Underrated places to visit

PeggyShippen · 21-04-2021 10:22pm

Plymouth is a gem... great naval stuff. Up on the 'Hoe' on a sunny day and watch the big naval destroyers coming in...get the ferry across to Mount Edgecombe or visit the lido.
Worcester is another lovely town..great medieval centre and great pubs...The cricket pitch is right by the river.

Anyone been to Madison in Wisconsin. Had a great time there.

thebronze14 · 21-04-2021 10:30pm

Tbilisi...Was there 3 times recently supporting Ireland and it's a fantastic city. It's just a pain to get to. Ljubljana is a class city too and you have beautiful lake bled nearby. I have a serious soft spot for visiting Eastern Europe

fricatus · 21-04-2021 10:36pm

cashback wrote: »

Lviv in Western Ukraine.

Beautiful city that mainly seems to get domestic tourists. Great restaurants, walkable, amazing architecture.

And 2 euro a pint.

I was there 10 years ago. It’s fabulous.

fricatus · 21-04-2021 10:46pm

I really love Lille in northern France. It tends to be overlooked in favour of Brussels, Bruges and Paris, but it’s a beautiful and vibrant city with great food and drink.

ShineOn7 · 22-04-2021 3:03am

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

Colombia is a great place to visit, but suffers from a very bad reputation.

Unsafe?

FrankN1 · 22-04-2021 9:50am

Zadar, Croatia.

22-04-2021 11:20am

bubblypop wrote: »

I would add in Co Fermanagh here, Marble Arch caves and Florencecourt, the walk up the Cuilcagh steps, all nearby also.
Probably missing some good restaurants in the area though.
If you're on the boats you won't mind!

Whilst in Fermanagh you could pop in to visit Arlene Foster.

gypsy79 · 22-04-2021 2:02pm

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Unsafe?

Colombia is very safe. But I found it quite boring to be honest. Like been in Spain

But I would rate Damascus, Addis, Goma, La Paz amongst my favourite cities

I see sheep · 22-04-2021 3:00pm

FrankN1 wrote: »

Zadar, Croatia.

Is Zadar itself good or as a base?
I know Ryanair fly there, I was half thinking of booking to go there when we can.

FrankN1 · 22-04-2021 3:03pm

Yeah it's really nice, but definitely doable as a long weekend before heading somewhere else. Quite small so you'd walk most of it in a full day out.

Doctors room ghost · 22-04-2021 3:04pm

The isle of Capri should be renamed the isle of fcuk all.waste of time going there.

trixi001 · 22-04-2021 3:23pm

flended12 wrote: »

Underrated places?

Take a stroll from Graiguenamanagh to St. Mullins – 6km.

http://www.riverbarrow.net/phone/barrow-way.html

Just let the world pass you by.

Definitely, we did the walk from Bagenalstown to St Mullins last year and it was really beautiful, would go back!

Other underrated places in Ireland

Co.Leitrim

South County Down (Newcastle & the Mourne Mountains)

Inishowen, Donegal

Doctors room ghost · 22-04-2021 4:08pm

I just noticed the title.I thought it was overrated places

Aongus Von Bismarck · 22-04-2021 4:20pm

As others have mentioned, Leitrim is a lovely county. Based myself there a number of years back when playing some of the links courses up in the North West.

Chile is a very underrated country to visit. A lot of tourists on the gringo trail skip it as it has the reputation of being expensive and slightly boring. If nature and scenery are your things, then I've yet to visit a country that offers more spectacular sights. The highlight being the jaw-droppingly stunning Torres Del Paine national park in Chilean Patagonia.

Dag-8.-Torres-del-Paine-Nationalpark.-9.jpg

Grayson · 22-04-2021 4:49pm

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

As others have mentioned, Leitrim is a lovely county. Based myself there a number of years back when playing some of the links courses up in the North West.

Chile is a very underrated country to visit. A lot of tourists on the gringo trail skip it as it has the reputation of being expensive and slightly boring. If nature and scenery are your things, then I've yet to visit a country that offers more spectacular sights. The highlight being the jaw-droppingly stunning Torres Del Paine national park in Chilean Patagonia.

Anyone else start reading this and thing. That's not ****ing leitrim.....

And then get to the second paragraph and go ahh....

PeggyShippen · 22-04-2021 7:09pm

gypsy79 wrote: »

Colombia is very safe. But I found it quite boring to be honest. Like been in Spain

But I would rate Damascus, Addis, Goma, La Paz amongst my favourite cities

You left out Aleppo ...and Caracas....timbuktu

Charles Babbage · 22-04-2021 7:12pm

6541 wrote: »

Whilst in Fermanagh you could pop in to visit Arlene Foster.

Better go soon, she is moving when there is a United Ireland

Indonesia also has some great temples, both of these are on the island of Java and are just 50 kilometres apart outside the city of Yogyakarta

+1 on Yogyakarta.

Nobody has mentioned Mexico city, some security issues in parts but if you avoid those then it an interesting spot.

PeggyShippen · 22-04-2021 7:14pm

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

As others have mentioned, Leitrim is a lovely county. Based myself there a number of years back when playing some of the links courses up in the North West.

Chile is a very underrated country to visit. A lot of tourists on the gringo trail skip it as it has the reputation of being expensive and slightly boring. If nature and scenery are your things, then I've yet to visit a country that offers more spectacular sights. The highlight being the jaw-droppingly stunning Torres Del Paine national park in Chilean Patagonia.

I spent 4 months in Chile and while it has some breath taking vistas and areas like the Pucon where you can enjoy the wilderness ,in general it wasn't great and I'd never go back. It's full of angry left wing students especially in the smog filled capital of Santiago. The people are unfriendly and the food is awful in comparison to Peru or Argentina. I would rate every country in South America ahead of Chile..except Paraguay and Venezuela.

BingCrosbee · 22-04-2021 8:32pm

FrankN1 wrote: »

Croatia

I’ve sailed the Croatian islands over 10 years and it’s incredible and cheap and like living in the past.

ShineOn7 · 22-04-2021 9:36pm

thebronze14 wrote: »

Tbilisi...Was there 3 times recently supporting Ireland and it's a fantastic city. It's just a pain to get to.

Why so? It's high on my list of Eastern European places to see

Loving this thread btw. It's brimming with future energy

silliussoddius · 22-04-2021 10:22pm

Grayson wrote: »

Anyone else start reading this and thing. That's not ****ing leitrim.....

And then get to the second paragraph and go ahh....

I was about to say that Charlie McGettigan is full of sh1t

gypsy79 · 22-04-2021 10:50pm

PeggyShippen wrote: »

You left out Aleppo ...and Caracas....timbuktu

I only just decided against a stopover in Caracas on the way back from Colombia

Syria is amazing. Been to Tehran which is probably on your list but I would name Ishafan as the do not miss

Most obscure place I have been in was Lome

Goma was to visit gorillas and to hike Mount Nyirangongo

Mad_maxx · 22-04-2021 10:57pm

PeggyShippen wrote: »

I spent 4 months in Chile and while it has some breath taking vistas and areas like the Pucon where you can enjoy the wilderness ,in general it wasn't great and I'd never go back. It's full of angry left wing students especially in the smog filled capital of Santiago. The people are unfriendly and the food is awful in comparison to Peru or Argentina. I would rate every country in South America ahead of Chile..except Paraguay and Venezuela.

i spent eight days in Argentina in 2004 , i enjoyed it very much despite the country being in an especially bad place at the time

i met a good few travellers both while there and on the plane home , met an aussie guy in an irish pub ( the kilkenny in BA ) who was fifty and had been travelling through South America for six months , he had not yet done Brazil and was going back to australia as he said Brazil would take six months by itself

anyway , he reckoned Colombia was his favourite country in South America by a distance , he found Paraguay the least interesting , sat beside a guy from Austria on the plane home and he had the same view of Paraguay having been travelling , just said there was nothing going on and it was terribly underdeveloped

gypsy79 · 22-04-2021 11:01pm

Mad_maxx wrote: »

i spent eight says in Argentina in 2004 , i enjoyed it very much despite the country being in an especially bad place at the time

i met a good few travellers both while there and on the plane home , met an aussie guy in an irish pub ( the kilkenny in BA ) who was fifty and had been travelling through South America for six months , he had not yet done Brazil and was going back to australia as he said Brazil would take six months by itself

anyway , he reckoned Colombia was his favourite country in South America by a distance , he found Paraguay the least interesting , sat beside a guy from Austria on the plane home and he had the same view of Paraguay having been travelling , just said there was nothing going on and it was terribly underdeveloped

Peru is way more interesting than Colombia. Peru is overwhelmed with tourist though. But I found the whole thing underwhelming

Might have been because I had been to Africa so many times before

And South America is getting closer and closer to Europe even since you were there

Mad_maxx · 22-04-2021 11:20pm

gypsy79 wrote: »

Peru is way more interesting than Colombia. Peru is overwhelmed with tourist though. But I found the whole thing underwhelming

Might have been because I had been to Africa so many times before

And South America is getting closer and closer to Europe even since you were there

so you found Africa more interesting ?

ive never been , one of my sisters visited friends in South Africa about ten years ago and hated it , the whole gated culture thing and how what would be regular middle class people here , could afford a few servants

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 22-04-2021 11:35pm

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Unsafe?

No more than a lot of its neighbours.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 22-04-2021 11:36pm

gypsy79 wrote: »

Colombia is very safe. But I found it quite boring to be honest. Like been in Spain

But I would rate Damascus, Addis, Goma, La Paz amongst my favourite cities

Really? I find that surprising. Where in Colombia did you go?

4Ad · 22-04-2021 11:41pm

Faro, everyone passes through but the nights I have stayed there,
very enjoyable, I went into a bar as The Clash' White Riot was blaring, barman would play any song you wanted...

Slovenia is beautiful..there is a craft beer shop in Koper that is briliant..
Kranjska Gora stunning spot.

Tarragona, pleasantly surprised.

I love Ballyvaughan.

Hua Hin in Thailand..

PeggyShippen · 23-04-2021 6:43am

Mad_maxx wrote: »

so you found Africa more interesting ?

ive never been , one of my sisters visited friends in South Africa about ten years ago and hated it , the whole gated culture thing and how what would be regular middle class people here , could afford a few servants

I liked South Africa.. its so diverse and the parks and everything are amazing and accessible. Durban was good aswell though there were all those gated houses you talk about but thats to stop home invasions where whole families are murdered for a TV and abit of jewellery. I walked around alot of it and it was safe enough. The city centre wasn't safe at night. No South Africa might be going downhill abit but it was some holiday..the food aswell.. Met a retired guy from Northern Ireland who had lived there for 40 years and he took us all around the battle sites of the Boer war..up to ladysmith ect and treated us like family.He was an engineer and had just shown a Connaught Rangers memorial group around..and his brother was a 20 year veteran of the S.A.S. We Irish are a complicated bunch..

Mad_maxx · 23-04-2021 10:01am

PeggyShippen wrote: »

I liked South Africa.. its so diverse and the parks and everything are amazing and accessible. Durban was good aswell though there were all those gated houses you talk about but thats to stop home invasions where whole families are murdered for a TV and abit of jewellery. I walked around alot of it and it was safe enough. The city centre wasn't safe at night. No South Africa might be going downhill abit but it was some holiday..the food aswell.. Met a retired guy from Northern Ireland who had lived there for 40 years and he took us all around the battle sites of the Boer war..up to ladysmith ect and treated us like family.He was an engineer and had just shown a Connaught Rangers memorial group around..and his brother was a 20 year veteran of the S.A.S. We Irish are a complicated bunch..

the pictures ive seen of South Africa make it look amongst the most stunning countries in the world ?

23-04-2021 10:39am

South Africa has an amazing climate for sure.

In Ireland the Comeraghs are ignored by most tourists and even hikers, except by locals but it’s an excellent mountain range. Drivable too.

gypsy79 · 23-04-2021 10:51am

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

Really? I find that surprising. Where in Colombia did you go?

I was in Cali, Medellin, Cartagena (and all the surrounds including lost city) and Bogota. I didn't hate it but I was just very underwhelmed. I found it very European. Before I had kids I used take 4-6 weeks off every year so I would consider myself pretty well travelled. 80 ish countries. I could just never fall in love with South or Central America. I think Guatemala was my favourite country in the area

The South America trip was 5 months as a honeymoon

Remember I brought my current wife on our first holiday to a part of DRC 6 weeks after a ceasefire was declared. Not a normal traveller

Mad_maxx · 23-04-2021 10:55am

gypsy79 wrote: »

I was in Cali, Medellin, Cartagena (and all the surrounds including lost city) and Bogota. I didn't hate it but I was just very underwhelmed. I found it very European. Before I had kids I used take 4-6 weeks off every year so I would consider myself pretty well travelled. 80 ish countries. I could just never fall in love with South or Central America. I think Guatemala was my favourite country in the area

The South America trip was 5 months as a honeymoon

Remember I brought my current wife on our first holiday to a part of DRC 6 weeks after a ceasefire was declared. Not a normal traveller

you have a tremendous sense of adventure

" eighty countries "

very impressive indeed

gypsy79 · 23-04-2021 10:58am

Mad_maxx wrote: »

so you found Africa more interesting ?

ive never been , one of my sisters visited friends in South Africa about ten years ago and hated it , the whole gated culture thing and how what would be regular middle class people here , could afford a few servants

I think I have been in 10 countries in Africa and SA was where I felt most at danger

Egypt - dangerous off beating track
Morocco - no danger at all
Ethiopia - no danger and very underrated before current outbreak
South Africa - very dangerous the further north you go. Garden route was safe as houses
Togo - mad place that I couldn't get my head around. Struggle understand people speaking English with west African accent. In French I had no chance. Was a tiny bit overwhelmed but never felt danger
Ghana - Brilliantly safe country. English is spoken language too and amazing beaches. Should have had it in my underrated list
Uganda - people so friendly
Rwanda - even safer than Uganda
DRC - exceptional circumstances of when I went but so many armed guards everywhere that I felt safe

gypsy79 · 23-04-2021 10:59am

Mad_maxx wrote: »

you have a tremendous sense of adventure

" eighty countries "

very impressive indeed

2 kids now so might be a while before I add to it

I was due go to Georgia and Armenia just before we had our COVID baby so selling 3 weeks away to replace cancelled trip might be hard for a few more years

Mad_maxx · 23-04-2021 11:01am

gypsy79 wrote: »

I think I have been in 10 countries in Africa and SA was where I felt most at danger

Egypt - dangerous off beating track
Morocco - no danger at all
Ethiopia - no danger and very underrated before current outbreak
South Africa - very dangerous the further north you go. Garden route was safe as houses
Togo - mad place that I couldn't get my head around. Struggle understand people speaking English with west African accent. In French I had no chance. Was a tiny bit overwhelmed but never felt danger
Ghana - Brilliantly safe country. English is spoken language too and amazing beaches. Should have had it in my underrated list
Uganda - people so friendly
Rwanda - even safer than Uganda
DRC - exceptional circumstances of when I went but so many armed guards everywhere that I felt safe

neighbour of mine visited zambia as a student , was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the people

gypsy79 · 23-04-2021 11:04am

Mad_maxx wrote: »

neighbour of mine visited zambia as a student , was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the people

Africa is an amazing place. The people are so friendly and so impressed. For the most part it is not as impoverished as you may think.

As a developer who is always so frustrated by dealing with Indian subcontractors I would love to see a place like Ghana (best place I can think of initially) to compete with India in this market

23-04-2021 12:08pm

gypsy79 wrote: »

Africa is an amazing place. The people are so friendly and so impressed. For the most part it is not as impoverished as you may think.

As a developer who is always so frustrated by dealing with Indian subcontractors I would love to see a place like Ghana (best place I can think of initially) to compete with India in this market

You’ve encouraged me to think about Africa.

23-04-2021 12:11pm

Lough Derg.

We have the tidiest towns, lakeside hikes, and a holy well that can cure blindness.

23-04-2021 1:07pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Lough Derg.

We have the tidiest towns, lakeside hikes, and a holy well that can cure blindness.

Portumna is a gorgeous little town that just seems unloved and in need of some ambition. Like the community realise what they have but don’t know how to deliver it. Needs a new hotel as well.

Lough Derg, the forest park, marina, an amazing gem of a golf course, the hills, horse riding etc.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 23-04-2021 1:52pm

gypsy79 wrote: »

I was in Cali, Medellin, Cartagena (and all the surrounds including lost city) and Bogota. I didn't hate it but I was just very underwhelmed. I found it very European. Before I had kids I used take 4-6 weeks off every year so I would consider myself pretty well travelled. 80 ish countries. I could just never fall in love with South or Central America. I think Guatemala was my favourite country in the area

The South America trip was 5 months as a honeymoon

Remember I brought my current wife on our first holiday to a part of DRC 6 weeks after a ceasefire was declared. Not a normal traveller

It's very true that Colombia is a lot more European than people generally realise. It doesn't have much of a distinct indigenous culture compared to somewhere like Peru, although the African influence is very noticiable in parts.

23-04-2021 6:09pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Portumna is a gorgeous little town that just seems unloved and in need of some ambition. Like the community realise what they have but don’t know how to deliver it. Needs a new hotel as well.

Lough Derg, the forest park, marina, an amazing gem of a golf course, the hills, horse riding etc.

Portumna forest park is where I take the dogs for their walk, lovely little spot.

I see they're trying now to market the lake as the Lake Como of Ireland, which is more than a stretch, but it is indeed a nice, hidden gem. When I was a teenager here, I couldn't get out of the place fast enough. These days there's nowhere in the world I'd rather live.

All we need now is a Fungie or a mythical lake monster, but the Scots have that market well cornered.

PeggyShippen · 23-04-2021 11:27pm

gypsy79 wrote: »

I was in Cali, Medellin, Cartagena (and all the surrounds including lost city) and Bogota. I didn't hate it but I was just very underwhelmed. I found it very European. Before I had kids I used take 4-6 weeks off every year so I would consider myself pretty well travelled. 80 ish countries. I could just never fall in love with South or Central America. I think Guatemala was my favourite country in the area

The South America trip was 5 months as a honeymoon

Remember I brought my current wife on our first holiday to a part of DRC 6 weeks after a ceasefire was declared. Not a normal traveller

You must not like good looking women if you didn't like Colombia. I do get how it's European in feel. To be honest that more western a countries outlook or feel is...the more I like it.. Thats not to take away from the exotic stuff.. I haven't been in Central Africa . Id like to go to the Caucasis at some point..

gypsy79 · 23-04-2021 11:57pm

PeggyShippen wrote: »

You must not like good looking women if you didn't like Colombia. I do get how it's European in feel. To be honest that more western a countries outlook or feel is...the more I like it.. Thats not to take away from the exotic stuff.. I haven't been in Central Africa . Id like to go to the Caucasis at some point..

Do you want me to list 10 countries with better looking women than Colombia I have visited??

But it wouldnt be one of the ways I rate countries to visit

Sharpyshoot · 24-04-2021 12:03am

When we have battery tractors we can visit Kerry.

24-04-2021 12:46am

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Portumna forest park is where I take the dogs for their walk, lovely little spot.

I see they're trying now to market the lake as the Lake Como of Ireland, which is more than a stretch, but it is indeed a nice, hidden gem. When I was a teenager here, I couldn't get out of the place fast enough. These days there's nowhere in the world I'd rather live.

All we need now is a Fungie or a mythical lake monster, but the Scots have that market well cornered.

Has the karting track out near Tynagh as well. Lake and river fishing. 3 farmhouse cheese places within a 30 minute drive. The monastic ruins at Clonfert. Joe Canning.

I'm sure the North Tipperary side has similar highlights.

Dick phelan · 24-04-2021 9:26am

Shiok wrote: »

Taiwan

Well known obviously, yet Taipei is more often than not overlooked in favour of other cities in Asia. Fab food & night markets, diverse history, beautiful scenic mountains, gorges & lakes.

Had a friend visit there a few years ago and loved it, it's hopefully my next trip once the boarders finally open again.

PeggyShippen · 24-04-2021 9:42am

gypsy79 wrote: »

Do you want me to list 10 countries with better looking women than Colombia I have visited??

But it wouldnt be one of the ways I rate countries to visit

Yes...yes I would

Hamachi · 24-04-2021 9:53am

Not sure if they’ve been mentioned already..

Domestically: The Vee drive through the Knockmaledown mountains on the border of Waterford and Tipperary. Simply stunning. At the summit, you are looking over the beautiful farmland of the golden vale. An older family member compared the drive on a sunny day to your soul ascending into heaven. I’m not very religious, but I had to agree.

Internationally: Loved Luang Prabang in Laos. It’s the terminal point for the cross-border ferry from Thailand. Really interesting place that’s a mix of traditional South East Asian, with a distinct French colonial influence. It was really nice to enjoy crusty baguettes for breakfast after weeks of eating rice and noodles. There’s also loads of activities in the surrounding areas like jungle hiking and waterfall jumping.

Hamachi · 24-04-2021 9:58am

PeggyShippen wrote: »

Yes...yes I would

Agree with another poster that the beauty of the local women isn’t a criterion I’d use to decide on a visit.

However, if we’re talking South America, I thought Argentinian women were beautiful. Many stunners in Uruguay also.

Brazil was a major letdown in that department.

Underrated places to visit

Comments