, it's nearly impossible for my wife to concede that I was right.
It’s sad that LA is so overrun with homeless people! I lived in SoCal in mid-80’s and it’s a shell of itself now. Nashville is getting overrun with tourists and is pretty much a huge generic country bar! Myself I agree WDW is way over rated. And in I am saving for a trip to Tokyo in 2025. I can’t wait and my favorite place in the USA is Gettysburg. I am a history nerd, and it’s close to so much there as well
@@GhostofSicklesleg If you don't like being overrun with tourists then good luck in Tokyo. Tokyo has double the population of the entire state of Tennessee. It's also one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. You might do better in Osaka.
I went to Brussels last summer right after being in Amsterdam for a few days. It was stop 2 on a 5-city honeymoon my wife and I planned. She didn’t understand why I wanted to go and told me to keep my expectations lower and when I did that I really enjoyed it. It’s not a bad city in any way shape or form, it was just a real shock for me, especially after Amsterdam, for it to be what it was. I loved the Grand-Place, I loved the Royal Belgian Museum of Fine Arts, we did a tour of the European Parliament, and we went to Delirium (Guinness World Record for most beers on tap) which was AMAZING. Brussels is definitely worth it but I would say don’t expect it to be Paris. Keep that in mind and you’ll have a great time.
Brussels is so much better than Amsterdam where you will mostly find American and British tourists behaving badly. There is zero flair in downtown Amsterdam, it's just tourists, tourists, more tourists and shops for tourists, nothing is authentic anymore. locals basically hate it and try to get rid of all the tourists. I hope they succeed. I will actively do my part and try to only be there if I cannot avoid it.
@@ag4444 I loved Amsterdam. One of the coolest places I’ve ever been to. As an American, when I think of a city, I think of New York, Boston or Chicago: skyscrapers everywhere, cars rushing through the streets, tons of noise, and a general dirty feeling. Amsterdam blew that completely out of the water. It was so busy but also so quiet at times, the weather was amazing, being able to walk literally everywhere was awesome, and everyone we met was so polite. I’ve been wanting to go back ever since we left.
For me as a dutchman the city of Amsterdam is just awfull. The smaller cities like Haarlem Alkmaar Leiden Utrecht Delft Schiedam Dordrecht are much nicer to visit.
Brussels is one of the most awesome cities in Europe! The Grand Place is the most awesome square in Europe that I've seen. And I've visited 32 cities across 19 European countries.
@thistlebites2167 I'm an American who livedin NL, and I speak Dutch. Amsterdam is ok, but I agree, the smaller cities have something (I'd add groningen to the list)
Lol!! I feel exactly the same way about Walt Disney World...and I was born and raised in Orlando and still living here! I don't even have to pay to get to WDW, and I wouldn't go. We get visitors from out of town who want to go, they offer to pay the admission for me, and I still refuse. It is HOT in the summer, lines and wait times too long, constantly bumping into people, super high prices for the food in the parks, and now the politics. It is the LAST place I would ever choose to go.
I think that’s the point of it. There are millions that enjoy commercialization and tackiness is in the eye of beholder. In any case, the remark smacks of elitism.
@@pawelpap9 no not at all I enjoy a bit of fun but Disney are a terrible corporate organisation remember they wouldn't allow a spiderman picture on some child's headstone "because of copyright infringement..." horrible organisation.
I absolutely LOVE Brussels. I had zero expectations for Brussels. I only used Brussels as my starting point for my interrailing trip last year because it was the cheapest city to fly into from the United States (PHX-LHR-BRU). Now, I can't wait to go back to Brussels, maybe not for a few weeks or anything, but a few days in Brussels is absolutely worth it.
I appreciate reading your comment. I can't understand how he says that Brussels is overrated, I don't think that many people in the US care too much about visiting Brussels or even Belgium in general. I often heard people said they were actually surprised by how many nice things there are in Belgium. So hearing him say that Brussels is overrated because it apparently has a "rep" is really weird to me.
I think the “rep” is more of a European thing due to it being EU capital of sorts, although it is EU capital precicely because some other countries have capitals in less important cities too, because big cities were competing for this status and if you have both France and Germany in EU, you will not give the capital to one or another 😃 But for many this status leads to hightened expectations
Loved Disney world ONCE. I am satisfied with the once. I did go down the rabbit hole of obsessive planning and it was great but insane expensive and now it's off the bucket list
My wife and kids and I recently spent three days in Amsterdam and three days in Brussells. We were very impressed with Brussels and actually would definitely like to go back again sometime. Amsteram on the other hand, we all felt was overrated and wouldn't go back any time soon.
For me with Brussels it was actually the other way round. Brussels has such a bad reputation meanwhile within Europe, and in Belgium it is Bruges that you have to see, everyone tells you. At the end, I was actually very positively surprised of Brussels and not really fond of Bruges. What shows: it always depends a lot with what kind of expectations you get somewhere.
I've just come back from Brussels and this was my experience as well. I travel mainly for art and architecture so I wasn't disappointed at all, but I made a point to skip the Manneken Pis and Atomium since I knew those things weren't going to be of much interest to me. I was also pleasantly surprised by how mellow the people of Brussels were.
@@Lucian86 I think they are very difficult to compare, especially regarding the size. I think for a day or two I would certainly chose Bruges as it is very pretty. But regarding culture (as the comment above mentioned) or even for a living, I would definitely chose Brussels. For me also one of the nicest market squares in Europe.
@@EmpireStateExpress01 Have you ever been? It's a garishly tasteless mess full of heavyset yokels in casinos. Not to mention it's sprawling hellscape, completely car-centric and hostile to pedestrians. The most depressing place in America. Completely artificially built for tourists. It's literally full of replicas of actual nice places (New York, Paris, Venice, etc).
Disney Land Paris: exactly the same. Hours of waiting, my first bad surprise; I bought a ticket online for fast entry but parking is not included. First thing in the morning: more waiting and more money. At the end of the day the Christmas fireworks were the worst I have ever seen. Not to mention that many attractions were out of service. Thank you for your videos.
Please clue me in - Assuming you're American, why would you go to France and waste one single minute of your time in that country going to DISNEYLAND PARIS? I honestly can't wrap my mind around that. 🙄
I used to live 30 ' from Disney Paris ® . I only went once with my son when he was a kid a week after inauguration in the 90's because I had a free pass for him, we saw Michael Jackson on stage.
Very refreshing to hear this straightforward, without degrading anyone. Straightforward opinion. I live an hour away from Disneyland in Calif. And I livec10 minutes away from Universal. I haven't been to Disneyland for 30 years and don't miss the long long long lines, outrageous prices, and the heat. And now, frankly, the political involvement of it, has ruined any pleasure I had associated with it. Universal Studios is a Blast! Never a problem parking. Food is not too overpriced. Lines aren't too long. Staff are nice. And the exhibits are so very well done. I enjoy your videos and have been watching them for years. Bless you and your family.
I went there when I was 8 and didn't like it. We planned 2 days at Disney and 1 at Universal and ended up switching the other way around. Universal was a blast (but I heard it can be very expensive nowadays too)
I live in central Florida near I4 and been to WDW but never in the parks. I eat at the Golden Corral on exit 68 before parking in Disney Springs. I just resort hop and pretend to be a guest especially at the Grand Floridian. Talk about being on a budget.
I’m very fortunate my kids found Disney parks boring and much rather travel to foreign countries which we did a lot of. Now as adults they continue to have this love for travel.
I was in Brussels 4 months ago and I liked it and felt very comfortable there. Honestly, Brussels is one of the handful of European cities I could see myself living in.
@@Dida16 I went in with zero expectations, so that's probably why I was surprised by how much I liked it. I can see how it wouldn't be everybody's cup of tea.
Was in Brussels about 3 months ago. We stayed in an Air BnB in the city center and was able to walk to most places, a real positive. We went on an evening waffle, chocolate and beer tour which was very fun, and found a place to learn how to make waffles. We also visited Antwerp and Ghent, would recommend zoo in Antwerp (right next to central station ) and Gravensteen Castle in Ghent(audio tour is narrated by a comedian and is quite funny). Most of all would recommend eating Liege waffles, they are made with pearl sugar and are to die for.
I grew up in a family of Disney freaks, meaning that we went to Disney every other year. It got really old after so many visits. That being said, I do prefer Disneyland in California since it predates WDW and has rides that WDW lacks like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Matterhorn. But I would only go back every several years, not every other year. There’s still so many places in the world that I would love to visit.
My worst travel mistakes: taking the train from the Amsterdam airport the wrong way for 45 minutes. Ordering steak tartare and not knowing what it was. Walking for hours after dark to find a pub and it was closed (worst by far). Travel dont’s! Happy (better informed) travels!
Out side of the Lincoln stuff not much to see or do in Springfield but couple of good places for a burger and craft beer and the people were friendly not like Chicago people at all.
Mykonos for me. Filthy, dirty and polluted with "influencers". So obnoxious. Litter all over. The local government is making money hand over fist and they should be keeping the place pristine. We visited in May. I couldn't imagine what a zoo it is in the high season. The only saving grace was when we drove to the empty, spectacular beaches on the north coast. Also a nice lunch at St. Stefano's beach. No obnoxious Instagrammers ruining the view. Delicious lunch. Hotel Poseidon is where we stayed and loved the service and the food. Edge of town so it wasn't noisy all night.
My favourite sights in Brussels: Art & History Museum in Parc Cinquantaire, the Horta House and Museum, and the Museum of Musical Instruments. For food and drinks, get out of the centre and spend time in Ixelles and Les Marolles.
My "not eager to go back" is San Francisco, at least the city. Honestly you can knock out the city stuff in like....3 days, 4 tops? And I don't know, I got the feeling stuff shuts down on time and people go to bed early. I'm sure its a great place to live if you can afford it, but as a city trip? Its eh. I would go back with a car to see the greater Bay Area though.
I love the original Disneyland in California. I was five years old when it opened, and our parents took us at least twice a year. It was one of the last places I went to when "saying goodbye" to my native California to retire in New York City. The Florida Disney is just not "warm and cozy" like the original Disneyland is.
Ehh I disagree with Disney World. I've been there close to 50ish times. It's an acquired taste, but you can absolutely go to the parks without falling for the touristy crap. When I was a kid, we would bring sandwiches to save on lunch. But man, as a kid it was really fun and memorable. Back in the 2000s we had fast passes for the more popular rides (problem solved). There are so many rides that have shorter waiting times that are worth going to. Epcot is also what really sparked my interest in European culture with the international exhibition and the food and wine festival. The parks do so many events throughout the year.
My daughter (9) has zero interest in going to Disney World. We’ve asked her before if she wants to go, since it’s widely considered a rite of passage… it was a resounding “NO.” I’m so glad. 😂
I was in Belgium for a conference, flying in and out of Brussels (actual conference was a 1hr train ride away). Decided to stick around in Brussels for one day before my flight back home because, why not? I didn't have any expectations at all; Brussels has never ben on my radar. But as someone coming in with no expectations, staying near the central old town, I was pleasantly surprised by the short time I spent in Brussels. Granted, I just did a walking tour which included lots of chocolate and beer while walking around the old medieval center and meeting some cool people, and that's all that's really needed to make me happy. I wouldn't say there's anything in particular that would draw me back, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood, it's a cool place to check out for a day or so.
Note that the Grand Place and most of the centre of Brussels isn't "medieval" but dates from 1695 or later. Due to a French artillery bombardment that year destroying most of the city. Those bloody French were aiming for the city hall tower but hit everything except that tower.
I am British, but I strongly agree with your view on Brussels. The smaller Belgian cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges/Brugge are in their architecture way better than the capital. On a different note, I love Switzerland. But one place, Davos, I intensely dislike. It is now not an alpine village but a 'concrete jungle'. Bratislava was a great disappointment. But it probably suffers from the fact that it is only 40 miles from Vienna, where I was staying!
Bratislava makes a good base. Slovakia has hidden gems I had no idea about until I went “home” with my Slovakian friend who lives here in Ireland and he drove me around. Bratislava was the least interesting
There is more soulless stuff in Switzerland, like the horrible rich-tourists-with-no-taste town of Gstaad. Totally overflowing with big-brand shops and overpriced tat. The same goes for Zermatt. A lot of these traditional mountain spa towns have turned into overly-commercialised theme parks with no character.
@@sams3015 Thanks for this. I shall bare this in mind if I am ever in the Vienna/Bratislava region. I suspect that Bratislava is a lot cheaper than Vienna, just as Malmo is cheaper than Copenhagen (only 20 miles away!)
Bratislava is good for a weekend: the old town, Bratislava Castle, Devin Castle, the presidential palace. The Museum of Bratislava at the town hall was interesting; the "100 Wines of Slovakia" wine bar in the basement is touristy kitsch but a great place to hang out in +35C weather. Pretty good food from what I remember, especially Artur Gelato. It's a shame that there are lots of day-trippers from Vienna because I think it deserves a little more time than that. However, I wish I had more time to explore the interior of Slovakia because the Tatras looked amazing. @Fan652w Bratislava is cheap; lots of Austrians on day trips to shop and Brits drinking at the pubs. I heard from one British guy that it can be cheaper to fly there for a weekend of drinking with friends than to head to London....
Least fav place I've been to.... That's hard because I just love seeing new places even if they suck but I could say Dallas or Houston. Empty wastelands.
One year it was snowing in Florida and my family went to Disney. There was nobody there and since I used a mobility device we were in the front of any line ups that did exist. However, the pools were closed because of the cold.
I feel that way about Austin, Texas! The hill country, every town and city (San Antonio)south on I35, Houston, the piney woods, and the coast have much more to offer
For real! I was told for years that I'd love Austin, but after traveling all over Texas it ranks my least favorite major city in the state. It's alright but nothing I'm clamoring to get back to. Houston and San Antonio I'd really love to visit again. And Houston had the BEST food
Well another reason of choosing Austin as my bucket list is because everyone on the internet is going crazy over the Austin breakfast tacos. I need to taste and to try it
My all time least favorite place to go to is Mexico along the west coast tourist area. My all time favorite place to go to is Aruba. It’s big enough to give you things to do but small enough that it forces you to relax and enjoy.
Gotta agree with you on Disney World; I must've gone 5 or 6 times as a kid. Then I went as an adult, and I realized something: Walt Disney had a terrific idea, but he was very much a businessman. Prices were inflated the last time (more than 10 years ago), and I'd be afraid to even look at them now.
Yeah, as a child I loved Universal Studios too (still do)! Biggests disappointments were Rio de Janeiro, Den Haag (similar thing as Brusseles I guess) and Naples.
Naples is gorgeous but it's funny, even tho my family is from the region (all my male ancestors graduated from the University) I didn't care for it when I was there 2 years ago. it was just overwhelming. I joke that they're trying to be the Milano of the South. I speak Italian and I didn't find the people that warm and welcoming. Didn't do the tourist circuit so rather than stay the planned two weeks, I jumped a cheap flight to Palermo and LOVED it. the Sicilians are fantastic and this year, I spend a month in Salerno. Big difference from Napoli. Wonderful, warm, people. I had actually been in Napoli as an 11 year old kid and of all the places I saw that summer, good and bad, I remember Napoli the least. Except for my uncle's wedding, I can't tell you what we did there and it was 10 days in all. I only remember going to the house my grandfather maintained in the province and Pompeii on the way there. P.S. Salerno is not Sicily, I realize that came out confused. It is part of Campania and I was comparing to Napoli.
Brussel is great, it's not that big as London and Paris, and not overrun by tourist like Amsterdam or Rome ...Brussel has great museums, a wonderful main square, fantastic bars and restaurants and the Atomium is unique in the world
I think this just proves the point that not everything is for everyone. I’m an WDW annual pass holder. But I know it’s not for everyone. But I love it and go multiple times a year. I’d never go back to Seattle by choice…
I am a huge fan of art-nouveau architecture, I've hard Brussels has one of the world's largest concentrations of buildings erected in this style. Maybe Brussels has some magic for me?
Yes, especially Louise. There are tours, architects homes & i think a museum, though i haven't been there, so i can't comment. One tour i know is on bike, so you cover quite a lot of the city. Brussel isn't as bike friendly as the Netherlands of course, but it is possible to do so, without instant death as is more common in english speaking countries. I found the sewer museum very interesting & the comic museum is of course a must for any comic fan out there. If you avoid the tourist traps near Manneken Pis, the city has really nice cafés, bars & restaurants, including those that brew their own beer. And the chocolats of course. I prefer Luikse wafels to the ones from Brussel, but that's personal. The city has excellent public transport that's quite cheap, to me at least. Not as famous as London or Venice, it still has some lovely areas like Louise(expensive!), but some _really_ ugly looking ones as well. Not as in unsafe, just not beautiful.
Try it, you might like it. It's not a bad city. It's just not a tourist destination, and there are basically no attractions to visit. I'm not an American so my parrallels may be off, but to try comparing with US cities I'm familiar with think Pittsburgh, PA. Is it an awful city? No. Is there a reason to go there if you are on a short US tour? Also no.
@@hirsch4155 While Amsterdam has some art nouveau, it's not even close to Brussels. @towerenthusiast if you're into art nouveau, Brussels is definitely a good option! We have some amazing art nouveau in the city centre, but be sure to check out Elsene, St. Gilles, Schaerbeek. The city may seem very disorganized with a lot of buildings in different styles right next to each other, but I grew quite fond of "Brusselization". It certainly has some charm.
I went on 4 great tours in Brussels. 1. The European Parliament shown round by Green Party MEPs explaining what they did. 2. A tour run by an anti-corruption group of all the places lobbyists tried to get MEP assistants to support cigarette smoking and where former commissioners work for lobbying companies. 3. An alternative tour of Brussels showing the places locals go but not tourists. 4. A visit to the museum that at that time celebrated Belgian colonialism in the Congo - a real shocker.
Im a Brit. I have never been out of the country so i cant say what my favourite place abroad is. My favourite place in the UK however is The Lake District, specifically Ulswater. I do like visiting London too but only for a day or two. Lots to do. But its great to get home afterwards 😊
@@16dyaMaybe he is a minor. You never know... It's always difficult until you make the 1st step. People falsely assume that traveling is expensive. Take it from me: I am a low-budget traveler. Money can't stop me from visiting other countries and interacting with foreign people. I strongly believe that the same will happen to our friend here. The moment he visits another place out of the UK is the moment he will find another world! Happy traveling!
I am from Australia and took my kids to Disney World in 2021. It was traumatizing. Absolute worst experience. Without getting political here, it was insanity with masks and rules and the policing was awful. The worst $500 I spent in my life. Hate that place with a passion.
I would hate Disney too if I did it that way. Disney is great if you do it right. 1. Go in winter after Christmas (never summer) exception of for Wine & Dine. 2. Stay at better location even if fewer days (with small kid Contemporary or with older kids stay some where like Beach Club near Epcot. 3. Go early for a few hours then leave park and go back in evening to different park for couple hours (by going early and using Genie/fast pass you never wait in line) when not in park nap swim look around. 4. Eat at sit down restaurants, not fast service. Disney has an incredible food scene if you know. We like to eat a good breakfast before going into park- one that puts us near park. I don’t care for the buffet or character meals with just a couple exceptions. 5. Never try to do it all just pick a couple things. I watch people do Disney wrong and feel bad for them. It looks miserable. It is overpriced. No help there. If I had to choose I would do a European trip or something over Disney. But it can be a magical experience if you don’t try to overdo it. But we do our other travel the same way. Oh and for Disney you have to make reservations for everything ahead of time.
Exactly. If you go at the right time, get reservations, and focus on the topics that interest you or the kiddos, Disney can be fun. But you for sure have to plan.
@@dianakorz0730 This was a corporate job so I had no interaction with guests- I was a technical writer. I was harassed and discriminated against by an employee and as a contractor I had no access to HR or any way to defend myself. Thank god I was financially stale enough that I could quit.
Lol! We totally agree on Disney. Would much rather spend our travel days and money seeing the world with our grandkids than with Mickey...and so would they😊
I agree about WDW and Universal, but disagree about Brussels in part because I'd hate to see people avoid it altogether. During one of your lives in early 2022, I shared that this would be my first solo trip (and I'm a woman) and asked you, your wife, and the other couple if it is safe--you all emphatically said "Yes!" with big smiles! I was only there for a few days, but I scheduled a walking tour which was wonderful, and the guide taught us about artisan chocolate and how to enjoy a waffle the way locals do. His knowledge of local history gave an appreciation for the old town I wouldn't have otherwise learned. As a bonus, I practiced speaking French with the guide, and he suggested how to continue practicing. After the tour, I felt comfortable going out on my own, did a few FB lives for friends back home, and enjoyed an outdoor concert in the square. I took your suggestion from your series of videos about Belgium and took the train to Bruges where I also did a walking history and foodie tour. Destinations should be chosen based on what one is trying to get from experience--for me, a solo female traveler dipping my toe into the world of solo travel, the small-ish old town of Brussels was perfect and I recommend it 🙂
I live in Aberdeen Scotland and before that lived next to a place 40 miles north of Aberdeen called Fraserburgh. Despite the lack of trees, I think Buchan (the local area that has Fraserburgh in it) is pretty darn beautiful so I was wondering if you ever visited and made a video about Aberdeen and/or Aberdeenshire, particularly the bits that aren't the famous bit ie. Royal Deeside?
I’ve been to Disney World four times, most recently back in 2018. With all of the ride closures, controversy, and horrible business practices that have priced out the average family, I think it’s safe to say that we may never be going back again unless something drastic changes.
Walt Disney World should be experienced once just to see if you like it. It is so big with an incredible amount parks and attractions. You are correct it is insanely expensive and can be overcrowded to the point where its just not worth the hassle. However, there are ways to minimize the wait times with afterhours and going on off peak seasons. My suggestion for anyone wishing to go to the park is to do their research on how to get the most out of Disney World before you ever book your vaction.
I do wonder what month you went to Disney. I’m not particularly big on Disney-but we went in mid-January during shoulder season. That means there are very little crowds and zero heat. (It ranged from 60-75) . So if I’m gonna do Disney, that’s when I’d do it. It’s just too ridiculously hot in the summer
Thank you for your refreshing and honest opinions, always. I happen to agree with what you say, but even if I didn't, your videos are always interesting. I admire not only your work, but also the way you make traveling the world possible for your family. Very inspirational.
I actually liked Brussels quite a bit. It has much to offer. Part I didn’t like was excessive number of tourists on organized trip (it was right behind pandemic), guide with a colorful flag talking loudly on a megaphone, group of 100 that can literally block narrow street. I also admit I am not a big fun of cultural diversity and I would prefer to see more Belgian people, particularly in downtown area. The impression I had was that the original inhabitants left leaving historical parts to newcomers, who in turn cling to customs of their original countries.
I lived in Brussels for two years. It's obviously not a big city like London or Paris, but you can meet people from all over and there are lots of interesting things to see beyond the Grand Place, such as the Museum of Africa in Tervuren.
The most known-as-attrative places in Belgium during summer are the ones bordering the North sea like Bruges, Blankenberg, ... There is also the Belgian Ardennes. A lot of Beglians and Dutch love to spend vacation there. Marche-en-Famenne is one of the best Walloon (French-speaking) town for tourist as well.
Totally get Disney, it's not just all the people packed in and the huge queues, they price gouge for everything, how much money to these big corporations need? It's the same with Vegas now too, taxes for the taxes 🤦🏻♂️
Dubai is easily the worst place I've traveled to. The only thing good about Dubai is that I can say I been there.
Ha! I could tell by photos that I would hate it. Same for Las Vegas and LV lived up to my expectations!
I agree, the place is soulless, I would never go back.
Dubai is a dead city, i've been there, overrated.
Dubai, Las Vegas, Disney, are nothing but piece of s...hit.
I just imagine Dubai as Las Vegas minus all the fun parts of Vegas.
Worst place: Dubai. By far. Just terrible, in all aspects. Fake, ugly, extremely hot, extremely superficial, extremely environment UNfriendly, extremely polluted, just cars and huge highways everywhere, just money and brands and pretending and air conditioners, ... Just terrible.
You just confirmed all my preconceived ideas about it. I have never had a desire to visit there for those reasons.
But why you visited Dubai then? isn't that what Dubai all about?
any place that lists shopping as a major attraction is usually not for me
It's not fake, it's just new because it has just been built, it lacks greenery, it gets its funding from superficial people, rather than taxes, which I find cool, the air is polluted for half the year, the heat is unbearable and the air conditioned malls basically substitute the streets, sure ... but calling the people unfriendly... I don't know man, I've found Dubai residents to be the most likely people to help you out when you need something, much more so than Europeans.
There's a ton of people online who have never even been to Dubai just randomly spreading hate and you sound like one of them.
Every place has pros and cons, stick to the real cons, please.
Isn't that the point of Dubai?
Least favourite place was Dubai and the UAE in general. Feel like it’s the place you go if you want to take photos to pretend you are rich. Not much substance there in my experience. Favourite places were Bangkok, Marrakesh, and Edinburgh.
Agree
Dubai’s hideous. Too hot. Nothing to see here. Just dodging the sun in soulless, air-conditioned malls surrounded by pretentious wannabes. With you on Edinburgh, Marrakesh (and Morocco in general) but never been to Bangkok.
@@titteryenot4524 Bangkok is my favorite city in the world, you have to go!
@@movementii I go this year, do you have some recomendations?
Interesting because I spent 5 months in Thailand and the trip improved immeasurably once we left the capital.
As someone currently going through a divorce with a person whose parents are “Disney adults” and who was routinely forced to go to all the Disney parks while in the marriage, I count NEVER having to return again as one of the silver linings of separation. Why people obsess over such a manufactured fantasy when there are so many authentic places you could visit instead blows me away.
I'm so sorry you were married to a Disney adult. I loved Disneyland and Disney so much as a kid in the 80s and 90s but I can't imagine making it a lifestyle as an adult. Something wrong with them.
With how much it costs nowadays you could go on a really nice vacation somewhere else and see new things!
Agree. Disney is a place where you take kids to please the kids. I don’t understand why adults would like it.
I have one of those as a friend. Made her first husband go there every year, then after divorcing him she dragged her adult kids every year. Now she's remarried and they're more financillay secure, so she drags him there 3 times a year. I cannot fathom wasting all that money for some amusement rides. I can spend a week in Europe for the same amount, and have a much more fulfilling time.
PREACH
I live 20 minutes away from Disney World. In fact, I've worked for both Disney and Universal here in Orlando and I could not agree with you more Mark. I avoid it like the plague. Overpriced, over crowded, over hyped, and over valued; there are much better places to go and things to do with your time here in Florida; believe it or not.
I went to Walt Disney World several times in the 80s, and really enjoyed it. Maybe it's changed a lot?
@@Shauma_llama Crowds, crowds, crowds. So expensive. The last couple of years they have been raising the admission price on a pretty regular basis. I think it's close to $200 now. The lines are horrendously long and in the summertime Florida weather, no thank you. Food is ridiculously overpriced. Fights between people and families break out all the time.
Might be crazy to say this but as someone who also worked at Disney, I honestly had more fun going to the malls in Orlando than Disneyworld itself.
@@BruceMusto I think it's fine if you go once or twice, obviously with kids or teenagers involved. The only park I would go to often if I still lived in florida would be Animal Kingdom, the rest can get pretty boring in my opinion.
While I agree that Brussels is not as wonderful as other cities in this part of Europe (Amsterdam and Bruges are amazing), we had an excellent experience there. They have outstanding restaurants, a very interesting large art museum, and close proximity to other cities. We did great day trips to Ghent and Antwerp - both worthwhile. And - we lucked out to be there during the Belgian Beer Weekend in the main square. So much fun. We also did a chocolate tasting tour and a Belgian beer tour - - also super interesting and fun.
I'm not into beer, so that's not my jam in Belgium, but I LOVED Ghent when we visited last year. The Ghent Altarpiece was one of the most amazing works of art I've ever seen, and I've visited many of Europe's greatest art museums. I enjoyed visiting Bruges and Bastogne on different trips as well. I've never been to Brussels, though.
Yes -- I thought the food was outstanding in Brussels! (But I don't need to go back for anything else.)
@@lisalu910 You didn't go to Brussels ? Where did your plane land ? To go to Bastogne you need a car or maybe there a special bus for Muricuns ? Nothing to see there anyway it's just a litle town that's been destroyed in a recent war like many cities in Belgium , like Dinant, Leuven, Tournay, Nivelles , Veurn, Ieper etc, etc ...
Try visiting Hong Kong Disneyland. Talk about service with a frown. The most miserable place on the planet, easily.
Hong Kong is not known for friendliness. Good food and shopping . Friendly service ? No.
thanks so much for spilling the tea on Disneyworld. I always found that the "dark secret" of these amusement parks as well, that in reality you stand waiting in line all day mostly bored. Very cool kids to realize you can have more fun playing at the hotel pool haha!
Mark's kids have plenty to compare it to. They have seen the real wonderlands; they don't need the expensive fantasy. 🏰
@@jgw5491 yes, Disney is a lot more impressive when you've never left your small stagnant town but constantly see the movies and parks on tv. To see this super pristine technologically advanced place can leave a very strong mark even on a young adult. And Disney was a lot more futuristic back in the 90s when there was no internet, videogames were lowpoly and tvs were small.
American potempkin village
As a Texan I say our lackluster tourist destination is the Alamo. Much smaller and blander that what history books make it seem. Plus it’s wedged in so many touristy spots and a mall.
It is symbolically important, but some of the other SA missions are just lovely.
Texas is not a desirable tourist destination.
Fellow Texan here and I agree with you. We found the nearby Ripley’s museums a lot more interesting lol!
Another fellow Texan and I loved the Alamo. It was moving. I thought of all the lives that were lost there.😢 Graceland and the Alamo were not as big as I expected but it didn't diminish the experience for me. 😊 I read that there are other missions as well as the Alamo to visit but so far I haven't. Remember the Alamo!
San Antonio is lovely. Especially the river walk and all the wonderful restaurants.
The trick to doing the Mouse is to go first thing in the morning. Break for lunch, pool, and nap, and then back in the evening.
My family and I are not fans of Disney World either. I’m glad to know we are not the only ones. 😂
You’re not alone. I grew up near Disneyland, wonderful memories but I’m done.
I despise Disney! 😂
It’s gone downhill over the last 20 years. Weird political agenda, too many people, sky high prices. Universal Studios is much much better and more fun!
Disney world has become woke programing for our children. Should be banned by law all things Disney as they've proven themself as partisan hacks and most likely pedo aswell
FYI- Disneyland is not any better. At least in Disney world , we’ll they have brews….
Delhi for me. It has rich history but the air quality, the attitude of some people just makes you want to stay away from it. Saying this as an Indian.
Is that a “capital city syndrome” though. I feel like we all dislike our capital / major cities
@@sams3015 Nope, not really. Its just the people over there. Not super unsafe but I wouldn't wanna be alone at night, especially if I were a woman.
Unsafe? Come to Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo in the neighborhoods that are not for tourism...
@rhinnwai95 Agra is a dump (no offense). Nothing outside the Taj Mahal and the fort there. Yes, other cities are a lot more welcoming, despite their fair share of scams there. Mumbai is incredibly safer than many Western cities. I haven't been to Chennai although I stayed for 4 years in Karnataka. The entirety of the south is mostly humid haha. Jaipur too was nice (although in Rajasthan, I liked Mount Abu and Udaipur more than Jaipur).
@@sahilanant123trust me ,every capital is horrific
Ok, I am so happy to hear Disney. I feel like a freak for having absolutely zero interest in going there. A lot of relief that I’m not a bad mom for never taking my kids there. Like why would I pay money (and a lot of money!) to go somewhere and be marketed to? Why would I pay to basically be inside a commercial? It seems ludicrous to me.
I went to Disneyland as a kid and it was pretty great. Granted it was dumping rain when we went so the park was empty. You could basically walk on to every ride. What really kills Disney for me is the amount of people there normally. The rides and the experiences are carefully curated and really well themed something you could get at other parks like Universal studios so Disney is no longer unique in that respect but its still pretty neat. The people though really kills it. Pirates of the Caribbean and The haunted mansion are great but not so much when you have to wait 2 hours to get on the ride. If I want another well themed and expensive experience I will go back and see the Gol Stavechurch again in Oslo. Cant get much better themed than walking through a nearly 1000 year old wooden church.
Its crazy capitalism there, everything is so overpriced and extremely crowded so it certainly makes the experience sub par
Yes! I feel like Disney took a page out of PT Barnum's playbook: Hmmm, let's see....yeah, yeah, let's get people to pay a super high price just to get into a place where they are now a captive audience. And we'll have them do what?? Yeah, yeah, pay incredibly high prices for junk that has some sort of Disney logo on it. God it is awful!
@@ekaufman666 Same reason beers at a concert are 15 bucks. They got you captive so they are going to wring you for cash.
Glad to hear you won't be there. One less Karen at the parks.
Went to Disney for years and years (mid 90's - 2010's) and, in my opinion, the experience has gone downhill overtime. The amount of people is truly overwhelming to the point where it feels like it's taking over the theming. Also the app sucks to have to use, feels like the opposite of immersion. They need to stop building hotels and remember why people went there in the first place- to escape from chaos and stress.
Not so busy these days.
Disney can kiss me arse😊
...I hope that isn't too vulgar--just picture Shreck saying it instead of an angry Irishman
THANK YOU for saying Disney World. For me Disney World/Disneyland (have done both), plus Las Vegas are top of my list of places I've "been there, done that, don't ever want to go again".
Disney - been there/done that/don't ever want to go again. Vegas - never been/never want to go/couldn't make me go if you paid me.
@@lisalu910 for me "never been/never want to go/couldn't make me go if you paid me" would be any Carnival cruise or any all-inclusive resort. Those are "travel for people who don't actually like travel but want to Instagram like they do"
Vegas is amazing, sometimes I wonder if people know how to vacay.
Vegas is fun about once every 5 or 6 years for a weekend. Two days. No more. It is sensory overload and I just feel like I need a shower several times a day.
@@Travelbug71 I'd only ever go to LV if the trip is fully comped (don't care by who -- casino, my work, etc). I won't pay a dime of my own money to go there.
I like Brussels. It's like a middle ground between Paris and Amsterdam, sprinkled with some typical Belgian surrealism. Brussels is all about the quirky off the beaten track sightseeing, not the obvious city center sightseeing.
hmm... I don't know. It's still a pretty average City. London has mainstream sightseeing, but has A LOT of "off the beaten track" sightseeing, as does Berlin, Paris, etc.
@GeekyMedia Brussels actually has A LOT of sightseeing - both mainstream and off the beaten track.
Some amazing architecture (sometimes a mix of great and awful modernist sh*t), some good museums, weird hidden spots, cool cafés and a big choice of good restaurants.
There's many accessible green spaces and parks.
It's also WAAAY smaller than London or Paris, less overwhelming, more laid back but still very multicultural.
It's also pretty dirty (definitely in the city center), often badly organized, sometimes hard to navigate, doesn't really have an authentic identity anymore, etc.
But it has a lot to offer🤗
I went there to stay with relatives on the southern edge of it and in the first week wondered whether I would get to the city centre. The roads and tram lines didn't seem to go there only to the inner city or they skirted past them. We didn't live near a Metro or train station. Then I accidentally found the tram behind some shops as we lived by a tram terminal so I went back the next day and jumped on it. It went round the houses a but bit the journey was so scenic taking me past different types of architecture. I would imagine I was in France, an Alpine village and Morocco.
@@rheinhartsilvento2576Much of that is in tbe suburbs if you know where to look. It feels like it has two centres; the normal one and the Berlaymont.
but Ghent and Bruges, Leuven, Ypres, all those are better options for that
For me, it was Santorini. Very, very overrated. It was a cruise port stop, lovely town and beautiful views, but the crowds were unimaginable. You couldn’t even walk into the shops, or around the town. I was there just before the busy season! The wait time for the gondolas was over 90 minutes, so we decided to walk down the “famous steps”, not really understanding what it meant to share them with those poor donkeys. My sister slipped and broke her arm. I almost fainted from heat exhaustion. Go there at your own risk…
Difficult to skip on Santorini but I wouldn't go in June, July or August. Naxos was fantastic and relatively inexpensive when I went some years ago, and I wish I had spent some time on Paros.
We went to the island of Aegina instead. Only a 40 minutes boat trip from Athens, and absolutely lovely. Not too crowded, great weather, fantastic food. Loved it.
@@RuRaynor Aegina is fantastic, check out Agistri or Poros next time if staying in Athens!
Oh good golly! Yes! Last September four of us took a seven day cruise of the Greek Isles. One of my friends had made a restaurant reservation on the island to watch the "famous" Santorini sunset the evening we would be there. But then I started watching a UA-camr named GreeceExplained. He is a tour guide in Athens and Santorini. He gave a very detailed description of what to expect when arriving by cruise ship at the island. He mentioned the often insane wait times for the gondola. So I did the math and realized we would not have enough time to eat at the restaurant, watch the sunset, travel back to the gondola, wait in line for it and a tender boat before the cruise ship left. So I had to break the news to my friends. They watched the video I sent to them explaining it all and had to agree it would not be possible. First thing in the morning at Santorini, one of my friends got us our tickets for the tender boat. We caught an early one. Happily there was no line at all for the gondola. We returned to the ship early evening, so the wait time was about 20 minutes for the gondola. We got freshened up, bought a cocktail and went on the top deck of the ship to watch the sunset. It was gorgeous! I actually think it was better to do it that way than from the island. Because to watch the glow from the sunset on the white cliffs of the island was beautiful. Then to see all the lights on the island come on as it got dark was magical. It was enjoyable being on the island. But I would never do Santorini again.
Once upon a time there was a beautiful island in Greece called Santorini. Delicious dishes, wines and a sunset.
End of the tail.
I don't get the whole adult Disney (or really any theme park) thing. It was fun as a kid, but now I would rather go somewhere with actual history and/or culture going on. Plus, I would probably just be bummed that half the things I liked as a kid aren't there anymore.
It's fun in your 20s with a group of your friends. I look at it as sort of enjoying that last hurrah of childhood pleasures before it starts to get old which i find nothing wrong with in my opinion.... I've done theme parks well into my 20s and early 30s but now that I'm reaching my 40s, I've become more of a museum, culture, walk around quaint shops in historical areas kinda guy. Mostly because I'm less tolerant of rides now.
@@knucklehoagies I went to Disney World the first time when I was 11 and hated it. Living in Atlanta, we went to Six Flags now and then in my teens, and I barely tolerated it even then. So that kind of thing isn't fun for everybody - regardless of age, some of us just don't like the theme park atmosphere.
@@lisalu910 no shit i didnt say it was fun for everybody and i am aware it's not everyones cup of tea. I was responding to the OPs comment about theme parks being fun as a kid but not so much as an adult and that he/she did not understand the whole "groups of adults going to theme parks" thing. I don't care about your own personal experiences. I'm speaking for those who like or have liked theme parks before.
Totally agree.
i honestly don't even like Bellewaerde anymore but it is likely way better than disney parks, they are busy but never extremely so and you can in fact bring your own food and drink if you wish so that is fine, it helps that people don't come to Belgium for the amusement parks specifically, still the allure dies down quite a bit when you are an adult
For me the places that are the most disappointing are the places I want to go the most, expectation is such a factor in anything. Usually the places that I enjoyed the most were the ones that I wasn't even planning on going or didn't know anything about it.
There is a of truth to that. The more you plan for a certain destination the higher ones expectations tend to get for that destination which makes it a lot harder for that place to live up to what you were expecting.
@@DamienYuen7718 totally, I had so much expectations to travel to Berlin, everyone I knew who went there said that it was their favorite city, and in just a matter os 6hs it went in to my Do not go if possible list
For me I was dying to go to Dubrovnik ever since I randomly found it on Google maps years ago and book my trip for last May. Months later, and I booked a trip to Rome because there was an extremely good airline deal/ cheapish hotels 2 weeks before my flight. Dubrovnik was beautiful, but it was mostly crowded by Americans and British tourists. There were no local cuisine restaurants that werent high end. Everyone spoke fluent English and so I didnt get a goof feel for the local culture. I then found out recently that Dubrovnik is one of the most touristy cities in Europe in terms of the amount of tourists vs locals. Rome, a last second trip, was beautiful, with waaay more Italians than tourists (French, German, Chinese, and sometimes British). There were a lot of local, cheap, Italian cafes and restaurants that served local foods. So overall I agree with you
I agree with this--I'm like this with movies too! I just returned from Finland and had very low expectations--because I didn't know anything about the country or area I'd be in--and now I want to return and explore even more of it!
@@Bards.98 Berlin is a nice place to switch trains. Hamburg is more interesting.
I avoid anything Disney.
Me too. High five.
🙏
♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏🙏 Yes
I don't even want to associate with people that like Disney (especially adults).
Disney and Vegas, both one and done. Manufactured, commercialism, and Americana at its max.
Amen to Disney! Happy to never go back there again.
Every Belgian is just excited you mentioned our country & capital. Doesn't matter if it's in a postive or a negative way, we are mentioned! ;)
What I loved about Brussels--every five steps there was another chocolate shop!!!
My husband and I loved Brussels. The Grand-Place with the Maison du Roi was so beautiful, and the food was amazing!
Great sense of humor. Ji, ji,…
Brussels:
+Chocolate
+beer
+nice and walkable
- The strange fascination with peeing statues is a bit iffy, but not Akihabara iffy.
-Politicians
-Lots of prostitutes
-lack of sunlight
Solid C tier in terms of Europe. B+ tier in terms of the US. A tier in comparison to some really bad places my ancestors lived.
As for his "would never go again" choice of Orlando, that competes with Las Vegas and the central part of Long Island as the worst part of the developed world.
Brussels is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. I personally prefer it to London or even Paris. Architecture is amazing, food and beer amazing. I'm really suprised that Mark was not that impressed.
Los Angeles for me. I wasn't expecting much, but still disappointed. My wife chose LA, I chose Nashville. At the end of the trip she was like "You were right, Nashville". And it should be noted, it's nearly impossible for my wife to concede that I was right.
As an American, most all our big cities are pretty generic. The secondary cities have all the flavor.
It’s sad that LA is so overrun with homeless people! I lived in SoCal in mid-80’s and it’s a shell of itself now. Nashville is getting overrun with tourists and is pretty much a huge generic country bar! Myself I agree WDW is way over rated. And in I am saving for a trip to Tokyo in 2025. I can’t wait and my favorite place in the USA is Gettysburg. I am a history nerd, and it’s close to so much there as well
I loved visiting LA. The weather, the cool people, a lot of outdoor activities, etc. You just have to plan it out decently.
@@GhostofSicklesleg If you don't like being overrun with tourists then good luck in Tokyo. Tokyo has double the population of the entire state of Tennessee. It's also one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. You might do better in Osaka.
LA is my favorite city😢
I went to Brussels last summer right after being in Amsterdam for a few days. It was stop 2 on a 5-city honeymoon my wife and I planned. She didn’t understand why I wanted to go and told me to keep my expectations lower and when I did that I really enjoyed it. It’s not a bad city in any way shape or form, it was just a real shock for me, especially after Amsterdam, for it to be what it was. I loved the Grand-Place, I loved the Royal Belgian Museum of Fine Arts, we did a tour of the European Parliament, and we went to Delirium (Guinness World Record for most beers on tap) which was AMAZING. Brussels is definitely worth it but I would say don’t expect it to be Paris. Keep that in mind and you’ll have a great time.
Brussels is so much better than Amsterdam where you will mostly find American and British tourists behaving badly. There is zero flair in downtown Amsterdam, it's just tourists, tourists, more tourists and shops for tourists, nothing is authentic anymore. locals basically hate it and try to get rid of all the tourists. I hope they succeed. I will actively do my part and try to only be there if I cannot avoid it.
@@ag4444 I loved Amsterdam. One of the coolest places I’ve ever been to. As an American, when I think of a city, I think of New York, Boston or Chicago: skyscrapers everywhere, cars rushing through the streets, tons of noise, and a general dirty feeling. Amsterdam blew that completely out of the water. It was so busy but also so quiet at times, the weather was amazing, being able to walk literally everywhere was awesome, and everyone we met was so polite. I’ve been wanting to go back ever since we left.
For me as a dutchman the city of Amsterdam is just awfull. The smaller cities like Haarlem Alkmaar Leiden Utrecht Delft Schiedam Dordrecht are much nicer to visit.
Brussels is one of the most awesome cities in Europe! The Grand Place is the most awesome square in Europe that I've seen. And I've visited 32 cities across 19 European countries.
@thistlebites2167 I'm an American who livedin NL, and I speak Dutch. Amsterdam is ok, but I agree, the smaller cities have something (I'd add groningen to the list)
Lol!! I feel exactly the same way about Walt Disney World...and I was born and raised in Orlando and still living here! I don't even have to pay to get to WDW, and I wouldn't go. We get visitors from out of town who want to go, they offer to pay the admission for me, and I still refuse. It is HOT in the summer, lines and wait times too long, constantly bumping into people, super high prices for the food in the parks, and now the politics. It is the LAST place I would ever choose to go.
Disneyland is the height of tackiness and commercialism I have not desire to visit.
Wouldn't want to support Disney anymore, anyway.
Disney World and Disneyland are not the same place.
@@Lil_Angry_Bitch Really? Wow! Here's another one for you: Spain and Portugal are not the same country.
I think that’s the point of it. There are millions that enjoy commercialization and tackiness is in the eye of beholder. In any case, the remark smacks of elitism.
@@pawelpap9 no not at all I enjoy a bit of fun but Disney are a terrible corporate organisation remember they wouldn't allow a spiderman picture on some child's headstone "because of copyright infringement..." horrible organisation.
Brussels has a MAGNIFICENT paleontology exhibition!
Ross Geller (of Friends) will love it there😂
Finally someone said it about Disney,place sucks
I absolutely LOVE Brussels. I had zero expectations for Brussels. I only used Brussels as my starting point for my interrailing trip last year because it was the cheapest city to fly into from the United States (PHX-LHR-BRU). Now, I can't wait to go back to Brussels, maybe not for a few weeks or anything, but a few days in Brussels is absolutely worth it.
were the sprouts a lot fresher there?
@@JK-br1mu Terrible name for a city. Reminds me of that gemmiferous tragedy.
I agree, a few days is certainly worth it.
I appreciate reading your comment. I can't understand how he says that Brussels is overrated, I don't think that many people in the US care too much about visiting Brussels or even Belgium in general. I often heard people said they were actually surprised by how many nice things there are in Belgium. So hearing him say that Brussels is overrated because it apparently has a "rep" is really weird to me.
I think the “rep” is more of a European thing due to it being EU capital of sorts, although it is EU capital precicely because some other countries have capitals in less important cities too, because big cities were competing for this status and if you have both France and Germany in EU, you will not give the capital to one or another 😃 But for many this status leads to hightened expectations
Loved Disney world ONCE. I am satisfied with the once. I did go down the rabbit hole of obsessive planning and it was great but insane expensive and now it's off the bucket list
My wife and kids and I recently spent three days in Amsterdam and three days in Brussells. We were very impressed with Brussels and actually would definitely like to go back again sometime. Amsteram on the other hand, we all felt was overrated and wouldn't go back any time soon.
For me with Brussels it was actually the other way round. Brussels has such a bad reputation meanwhile within Europe, and in Belgium it is Bruges that you have to see, everyone tells you. At the end, I was actually very positively surprised of Brussels and not really fond of Bruges. What shows: it always depends a lot with what kind of expectations you get somewhere.
I've just come back from Brussels and this was my experience as well. I travel mainly for art and architecture so I wasn't disappointed at all, but I made a point to skip the Manneken Pis and Atomium since I knew those things weren't going to be of much interest to me. I was also pleasantly surprised by how mellow the people of Brussels were.
Do you really rate Bruxelles over Bruges?
@@Lucian86 That's not all what I said, if you re-read my post
@@bastyaya I didn't say you said that. I asked a question
@@Lucian86 I think they are very difficult to compare, especially regarding the size. I think for a day or two I would certainly chose Bruges as it is very pretty. But regarding culture (as the comment above mentioned) or even for a living, I would definitely chose Brussels. For me also one of the nicest market squares in Europe.
I completely agree with you on Brussels and Disney World. I would also add Las Vegas to the list of unworthy destinations. Dubai is also on thin ice.
When I went to Vegas, I spent more time in the desert than on the strip
Why Vegas?
@@EmpireStateExpress01 Have you ever been? It's a garishly tasteless mess full of heavyset yokels in casinos. Not to mention it's sprawling hellscape, completely car-centric and hostile to pedestrians. The most depressing place in America. Completely artificially built for tourists. It's literally full of replicas of actual nice places (New York, Paris, Venice, etc).
I loathe Vegas
@@stevenb9766 You nailed it.
Have you considered doing a travel video on Mackinac?
Have you been to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee?
Disney Land Paris: exactly the same. Hours of waiting, my first bad surprise; I bought a ticket online for fast entry but parking is not included. First thing in the morning: more waiting and more money. At the end of the day the Christmas fireworks were the worst I have ever seen. Not to mention that many attractions were out of service. Thank you for your videos.
Please clue me in - Assuming you're American, why would you go to France and waste one single minute of your time in that country going to DISNEYLAND PARIS? I honestly can't wrap my mind around that. 🙄
I used to live 30 ' from Disney Paris ® . I only went once with my son when he was a kid a week after inauguration in the 90's because I had a free pass for him, we saw Michael Jackson on stage.
Very refreshing to hear this straightforward, without degrading anyone. Straightforward opinion. I live an hour away from Disneyland in Calif. And I livec10 minutes away from Universal. I haven't been to Disneyland for 30 years and don't miss the long long long lines, outrageous prices, and the heat. And now, frankly, the political involvement of it, has ruined any pleasure I had associated with it. Universal Studios is a Blast! Never a problem parking. Food is not too overpriced. Lines aren't too long. Staff are nice. And the exhibits are so very well done. I enjoy your videos and have been watching them for years. Bless you and your family.
I live in Florida ... yeah Disney is overrated unless you are 8.
Or if ur a mentally unhinged Disney adult
I went there when I was 8 and didn't like it. We planned 2 days at Disney and 1 at Universal and ended up switching the other way around. Universal was a blast (but I heard it can be very expensive nowadays too)
@@athoscolon8629 what?
I live in central Florida near I4 and been to WDW but never in the parks. I eat at the Golden Corral on exit 68 before parking in Disney Springs. I just resort hop and pretend to be a guest especially at the Grand Floridian. Talk about being on a budget.
@@ManChan-w5p what do you mean resort hop? Like what can or do you do in a hotel?
I’m very fortunate my kids found Disney parks boring and much rather travel to foreign countries which we did a lot of. Now as adults they continue to have this love for travel.
No way 😂😂
I was in London like a week ago and I was also at platform 9 and 3 quarters. I wish we got to meet up.
I expected some clickbait but you named actually two places. Thanks for your great channel keep going on! Greetings from Germany!
I expected the exact same lol. Kudos to him for naming two places!
Amen to Walt Disney World. I would never go back there and I was released when my kids were grown and I wouldn't have to go to theme parks ever again!
I was in Brussels 4 months ago and I liked it and felt very comfortable there. Honestly, Brussels is one of the handful of European cities I could see myself living in.
Really? I have the opposite feeling. I liked nothing in Brussels. Generally, I enjoy traveling in the region... I was expecting much more. Whatever
@@Dida16 I went in with zero expectations, so that's probably why I was surprised by how much I liked it. I can see how it wouldn't be everybody's cup of tea.
Brussels is beautiful!
Was in Brussels about 3 months ago. We stayed in an Air BnB in the city center and was able to walk to most places, a real positive. We went on an evening waffle, chocolate and beer tour which was very fun, and found a place to learn how to make waffles. We also visited Antwerp and Ghent, would recommend zoo in Antwerp (right next to central station ) and Gravensteen Castle in Ghent(audio tour is narrated by a comedian and is quite funny). Most of all would recommend eating Liege waffles, they are made with pearl sugar and are to die for.
I grew up in a family of Disney freaks, meaning that we went to Disney every other year. It got really old after so many visits. That being said, I do prefer Disneyland in California since it predates WDW and has rides that WDW lacks like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Matterhorn. But I would only go back every several years, not every other year. There’s still so many places in the world that I would love to visit.
Disney World is the most overrated place on the planet. A festival of greed. Thank you Mark for telling the truth,
My worst travel mistakes: taking the train from the Amsterdam airport the wrong way for 45 minutes. Ordering steak tartare and not knowing what it was. Walking for hours after dark to find a pub and it was closed (worst by far). Travel dont’s! Happy (better informed) travels!
We did that too and ended up in Utrecht.
Springfield, IL for me. You only need one day to do the Lincoln stuff. My family stayed 5 days....
😆Kinda hard to blame Springfield for that! The Lincoln stuff is very cool though, if only for a day or so.
Out side of the Lincoln stuff not much to see or do in Springfield but couple of good places for a burger and craft beer and the people were friendly not like Chicago people at all.
Mate, we're talking about ACTUAL renowned cities in the world. Not some rural small town in the US no one travels to.
In 2017 I fasted for 7 days and watching your videos helped me keep my mind occupied and off of food. I know this is random, but thanks!
Mykonos for me. Filthy, dirty and polluted with "influencers". So obnoxious. Litter all over. The local government is making money hand over fist and they should be keeping the place pristine. We visited in May. I couldn't imagine what a zoo it is in the high season.
The only saving grace was when we drove to the empty, spectacular beaches on the north coast. Also a nice lunch at St. Stefano's beach. No obnoxious Instagrammers ruining the view. Delicious lunch. Hotel Poseidon is where we stayed and loved the service and the food. Edge of town so it wasn't noisy all night.
Yeah, Antwerp BE is super chill
My favourite sights in Brussels: Art & History Museum in Parc Cinquantaire, the Horta House and Museum, and the Museum of Musical Instruments.
For food and drinks, get out of the centre and spend time in Ixelles and Les Marolles.
My "not eager to go back" is San Francisco, at least the city. Honestly you can knock out the city stuff in like....3 days, 4 tops? And I don't know, I got the feeling stuff shuts down on time and people go to bed early. I'm sure its a great place to live if you can afford it, but as a city trip? Its eh. I would go back with a car to see the greater Bay Area though.
I love Disneyworld but also love traveling in general and love your all videos around the world! Different strokes.
I love the original Disneyland in California. I was five years old when it opened, and our parents took us at least twice a year. It was one of the last places I went to when "saying goodbye" to my native California to retire in New York City. The Florida Disney is just not "warm and cozy" like the original Disneyland is.
Ehh I disagree with Disney World. I've been there close to 50ish times. It's an acquired taste, but you can absolutely go to the parks without falling for the touristy crap. When I was a kid, we would bring sandwiches to save on lunch. But man, as a kid it was really fun and memorable. Back in the 2000s we had fast passes for the more popular rides (problem solved). There are so many rides that have shorter waiting times that are worth going to. Epcot is also what really sparked my interest in European culture with the international exhibition and the food and wine festival. The parks do so many events throughout the year.
My daughter (9) has zero interest in going to Disney World. We’ve asked her before if she wants to go, since it’s widely considered a rite of passage… it was a resounding “NO.” I’m so glad. 😂
honest and courteous Walter. i appreciate your measured descriptions of places
Me too
I was in Belgium for a conference, flying in and out of Brussels (actual conference was a 1hr train ride away). Decided to stick around in Brussels for one day before my flight back home because, why not? I didn't have any expectations at all; Brussels has never ben on my radar. But as someone coming in with no expectations, staying near the central old town, I was pleasantly surprised by the short time I spent in Brussels. Granted, I just did a walking tour which included lots of chocolate and beer while walking around the old medieval center and meeting some cool people, and that's all that's really needed to make me happy. I wouldn't say there's anything in particular that would draw me back, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood, it's a cool place to check out for a day or so.
Note that the Grand Place and most of the centre of Brussels isn't "medieval" but dates from 1695 or later. Due to a French artillery bombardment that year destroying most of the city. Those bloody French were aiming for the city hall tower but hit everything except that tower.
I am British, but I strongly agree with your view on Brussels. The smaller Belgian cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges/Brugge are in their architecture way better than the capital.
On a different note, I love Switzerland. But one place, Davos, I intensely dislike. It is now not an alpine village but a 'concrete jungle'.
Bratislava was a great disappointment. But it probably suffers from the fact that it is only 40 miles from Vienna, where I was staying!
You have the WEF to thank for making Davos what it is
Bratislava makes a good base. Slovakia has hidden gems I had no idea about until I went “home” with my Slovakian friend who lives here in Ireland and he drove me around. Bratislava was the least interesting
There is more soulless stuff in Switzerland, like the horrible rich-tourists-with-no-taste town of Gstaad. Totally overflowing with big-brand shops and overpriced tat. The same goes for Zermatt. A lot of these traditional mountain spa towns have turned into overly-commercialised theme parks with no character.
@@sams3015 Thanks for this. I shall bare this in mind if I am ever in the Vienna/Bratislava region. I suspect that Bratislava is a lot cheaper than Vienna, just as Malmo is cheaper than Copenhagen (only 20 miles away!)
Bratislava is good for a weekend: the old town, Bratislava Castle, Devin Castle, the presidential palace. The Museum of Bratislava at the town hall was interesting; the "100 Wines of Slovakia" wine bar in the basement is touristy kitsch but a great place to hang out in +35C weather. Pretty good food from what I remember, especially Artur Gelato. It's a shame that there are lots of day-trippers from Vienna because I think it deserves a little more time than that. However, I wish I had more time to explore the interior of Slovakia because the Tatras looked amazing.
@Fan652w Bratislava is cheap; lots of Austrians on day trips to shop and Brits drinking at the pubs. I heard from one British guy that it can be cheaper to fly there for a weekend of drinking with friends than to head to London....
Least fav place I've been to.... That's hard because I just love seeing new places even if they suck but I could say Dallas or Houston. Empty wastelands.
Agreed. Every single person needs a car to get anywhere. Very little walkability.
I agree with you on Dallas! One of my least favorite cities.
Brussels is great for urban explorers, not so much for vanilla tourists. Amsterdam, however, is hopelessly overglorified.
Precisely, I did a lot of walking around and just looking while I was there. No, I wasn’t lost, really!
I live about an hr from Disney and can contest it is nothing but a tourist trap
I agree Walt Disney is a complete ripoff and a waste of time
One year it was snowing in Florida and my family went to Disney. There was nobody there and since I used a mobility device we were in the front of any line ups that did exist. However, the pools were closed because of the cold.
Snowing in Orlando?
I feel that way about Austin, Texas! The hill country, every town and city (San Antonio)south on I35, Houston, the piney woods, and the coast have much more to offer
My next vacation is Austin because I want to taste the famous breakfast tacos and famous beef bbq
@@ramencurry6672 you can get those at every corner in Texas!
For real! I was told for years that I'd love Austin, but after traveling all over Texas it ranks my least favorite major city in the state. It's alright but nothing I'm clamoring to get back to. Houston and San Antonio I'd really love to visit again. And Houston had the BEST food
Well another reason of choosing Austin as my bucket list is because everyone on the internet is going crazy over the Austin breakfast tacos. I need to taste and to try it
@@ramencurry6672 San Antonio is the capital of breakfast tacos!! Austin does "gourmet", whilst San Antonio does authentic! Pleeeeez!
I visited Brussels this year and just loved it, I can't stop thinking about returning ASAP!
My all time least favorite place to go to is Mexico along the west coast tourist area. My all time favorite place to go to is Aruba. It’s big enough to give you things to do but small enough that it forces you to relax and enjoy.
Gotta agree with you on Disney World; I must've gone 5 or 6 times as a kid. Then I went as an adult, and I realized something: Walt Disney had a terrific idea, but he was very much a businessman. Prices were inflated the last time (more than 10 years ago), and I'd be afraid to even look at them now.
Yeah, as a child I loved Universal Studios too (still do)! Biggests disappointments were Rio de Janeiro, Den Haag (similar thing as Brusseles I guess) and Naples.
Naples is gorgeous but it's funny, even tho my family is from the region (all my male ancestors graduated from the University) I didn't care for it when I was there 2 years ago. it was just overwhelming. I joke that they're trying to be the Milano of the South. I speak Italian and I didn't find the people that warm and welcoming. Didn't do the tourist circuit so rather than stay the planned two weeks, I jumped a cheap flight to Palermo and LOVED it. the Sicilians are fantastic and this year, I spend a month in Salerno. Big difference from Napoli. Wonderful, warm, people. I had actually been in Napoli as an 11 year old kid and of all the places I saw that summer, good and bad, I remember Napoli the least. Except for my uncle's wedding, I can't tell you what we did there and it was 10 days in all. I only remember going to the house my grandfather maintained in the province and Pompeii on the way there.
P.S. Salerno is not Sicily, I realize that came out confused. It is part of Campania and I was comparing to Napoli.
Brussel is great, it's not that big as London and Paris, and not overrun by tourist like Amsterdam or Rome ...Brussel has great museums, a wonderful main square, fantastic bars and restaurants and the Atomium is unique in the world
TOTALLY agree with you! For me three visits to Disney is enough for a lifetime!
Barcelona and Toulouse are my favorite cities in Europe ❤
These answering question videos in the morning are great.
For uncertain reasons travel to WDW is unusually light this summer, so it's a good time to go.
I think this just proves the point that not everything is for everyone. I’m an WDW annual pass holder. But I know it’s not for everyone. But I love it and go multiple times a year.
I’d never go back to Seattle by choice…
I am a huge fan of art-nouveau architecture, I've hard Brussels has one of the world's largest concentrations of buildings erected in this style. Maybe Brussels has some magic for me?
Amsterdam has better versions of it in my opinion but it’s a matter of taste which you prefer.
Yes, especially Louise.
There are tours, architects homes & i think a museum, though i haven't been there, so i can't comment. One tour i know is on bike, so you cover quite a lot of the city. Brussel isn't as bike friendly as the Netherlands of course, but it is possible to do so, without instant death as is more common in english speaking countries.
I found the sewer museum very interesting & the comic museum is of course a must for any comic fan out there.
If you avoid the tourist traps near Manneken Pis, the city has really nice cafés, bars & restaurants, including those that brew their own beer. And the chocolats of course. I prefer Luikse wafels to the ones from Brussel, but that's personal. The city has excellent public transport that's quite cheap, to me at least.
Not as famous as London or Venice, it still has some lovely areas like Louise(expensive!), but some _really_ ugly looking ones as well. Not as in unsafe, just not beautiful.
Try it, you might like it. It's not a bad city. It's just not a tourist destination, and there are basically no attractions to visit.
I'm not an American so my parrallels may be off, but to try comparing with US cities I'm familiar with think Pittsburgh, PA.
Is it an awful city? No. Is there a reason to go there if you are on a short US tour? Also no.
@@hirsch4155 While Amsterdam has some art nouveau, it's not even close to Brussels.
@towerenthusiast if you're into art nouveau, Brussels is definitely a good option! We have some amazing art nouveau in the city centre, but be sure to check out Elsene, St. Gilles, Schaerbeek. The city may seem very disorganized with a lot of buildings in different styles right next to each other, but I grew quite fond of "Brusselization". It certainly has some charm.
Hortas’s buildings in Brussels are incredible.
Add to the list Pisa! It's a tourist and pick pocket nightmare.
I went on 4 great tours in Brussels. 1. The European Parliament shown round by Green Party MEPs explaining what they did. 2. A tour run by an anti-corruption group of all the places lobbyists tried to get MEP assistants to support cigarette smoking and where former commissioners work for lobbying companies. 3. An alternative tour of Brussels showing the places locals go but not tourists. 4. A visit to the museum that at that time celebrated Belgian colonialism in the Congo - a real shocker.
I've heard Egypt is a horrific experience.
The York Minster is pretty amazing
Im a Brit. I have never been out of the country so i cant say what my favourite place abroad is.
My favourite place in the UK however is The Lake District, specifically Ulswater.
I do like visiting London too but only for a day or two. Lots to do. But its great to get home afterwards 😊
@@16dyaMaybe he is a minor. You never know... It's always difficult until you make the 1st step. People falsely assume that traveling is expensive. Take it from me: I am a low-budget traveler. Money can't stop me from visiting other countries and interacting with foreign people. I strongly believe that the same will happen to our friend here. The moment he visits another place out of the UK is the moment he will find another world!
Happy traveling!
Hold on - you've never made it (yet) abroad to the Isle of Wight.?.I can understand not the Isles of Dogs , Sheppy or Scilly ..
@@16dya
Mainly due to illness, not allowed to fly
@@16dya
My life isn't sad. I travel around the UK. I may in the future travel to Europe in the tunnel.
@jaysterling26
Isle of Wight is part of the UK. So yes I have been there.
I am from Australia and took my kids to Disney World in 2021. It was traumatizing. Absolute worst experience. Without getting political here, it was insanity with masks and rules and the policing was awful. The worst $500 I spent in my life. Hate that place with a passion.
As a native New Yorker, I would not want to go there either.
I would hate Disney too if I did it that way. Disney is great if you do it right. 1. Go in winter after Christmas (never summer) exception of for Wine & Dine. 2. Stay at better location even if fewer days (with small kid Contemporary or with older kids stay some where like Beach Club near Epcot. 3. Go early for a few hours then leave park and go back in evening to different park for couple hours (by going early and using Genie/fast pass you never wait in line) when not in park nap swim look around. 4. Eat at sit down restaurants, not fast service. Disney has an incredible food scene if you know. We like to eat a good breakfast before going into park- one that puts us near park. I don’t care for the buffet or character meals with just a couple exceptions. 5. Never try to do it all just pick a couple things.
I watch people do Disney wrong and feel bad for them. It looks miserable. It is overpriced. No help there. If I had to choose I would do a European trip or something over Disney. But it can be a magical experience if you don’t try to overdo it. But we do our other travel the same way.
Oh and for Disney you have to make reservations for everything ahead of time.
Exactly. If you go at the right time, get reservations, and focus on the topics that interest you or the kiddos, Disney can be fun. But you for sure have to plan.
Great comments. Thank you.
As someone who worked for Disney and endured a truly shocking amount of harassment and discrimination for having a disability, I support this answer.
How did Disney discriminate
Bleunau Ffestiniog in North Wales 🐑 is the Lizard King 👑 of places you *don't* want to visit 😩
Will you elaborate, please? Was it the company or the guests that harassed you? Regardless of the answer, I am so sorry. People su@k.
@@dianakorz0730 This was a corporate job so I had no interaction with guests- I was a technical writer. I was harassed and discriminated against by an employee and as a contractor I had no access to HR or any way to defend myself. Thank god I was financially stale enough that I could quit.
Lol! We totally agree on Disney. Would much rather spend our travel days and money seeing the world with our grandkids than with Mickey...and so would they😊
I agree about WDW and Universal, but disagree about Brussels in part because I'd hate to see people avoid it altogether. During one of your lives in early 2022, I shared that this would be my first solo trip (and I'm a woman) and asked you, your wife, and the other couple if it is safe--you all emphatically said "Yes!" with big smiles! I was only there for a few days, but I scheduled a walking tour which was wonderful, and the guide taught us about artisan chocolate and how to enjoy a waffle the way locals do. His knowledge of local history gave an appreciation for the old town I wouldn't have otherwise learned. As a bonus, I practiced speaking French with the guide, and he suggested how to continue practicing. After the tour, I felt comfortable going out on my own, did a few FB lives for friends back home, and enjoyed an outdoor concert in the square. I took your suggestion from your series of videos about Belgium and took the train to Bruges where I also did a walking history and foodie tour.
Destinations should be chosen based on what one is trying to get from experience--for me, a solo female traveler dipping my toe into the world of solo travel, the small-ish old town of Brussels was perfect and I recommend it 🙂
I live in Aberdeen Scotland and before that lived next to a place 40 miles north of Aberdeen called Fraserburgh.
Despite the lack of trees, I think Buchan (the local area that has Fraserburgh in it) is pretty darn beautiful so I was wondering if you ever visited and made a video about Aberdeen and/or Aberdeenshire, particularly the bits that aren't the famous bit ie. Royal Deeside?
I’ve been to Disney World four times, most recently back in 2018. With all of the ride closures, controversy, and horrible business practices that have priced out the average family, I think it’s safe to say that we may never be going back again unless something drastic changes.
Walt Disney World should be experienced once just to see if you like it. It is so big with an incredible amount parks and attractions. You are correct it is insanely expensive and can be overcrowded to the point where its just not worth the hassle. However, there are ways to minimize the wait times with afterhours and going on off peak seasons. My suggestion for anyone wishing to go to the park is to do their research on how to get the most out of Disney World before you ever book your vaction.
I do wonder what month you went to Disney. I’m not particularly big on Disney-but we went in mid-January during shoulder season. That means there are very little crowds and zero heat. (It ranged from 60-75) . So if I’m gonna do Disney, that’s when I’d do it. It’s just too ridiculously hot in the summer
Thank you for your refreshing and honest opinions, always. I happen to agree with what you say, but even if I didn't, your videos are always interesting. I admire not only your work, but also the way you make traveling the world possible for your family. Very inspirational.
Agree about Disney.
I actually liked Brussels quite a bit. It has much to offer. Part I didn’t like was excessive number of tourists on organized trip (it was right behind pandemic), guide with a colorful flag talking loudly on a megaphone, group of 100 that can literally block narrow street. I also admit I am not a big fun of cultural diversity and I would prefer to see more Belgian people, particularly in downtown area. The impression I had was that the original inhabitants left leaving historical parts to newcomers, who in turn cling to customs of their original countries.
Brussels is very fun if you're young and want a lively cultural scene.
I lived in Brussels for two years. It's obviously not a big city like London or Paris, but you can meet people from all over and there are lots of interesting things to see beyond the Grand Place, such as the Museum of Africa in Tervuren.
The most known-as-attrative places in Belgium during summer are the ones bordering the North sea like Bruges, Blankenberg, ...
There is also the Belgian Ardennes. A lot of Beglians and Dutch love to spend vacation there. Marche-en-Famenne is one of the best Walloon (French-speaking) town for tourist as well.
Germans like to go through there on the way to France too
Totally get Disney, it's not just all the people packed in and the huge queues, they price gouge for everything, how much money to these big corporations need? It's the same with Vegas now too, taxes for the taxes 🤦🏻♂️
Hated, absolutely hated Disney World. The Disney Corporation has sucked all the fun out of Disney World, Walt would be appalled!
My first European city was Brussels, and it has a special place in my heart. Last year, I visited Bruges, and I saw what Belgium can be.