Comments on: Travel Tuesday question of the week – what’s the most underrated destination?

By: budgettravelsac

budgettravelsac — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:10:54 +0000

Thanks for sharing. I would have never thought of going to Tunisia. Not sure I ever will but glad there are those who do who can share a piece of it with us.

By: villas estartit

villas estartit — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 06:01:08 +0000

According to me Tunisia may be the one of the most underrated tourist place.Tunisia is North Africa without the crowds. About seven million people visit Tunisia every year but you won’t see many of them once you’ve done the day-trip from Tunis to Carthage – the Phoenician village Hannibal left to conquer the Romans – and the Moorish village of Sidi Bou Said.

Fill an itinerary with sun-soaked Mediterranean beaches, afternoon walks along the tree-lined streets of Tunis’s medina, shopping expeditions to the cool arcades of the souks, days exploring the roasted sand dunes and Troglodyte villages of the southern deserts, and expeditions to ruins built by the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, Arabs, Turks and French.

By: Cathy Sweeney

Cathy Sweeney — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:09:03 +0000

I think that places in the midwest U.S. are underrated. People often refer to the midwest as “fly-over” states as they travel at 37K ft. from east to west coasts. Cities like Chicago and Minneapolis have so much to offer travelers and residents — arts, culture, entertainment, history, architecture, events, etc. Also, the midwest states themselves offer much diverse scenery, historic sites and interesting people and culture.

By: Pola

Pola — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:39:54 +0000

I hear you! Glad we shared our perspectives.

By: budgettravelsac

budgettravelsac — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 05:12:08 +0000

Pola, I completely understand your perspective of the Eastern Europe vs Central Europe thing. Yes, it may be unfair but the term is used because travel is dumbed down to people who don’t understand the history. From the American perspective, it really isn’t meant as an insult. I learned a lot about the countries when I was there and I really appreciate where they have come from and what I learned about the history. You’ve seen that some of my favorite places are from that area and I’ve spent time writing about it as well.

From a different perspective, it’s unfair that many people in the Middle East think Americans live like what they see on TV and in Hollywood and want to kill us for our infidel ways. Stereotypes and terms that are used, in many respects, are based on ignorance or the dumbing down of a society.

In no way is the term Eastern European meant to disrespect anyone as I doubt many Americans know it is offensive. It’s just a way of understanding the history of those countries with that term. Otherwise, many don’t understand it at all. Many Americans are naive or ignorant about the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia or what really happened in Yugoslavia. Many people have no idea how those countries even came about or what they are about – even 20 years later. So the term is a point of reference to help understand the area.

As for me, I was there in 2006 and absolutely loved the area.

By: Cam

Cam — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 02:42:40 +0000

The Philippines.
Often overlooked because it’s not located on the backpacker trail of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, etc. The tropical islands are some of the most spectacular on the planet, with SE Asian prices (as opposed to the South Pacific). Over 7,000 islands to choose from…!

By: Cam

Cam — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 02:40:40 +0000

Agreed!

By: Juno

Juno — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 02:30:48 +0000

Wow, so many great places!!

By: Boomergirl

Boomergirl — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:07:28 +0000

My underrated destination’s not far off the map from Montana. Straight north that is to the Badlands of southeastern Alberta, Canada. No traffic, big skies, outer space-like land formations, and dinosaur
fossils- millions of them. Amazing part of Canada. Easy fly-drive from Calgary. I like to call it the ultimate road trip in Canada.

By: pola

pola — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:01:23 +0000

Like I said, your observations are very interesting to me because the way people think of themselves may differ much from how they’re perceived.

As strange as it sounds, there is some duality with regards to Catholicism. A lot of people don’t really care, but it’s too strongly tied to tradition, history etc. Practicing is what’s expected, even if it’s half-hearted.

When were you in Krakow?

And to your last sentence – unfair – and insulting. It’s like people are stuck in the past and refuse to acknowledge the events of the past 2 decades and efforts of so many.I doubt the younest generation of Poles would think of themselves as Easter-Europeans, they didn’t experience that world.