Cities - so misunderstood (update) - travel tips and articles

11 October 2009 2:33PM ealing99 Report this comment

Its become sport, especially in European circles, to point out a situation that has been present for YEARS, yet become more acute of late. At times, I feel this takes on a racial motive. Detroit is 80% African American and 28% unemployed. Despite its current hardships, it is still a city of great individuals, and beutiful places. This grit is what makes the city a pleasure to experience. If you want a sanitized world, I suggest you go to Singapore.

12 October 2009 3:55PM vivekw Report this comment

ealing99, I actually have to agree with you. I visited Detroit in 1998 (granted, it was a while ago), but I loved it. Didn't hurt that it was 72 degrees and sunny every day, or that there was a blues festival on.

14 October 2009 6:37PM akgrown25 Report this comment

I would have to agree with #3. I lived in Seoul for a year and it was rather soul crushing (no pun intended). While it was a good experience, I would never live there again and really see no reason to ever visit.

14 October 2009 6:47PM andrewlwood Report this comment

I LOVE Seoul. Not pretty, but there's some SERIOUS fun to be had. You need to know where to go, and who to go with, and it needs to be snowing.

No, my vote would be for Baltimore. Everywhere feels threatening, tragic waste of a harbourfront, drug-crazed loons everywhere, even in downtown, and they used pneumatic drills outside my $250-a-night hotel from 1am to 7am (then stopped!).

14 October 2009 7:00PM yaksox Report this comment

Chalk up another vote for Seoul. I've been here 5 years. The population density is inhumane and reminds me of Soylent Green. At least Detroit once had culture.

14 October 2009 7:27PM j3ffrey Report this comment

Although Rome has some lovely sights, I always get ripped off by cafes, bars and restaurants which is appalling. I have also read about other overseas visitors being ripped off also. I will no longer go there until they clean up their act.

14 October 2009 7:30PM ejlorge Report this comment

LONDON: It's over priced, over populated and over rated.

I have never heard such vulgar language until I visited London. (And I am no saint.) Every other word on the street is "F*cking this or f*cking that". I imagine it's because it seems as though half of its citizens are drunk by 3pm.

Last, but not least, its a very DIRTY city to boot, (there is trash everywhere).

14 October 2009 7:37PM simonhare Report this comment

You are so right ejlorge - if we were sober the miserable hordes of dumb tourists would drive us mad!

14 October 2009 7:50PM trajedi Report this comment

I hate new york for just in the season of Winter. Not a single sunbeam can reach you when you are out in the streets. So it is very cold there.

14 October 2009 8:18PM kikkerj Report this comment

I reckon Nairobi should feature -and quite high up for that matter, in this list! It is really an appalling place. The centre is so polluted that the ban on smoking doesn't really affect you if you're a dedicated smoker -your lungs are so full with smog and the constant smell of burnt plastic -to which you can add rotting mater if you venture to the slums or the non-privileged areas (so 95% of it), stale waters and rubbish everywhere, that smoking is the least thing you want to do! Smokers, if you want to quit the habit, go to Nairobi for a month! Also, the noise pollution is unbelievable, not to mention crime rate -you know it is nicknamed Nai-robbery, and the threatening vibe you feel when down-town. Anyone who lives there is a hero in my eyes...

14 October 2009 8:34PM bbdom44 Report this comment

Yaksox you say Detroit once had culture implying Seoul doesnt!! With over 2000 years of history I find that a staggeringly ignorant assertation. The residents of Detroit themselves sum up their own city ... they left!! Over a million people have left detroit since 1950!

14 October 2009 8:47PM koolmoedee Report this comment

Doha, Qatar, should easily top any list of worst cities.

Doha is an ugly, filthy, congested, dust-coated wasteland full of people with more petro-dollars than brains. Most of these morons can be seen on the roads, as evidenced by the city having the highest vehicular accident rate in the world. Wrecked cars rot in the desert sun along most roads.

You can't walk anywhere partly because the sand-choked air is too hot, but mostly because the locals will drive their Land Cruisers onto the few garbage-strewn sidewalks that exist and run you down.

Racism is so systemic that it's standard practice for the expatriate workers that make up most of the population to get vastly different salaries based on nationality — even when performing the same job. Indians and Pakistanis rank at the bottom.

14 October 2009 11:04PM lorenzoid Report this comment

The city I hate most is the one where I am at any given moment, working behind a desk in an office, wishing I were on the road traveling with my backpack. When on the road with my backpack, I always feel fortunate to find myself in even the least charming city, knowing that I could always be back home behind a desk.

14 October 2009 11:15PM skybird12209 Report this comment

Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville...any city in Florida should be on this list! Florida cities are dreadfully ugly. Sure the palms trees and flowers are nice, but look beyond that at the endless strip malls, overhead wires everywhere, the drivers, and then there is that "Florida arrogance" factor...the people who live there "think" they live in paradise and are over dramatic when they come "north" for vactions in winter...swatting themselves complaining about the "cold"...well...then stay in your grit eating, obesity capital, shopping mall "paradise". And by the way, LA may be overbuilt and have all sorts of problems, but not many cities in the world can claim a "Griffith Park" and a 10,000 foot mountain and numerous parks and lovely neighborhoods on the west side...it is not all East LA you know!

14 October 2009 11:17PM hyowon Report this comment

Seoul isn't that horrible.. Go to Ulaanbataar, it's far much worse than Seoul.

14 October 2009 11:34PM zsu Report this comment

I have to agree 100+% with Lorenzoid.

As for skybird... I have to agree with with FL not haveing the nicest cities, definatley lots and lots of strip malls, and culture (ie museums, etc is not a stongsuite) . However I have to totally disagree with "FL arrogance" first off, we have to put up with snowbirds for 6 months of the year. These people come to our "paradise" take over our roads, have no idea where they are going, cause numerous accidents. Just going to the grocery turns into a nightmare. Inflated prices, no parking places, they drive their shopping carts the same way they drive their cars. Oh and the average age increases from ~50 to ~ 70. Oh and they all complain "This is not how they do it up north" You know what... than stay there.

14 October 2009 11:35PM gaitha Report this comment

hey, c'mon, seoul is cool! i agree with andrew, it's just a matter of know where to go and who to go with. I was there in the last spring and it was just lovely. Beautiful ancient architecture, good food and great museums. It's just that korean people aren't usually nice with people they don't know and it can damage the image of seoul...

the worst city, for sure is juliaca, in peru. it's dirty and really ugly. and what really bothers it's that anywhere you go by bus in peru you have to stop in this awful city.

=P

14 October 2009 11:58PM knurre Report this comment

koolmoedee's comment about Doha is full of negativity and factual errors. Qatari's are not morons, in fact most are hospitable and generous. Qatar has the highest GDP growth rate in the world and, yes, through the boom the last 5 years the infrastructure has been under strain. There are major work done to improve the situation. Come and have a look!

I put my money on Mumbai - pollution and poverty hand in hand.

15 October 2009 12:45AM tdawks Report this comment

I can imagine that I will be offending a number of people with this comment (let the scoldings commence), but I am going to toss a nod to Brussels as being one of the most uninviting cities I have ever had the misfortune of visiting. I made the mistake of spending three days there several years ago because certainly the capital of Europe must hold some magic. It was three days too many. Actually I was supposed to be there for four, but escaped to Paris for 12 hours one day for respite from the grimy facades, surly residents, and garbage filled streets. They've turned the side of Saint Catherine's Church into a urinal for crying out loud! Also, I am a fairly imposing presence who has only ever felt unsafe in one place - the Brussels Metro.

15 October 2009 12:46AM thebrooklynnomad Report this comment

Agree with Los Angeles. It is absolutely the worst big city in the U.S.

Detroit is going through some tough times, but there are far worse cities to visit in the states. Buffalo, New York Newark and Camden, New Jersey immediately come to mind.

As much as "Detroit Rock City" has crumbled, it still has so much history and hopefully will rise again.

Andrew thebrooklynnomad.com

15 October 2009 12:47AM travelfusionuk Report this comment

Los Angeles? Really? I wouldn't put it so high up there on the list with the others...

15 October 2009 12:58AM voyageurfred Report this comment

Chittagong Bangladesh. No real city centre except by the Mall where street hawkers, disformed people and beggars gather. No sanitation with open latrines and men squatting to take a poop where ever they feel like.

After six months, the high point was the snake charmer with his "dancing" cobra's, and the view from atop a 250 ft microwave tower perched on a hill providing great views of the valley. Why is it cities look better from overhead than at ground level?

Port aux Princes, Haiti. Built on a hillside overlooking a large bay, the former President's palace, once occupied by "Baby Doc" Duvalier, the Spanish colonial cathedral and some old building by the waterfront are interesting. And they have a real happening Mardi Gras.

However crushing poverty, crime and pollution detract. Go there and you will probably get kidnapped for ransom! The worst is the rotting, stinking garbage in the streets, that gets washed down into the bay during the nightly rains.

Frederic in Montréal

15 October 2009 12:58AM skybird12209 Report this comment

For Zsu...sorry...you may have to put up with Snowbirds as you call them,but the rest of us have to put up with Florida "sandheads"....you complain when you are up north in winter..but you never admit to your ridicuosly buggy, hot and humid summers! Your dewpoints are often near 75 degrees in summer, far ahead of anyone else, humidity near 100% and to be honest, some of the dumbest people on earth.It may be the reason more people are now moving out of Florida than moving in...the smart ones went for a look, saw the mess there and left..they are the smart ones...sadly they leave behind a state with an IQ approaching single digits! Do you remember 2000 election? Seems like FL has more child abduction/murders than any other state, a number of teachers having sex with their students, it has to be the #1 depraved state...

15 October 2009 12:58AM pat_b886 Report this comment

whoever said they hate london clearly didn't know anyone who lived there to take them out of the central london tourist bubble. i live in london and try to avoid the centre if i can help it. its all about zone 2, real london, the best bars, clubs, restaurants from around the world and atmosphere. about the drunkeness, when its tuesday afternoon in the summer and everyone's drinking in parks with their friends the atmosphere is incredible and it makes me glad to be alive. i've seen a lot of the world but there's nowhere i'd rather live than london, actually maybe berlin.

15 October 2009 1:06AM voyageurfred Report this comment

And Juliaca, Peru as Gaitha mentioned, also gets my vote. Arriving by bus into a dusty, wind driven city that sits on a high plateau some 40km from Puno, I spent five hours there waiting for my flight out of the airport.

At least the terminal building was clean. It had to be the only decent structure in the area!

Frederic in Montréal http://www.RemarkableImages.ca

15 October 2009 1:16AM voyageurfred Report this comment

Hey Pat, you may like to get "zoned" in London, but for REAL food and atmosphere, come to Montréal, the festival city! The second largest French speaking city in the world, it has super architecture, fantastic bistros and clubs, Old Montréal, le Vieux Port, excellent micro breweries, the terraces with les belles femmes plus much more!

Soory, but I think our city has more to offer than foggy ol' London!

Cheers mate! Frederic in, well you-know-where!

15 October 2009 1:22AM koolmoedee Report this comment

knurre,

Your comment includes some factual errors about Doha:

Qatar doesn't have the highest GDP growth rate in the world (Bhutan does) and even if it did, that doesn't mean it's a nice place. Angola, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Iraq are also in the top 25 for GDP growth rates.

I'll take the Bahamas (212th ranked out of 217 countries), Denmark (#211) and Ireland (#214) any day over those places.

You say: "Qatari's are not morons, in fact most are hospitable and generous."

Try driving in Doha, and the "hospitable and generous" people you speak of are nowhere to be seen. I'll give a year's wage to anybody who can drive in the city for one day without getting cut off, honked at, tailgated, or run off the road.

And the "hospitality and generosity" don't extend to the tens of thousands of workers who work in Doha's 50 degree heat for miserable wages and are subject to countless other abuses.

I'm counting the days until my flight out of here.

15 October 2009 1:34AM panamaniac Report this comment

To round-off your 9, I would add a 10th. - Oakland, California (USA). This is a despicable, crime-ridden cesspool of a city.

15 October 2009 2:08AM gerryerchak Report this comment

I actually like Accra and Arusha: both lively places with good food, bars, night life. Surprised no one mentioned Lagos, the Worst City in the World! I too think that LA is hideous but certainly not in the league of, say, Kinshasa. My nominee for worst city is Monrovia, Liberia. Lima is also horrid although with great food.

15 October 2009 2:31AM vickyas400 Report this comment

What the hell ? . what do you guys know about chennai? . Its the less populated, clean , and safest place in India. It lacks Mumbai' prosperity?? .. you must be kidding and who said it doesnt have a history? , it has pretty longer one just like Delhi , and bengaluru' buzz? .. wth ! .. do you know how many companies are there in chennai right now ? . and how many companies are moving from bangalore to chennai? .. Have you heard of the beaches there? . do you know any thing about Mahabalipuram , what about the beautiful temples there. Movie stars?. Go to hell .do you know hemamalini ? asin ? sridevi? .. lol , you are one crack head who doesnt know anything , who can just blog some crap out here . I really dont understand and completely go against and reject the fact that chennai is in the list .

15 October 2009 2:33AM backbeat70 Report this comment

Sure, you’ll find crime, decay and poverty in most cities (if not all). Failing to see beyond these factors will leave you on a fast track to missing out. A people make their city. The pulse of life, bustle, aroma and colors on view--coupled with the local’s treatment of their guests. Isn’t this why travel is rewarding? Hang the list, it means nothing.

15 October 2009 2:56AM pandora514 Report this comment

Speaking of a people making their city; I found the people of Madrid really horrid. The city itself is beautiful but the people were surly, rude and downright mean. In one hotel the staff person was rude to me and yelled at me when I asked if they could assist me in booking a hotel in another city in Spain. I left and then heard the same man yelling at an Asian couple who asked him about bullfighting tickets. I should have gone to Barcelona instead.

15 October 2009 3:11AM jplegat Report this comment

I'm from São Paulo, Brazil and I've been to Los Angeles for two weeks. LA has some nice neighborhoods, the only con I can remember now is the ominous number of endless freeways - hence you're required to have a car. I stayed for two days in NOLA and I really didn't like there. Budapest in Hungary was a place I didn't like either.

15 October 2009 4:07AM starlitdazzle Report this comment

Glad to see someone mentioned Doha - because I totally agree with koolmoedee.

My "most hated city" is Dubai - yeah they're building glittering skyscrapers including the Burj Dubai... but I've been living here for one year now (7 months left!) and Dubai lacks BASIC infrastructure... the city roads flood with FEET of water every time there's a minor rain storm. Look around, those vents for drainage? Purely ornamental, they don't drain anything. The majority of the roads lack names and sidewalks are practically non-existent. The city's been built so fast that except for the few well known buildings there are already structural cracks and constant leaks, including my building which is only 5 years old. They opened the new Metro system a year late, over budget and are calling opening only 10 of over 50 stations a "success." There's a lot of pollution and very limited means to recycle things that are recycled everyday in other countries. And that's just the beginning...

15 October 2009 5:04AM lyndelle Report this comment

I would like to add Amsterdam to the list. I have travelled solo, all over the world for 5 years and this would be the ONLY city i have felt very unsafe in. Ugly city with drug dealers coming out of every nook and cranny! Lets not even talk about the amount of totally "off their face" tourists this city can hold! Its just wrong and horrible! I would never return to Amsterdam!!

15 October 2009 6:25AM nocturnalbutterfly Report this comment

Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Kinshasa; Ive visited most of the cities nominated here, and Kinshasa definately comes way ahead: huge, dirty, no service, no running water, no decent hotels, no taxis. you are liable to be kidnapped and robbed by bogus policemen in the middle of the day in downtown Kinshasa, or by real ones if you dare to drive a car. The wealthy are holed up on their guarded compounds, it takes hours and hours to get anywhere, roads have not been maintained in30 years, , and your vehicle is apt to get stuck in a pothole even in the middle of downtown.

15 October 2009 8:15AM petesbrew Report this comment

Canberra, hands down most boring city in the world. I think this place is a magnet for boring people, as at least 4 different boring people I know have moved here for "the better life". Every now and again we have to drive 4 hours down (from Sydney) and visit them, and I hate every minute of it. Apart from a great War Memorial, the only thing to do here is slowly die. Avoid like the plague!

15 October 2009 8:32AM patriciapires Report this comment

My vote goes for Sao Paulo, Brazil. Pollution everywhere, ugly, chaotic and expensive city. Traffic is terrible it takes hours to get anywhere. People from Sao Paulo try to live as Americans, in fact they think they are New Yorkers but the city and the people does not resemble New York at all!

15 October 2009 8:43AM santafe_kid Report this comment

When I was in Juliaca, Peru I just went and got a day room in a hotel whilst waiting for the train, thus avoiding all the bad things about the place. I just remember it was COLD. As to Accra, I worked there for a while and agree with those who posted good comments. When you know persons there and where to go, its a pleasant place. And to the worst city in the world? Port Moresby in PNG: a hands down winner. The only redeeming feature is that it looks pretty from the air!

15 October 2009 9:36AM acaciatree Report this comment

Ironic the LPers would vote the most culturally diverse region on Earth, Los Angeles and surrounds, as their #4 most hated city. Then again, I doubt any of the voters have spent more than a few days touring the mass of LA. Ugly at times, yes, but representative of almost every culture on Earth, also YES! I challenge any of you travelers to step up to the plate and name me a more culturally diverse city, and more importantly, I want you to tell me why.

15 October 2009 10:03AM rhinochaser Report this comment

Tops on my list are Jakarta, Manilla and Brindisi. I couldn't wait to get out of all three of them, and left as quickly as I could from Jakarta and Manilla. In Brindisi I was waiting for a boat to Corfu, so the only good thing about it was that I knew I was leaving for a better place. Smog was horrendous in Jakarta when I was there in the mid-90's, and Manilla had absolutely no soul.

15 October 2009 10:26AM malo30 Report this comment

Top of my list has to be Naples (especially the port area)! Not a place to cycle thru - piles of garbage, angry locals, aggressive drivers, biting dogs and dirty falling down drab buildings. I even had a car of Napolites (?) drive beside me yelling and swearing and trying to force me into the gutter... Hope the situation (and the poverty) has improved - it was a VERY scarey place for a lone cycle tourist - I couldn't leave the place fast enough!

15 October 2009 10:41AM kleinjenk Report this comment

The truly awful cities are the ones that most people have never have any inclination to visit... like CONAKRY, GUINEA for example. You have to bribe your way out of the airport to get there. The corrupt former president sold the sand off the beaches (supposedly to pave the roads) leaving a waterfront of rocks, smelly trash, and horrifically polluted water. No functioning trash collection system in most areas means that the trash piles up until it gets burned. No electricity in most areas leaves schoolchildren studying under the lights at most gas stations at night -- the only place with light to read by. And to make it worse, the military government can't seem to stop shooting peaceful protesters... I've been to Accra and Monrovia, but Conakry has them beat by far.

15 October 2009 11:28AM ikhokh01 Report this comment

Personaly I think Ljubljana(Slovenia) is the most ugliest city in Europe.There are hardly any places to eat or drink, I am talking about their downtown Ljubljana not the countryside. Soviet style buildings and deserted streets...what a dump!

15 October 2009 4:13PM dingdong88 Report this comment

LA - c'mon. Yes, large swaths of the metropolis are blindingly ugly, but there is so much great stuff too. The major fault is that the entire LA basin revolves around the automobile, and this is what makes it so wretched in many ways. But it's damn exciting too, and I sort of enjoy the unhinged madness of it. Plus, great art and great food and so many interesting n-hoods.

I'd like to nominate Taipei. Not the worst, but when I was there several yrs ago, I could not find a single attractive structure anywhere. Terribly ugly place, humid, smelly in parts. Taiwan has a very bad ecological record too.

My current hometown - San Jose, California - certainly ranks. It's culturally dead, sprawls like LA, downtown is a mostly downtrodden wasteland, and the landscape is filled with lifeless business parks and soul crushing subdivisions. And it's hellishly expensive. The people are generally greedy, superficial, and chained to their hi tech job-prisons. Yikes, I need to get out...

15 October 2009 6:55PM mvgame Report this comment

BANGKOK... It has the loveliest watts, the teak palace, and so on... and it´s messy, dirty, unhuman to drive, too crowded, too tought... and I hate it to death...

15 October 2009 9:49PM globecircler Report this comment

Los Angeles worse than Tijuana or Ciudad Juarez? Really? And where's Lagos?

LA is not stunningly beautiful and traffic is horrendous, but there is ALOT to see and do there (great bars & ethnic cuisine, celebrity-sighting, funky neighborhoods). It's not like Paris, where you can just hop off the plane, wander around and be awed by the sights, you have to research in advance. And there ARE tourist shuttles that circulate to the most popular sites, so you don’t have to drive.

LA is also changing...more attention is being paid to new developments, pedestrian-friendliness and densifying areas with the metro like Downtown, Pasadena & Hollywood. In Nov, voters also approved several new subway lines including the Purple Line down Wilshire Blvd to Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Westwood & Santa Monica. Stay tuned.

What deserves to be ranked worse than LA? The 3 cities mentioned above plus Taipei, Beijing, Manila, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Caracas, Sao Paolo & Guatemala City, for starters.

16 October 2009 2:16AM youseehim Report this comment

LA is at least a functioning city with beautiful beaches! I would give my vote to Medan, Indonesia, for it's complete madness.

16 October 2009 5:28AM carrieq Report this comment

Has no one been to Kathmandu? It is possibly the worst city I've ever been to. The smog is one thing (you can't see the Himalayan Mountains even though they're right beside the city), but the fumes from broken down cars, the riot police everywhere, the harrassment from sellers and 'guides', the horrible food... this is what really gets me! I think I developed a black lung from my stay there. A shame, really, since the history is so amazing there, but I'll never go back.

My second vote for worst city is Athens. Dirty, noisy, hot, loud. Poor planning, poor transportation, poor people. Disappointing to say the least (but at least the food was good!) Another shame, since the history is phenomenal there.

I did, however, spend 3 months in Accra, and I didn't find it as bad as all that. And London as worst city? Shame!! I love that city with all my heart!

16 October 2009 12:26PM rose_m Report this comment

Wow, you might want to give Kathmandu another go. Yes, it's polluted, but go in April or October and you'll see the Himalayas - it's seasonal haze. Yes, you'll get approached by a lot of touts and guides, it's a city that relies heavily on tourist dollars - but they're generally charming about being politely refused. Compared to, say, India, it's a soft sell indeed. Bad food? Try the momos! Mmmm, momos...With you on the London thing. It can be a difficult city, but if you can't find something to love in London, well, it's as Dr Johnson says - you're tired of life.

16 October 2009 12:55PM skybird12209 Report this comment

I have been to about half of these places and don't agree with most of what has been written. Why is it I don't see the boringly dull Atlanta or Dallas or Houston? If you can add LA to the mix, then how can you not add Houston? At least LA has no humidity!

And for overseas places, what can be worse than New Delhi India?? They have these guys who pop out behind the trees and squirt "monkey poop" on your shoes and then try and rip you off as they clean them for a hefty, $12 USD, fee! And they really do have bands of roving,hungry, mean monkeys!!

17 October 2009 3:15AM tomstar86 Report this comment

I have to agree with Seoul - it's vile.

I'm in Daegu, which is lovely - not too big, easy to get around, very pedestrianised, reasonable prices, and much friendlier people than Seoul.

Seoul is too congested, dirty, ugly, and it has no heart. The Koreans you find in Seoul are horrible enough to anybody from the south of S. Korea (aka Daegu, Busan etc.) let alone to foreigners.

The current ads running for it which call it "Soul of Asia" are a joke - guess the Korean tourism board have never heard of or been to Tokyo, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai...to name a few...

And the Korean government wonder why it isn't a booming tourist destination, surely nothing to do with how racist Koreans tend to be, the fact that they won't let budget airlines run international flights so that Korean Air and Asiana retain a monopoly, or the fact that they promote their cuisine internationally with kimchi...

17 October 2009 5:18AM marialopez Report this comment

I hate Dehra Dun in North-India: dusty, noisy, lots of traffic, terrible hotels, restaurants and shops. I hate Las Vegas in USA: the climate is horrible (you get sweaty but yet there is a desert wind, so that you catch a cold) and it is SO boring!! I hate Varanasi in Northeast India: dirty river, polluted air, lots of traffic, lots of India, terrible......

17 October 2009 5:20AM marialopez Report this comment

I LOVE LA: it houses wonderful collections of modern art and the climate is good, all this very much opposed to SF!

17 October 2009 5:25AM marialopez Report this comment

I just LOVE Naples: art and art and art and art, lovely food for low prices, great people in the folksy old neighbourhoods in the old town, it is my type of place!

17 October 2009 11:04AM dingdong88 Report this comment

I have to agree that Delhi is a nightmare in many respects, but it is so thrilling and the history so alive and so rich that the filth and hassle and noise somehow are worth it. My initial reaction was horror and sheer terror, but upon returning a few wks later I rather enjoyed it.

But it is not exactly a "city that works" and boy is it an ugly city in parts.

17 October 2009 6:50PM laimac Report this comment

Sorry but I can't agree with Accra which is a lovely city once you know it - of course, no "lie on white sand beaches" destination but one where you can truly discover the welcoming Ghanaian culture. If you're looking for a truly non-touristy place, think of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I am not criticizing the local customs (I live in Riyadh), but this is definitely one of the last places on Earth for tourism!

18 October 2009 8:53PM jessistar15 Report this comment

Very interesting that Detroit is #1, has anyone been to Gary, IN? So I didn't actually stay to visit, but passed through on a bus-I did eat at a White Castle!-and was overwhelmed by the putrid odor that wafted its way onto the bus. Seems depressing and oppressed.

The city of Adana in Turkey is a must pass. Masses of unfinished buildings that looked like construction halted many years ago, choking pollution, dull views. I was most disgusted with the opulence of the hotel I was staying as it overshadowed the crumbling homes of those that lived nearby. Seemed to be in extremely bad taste to have such sparkling digs right in the middle of all that. Here's thumbing your nose at you...

I'll be honest, it wasn't irredeemable, there is a gorgeous Roman bridge and there was a mosque that was particularly beautiful, but Adana compared with every other place that I visited in Turkey was very dull.

19 October 2009 12:19AM thecuriostraveller Report this comment

What about Toronto?

Toronto should be the first in the list for so many reasons

People are arrogant and unfriendly

they critize you on the street if you don't look like them, meaning dressing in black in winter.

There is not much to do if you are not in the club scene

the so call entertaiment district is packed with bad and overpriced restaurants.

all the buildings look the same (Blue) except for the CN tower wich by the way is not longer the biggest standing structure in the world.

Overall a very angry and dull city.

19 October 2009 4:22AM nvarellas Report this comment

Ulaanbataar, Mongolia, should definitely be on the list--old, Soviet-concrete buildings, almost no parks, garbage everywhere and heavy air pollution. The real kicker for me--mouse/rat poison pellets under the beds in one of the "best" hotels there--although maybe that's a good thing--what would it be like without it?

20 October 2009 1:20AM sraj Report this comment

Its good to see that you have discussed about Chennai a lot.I believe the best form of Advert is that you are being talked.Even if it means to be negative. You talk abt History ...Ask Anyone of your westerners well educated guys about Madras University of Guindy College of engineering.This one of the few.I can talk a lot on this one.

We have produced some of the best film stars in the history of Filmdom in India.

The bolly wood as you all see is also amazed at the talent and the quality of the the stars.To name a few Rajinikanth for style Kamalhasan the king of variety. Prabhu deva Know as the Micheal jackosn of india.

Even we have given the World most talked musician A.R Rahman.But ,Sir Ilaiya raja

But the pathetic part is you have not kown abt it completely in order to discuss abt it.

You talk abt wealth.The Amt of money Circulated in the CMs family Can never be measured(LOL)

Oh My the beaches ...You guys will die to be in to beaches.

20 October 2009 6:08AM alygator Report this comment

I can't say I hate any of these places because I had some memorable experiences in all of them, but my vote for least attractive/pleasurable cities would be Georgetown (Guyana), Kinshasa (DR Congo), and Luanda (Angola).

20 October 2009 7:36AM jmichaels Report this comment

My brother just started to go to school in Jacksonville, FL. I was laid off recently so to get my mind off things I went down to visit him. This was my first time in Jacksonville. It is now my least favorite city. It smells, literally. The crime is pretty bad. I love traveling but thankfully I didn't pay anything for this trip. I signed up for some stuff on the site below which helped me to pay for the airline tickets and etc.

Check this out, and don't go to Jacksonville. http://www.mediancs.com/rd_p?p=192462&t=9534&a=25081-scash&gift=25081

20 October 2009 4:59PM knirmal Report this comment

I think the anti-Chennai votes probably came from Indian travelers who hate Chennai simply because it refuses to endorse Hindi. International travelers shouldn't have a problem. I live in Mumbai and love it but I acknowledge that its ugly and filthy but for those lil colonial-architecture and art-deco enclaves. Prosperity is not = lovability. B’lore’s had no buzz for the last 5 years. Delhi's history is its saving grace. Its otherwise hated because of the louts that populate it. In Chennai you won't see the wrenching poverty that’s pervasive in Mumbai and Kolkota. Its spacious and languid, has multiple beaches (not all of them beautiful though), traffic is bearable and its unique culture and cuisine are not shared by any other Indian city. And err..what do you mean by "Even the movie stars are ‘not that hot." Are you endorsing the Indian prejudice against dark skin? Are you telling me Manoj Tiwari and Ravi Kissen are better looking than Jayam Ravi? That was an ugly comment Mr. Wagle.

26 October 2009 5:26AM hipersons Report this comment

Can we play this game with airports we really hate. 1. CDG 2. Chicago

27 October 2009 11:00AM orangetuesday Report this comment

I’m also surprised that Seoul is in the top 9. Just come back from a week in Seoul and I was surprised that it had quite a few distinct historical districts and that it’s relatively green. Also loved the food and the fish market.

London – I can understand why travellers hate it but as a city it’s got to be one of the most interesting in the world. Perhaps, it’s a city to be travelled when you live there – there’s so much cultural diversity, history and unique places in London to keep anyone busy for a very long time.

The worst cities that I’ve been to have been in Central America, excepting Panama City, which has many saving graces. San Juan is grey, Tegucigalpa and Gualamala are uninviting and sound pretty dangerous - from reading the newspapers, bus drivers and gang member girlfriends had a low life expectancy in G city. I’ve stayed in El Salvador but it was in a nice district and didn't ventured much into the city, so it seemed ok.

3 November 2009 2:04PM kumanna Report this comment

This type of page is in very poor taste, and hurts several people's sentiments. I hope Lonely Planet works towards being a decent travel sites, rather than provide random opinions and pass them on as "general" opinion, like "Cities you really hate".

3 November 2009 9:58PM usmankhan Report this comment

I am not agree with you Kumanna, It has its own taste. The taste of is actually differs in person to person. I don't like the cities but the Parks and forest and agree cultural life this is the reason, I like Lagos. And the www.lagosflights.net/

5 November 2009 8:00AM karthik7777 Report this comment

I disagree with comments on Chennai. Of all major cities in India, chennai is one of the safest cities. It's less polluted than Mumbai, Banglore or Calcutta (still highly polluted when compared to western standards but far better than any other Indian city). Chennai may not have rich billionaires like Mumbai, but the average income is better. It got the world's second longest beech, Mahapalipuram, temples and many historic sites. Of course, there are bad things like very poor drainage system (you should not visit the city in rainy season - oct/nov months), bad traffic (the worst spot is taken by b'lore, delhi). And I can bet that Chennai is probably the safest city in India.

5 November 2009 8:50PM radhakr Report this comment

Ranking of Chennai as one of the hated cities is grossly unfair and the reasons cited are lame. Chennai has very strong history, well evolved culture, architectures, a sophisticated movie industry - who said the stars are not hot, the last Indian Oscar winner Rahman is from Chennai - a thriving technology industry, good tourist destinations in the neighborhood and a comparatively decent economy. Weather is sultry, no doubt and the streets are crowded, signs of poverty is there - indeed these are no different from any of the cities in India. The ranking is done by overly imaginative, superficial and arm chair reviewer(s)

6 November 2009 2:30PM stereonation Report this comment

I completely disagree with the reasons that was cited for Chennai. I guess, the author has either some grudge against Chennai or have no idea about Chennai. I believe he has got very less information about the city. Appreciating the unique south Indian culture of Chennai is something a person can/should experience.

6 November 2009 11:16PM bluegrassfire Report this comment

Lagos, Nigeria. Read the fiction of Nigeria's most famous contemporary writer, Ben Okri, who uses the city as an extended metaphor for hell. Enough said.

I lived in London for six months, had numerous local friends, got way out of the tourist bubble, and still agree with the traveler who called it overpriced, overrated, and grubby. Among the travel hubs, this one just underperforms. It simply lacks some magic ingredient, a sense of distinctive atmosphere, compared to Paris, Madrid, New York, Cape Town, San Francisco, Amsterdam, even Mexico City... The reason for this mystifies me, since the city has a lot to offer as far as museums, theater, restaurants, movies etc. But walk along the Seine or through Manhattan's West Village--what an adrenalin rush! Soho, Regents Park, the Thames, even Camden or Bayswater--not so much. London somehow manages to be dull even in its history, multiculturalism, and energy.

7 November 2009 12:46AM eclectic_odyssey Report this comment

I love cities that are gritty and require peeling back the layers a bit to truly discover all the charms. Three cities most people hate that I love are Lima, Naples, and Brussels. At least they all have beating heart and aren't "sanitised for your protection".

I'm going to leave out true hell-hole like Mogadishu that no one would visit from a touristic point of view.

I don't lke artificial cities that are perfect and have had all the soul scrubbed out. Even with good natural scenery, they are boring and fake. Give me a great jazz club in Detroit any day. Ones that come to mind:

Prague Vancouver Singapore

These are places for people who don't really like to travel or have germ phobia. ;-)

7 November 2009 4:36PM agent_smith Report this comment

I vote for Shanghai. It is polluted, dirty and crowded. The Shanghainese are rude, the traffic is horrible and the whole city smells like a sewer. But loads of places to eat and drink.

8 November 2009 10:17AM chrystalline Report this comment

I chuckled when I saw Chetumal - I stayed in their version of a YMCA hostel one night to break up the long bus ride from Mexico to Belize.

It was probably one of the most depressing places I stayed, and yes, I found nothing lovely or agreeable about the neighborhoods or city (granted, I was not there long.) Actually though I did find a decently nice place to have breakfast the next morning, but I shed no tears leaving that place!

8 November 2009 11:06PM papapitufo Report this comment

I think Mr Vivek has a bit of homework to do before saying that San Salvador is in the list for being the grubbiest city in Central America...

Please read here : http://www.bestdesi.com/desi-general/worlds-25-dirtiest-cities-india-has-2-in-the-list/

Mercer Health and Sanitation Index Score: 46.6 You’ll find just about everything except marine life in New Delhi’s Yamuna River. Garbage and sewage flow freely, creating a rich environment for the growth of water-borne diseases contributing to extremely high rates of infant morbidity.

And in the list the only city mentioned is Mexico City from Latin America

Plus not to mention you just released El Salavador as Top Destination for 2010, not really consistent I must say.

San Salvador is far from being the cleaniest but very far from being one of the most hated for its grubbiness ...

9 November 2009 10:21AM tina_23 Report this comment

Chennai?! Really?! I have nothing new to add that some of the others haven't already mentioned.I'd have to agree with the author on Delhi and Mumbai, but I'd have to say that Chennai balances out culture and modernization that isn't found in the other metros in India. I am no seasoned traveller but having spent time in Asia, Europe and Africa, I can say that Chennai does have a unique feel to it. It is not for everyone and there are downsides to it (Weather for one) but its the seat to one of the most popular forms of classical dances - Bharatnatyam and classical music and not to mention the language itself (Tamil) is one of the most ancient languages in the world.

9 November 2009 10:22AM tina_23 Report this comment

It houses beautiful temples and has the world's second longest beach and the famous Kanchivaram silk sarees!Its safer than most parts of India..although it has its fair share of clubs n pubs, if you are merely after 'fun', this city is definitely not for you, my friend...you are better off in Mumbai, Bangalore or Goa...

9 November 2009 11:05AM vivekw Report this comment

Hi papapitufo,

This list was based on traveller feedback, not my personal opinion.

It's also worth noting that we classify Mexico as being part of North America, not Central America (although it is Latin American, as you point out).

Finally, we believe that El Salvador has many drawcards outside the capital!

vivek

9 November 2009 12:47PM kumanna Report this comment

Hi vivekw!

I'd love to know the source of your traveler feedback. Was it your website, or some other source?

Thanks.

9 November 2009 5:38PM petermaggiore Report this comment

CAIRO!

Dirty, dirty and dirty. The pyramids are nice to look at I do admit but even they have an ugly backdrop to set your eyes upon.

9 November 2009 5:39PM petermaggiore Report this comment

ps. I love Accra! It definitely doesn't deserve to be on this list.

11 November 2009 12:54PM charliecbc Report this comment

I LOVE big cities, they are my favorite destinations, and I admit I am a bit weird in that way. There are a few cities in America, however, that I would not recommend traveling to. I agree with Detroit. It is by far the most dangerous place in America. I have two best friends from there, and the stories they tell are like something out of a third world country. People get murdered almost everyday and half of the murders go unsolved. On the other hand, people from Michigan and the Detroit area are known for being some of the nicest people in America. The northern midwest region is populated by very hospitable people for the most part and travelers will be amazed at how cool they are. Baltimore and Washington DC are the other most dangerous cities in the US. Both of those cities have a lot to offer tourists, but ineffective city rule and major drug problems have made them crime infested and impoverished.

15 November 2009 4:49PM vijaykarthik Report this comment

Pretty Cheap list.

And all the while, I thought LP had good guys at the deck who didnt have a bias and loved every city they travelled to regardless of what it has to offer. Afterall, its another point in a small world where people live to put things in perspective. To think of the fact that LP itself has quote unqoute *educative* posts like this speaks volumes about the people who write them.

Initially when real travellers told me that LP should only be a start and a fair guide to one's travel and it shouldnt end in the list of places that they recommend, I wasnt very convinced. But now I cant help but agree with them.

Grow up and take things in your stride and live with it. The only reason one travels is to experience every culture and also learn to appreciate it. I dont see anything getting done by stupid posts like these.

21 November 2009 7:53PM smohdnizam Report this comment

Although the author of this biased-dreadful list lives in Melbourne, he doesn't seem to have forgotten his Marathi/Mumbaikar roots. Given the Marathi/Mumbaikar's hatred for all things Chennai, I guess that is the reason that Chennai has made it to the list.

Chennai was not on the original list published by the author and among the comments in the original article I came across only three which had to do with Chennai - 2 were positive and 1 was negative. I would be a moron of grade-A quality to go by just one negative comment and catapult a city to the top 9 most hated list!

I am totally game for some constructive criticism but this one smacks of narrow-mindedness which I believed was anathema to the culture of Lonely Planet. Apparently that is not the case!

Lonely Planet has really screwed the pooch on this one!

22 November 2009 6:57PM soojeng Report this comment

I would just like to say that a city is what you make of it...

23 November 2009 11:27PM auldharry Report this comment

Accra is a great town ya numpties. Whoever nominated it for this list has never had a night on the Ghanaian Rum at Lizzie's Enterprises on the main drag in Osu or been to the bar that looks out over the beach and the Atlantic. You need to walk through a 55-a-side game of football to get to it admittedly. One of the best beaches in Africa is at Kokrobite anaw, and it's only about twenty minutes away.

Dafties.

24 November 2009 7:36AM mari_cb Report this comment

SAN SALVADOR DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE ON THIS LIST!!!

Especially now that El Salvador has been rated among countries like Germany and Greece as a top 10 2010 Destination for Lonely Planet!!

25 November 2009 2:54AM rontayan Report this comment

Detroit?!?!? OMFG! I'm a Detroit native born and raised. (inner-city not suburbs, NW Detroit 8 mile Greenfield area.)

And I honestly have to say I would never visit Detroit if I wasn't going back to see my family or friends. I lived in Detroit for my 27 of my 29 years of life and have to say this place is one of the MOST DEPRESSING areas ever.

I used to hate returning home from a vacation to this crumbling urban ghetto. Its not a racist statement to point out the facts that he city has NOT turned its self around in more years than I've been alive. (this is assuming you've stepped out of downtown.) However if you are in Detroit the people are cooler to hang out with than in Chicago, and I suggest stopping by Union Street Saloon on Woodward ave near Downtown Detroit and ordering the Dragon's eggs with a side of ranch or blue cheese. If you like VERY SPICY food. Also say Hi To Nick or Rondo who work the bar Tell'em Ron Tayan Sent or Eric sent you. (for real)

25 November 2009 9:22AM cloe74 Report this comment

I have to wonder what kind of information this article is trying to provide (or trying to be helpful for travlers??). These cities are dirty and unwelcome so do not go there? or just FYI in case you "have to" visit sometime - beaware and have prejudice against the cities? In that sense, I have to agree with the poor taste comments. Have you ever found yourself not liking NYC after a passerby being rude to you even though you were surrounded by the most popular and well known buildings and landmarks ? I am not going to say NYC is ugly and unwelcome based on my random bad personal experiences ... nor about any cities for that matter. Places and people that you experience in a foreign place is how you make it to be.... Again can you elaborate what type of information this article was trying to provide?

27 November 2009 5:50PM quetzal Report this comment

Doha???? Shocked by those comments. I am sitting here now! Its a beautiful day...yes the weather in summer is overwhelming but now its lovely. There is a 7km long sea front and out of the desert they have made some beautiful green areas. Ok its not a global classic but its pleasant enough and the Qataris are fine - I actually like them a lot. Yep the driving is horrible by a lot of nationalities but other crimes are very low. Eid Mubarak from the desert.

12 December 2009 3:37PM seripark Report this comment

Seoul is fabulously fun if you know where to go and what to do... it's open 24 hours, and has endless activities.

The problem is that Korea is not that touristique and the culture is pretty insular. So, you need a local if you want to really experience the place.

You might get a flavor if you watch a few Korean dramas and films.

21 December 2009 6:01PM suhridk Report this comment

Although Chennai is a vibrant metro with a lot of going for it - in terms of history, culture, temples, beaches, I am sorry to say that I side with the author on his choice of Chennai. The city has just been let down by woeful infrastructure and indifferent citizens. Terrible roads which flood with rainwater and sewage, horrible tranport, filthy overcrowded streets - come together for to make today's Chennai a nightmare. I hope these things get fixed soon, till then give the city a wide berth.

28 December 2009 4:22AM traveller115 Report this comment

Agree - with most - I would put Wolverhampton at no. 1 or 2 - but I'd add Kaolack in Senegal pretty high up there as well. Seoul? What are you thinking? It's the citizens, not just the architecture (or lack of it) that make or break a city.

30 December 2009 4:39AM proudwulfrunian Report this comment

How on earth can you put Wolverhampton at number 5 when the feedback does not justify this at all. Post 35 was a joke for goodness sake. Listen Vivek if you claim to be a serious travel writer then you should actually find out about a city before you start belittling it. I challenge you to do some research or actually visit us before coming to any conclusion. We are over 1000 years old and West Wolverhampton is one of the most affluent areas of England. Contact us at cityofwolverhampton.com.

30 December 2009 2:38PM julifers4 Report this comment

Wow, by the looks of all these comments every city in the world sucks. I might as well stay at home...........

31 December 2009 1:37AM wulfrunian1960 Report this comment

Personally I wouldn't go anywhere in the world if Vivek Wagle (editor of lonely planet) was there. His brand of gutter journalism would seriously infect anyone in his vicinity. Perhaps he should actually visit a place which he denegrates before making sneering, vacuous and puerile comments. Lonely Planet guides are alot of old crap anyway - many people living in my hometown of Wolverhampton won't wasting their money on such rubbish - they have more intelligent minds of their own !

31 December 2009 4:52AM joeyfh Report this comment

To all those complaining about Wolverhampton's ranking, you are deluded. I was born there and left last year hopefully to never return. Wulfrunian1960, you mention that the folk of 'Wolvo' are intelligent, then why does the city have the highest unemployment in the UK and some of the highest levels of deprivation in Europe. Hardly affluent at all. People are proud of their awful Black Country accents, no wonder people can’t get a job. People in Wolves are losers, they look down on anyone who manages to make a success out of their lives as they know they can’t achieve anything themselves. The place has no ambition. Getting out of bed before 2pm and grabbing a pint before 5 is considered a hard days work in Wolverhampton. The place should be bulldozed. Awful city, awful people. It’s beyond repair. It should have been #1 on the list. There are no attractions in the city. Unless you call gun crime, muggings and segregated ethnic ghettos as a highlight.

31 December 2009 11:02AM proudwulfrunian Report this comment

I was born in Wolvehampton and have lived here all my life, and it's the best city in the UK.

Wolverhampton is no worse in terms of crime then other UK Cities and every city has areas with a higher percentage of various ethnic bakgrounds but this not this does not automatically make them "ghettos". There are a quarter of a million People here and certain areas such as Penn and Tettenhall have some of the most beautiful and expensive houses in the country.

We have one of the top race courses in England, a Premiership Football Club, the current national Speedway champions, one of the biggest universitsies in the country and the location of the World's first Steam engine in 1712 which started the industrial revoloution.

I would advise travellers to come to Wolverhampton and see the city for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

31 December 2009 10:57PM whirlybirdz Report this comment

My god. They have missed the worst city on the planet bar none. Manchester. What a dump. Miserable people, easily drunk and violent, constant begging, dirty grimy center, I even heard the IRA bombed it as a favor to spruce it up. No character to the place, just drab and dour with no real history to the place, just overpriced shops, unsafe nightclubs and a couple of souless soccer stadia. my advice to anyone is to go a few miles west and visit a real city, Liverpool. Never been anywhere like it. Wolverhampton beats manchester hands down.

1 January 2010 4:39AM loz_dude Report this comment

These are clearly not the worst cities in the world to visit - possibly the most disappointing, based on expectations and number of visits? Although I don't understand how anyone can have particularly high expectations of Wolverhampton, or how it can disappoint people - I haven't been there, but it doesn't promote itself as a big tourist destination, and I can't see how it can be much worse than many other medium-sized English towns! Also, Chennai is no worse than the average Indian city (I think it's better than many). It has reasonable accommodation, food, beaches, history, and a couple of very good Hash House Harriers groups who will show you a good time!

1 January 2010 6:31AM gould3 Report this comment

Are you seriously joking with Wolverhampton?

You are basing this off one comment that someone has made linking it with the way ground zero looked, which is obviously just biased and unfounded opinion from someone born in Sandwell.

Wolverhampton is actually a pretty nice place to be for the most part and, it is definitely not a tourist city, neither does it promote itself as such. It's a fairly basic English city with nothing particularly amazing or particularly bad.

The fact that someone would include it in such a list shows that morons still exist.

1 January 2010 1:10PM ghanaman Report this comment

accra is beautifull & vibrant all of ghana is of a matter of fact were a peacefull nation so dont be put of by these o.t.t crititism of my beloved land ... kind regards j asare

1 January 2010 6:24PM sturawl Report this comment

Got to say I totally disagree about Seoul. I lived there for 2 years and found it one of the most soulful and exciting cities in the World. Get yourself down to Hongdae or Shinchon on a saturday night and tell me this city has no heart! My vote for worst city would be my current abode - Shanghai. Unless you're an expat banker on a fat salary you ain't going to be having much fun. As for the nightlife it's a sterile place and I've never visited or lived in a city with so little culture - just a constant rush for money on the part of the locals and almost everyone else who comes to live here.

1 January 2010 7:04PM bluemev Report this comment

I used to think that Lonely Planet was a quality travel book publisher. I've travelled a bit and I've borrowed a few copies of different publications and usually found them useful. But this list has really changed my opinion of Lonely Planet. How could such a poor list be made? I've lived in two of the cities on the list; Wolverhampton, although not worth buying a plane ticket to see is not an overly bad place and Seoul a vibrant city will wonderful people, excellent transportation and plenty of things to do. The author of this list obviously hasn't got a clue about what he's doing. Next time I'm looking for a travel book I'll be sure to consider other publications before Lonely Planet from now on.

1 January 2010 10:27PM thisiskaka Report this comment

I've been fortunate enough to have travelled and lived in many of what are considered the best and worst destinations in the world and I think this list is offensive & ridiculous.

Once upon a time I used to consider a LP guide as a pre-requisite to visiting any destination. Not so these days, unfortunately.

Perhaps if the LP refocused it's efforts in updating their out of date and oft inaccurate guide books then people might have a better experience of these so called 'worst cities in the world'.

2 January 2010 2:01AM ghanaman Report this comment

acccra gives you sense of well being & perspective towards life there so many great places to visit also has vast amount of black history for those of you who want to retrace your black history all british blacks/african americans /carribean,s africa is the mother land ...joe asare

2 January 2010 5:22AM missamymelissa Report this comment

I live in wolverhampton and im shocked that its on this list! joeyfh - all i'd like to say is what on earth are you thinking?!?!!?, 'The place has no ambition. Getting out of bed before 2pm and grabbing a pint before 5 is considered a hard days work in Wolverhampton. The place should be bulldozed. Awful city, awful people.' Clearly you haven't met everyone in wolverhampton because we are not all like that, i know plenty of people who want to be successful in their lives and try hard to achieve it. Yes were not the best city in the world and i know that but we're definately not that bad! and to be honest im glad you wont return if you think like that :) And really we havent got the worst accent either, most people i met who aren't from wolverhampton quite like the accent.

Ps im shocked LA was on this list too - always wanted to go :/

2 January 2010 7:33AM this_site_is_shit Report this comment

Well, well, well, that really isn't a surprise is it now? Where are your UK offices, Lonely Planet? Oh London, you say! That's why it doesn't really surprise me that Wolverhampton is in the worst 5 cities. What an ill-educated bunch of people they must employ down there in the south of England. The idiots cannot even be bothered to check the place out and see what the town has to offer and how great it really is. OK, Wolverhampton may not be the best town in the world; let's not pretend now: all towns have room for improvement. This is something which we must all take in our stride. However, to call them one of the worst towns in the world really is a little disgraceful. The fact that the list even exists equally highlights how fickle the world population is. What a great thing Lonely Planet have done for Wolverhampton's tourism, too! I'm just glad that the Lonely Planet guides aren't the only ones out there, as their informative content is something which really needs addressing.

2 January 2010 7:35AM this_site_is_shit Report this comment

@proudwulfrunian, don't forget, Wolverhampton is also famous for its traffic lights! ;-)

3 January 2010 5:47AM justsomegirl2010 Report this comment

I personally love Detroit, but was not at all surprised to see it on this list. It seems as though many who have left the area feel they have been given a personal mission to tear down the city whenever possible. It's something I've never seen for any other city!

At any rate, I would challenge Lonely Planet to publish fabulous vacation plans for each of these most-hated cities, incorporating hotels, restaurants and tourist spots that would ensure anyone who followed these suggestions the best vacation ever. Otherwise, this list seems like a waste of time.

3 January 2010 3:15PM sagwamun Report this comment

Los Angeles is a paradise in terms of weather, beaches and culture. That it appears on this list is reason enough to ignore the whole thing.

@justsomegirl2010: Amen. Usually LonelyPlanet is so positive about travel; this seems distastefully out of character.

4 January 2010 4:45AM jimhaycock Report this comment

I think it's INCREDIBLY irresponsible of you to print this list just on the hearsay of a few people. I have travelled, and have lived in many areas of England and I can assure you Wolverhampton SHOULD NOT be on this list. There are many areas of Wolverhampton that are very beautiful, it has many historical places of interest, great nightlife and great places to eat. And also has easy access to a major city like Birmingham. When you glibly and ignorantly contrive these things I think you fail to comprehend the effect that your listing might have on a place like Wolverhampton. Oh and by the way Wolverhampton is not a City it is a Town!!!! Check your facts!!!!

4 January 2010 7:32AM faizan Report this comment

jimhaycock, I am more appalled by your knowledge of our city than I am of it being on this list. Have you actually ever been here? Have you ever studied the local history? Wolverhampton was granted city status by the British Government in December 2000!

As for the article; it's obviously not the worst city of the world considering how much culture it holds.

4 January 2010 11:01AM jiggapoke Report this comment

I registered so I could leave a comment,being a proud Wulfrunian.Usually, I wouldn't give the time of day to a cheap&nasty site like this & I won't be back to see its trite crap again.The idiot who wrote the article has never been outside the London lights.Wolverhampton is part of the Black Country, the cradle of industry,not just in the UK,but the World.Now the furnaces have been moved to cities in E. Europe, China & India,the city has been cleaned up & revitalised.A 15 minute drive takes you to the countryside(green grass,cows,sheep)"Black Country Humour" is self deprecating,the people are not up their own backsides,making fun of others like Vivek does.He didn't get the joke,but seemed to enjoy the fun poked at ground zero.I can think of a dozen cities in the UK,worse than Wolvo & a dozen more in a dozen countries.So Vivek & joeyfh, don't bother coming to Wolvo,we don't need you or your scumbag friends polluting our now smog free air.I agree with you this_site_is_shite,it really is!

4 January 2010 4:24PM john_ready Report this comment

What in the world is this list based on? A dumb writer putting up dumb posts just to get mouse clicks... This post tells how low the quality of Lonely Planet is.

5 January 2010 4:32AM idoneill Report this comment

Good list.. I'd put Arusha further up.. a real $hithole.

John_ready needs to calm down and not browse websites he finds so offensive.

Jiggapoke: the best thing about Wolverhampton is that it used to be worse? You have got to be kidding. Most of England thinks its a joke and it is frequently used as a byword for a really crap place.. justifiably so!

5 January 2010 9:38AM jiggapoke Report this comment

You have your head up your ar$e.Read the script,clown,it's not about what it used to be,it's what is now. Non-descript and bland maybe, but if you think it's a joke then let's have your home town. If you've got the guts to read how I rip it to pieces. Or are you just another sneering scumbag...?

5 January 2010 11:35AM drravikumar Report this comment

Hi guys, Chennai's weather may not be all that pleasing, but I am surprised to find it in the " Worst cities list" . I mean there are surely Worser places on the face of earth. I have lived here for 9 years and although it may not be a Happening or " TOURISTY " place NOBODY can dispute that it is one of the safest places in India and most Law abiding. Power is Not problem and if you know somebody there , it is definitely a very friendly place.And except for the Auto drivers rest of the places are Honest.

5 January 2010 7:20PM kaleb99 Report this comment

Dear Editor, the answer to your question at the end is absolutely NO. I looked through the original list and all the comments, and I seriously doubt you made any effort to aggregate the feedbacks to count them. For example, you put Seoul to the 3rd place nearly based on a single observation. Why did you quote the entire words of the negative comment only for this city? Looks like Seoul is the worst of all no matter where it is on the list...

Are you proud to present? Proud? Really..?

6 January 2010 4:50AM idoneill Report this comment

Jiggapoke: London. I know its clearly not as great a city as Wolverhampshire, but it suits me fine!

Jiggapoke the Wulfrunian is a great example of Wolverhampton's worst feature: It's beligerent, inbred yokel inhabitants. I don't think I'm a scumbag for voicing my opinion, but I certainly am sneering at you, you mouth-breathing, six fingered freak!

6 January 2010 7:54AM traveller080 Report this comment

I think Mr. vickyas400 has written a very offensive post. There are decent ways to address if you don't like a poll or opinion. It looks like he may not have liked Chennai to be on the list of worst cities so he created one of the worst posts. I believe radhakr has written a more mature post. As for Chennai itself lets talk about the city and not it's film stars

6 January 2010 10:55AM teuk Report this comment

what? you wrote this article solely based on one person's opinion?

6 January 2010 10:57AM teuk Report this comment

well at least the Seoul part of the article is very biased. i wouldn't know about other cities but i know that this article can't be trusted much.

6 January 2010 2:54PM ganstacha Report this comment

Trust? Credibility? Fair? Come on guys! You are taking this too seriously.

Every city has its good & bad sides...Don't they?

6 January 2010 8:37PM alana317 Report this comment

I would like to REPORT ABUSE! Lonely Plant: you are in violation of your own terms of use. This mean spirited article defames cities and contains excessively course language. As a native of Los Angeles and a resident of Seoul, it’s true, LA has traffic, but that’s So LA; what city has a “pretty freeway” anyway? And Seoul has lots of cookie cutter apartments but label its populace alcoholics? Absurd. We do enjoy our spirits, but there are plenty that can drink us under the table! Both cities are great places whose good points far exceed the bad. Open minded travelers can find adventure in all cities. Lonely Plant, this article is wrong. Read the UNWTO’s “Global Code of Ethics for Tourism” that calls on the travel press to issue honest and balanced information that influences the flow of tourists and then, if you have any professionalism, can this article. Or does LP stand for “Lacks Professionalism”?

6 January 2010 9:40PM leafsie Report this comment

How disappointing. The original list seemed to make more sense but the whole attempt at making this list looks like a pointless exercise now. I lived in Seoul for many years and although I wouldn't exactly call it a paradise but it's surely filled with its own wonders and treasures if you're clever/resourceful enough to know where to look.

7 January 2010 2:11AM utopiaoq Report this comment

Oh my god. I really think this article is tremendously biased, especially about Seoul. (what!? alcoholism? ...) And it's not that i don't agree with all those opinions, but they are also applicable to all the capital cities in the world.

7 January 2010 3:36AM smartiearch Report this comment

Am sorry Mr. Wagle, you are either being very naive or extremely stupid to be calling Chennai 'a worst city' just because the film stars are not hot. And its as prosperous or historically rich as much as any other metro in India. And Los Angeles has the hottest film stars the world is familiar with, why does it figure on the list???!! It is the hottest destination in the USA Sir, kindly check! You are so inconsistent with your reasoning, I really hope people don't take your crap serious.

7 January 2010 4:59PM mptodd Report this comment

Travel Guide Books you really hate? "oppressively bland" Really? I’ve traveled and lived in many parts of the world and bland is the last word I would use to describe Seoul. I have chosen to live in this city is because of its never ending opportunities to explore, meet new friends and sample fantastic food. True, Seoul is not as metropolitan as Paris or New York but that’s what is so unique, interesting and fun about it. There’s something new happening every minute and it’s nearly impossible to keep up! Seoul is a enormous city with tons of events, cultural sites and nightlife. It’s amazingly safe and it is easy and cheap to get anywhere. I invite those who've never been here and those who haven't been to Seoul in while to come and check it out for yourself! Oh Lonely Planet, what happened? I used to read your travel guides and even visit your website but you are becoming out of date and inaccurate. You have now made my list of Travel Guide Books you really hate!

7 January 2010 6:43PM disparvulgo Report this comment

I totally disagree with Seoul. I've stayed there several times, nice people, good food and several very interesting places to visit (culture, shopping). Seeing Seoul on this list makes me wonder about the other cities, how about areas in China like Guangdong...

8 January 2010 11:08AM jinjoo2 Report this comment

I also completely disagree with Seoul being the most hated country - this is absolutely absurd & I'm not even from that country! Seoul is a modern & clean city, beautiful people, lots of wonderful places to see, lots of gorgeous & unique landscapes, shopping is great, delicious foods, safe environment and i agree with disparvulgo here, likewise, what about other cities who are far worst in my view? Why did LP made a conclusion based from just one report? How about some places in India & other countries? Seoul should not be on your list!

8 January 2010 11:14AM jinjoo2 Report this comment

I'm glad i'm not the only one who disagree with the Seoul being on your list! I think this is extreme exaggeration about why that tourist whoever reported Seoul as such was dead wrong about this country! I admire this country for its rich culture, modern buildings, hi technology & for its beauty! I've heard mostly positive things about this country & I feel I should voice out my opinion about it!

8 January 2010 10:44PM jiggapoke Report this comment

O'Neill: I have the requisite number of digits, although you are evidently short of a couple of chromasomes.

And talking of inbred, you must be an expert on the subject, isn't yours a popular name amongst the travelling community? "Do ya like dags ?"

As for London (presuming you were actually born there and not in a caravan), I might have known you were a cockney. The overwhelmingly worst thing about the place is its residents. Just like you, they sneer at anything north of Watford Gap. How dare I question the opinion of a Londoner ? I should shut my mouth and get back to my whippets. Enjoy your jellied eels, cretin.

9 January 2010 1:23PM mips12 Report this comment

Seoul is #3??? That's totally ridiculous. I've been living in Seoul for 3+ years now, and I have to say that this is one of the most exciting cities I've been in. There is so much to do, and everything is very accessible. Seoul has developed a lot over the past decade, and sure, it has it's ugly side, but it also has plenty of beauty and charm to make up for that and more. Whoever thought to put Seoul on this list obviously didn't experience Seoul with an open mind.

10 January 2010 3:16PM johnkorin Report this comment

Seoul is just No.3??? the ugly city should be nominated as no.1 I had lived there for 17 years, and I'd like to say that Seoul looks just ugly and people has no manner. The city is just for Korean workaholics, sex & alcohol addicts. There are no many unique pop culture for Seoul, same situation like Korea, Seoul has same culture that just has been copied from Japanese pop culture(like cheap Chinese copy). May this city is also good for foreign English teachers or American G.I. because they can get laid easily with Korean girls. p.s. Did you know that the Korean no.1 national treasure NamDaeMoon(Southern Great Gate) was burn down in Feb 11, 2008 by one Korean old man. This city even can't protect their historical cultural property from one Korean asshole :)

19 January 2010 3:51AM geoffpeace Report this comment

I lived in Wolverhampton for ten years and have visited very frequently during the last thirty.

There are many sordid places in the UK, especially England, but Wolverhampton is arguably the worst city-sized settlement. Again, there is however very strong competition and Middlesborough or some of the Outer London boroughs ( e.g. Croydon, Dagenham ) may be worse.

All of these places feature slum poverty, industrial dereliction, lack of culture, and inhospitable populations, but Wolverhampton has special infrastructural problems including isolation from road and air links and a city center that is unapproachable on foot due to a freeway-style inner ring-road.

Its own citizens despise it, as is reflected in the absence of civil architecture, lack of medical or leisure facilities, and the omnipresence of litter.

21 January 2010 6:41AM petritent Report this comment

Just want to stick up for Seoul, my favorite city in the world! I lived there for two years and grew to love everything about it, but some of my fondest memories are of the wonderful people; the stunning historic sites; the neighborhoods of Hongdae, Daehangno, and Idae; and of course the FOOD! Don't worry, Seoul, there'll always be a place for you in my heart!

27 January 2010 10:56PM philipvj Report this comment

I need to stick up for Chennai which has been my hometown from birth.

Only a person who doesn't know the place or had an improper guide to take them around would call it boring... Chennai, also called, the Queen of the Coromandel, is India's gateway to the South and is famous for it's understated charm.

27 January 2010 10:57PM philipvj Report this comment

Chennai boasts of the 2nd longest beach in the world and has the famous Universoty of Madras here. All the famous Madras curries came from Chennai, which was formerly known as Chennai.

Chennai has a good number of temples that are more than a 1000 years old and still fully functional... The British founded Madras and St. George's Cathedral and Fort St. George, Central Station, Egmore Station, Ripon Building, Victoria Memorial, Commissioner's Bungalow on Beach Road, the Senate House at the Univ., Presidency College, Museum Theatre and many old churches and buildings are remnants of the Empire...

27 January 2010 10:58PM philipvj Report this comment

Culturally, Madras / Chennai has a rich cultural heritage. The best of all South Indian cuisine is found in Chennai - with curries ranging from coconut bland to red chillie hot and spiced up... It is the seat of classical music and dance and all the sabhas and halls will be booked chocker-block with performances and recitals when the December festival is on. Come Jan, and the whole city is lit for Pongal and Sangaman (meaning Confluence in tamil) the festival that brings folk dancers and street performers / entertainers and martial art exponents from the villages of Tamil Ndau and traditional food stalls in all parks to Chennai.

27 January 2010 10:58PM philipvj Report this comment

Chennai is where women wear silk sarees and are decked in gold with jasmine adorning their hair... Chennai is where men range from fishermen to highly educated engineers and doctors and business magnates. Chennai is the commercial capital of the South with revenue pouring in through IT, Call Centres, BPO's, Leather and Automobile manufactures and exporters.

If there is ever one thing that can put you off this place, it's the weather - it's hot and humid - if you want to experience the heat, come in May - that's also the mango season... But, Dec to Jan is the best time of year to be in.

27 January 2010 10:59PM philipvj Report this comment

Chennai has the largest bus terminus in Asia.

Take a train ride on a suburban train and see the sights and sounds... Take an auto-rickshaw ride to experience a feel of the city's streets and traffic... Do your bit of street shopping in Parry's Corner or T. Nagar and bargain prices till you are exhausted - have some tender coconut water to re-vitalise yourself and start off all over again...

27 January 2010 11:00PM philipvj Report this comment

You must visit any of the Co-optex shops to buy handricrafts. Cane & Bamboo, Victoria Technical Institute and the handicraft shops on Mount Road sell handloom, handicrafts and other souvenirs. You'll enjoy the food in BBQ Nation, but, book in advance... Stay at a private beach house just to relax and get pampered...

Chennai boasts of India's oldest amateur English Theatre Group called the Madras Players who stage many plays - both Indian and foreign...

27 January 2010 11:01PM philipvj Report this comment

If you haven't experienced all this, then you haven't really experienced Chennai at all - and no wonder it figures on the "worst cities to visit" list! But, you'll change your mind once you've been here and done all of this...

Even a taxi ride in an old Ambassador will excite and prove to be an adventure...

If you need more info on what to do in Chennai, mail me on philipvj@gmail.com...

Cheers!

8 February 2010 4:24AM brighella Report this comment

Seoul and Los Angeles might not be particularly nice to the eye, but they're lively and dynamic, and are great places to see! Of course, it's not the same kind of cities as Paris or New York where you can stay for a whole week or even a month seeing amazing things all the time, but nobody should miss the opportunity to get a look at LA and Seoul if they go through the area!

13 February 2010 9:07AM sunguraaa Report this comment

The internet is a crazy place. You get a few tourists who had bad experiences-a lot of those due to the travelers misguidedness and voila we get Arusha to be among the worst cities. Really? What criteria did you use to grade this. Just because you had some bad experiences doesn't mean we are the worst. For the same reason just because you were robbed by a white man doesn't mean all white men are thieves, right? He he he! :-)

5 March 2010 9:03PM prakashraja Report this comment

Well, I've experienced Chennai for more than 10 years. Chennai definitely does not qualify in the above list. The things I found good and bad are listed below. Good 1. Beaches for all walks of people - Marina, Elliots, Mahabalipuram, Tiruvanmiyur, many lonely beaches on ECR, and lot many beaches with wonderful hotels like the Taj Fishermans Cove. 2. The ECR ride as such till Pondicherry is such a wonderful one with clean air, scenary, backwaters, again good hotels, Water sports in Mudaliyar Kuppam. 3. Traditional - Mahabalipuram Shore temple, RK Mutt, Mahabalipuram Dance Festival, Sangamam - traditional folk / culinary festival and variety music / programs, Kalakshetra Dance Festival, whole month of Dec to Jan - dedicated to classical dance and music, sarees and veshties (dhoties) still rule this place.

5 March 2010 9:03PM prakashraja Report this comment

4. Proximity to towns like Kanchipuram - Land of 1000 temples, silk sarees, naadi astrology - mr. balasubramaniam etc., Vedanthangal bird sanctuary. 5. tons of shops for clothing, jewellery, accessories etc., - T Nagar, Spencer Plaza, Citi Center and other malls 6. City is continuously expanding - its a huge huge city. OMR is kind of picking up post recession.

5 March 2010 9:03PM prakashraja Report this comment

7. Culinary delight - The Saravana Bhavans, Annalakshmi, Vasanta bhavan, Le Royal Meridian, GRT, Residential towers, Anjappar, Ponnuswamy many good hotels in ECR. the Besant Nagar stretch to the beach alone has some 15 + hotels. you can find many varieties like italian, chinese, american, thai, north indian, south indian, andhra, kerala, jain food etc., 8. One of the best indian cinema industry - technically sound with many good directors, wonderful musicians, whole bunch of acting / good looking actors and actresses, wonderful comedy etc., 9. People - Not very aggressive, accomodative - i have seen people from all parts of india in chennai.

5 March 2010 9:03PM prakashraja Report this comment

10. Different modes of transport - AC buses, normal ones, MRTS, Unit trains etc., But transport needs improvement too. 11. Very very active industrial area in India - Car factories, Mobile factories, Software companies, BPOs etc., 12. A place for modern arts and dance 13. Wonderful bike riding infrastructure 14. Many theme parks 15. Clubs, sports like tennis, cricket etc.,

5 March 2010 9:04PM prakashraja Report this comment

Bad 1. The overall look and feel of the city is somewhat dull - dusty almost everywhere, hanging wires, pits and dumps. People too are not much fashion conscious; Other indian cities have lot more attractive people. 2. Something big like a parliament in Delhi, Victoria palace in Kolkatta, Rome colosseum, skyscrapers is missing. Some multistoreyed apartments in OMR is a welcome change. 3. Climate - Sun God is always graceful in Chennai. 4. Tourism needs more focus - The sea is a wonderful resource and TN government or private sector can focus on beautifying beaches / promoting more adventurous water sports, yachts rental etc., sangamam festival can include all forms of arts and add more life to the festival. like for e.g. film songs / dance, modern dances, dances from foreign countries, painting, sculpting etc., 5. No good parks. Only kids play areas are available.

5 March 2010 9:07PM prakashraja Report this comment

Some other good points are its a safe place to live, has many wonderful education institutions, intelligent people who are known for their great skills in science and technology, music, direction etc.,

24 March 2010 12:21AM ankitsharma_85 Report this comment

I fully echo the sentiments of Prakashraja, Karthik, RadhKr, PhilipVJ and others who have strongly disapproved of Chennai being an item on the list of "least favourite cities". I basically hail from Delhi and took my first job assignment in Chennai. Having stayed there for almost 2.5 years, I actually fell in love with the ways and means of the city. Now I have moved to Bangalore and regret my decision for having parted ways with such an adorable place like Chennai. Many would not concur with me but language/communication is a problem in Chennai only when a person comes with preconceived notion that he/she will not be able to put forward his/her ideas effectively to an average Chennaiite.

24 March 2010 12:21AM ankitsharma_85 Report this comment

The fact of the matter is that even the fruit seller or the security guard pick up basic English and it is actually very easy to communicate with localites. Now can that ever be imagined to happen in any North Indian city, where nothing rules except for Hindi ?

And avenues for recreation are endless and far better than found elsewhere across India, compared particularly to close contender Bangalore. 1. Serene beaches 2. Zoos, snake park 3. Proximity to Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Tirupati 4. Superb eateries serving the best of south Indian delicacies 5. Amusement parks

Traffic has never been an issue in Chennai and unlike Bangalore, it does not take more than an hour to reach a far off place like Sholinganallur from CMBT, wherein on a daily basis, one needs to struggle with the traffic.

I tend to feel nostalgic about the city and have vowed to make a comeback. For the city, though traditional, enjoys its own charm and is special in itself.

25 March 2010 10:23PM melissarose01 Report this comment

LA isn't my favourite American city (much preferred NYC, San Francisco & Boston) but there's no way it should be on this list! From a cultural perspective, it's a fascinating place! And the people are pretty friendly too. And, whilst I've never been to Seoul, I highly doubt it should be on the list either.

25 March 2010 10:24PM melissarose01 Report this comment

Also, the very idea of this list pretty much summarises why I buy guidebooks from DK and not Lonely Planet. ;)

30 March 2010 5:30PM travelledfarandwide Report this comment

I think it is almost funny how the people from Chennai are 'defending' their city. Sad that they cannot come to terms with the fact that tourism may not be the city's forte. Hats off to LP for publishing such a list! I think what the residents have to understand is that even though they think their city is great, it may not offer much to the tourist. Like is pointed out, that is no slight on their part - people are just disappointed when they visit - they then don't come back and they recommend others not to go there also. I don't know, but it dodn't come across to me as though the original writer had a biased view of Chennai. Worst cities on my list - Hong Kong (dull, dirty, dangerous and boring), Chenna... I had better not say that, Mumbai and Brussels. As for my favourite places - Salzburg, Austria, San Fran, Rome, Kathmandu and Perth, Australia.

9 April 2010 5:24AM viking100 Report this comment

Dakar Senegal was the worst place I have ever been to. Rude people, filthy city. Most unpleasant experience of all my travels.

22 April 2010 6:37PM balajiiswanathan Report this comment

The anti-Chennai lobby once again. You mean the city doesn't have history with 3 500+ year old temples and in the vicinity of 1500 year old art pieces of Mammallapuram? It is the center of BharataNatyam and Carnatic Music, and home to great food. It has a pretty balanced economy with automobiles, rail, IT and telecom industries and among biggest manufacturing bases of India.

Mumbai might have more billionaires but it also has bigger slums. The only buzz of Bangalore is those impatient commuters who have no access to a mass transit system. And it is among the safest Indian cities if you look at the crime rates. If you never been to Chennai don't talk. We don't need no chauvinists.

24 April 2010 3:51PM priyakrishnan Report this comment

Dear Vivek,

Based on what have u placed Chennai here? What authority do you have to comment on this city as well as other cities placed on this list? You have just lost all credibility. Your actions are deeply hurtful to people who live in these cities and judging by this, Im glad you are not in any powerful political position or in any position of any repute. As a person who has travelled to over 50 cities all over the world I can tell you this - you bring shame to humanity. I hope you get the brains to be more appropriate in public forums such as this. Oh! and i hope you survive being a north indian in australia.

1 May 2010 5:01PM stephenzook Report this comment

I can understand why people don't take to Accra right away, because it's not architecturally stunning or particularly organized, but it is a pretty great place. Although, with almost any developing country, some of the most fascinating parts are outside the large cities (Lake Volta region, cocoa farms, etc., in this case).

19 December 2010 7:43AM thomaswamsteker Report this comment

Why is Seoul on this list???

23 March 2011 1:06AM mutatedsai Report this comment

I'm gonna have to disagree with your list. Been to three of the cities you have mentioned(LA, Seoul and Chennai) and have found all of them charming. Especially Chennai. I know many other travellers who had nothing but words of praise for Chennai. This list is either compiled by someone whohas a personal vendetta or plainly someone who's not travelled enough.

19 June 2011 8:07PM andyair74 Report this comment

last time i was in detroit i went to see a nice stanley cup final win over penguins with a great afterparty in some nice clubs. you see one of the best hockey in detroit! it always depends on what you are looking for and in which situation you are in. from austria andyair74

29 October 2011 1:36AM wannabnomad Report this comment

Guys, Chennai has everything and I am from Chennai. But are we showcasing it enough? These guys are travelers and tourists and need direction (read marketing)in order to get to the right places. So instead of fighting their perception, lets act differently and show them the real Chennai that we all see, experience and enjoy. I must agree tourism, till now has not been our stronghold and we have a lot to learn from other cities from the world and even India. Secondly we need to boast (read advertise) and not be indifferent towards the treasures we have :)

Having said that, I am sorry LP, but I do have serious doubts about the author having a grudge against Chennai! I dont expect the LP author to say words like "Their women (actresses) are not so hot!" quite insensitive coming from a LP author! Also no history? really ? sad Mr. Wagle, really sad

8 February 2012 11:10AM laser20 Report this comment

Wow, for you all ripping on the article - what did you expect? It told you that it would be nine places TRAVELERS did not like. Travelers go for specific things; they do not want to shift around a city all day to find one thing that they enjoy. But rather a plethora of activities and sites. Doing this without having to shield themselves from mounds of garbage, polluted waters, failing infrastructures and rude or inhospitable people. Though a small group of travelers enjoy finding a 'city in the rough' most travelers don't. They want a trendy upbeat tourist destination.

For the complaints on what this does for those cities tourism you have to be a complete moron to base any trip or expectation of a city off one site or article or book.

Travelers should take the list to be a forewarning to not have high hopes. Then they hopefully have a better-than-expected trip.