Whenever you visit a new place, you probably travel with some expectations. And unfortunately, not every destination lives up to the hype. But those rare spots that do? They tend to occupy a special place in your memory. Well, Redditor Elegant-Passion2199 asked, “A lot of travelers complain that places don’t live up to expectations. What is a country that lived up to ALL of your expectations?”
1.
“Paris. I’ve been six times: once as a kid, then five more times as an adult. I hope to go back many more times…”
2.
“Ireland was everything I hoped it would be and more. The cliffs were breathtaking, the people were so friendly, and the beer was amazing. If you get the chance, go to Ireland, especially the west coast near Galway, and go to the Aran Islands to hear authentic Irish Gaelic language.”
3.
“Hong Kong, 100%. It entirely surpassed my expectations. I’ve been three times and fell in love with the city all over again each time. Think: City vibes with incredible food, but also beautiful landscapes, great hikes, and gorgeous beaches.”
4.
“Not a country, but New Orleans. It’s the only place in the continental US that just feels different. Also, I’m mostly a food tourist, and New Orleans may be the best mid-price or cheap eats in the US. Also, Pimm’s cups, hurricanes, hand grenades, daiquiri with an extra shot on top… the kitsch is also unmatched.”
5.
“Hawaii. I watched every YouTube travelogue I could find, and nothing could prepare me for how amazing the beaches, weather, and water were in real life…”
6.
“Istanbul, Turkey. I often see negative posts about Istanbul, but I found the city stunning, with amazing architecture, food, transportation, and culture. I went in winter so it was not too crowded, and people were less bothered by over-tourism. I went with the expectation that it’s a great city with a lot to offer tourists, and it met those expectations.”
7.
“For me, it’s Greece. I go there so frequently, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve visited…”
8.
“Just got back from Tanzania. I’ll be honest: I was quite nervous before going due to the laundry list of disease warnings given to us by our doctor (and we were bringing a toddler with us). Maybe because I was so stressed about visiting, it exceeded every expectation…”
9.
“Japan. With the exchange rate, food is affordable and amazing, and there are so many different things to see and do. I got burned out by the crowds, so I decided to spend more time in the mountains and exploring temples, and I can’t begin to describe how awesome that was. I wish more tourists would spread out and explore the other parts of the country, not just the same touristy parts of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.”
10.
“The Azores, a Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic. It was even more stunning in real life than in pictures, and the food was incredible.”
11.
“The Republic of Georgia. I went in with low expectations, but Tbilisi was fun for a stop, and Kazbeg was gorgeous. The prices were reasonable. The food was good (but with limited variety), and the locals were friendly.”
12.
“For me, it’s Switzerland. I grew up next to a national park in Canada, and I found hiking, the incredible open sky, the fresh air, the glacier lake swims, the food, and the hospitality to be top-tier.”
13.
“Slovenia. Everything single thing — from castles and caves to the Adriatic coast and wine tasting to the Julian Alps — was even better than I expected it to be.”
14.
“Italy. When I was there, I couldn’t stop ooh-ing and ahh-ing at everything! The architecture, the history, the food, everything! I already had high expectations and knew I’d love it, but my mind was still blown at every turn!”
15.
“Scotland. The highlands are beautiful, the islands are beautiful, and Edinburgh is magical.”
16.
“Taiwan exceeded my expectations. It’s a super underrated country on almost every metric you can think of: food, nature, culture, people, everything. Beautiful place.”
17.
“Iceland. I’ve been there twice, once in summer and once in winter. It was absolutely stunning both times. The pure variety of landscapes without mass crowds was incredible. It exceeded my expectations.”
18.
“Croatia. It was beautiful with lots of interesting things to do, great food, lovely people, and easy to navigate. Just don’t go during peak season! I also ‘expected’ to find crowds in some of the most popular places (we went in late September/early October, so it was less packed but still busy). We prepared for the crowds by visiting some more out-of-the-way destinations within the country. This was important for having a great trip, but it was super doable with some research!”
19.
“Portugal. The food. THE WINE. The architecture. The gorgeous weather and overall atmosphere of Porto. The Douro Valley wine-tasting tour was a highlight.”
What destination have you visited that has met or exceeded every expectation? Or, on the other side of the spectrum, what destination left you feeling underwhelmed? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form.
