worst travel experience

My Top 9 WORST Travel Experiences

Do you ever read about my travel experiences and think, “Blimey, his trips are so smooth and straightforward. How does he do it?”

Let me tell you something: All my trips are FAR from perfect!

And that applies to almost every other travel blogger out there too. We write about how incredibly wonderful our experiences are. And the truth is, yes – they ARE amazing, but as with all great things in life, there is plenty of struggle behind the scenes too.

In all of my personal blog posts documenting my experiences abroad, I try to be honest and write about the shitty stuff that happens as well as the awesome. This is because I want you to understand the reality of traveling from my perspective as a 30-something-year-old deaf guy. It helps to tell my story and makes it unique.

And most importantly, I want you to avoid making the same mistakes that I did, to ensure you make the BEST of your travels.

Planning your trip? Use my favorite resources!

🏨 Accommodation: I recommend Booking.com ✈️ Flights: for the cheapest flights, I use Skyscanner 🚗 Rental Car: I recommend Discover Cars 🛡️ Travel Insurance: for the best deals I rely on SafetyWing

And despite all my bad experiences (including some near-death ones), I wouldn’t change ANYTHING . The good always outweighs the bad, and I have 9+ years worth of the most amazing memories I could ever wish for!

In this post, I have compiled a selection, in no particular order, of some of the worst travel experiences I have ever experienced so far, in just six years of traveling.

Disclaimer: This post in no way criticizes the places these incidents happened. Some of these incidents are common – for example, the bag theft in Vietnam – incidents like these occur all over the world, including in London and New York City. Falling ill in India was my own mistake and could happen in any developing country. And that mosquito bite? I was simply unlucky.

Covering all the bad things that happened to me while traveling over the past decade.

#1. Missing my Flight Home

In 2014 after a visit to Schweinfurt in Germany, I was at Nuremberg Airport, awaiting my flight back home to Birmingham early one morning. However, I was sitting in a cafe and completely lost track of the time.

The boarding gate was making its final call and the staff had called my name out across the tannoy system telling me to make my way to the gate immediately, but unfortunately, that literally fell on deaf ears as I didn’t hear it.

So by the time I got to the gate, it was too late – everyone had already boarded the plane and to my despair, I watched from the gate as the door closed shut on the plane, which meant nobody else could board the plane.

I was shocked and annoyed that I’d missed a flight for the first time. I had to book a new flight, which costed around €200, and it wasn’t scheduled until 24 hours later, so I had to stay in Nuremberg for a night.

At least I took the opportunity to spend a day in the quaint city of Nuremberg. And since this incident, I started making use of Special Assistance for most of my future trips.

I wrote this useful guide on tips and advice for deaf and disabled people thinking about traveling abroad.

#2. Missing my Connecting Flight to India, Twice! (and Lost my Baggage)

I missed another flight in December 2014 when I traveled to India with a stopover at Istanbul Airport. But incredibly, not only did I miss my second leg flight, I was rebooked with a new flight departing 24 hours later only to MISS THAT FLIGHT too!

*Hear me out: unlike my previous missed flight, this one was of no fault of my own.*

Firstly, the flight from Birmingham to Istanbul was delayed by well over an hour due to poor weather, which meant I was almost certainly going to miss the connecting flight in Istanbul. So I informed the staff at Birmingham airport in advance, and they assured me that someone will take care of me as soon as I land in Istanbul, to ensure I get a new flight ticket and be onward with my journey.

So, as predicted, my second flight took off from Istanbul as soon as I landed there, and so I was issued a new ticket. But the next flight wasn’t due until 24 hours later, so they booked me into a hotel for the night. The only problem is, the hotel was quite some distance away, in the city center, so I had to obtain a visa to leave the airport, to get to this hotel.

The following day, the airport bus arrived at my hotel late, and worse still – the traffic was absolutely dreadful. It was total gridlock on the roads, and by the time I arrived at the airport, my flight was about to take off!

I had to explain this ridiculous situation to the staff once again, and nobody could believe what just happened.

So, once again , they issued me with ANOTHER new flight ticket, for a flight taking off – yep, you guessed it – 24 hours later. And so they put me in ANOTHER hotel for the night. BUT, this time, they made sure I was in a hotel right within the airport. So there was no way I was going to miss my flight for the third time.

That wasn’t the end of my troubles though.

When I finally made it to India – my luggage didn’t appear on the carousel. I spent ages waiting at the luggage area while everyone else collected their bags and there was nothing left on the belt, so I had to report to the staff that I’d lost my luggage.

It turns out, my luggage arrived a day earlier than I did. I had to identify my bags in the enormous lost property room, and you can imagine I was relieved when I was finally reunited with my stuff!

#3. Scooter Crash in Goa

On that same trip to India in December 2014 I was in Goa to see in the New Year. Whilst there, my friends and I hired scooters to travel around.

We were riding about an hour north to Anjuna beach, and were slowing down towards one of the crowded roundabouts on the route.

As soon as I stopped, another rider came up too fast behind me on his scooter and crashed into the back of my bike. And as the crash took me by surprise, the impact caused me to tumble over on the left side, as the scooter was a bit heavy.

Luckily though, I walked away from this crash with just a graze on my foot, as I was wearing flip flops (*reminder to self: I should probably get a tetanus jab*).

Did you know: there is a spa just for elephants in India! For more crazy and interesting facts about India, click here.

#4. I once got Electrocuted in Mexico

In the summer of 2014 I had a literal, near-death experience whilst staying in a hostel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

I went to take a shower one night and it was dark, so I was touching the wall trying to find the light switch. And all of a sudden, there was a bright flash and I felt a burning pain shoot right up to my elbow from my finger.

After the initial shock, I saw the wall and realized I’d just been electrocuted . The switch panel was hanging loose, and there were exposed cables sticking out everywhere!

I reported this to the receptionist who was very calm and casual when I explained what just happened. He then came down to have a look, and all he did was hastily cover up the loose cables with some black gaffer tape!

Seriously though, I had a lucky escape. I guess it was a good thing Mexico’s electricity grid output is weak, as I doubt I’d live to tell the tale if this happened back home from 240-volt sockets!.

Edit: I forgot the name of the hostel, so luckily for them I have saved them the embarrassment of being named and shamed.

Top Advice: Get Travel Insurance

You could say this near-death experience was a wake up call for me to ALWAYS take out travel insurance wherever I travel now.

You might be thinking,  it was just a freak accident what happened to me..

What’s the worst that could happen to you?

Well, you could suffer appendicitis and require emergency surgery. You could easily have your bag or camera stolen (this happened to me). A family relative could fall seriously ill or pass away, and you wouldn’t be able to afford the urgent flight back home.

For my travel cover I always use SafetyWing. They are one of, if not, the BEST insurance providers out there.

SafetyWing Travel insurance: simple & flexible

You can buy and claim online , even after you’ve left home. Travel insurance from SafetyWing is available to people from over 130 countries. It’s designed for adventurous travelers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities .

Planning a vacation in the Yucatan? Despite my accident, I had some of the most amazing adventure experiences there. Here’s my 2 Week Yucatan Itinerary Guide.

#5. Delhi Belly In Dehradun

During my second trip to India in January 2015, I came down with the dreaded ‘Delhi Belly’ – an illness that befalls many, but not all, who visit India.

Considering that India is one of the most challenging places a traveler can visit, and, bearing in mind I was living there for six months, a few days in January was the only time I EVER became ill in all my time in India.

It happened after I ate a plate of boiled eggs from a street vendor outside the gym. One evening after a workout with a mate, he suggested we have some chicken broth and eggs to top up on protein. I made the mistake of eating the yolk of five eggs – whereas my mate only ate the egg-whites. Lesson learned.

So that evening at my host’s home, I suddenly began to feel unwell and got hit with a severe case of diarrhea. Yuk!

Luckily, my host’s wife looked after me while I was sick – giving me natural remedies which made me throw up. And two days later, I was feeling much better.

#6. Robbed by a Biker Thief

In January 2018 my partner and I were traveling in south Vietnam, having just seen in the New Year in Ho Chi Minh City. On our last night in the city, my partner’s bag was snatched by a thief on a motorbike.

These incidents happen everywhere, unfortunately, not only in Vietnam. In fact, there are notorious biker thieves that prowl around central London and rob passers-by as they ride on the sidewalks , in broad daylight.

Over in Ho Chi Minh City, it was dark when the incident happened, at around 7pm, and it happened very suddenly, right in the middle of the road as we were crossing it.

We were completely taken by surprise and were overcome with dread when we realized what just happened, yet it was too late to do anything as the biker and the thief sped away into the night.

Naturally, my partner was very upset, as the contents of her bag included her iPhone, some cash, and some ID cards, though thankfully, NOT her passport.

We immediately reported the incident to the police who took a statement, but we realized soon enough, that there was absolutely nothing they could do about incidents like this, in a large city of over 9 million people.

Moreover, my partner’s bag was quite thin and light, with loose leather straps which made it vulnerable to rip, and therefore a very easy target. So we learned our lesson that night: if we have to bring our belongings with us, always keep them in secure and strong, tightly-fitting bum bags that can’t be ripped from us.

Security Tip: Since this incident, every time I go traveling I always wear my Zero Grid Travel Security Belt – a hidden money pouch that’s incredibly useful for stashing away my cash so even the smartest pickpockets don’t stand a chance.It comes with an adjustable, non-metal buckle too. Purchase yours from Amazon

Safety and Security Gear for your Travels:

Below are some more top security travel gear that I would recommend for traveling anywhere in the world – and would not leave the house without these.

Anti-Theft Travel Purse

If you’re after the ultimate theft-proof purse, I highly recommend the Anti-Theft Travel Purse – it consists of five measures of theft prevention including:

• Slash-resistant straps: straps with stainless steel wire inside, protects against grab-and-go thieves
• Slash resistant fabric: the whole bag is made with a slash-resistant mesh barrier inside for extra layers of protection
• Lockdown straps: the strap lock secures bag to a stationary object, protecting against grab-and-go thieves
• Locking compartments: locking zipper pulls that prevent pickpockets from getting into your bag
• RFID blocking pockets: protects against electronic identity theft with RFID blocking card slots and pockets

PacSafe Bag Protector

Another great security option for wherever you travel, the PacSafe bag protector will store all your valuables and secure it to a stationary item in your hotel/airbnb.

Bring a Small Lock

Be sure to bring a small lock for any hostel stays wherever you go, so you can securely store your valuables in the lockers provided.

#7. Missed my Flight (Again!) to Hong Kong

*Why do I keep missing my flights?! To be fair , this incident was also beyond my control. *

In December 2017 I embarked on a flight to Hong Kong via Paris, from Birmingham. The weather at the time was very cold and it was quite icy outside, which had impacted the public travel systems all over the UK and as a result, my train to the airport was delayed and I was pretty late arriving at the airport.

This was the least of my worries though because I soon found that my first-leg flight to Paris was delayed by two hours.

By the time I arrived in Paris around midnight, my connecting flight to Hong Kong had already left, much to the anger and frustration of my fellow flight passengers.

I have been in this situation before (when I missed flights to India) – so I was quite calm and knew that patience was key.

However, I was rather surprised by how furious the other passengers were. These were grown-ups, literally shouting at airport staff, and scrambling to jump in front of everyone else in the queues for new tickets at Paris Charles De Gaulle airport.

I just stood back and watched them make fools of themselves. It was unbelievable. Sometimes, shit happens. Just be PATIENT and relax! Our flight WILL go ahead. We will be put into a hotel for the night. None of this will cost us an extra penny.

There is really no need to take it out on airport staff who aren’t responsible for the actions of mother nature.

Related post: Top 10 Things To Do in Birmingham, UK (by a Local)

#8. My Arm BLEW UP From a Mosquito Bite

Yeah, so this was a bit of a freak accident that resulted in my earning an arm like Popeye’s.

During my second visit to the Yucatan in Mexico, I received numerous Mosquito bites, but that’s nothing new as I got bitten a million times from my first Mexico trip, and actually – almost every tropical place I’ve been to – whether it’s Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, I’ve been bitten by Mosquitos (I mean, who hasn’t?)

Except during this trip, I had this ONE bite on my elbow, which at first, was no different from the other bites, but it turned from a red swollen lump, into a small white bubble.

When I arrived back in the UK, it was still there – a month later. And then one day, I decided to pop it. The fluid in the sac leaked out, so I casually wiped it, and I never thought anything of it, maybe because I didn’t realize it was an old Mosquito bite.

But then, the area around the mark, on my elbow, started to go red again, and it began to swell. And it swelled really fast. I applied some brandy to the area to try and disinfect it, and it was seeping, so I was squeezing more fluid out.

But it got worse. The stinging from the brandy was nothing compared to what came next. The swelling became gradually more painful. In fact, it got to the point where it became so painful I could not even sleep at night – I would literally wake up clutching my arm, writhe around on the floor, and clench my teeth so hard to stop myself from screaming in agony.

The small lump had expanded so much that my entire forearm literally BLEW UP, so it looked just like Popeye’s arm!

I sought medical help soon after and was able to clear up the infection on a round of antibiotics. The doctor told me I was VERY lucky the infection wasn’t higher up my arm, as that could’ve been critical. Instead, it spread downwards due to the swinging motion of my arms from walking, hence the weird Popeye look.

Click here to read how I easily saved over $1000 in just ONE month for my travel funds

#9. I Once Received the WRONG Visa Stamp

I was due to fly back home from India in the summer of 2014 and as I entered the immigration checkpoint at Delhi airport, something odd happened.

The border guard was looking at my passport visa with suspicion and then asked me what date I arrived in India. I explained that I was only here for a week, but still, he was checking my passport photo and visa, with suspicion.

He then called up another guard who arrived and they were talking about my visa (I couldn’t make out what they were saying or what even was wrong). And then they pointed the stamp in my passport, which I received on arrival in India a week earlier.

I didn’t understand what the problem was. But then I took a closer look at the stamp and I read the small date imprint. It says ‘2013’. Shit.

Why on earth did I receive a visa stamp with 2013 on it, when my visit was in August 2014? I was just as dumbfounded as the Indian border guards were.

Yet surprisingly, they ushered me through immigration without another word.

It turns out, they made a mistake by stamping a year-old old visa stamp in my passport when I first arrived! When I checked the stamp again, they appear to have hastily smudged the date out and written, ‘Arrival confirmed on 15-8-2014’.

I was slightly relieved, and was able to board my flight, except I was due to arrive in Moscow for a transfer flight to London. I was seriously hoping this visa doesn’t draw suspicion by the Russian guards in Moscow, as I was seriously beginning to worry they’d throw me into a gulag .

And yep – you guessed it – the Russian immigration guard not only noticed something dodgy with my passport, he actually whipped out his monocular and proceeded to scrutinize my visa for quite a LONG time!

Several moments passed, my heart was racing and sweat began to drip down my face. And I could feel the stare of people behind me in the queue, which made matters worse.

And, AT LONG LAST, I was handed back my passport without a word said. Thank goodness!

So, those are my worst travel experiences so far! I hope this post doesn’t put you off traveling! Have you had any bad experiences abroad?

Further Reading

• How to Find CHEAP Flights (+ FREE Cheatsheet)
• How to Plan a Vacation (+ FREE Travel Checklist)
• How to Quickly Save $1000 for Travel in 1 Month

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Book Your Trip: Top Tips

🏨 Accommodation: I recommend booking.com ✈️ Flights: for the cheapest flights, I use Skyscanner 🚗 Rental Car: I always rely on Discover Cars 🛡️ Travel Insurance: for reliable and trusted cover, I use SafetyWing 🗺️ For all my best travel tips & advice , head over to my Travel Tools

Thank you for reading My Top 9 WORST Travel Experiences

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Billy Read is the owner and author of BRB Gone Somewhere Epic, a travel blog that helps travelers discover unique destinations and travel experiences on a budget. With more than 10 years of global travel filled with accidents, Billy aims to help readers avoid making the same mistakes as he did, and make the most of their epic trips.

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Travels Gone Wrong! Worst Travel Experiences By 19 Travelers

Oh Travel, how much we love that word. Many of us live our lives around Travel and the many adventures that unfold during our journeys. However, like two sides of a coin, there are bound to be certain misadventures too that end up as unwanted blips and sometimes even ruin the experience for travelers. We had more than a couple of these mishaps that disrupted our travel plans but there is always so much to learn from each experience. In this post, 19 travel bloggers collaborate to share our worst travel experiences from scams, accidents, racism and more.

Kristin @ Global Travel Escapades : Wallet Stolen in Paris, France

Amidst all the romantic allure, there are  some less glamorous aspects of visiting the French capital  that often go unmentioned. And, unfortunately, I discovered one of these harsh realities the hard way. While I was a teenager studying abroad in Paris, I joined the countless other victims who had their wallets stolen. It occurred in a crowded metro station when someone had casually bumped into me. All my cash, ID cards, and credit cards were gone, effectively leaving me stranded in a foreign country without any money. As someone who was solo traveling abroad for the first time, you can imagine all the tears that ensued. What ended up coming to my rescue were the friendships I had formed with my new schoolmates. They graciously offered to lend me money until I could arrange for a replacement credit card. So, in the end, everything worked out, but this experience definitely serves as a stark reminder to always remain vigilant when exploring new and unfamiliar places!

Marya Sutimi @ BeauTraveler : Getting Sick in Laos

A few weeks before the pandemic in 2020 I was about to have one of my worst travel experiences. I was on my Indochina trip from Vietnam to Cambodia before heading to Laos with plans to return back to Indonesia from Thailand. It wasn’t until I was on the bus from Pakse to Vientiane that I caught a cold that eventually became the highlight of my trip. On my first day in Vientiane, I managed to reach the hotel safely and decided to take a rest as soon as I got there. However, my condition worsened later that day, and I barely had the energy to go out to eat. I realized that I needed to go to see a doctor on the second day when I forced myself to go out to the supermarket nearby. I was too sick to walk back to the hotel and had to take a taxi for the 100 meters between the supermarket and the hotel. I tried communicating my condition with the hotel staff, but they struggled to understand me. After posting about my condition on a Facebook group, I got connected with a Lao girl who accompanied me to the hospital and got my first swab as coronavirus started to take over the news in Southeast Asia. I didn’t feel better the next day so I had no choice but to contact the Indonesian embassy in Vientiane for help. Eventually after the doctor’s suggestion, I had to get into quarantine and stay there for over a week even though my Covid test was negative. That was probably my worst travel experience so far, as I felt so helpless and my health condition didn’t improve until a few days later.

It was my first time  getting sick while traveling , and I couldn’t be more thankful that my embassy helped me during the crisis. Every day, someone from the embassy would drop some nutritious food, including fruits and vegetables to make sure I eat some healthy food to recover. Not only did they ensure that I was taken care of at my hotel during my quarantine, but their staff also regularly communicated with my mom back home to share the updates. I was also thankful that I had my travel insurance then, because the hospital cost in Laos was really expensive. Ever since then, there are two things that I always do whenever I travel overseas: getting travel insurance and saving the embassy number in my destination!

Lisa @ Waves and Cobblestones : Trapped in a restroom in Tel Aviv, Israel

I was traveling solo in Israel on a business trip.  Never one to miss an opportunity to see new places, I took several weekend day trips.  I stopped by the bank to get some cash and figured I’d use the restroom before hitting the road. I hung my purse up on the purse hook, locked the door, used the facilities, and washed my hands.  I unlocked the door and — it wouldn’t open!  I turned the lock this way and that, to no avail. I didn’t know many Hebrew phrases, but I started knocking on the door loudly and calling out ‘ Slicha’,  which roughly means ‘excuse me’.  A female employee came over and told me to turn the lock to the right and to the left. She was joined by a male employee, who gave me the same instructions.  I responded that I had already done that, and he replied ‘No, the  other  lock’.  It turns out what I thought was the purse hook was a second, self-locking, door lock.  Mortified, I hurried out of the bank.

I learned two things from this experience.  Firstly, no matter whether you’re spending a month in France, a  weekend in Barcelona , or taking a business trip to Israel, it’s important to know some basic phrases of the local language.  Secondly, don’t panic when things go sideways, but take a moment to think things through.  I could have saved myself some embarrassment if I’d kept a cooler head and assessed the situation more rationally!

Maartje @ Unieke Vakantieplekjes : Robbed in Tulum, Mexico

During our two-month journey through Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico in January 2020, an unfortunate incident occurred on the second-to-last night of our trip that left us shaken. Our worst travel experience unfolded in the popular  town of Tulum, Mexico, where we had been enjoying the last days of our vacation. In the middle of the night, while we were sound asleep in our hotel room, thieves entered and took many of our belongings. Awakening in Tulum, Mexico, we immediately noticed something amiss. Our phones, resting next to their chargers on the nightstands, were gone. The e-reader, the iPad, and even the backpack containing my camera and all our vacation photos had vanished. Furthermore, my partner’s watch was missing, and his wallet had been snatched. A realization struck – our passports were also in that stolen backpack. The initial reaction was pure panic. The immediate needs of replacing passports, acquiring funds, and booking a new flight overwhelmed us. We soon realized that this process was far from straightforward. The night after the robbery, in our final hotel room of the trip, different emotions surfaced. It was then that I discovered some of my toiletries missing. Presumably, the thief assumed they held jewelry. Sleep eluded us, haunted by the thought that a stranger had stood beside our bed the night before, reaching for my phone just inches from my head. One could hardly predict or prevent a robbery within the confines of a hotel room, especially when doors were securely locked. There was no safe in our room for valuables. We hadn’t been negligent. It was simply a stroke of bad luck that befell us. This was surely one of our worst travel experiences.

Upon returning to the Netherlands, well-intentioned yet insensitive remarks emerged, suggesting we were fortunate to have slept through the incident, that possessions were replaceable, and the thief likely needed the stolen items more than we did. But for me, those items were important. All my vacation memories were lost. The emotional toll was extensive, affecting my sense of security. Seeking help to cope and process became essential.

In retrospect, this experience underscored the unpredictability of travel, regardless of precautions taken. It’s a reminder that emotional reactions to such events are valid, and seeking support is both justified and necessary for healing.

Peta and Jonas @ Exit45 Travels : Accident in Hoi An, Vietnam

We were in the third week of our  adult gap year , visiting Hoi An for the first time when disaster struck. My husband and I were walking around the paddy fields just outside of Hoi An taking photos, when an out of control motorbike rider ran into Jonas. I was walking ahead wondering what was taking him so long, so I started to retrace my steps when I saw a group of people surrounding someone on the ground. I was curious what they were looking at, but didn’t realize it was Jonas until I got closer. My initial reaction was shock, then panic, then my first aid training kicked in. As I talked to him to work out his injuries, locals explained to me what had happened. After looking past the blood and skin off, I immediately realized we needed to get to the hospital as he had a wound on his head, and he said his shoulder and chest were painful. The Vietnamese by-standers hailed a taxi and told the driver to take us to the international hospital. Five minutes later we were in the emergency department with 3 doctors checking his injuries. The staff were absolutely amazing and did not hesitate to start treatment immediately. After several x-rays and scans, we were told he needed surgery to fix his collar bone, he had 7 broken ribs, but most importantly, no head trauma. The English speaking liaison officer then contacted our health insurance provider in Australia, 1Cover, sent the results of the x-rays and scans to them for review, got the necessary paperwork and approval, and he was then whisked off to surgery. Whilst it is an experience we are in no hurry to repeat, we were amazed at the efficiency of both the staff at the hospital and our travel insurance contact. The hospital bent over backwards to assist us over the 6 days he was hospitalized, even to the extent of allowing me to stay and sleep in the unoccupied bed in the same room at the hospital.

One thing we have learnt from this incident is that travel insurance is a MUST for anyone travelling overseas. Not only for the cost of his treatment and hospital stay, and the additional expert medical advice we received from Australia affirming all treatment was the correct.

Victoria @ Guide Your Travel : Stuck in Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Komodo National Park is a beautiful area in Indonesia, which you can only explore by boat, unless you’re staying at a hotel in the park . Last summer, we were staying on a traditional Phinisi boat for a few nights to see the pink beaches and untouched nature and everything was going great until our boat’s engine unexpectedly failed. The crew repaired it multiple times but it kept shutting down or when it did work it was very slow. This meant that we couldn’t travel fast enough for the currents and had to wait on a deserted island until the tide went down and it was easier to travel. The entire journey back took around 12 hours at sea instead of 3. While it was a bit stressful in the moment, the experience was still beautiful and we at least got to enjoy the views.

Erica Riley @ Travels With Erica : Hotel Room in Siem Reap, Cambodia

My worst travel experience happened in February 2023 on my first night in Siem Reap.  I was exhausted after a long day of travelling from  Chiang Rai  to Siem Reap and arrived in Cambodia in the evening.  

I went to bed early and around 1am, I suddenly woke up when I heard someone talking.  I quickly realized that there were three men in my hotel room, which was especially scary since I’m a solo female traveler. Adrenaline kicked in, and I stood up on my bed and started screaming.  The three men quickly left my room.  I was too scared to go back to sleep that night and put a chair in front of the door because it only had a simple lock and no deadbolt or chain.  I checked out of the hotel first thing in the morning. Later that day, I received an email from the hotel manager asking why I checked out.  I explained to her what happened, and she said that it was simply an accident.  The men had misplaced their key and told the front desk that their room number was mine.  They had the wrong room number, and, thankfully, weren’t intentionally trying to break into my room or harm me. 

I started travelling with a door lock specifically designed for hotel rooms after that trip.  I’m very lucky that this was just an accident and that I wasn’t hurt, but the experience definitely scared me and made me more safety cautious about hotels.  

Tina @ Veganderlust : Cancelled Flights at Auckland, New Zealand

Have you ever seen a movie where a character is stranded at an airport when all of the flights get cancelled? Well, this is exactly what happened to me on my holiday this year! My friends and I did a van life holiday for three weeks across New Zealand in February 2023, and after our van life experience, we wanted to relax on the beaches of Fiji. At the beginning of our holiday, in Auckland, the weather was already bad. It rained a lot during our time in New Zealand, and it was actually one of the wettest New Zealand summers on record. However, towards the end of our van life holiday, the weather improved. We spent one last sunny  day in Queenstown , in the South Island of New Zealand before we headed back to Auckland by plane. From Auckland, we were supposed to go to Fiji. But because of a cyclone headed towards Auckland, all flights were cancelled. So instead of spending some relaxing days at the beach, we were stuck in a crappy airport hotel for three whole days!

For future trips, I learned the hard way how important it is to check weather forecasts more carefully. It seems silly now, but I didn’t even know there was a cyclone season in New Zealand before I visited. A mistake I won’t make again!

Karen @ Outdoor Adventure Sampler : Medical Emergency in Mexico

My partner and I were in Puerto Morales, Mexico to explore the amazing  outdoor adventures of the Yucatan Peninsula  in January. It was a rainy morning as we exited the hotel to go to breakfast. As I stepped out of the hotel door onto the wet marble entry, I slipped and came crashing down, hitting my head on a stone column. The hotel management was immediately responsive, and in spite of a language gap, helped us call an ambulance for my profusely bleeding head wound. Fortunately, due to my partner’s two years of daily Duolingo Spanish study, we muddled our way through the Mexican health care system to get my head stitched up.

I realized my assumptions about quality of health care in Mexico were way off base. It was one of the most efficient, professional, sparkling clean emergency rooms I’ve ever been in. Plus, the generosity of the Mexican people was evident again when the hotel owner insisted on paying the bill.

Catrina @ 24 Hours Layover : Stopped at customs in New Zealand

One of my worst travel experiences was getting stopped at border control in New Zealand by the sniffer dogs! I was just doing a quick trip over to New Zealand from Australia, and so had packed my handbag in a rush without emptying it first. Both New Zealand and Australia are very strict about what food products are allowed into the country, but when I was asked if I had anything to declare for customs, I said no as I believed I wasn’t carrying anything I needed to declare. Just as I was walking away, the sniffer dog came bouncing towards me and that’s when I instantly remembered. There was a handful of dog biscuits at the bottom of my handbag from when I had walked the dog that I finished  house sitting  that morning!!

I should have declared the dog biscuits but completely forgot they were there, and burst into tears as the drugs squad came towards me. I instantly told them about the dog biscuits and that I honestly forgot they were there. They didn’t look very impressed, but they could see I was very remorseful and that I understood how serious it was. Being a Flight Attendant I thankfully managed to talk my way out of getting fined a huge amount, but what an ordeal! Always always empty out your bags before you pack for your holidays so you know what you’re bringing with you!

Kristine @ Wanderlust Designers : Scammed in Milan, Italy

The first trip I planned by myself was to Milan, Italy, in 2014 with my friend. I knew nothing about  planning trips . I had no idea how much it costs to go somewhere, where to look up what to see and do, – or that there are scams of which you should be aware. And we were on an  extreme  budget. We were two students with barely any money (200 euros for the two of us for a week of travelling!), so we couch-surfed and ate basically only McDonalds and stuff that we had packed (instant noodles, anyone?). So, when we went to the Duomo and the square in the wee hours of the morning, I didn’t expect anything to go wrong – since I didn’t know anything about common tourist scams.

We were taking pictures of the Duomo and the pigeons there, just having fun, when two guys approached us. They said – would you like us to take pictures of you with the pigeons? And then one just took my hand and put some seeds in it, while the other took my friend’s (expensive) camera and started taking photos. After, they just asked us for money. We were confused and just gave them some coins. They said, no, more! Since it was morning in February, there were barely any people on the square beside us. So we gave them like 30 euros just to get the camera back. It was really terrifying. But lesson learnt – read up on common tourist scams when going somewhere.

Melissa @ My Beautiful Passport : Scammed in Panama City

One of my worst travel experiences was when my partner and I were scammed money while waiting at a bus station in Panama. It was early in the morning, and we were waiting at Albrook Mall Bus Station for the first bus out to head to El Valle from Panama City . A man approached us and we started to chat. He told us about how he was an American stationed in Honduras and Panama, and his family was going on a cruise along the Panama Canal and he wanted to surprise them. He needed money to buy his ticket and he would meet us at the airport when we were leaving to pay us back. We were hesitant at first but after a while more chatting with him, his story seemed reasonable so we trusted him and we weren’t hurting on our travel budget, and agreed to lend him $200 USD through PayPal. 

We went on with our trip keeping positive, and only when he didn’t show up at the airport and never tried to contact us via email, we learned he wasn’t honest and we tried to report it to the police but it was too late. We left and learned not to trust everyone even though we wanted to. We no longer give money to help strangers when they give us stories, but we are happy to buy people food to help.

Soumya @ Stories by Soumya : Passport stolen in Venice, Italy

After completing an exciting trip in  Southern Italy , my husband and I had just alighted at the Venice Mestre Train Station. We were eager to get started with the canals and gondolas of Venice. But alas, fate had some other plans for us and we had one of our worst travel experiences! When we got to the city center, I realized I no longer had our passports. I had carefully put them in a wallet and the wallet in my backpack but could no longer find them. We had taken a crowded bus from the train station to the center. So, that was where I guess I had lost them.

There was no way to be sure. So, we followed our trail all the way back to the station and everywhere else we had been, even the toilets. But the passports were nowhere to be found. After hours of searching, we decided to register a police complaint at the station, gathered a copy of it, and headed to the Indian Consulate in Milan where they issued us a temporary, hand-written passport. Since my husband and I were working in the Middle East then, we had to wait a couple more weeks to get our work visas. That meant more embassy visits and much more contact digging.

This was a long, no-end-in-sight process but it made me appreciate life so much more. Eventually, we did not get the work visas (had to come back to India and get them done) but had two extra weeks to spend in Rome. That meant we could see all the hidden gems in and around the Italian capital. Sometimes, things go wrong. But it’s important to go with the flow and enjoy life as it comes.

Corritta Lewis @ It’s A Family Thing : Racism in China

One of our worst travel experiences as a traveler was experiencing severe racism in Beijing, China. In 2019 my family and I were excited for our first big international trip. This time would be different because we were traveling with our nearly five-and-a-half-month-old baby at the time. It was to be his first long haul flight, so we were both nervous and excited for the upcoming adventure. After a perfect flight, and some serious jetlag we started exploring the city. During our time in Beijing many people were fascinated by us, which we expected as two Black women with a Korean baby. Since our son is biracial and as a baby looked very Asian, we knew there would be stares, but had no idea we’d be bombarded for pictures constantly. Although it was a little annoying, it wasn’t a huge deal. We understand people’s curiosity, so we weren’t upset.

We had several fun-filled days of exploration, but in the middle of our trip we experienced some hateful actions. While trying to get a cab with our baby back to the hotel, several cab drivers refused to pick us up from a museum. English isn’t widely spoken in China, but each one of them said “No. You Black. You Black” and proceeded to drive away. The museum was closed, and it was starting to get dark, so after nearly an hour, we finally got in contact with the hotel for them to send a car to pick us up. We shrugged this off as just an unfortunate experience, but the following day we tried to eat at several restaurants, and we were told “our kind” weren’t welcome. It was so demoralizing. We’d never experienced such consistent overt racism. Luckily, we found a family-owned restaurant with the sweetest ladies that embraced us and our little one. They were so welcoming, and even took the time to show us how to make dumplings.

We didn’t allow this experience to run our time in China. It’s been on our bucket list since I was a kid, and having the opportunity to walk on The Great Wall of China was a dream come true. Those moments didn’t define our time in Beijing. The lasting memory of fulfilling a lifelong dream is what comes to mind when we think of our time in China.

Mansoureh @ Travel with Mansoureh : Scammed by Police in Mexico

Travelling through the  Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico , we had an unsettling encounter that left us shaken. While we were driving from Bacalar in the south to Valladolid, we went through the town called Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Just as we were about to exit the town, a police officer on a motorcycle flagged us down, claiming that I had exceeded the speed limit. Yet, I knew with certainty that this wasn’t the case; my speedometer read a mere 28 km/h, and a road sign had clearly indicated a 40 km/h speed limit. Plus, the officer didn’t have any device or proof of my speed. I took out my driving license from my wallet, where I kept my cash. When the officer saw my money, insisted on a staggering fine of 3600 pesos and requested the confiscation of my license for three days, fully aware that we wouldn’t agree to that, so he suggested an alternative: a cash payment directly to him.

I tried to keep 200 pesos, but he saw my money and told me “TODOS”, meaning he wanted every last peso. I watched helplessly as he pocketed 1100 pesos, effectively robbing us. This encounter left me deeply frustrated with myself for allowing this injustice to occur, and I wished I had reacted differently.  It was a hard-learned lesson – never again will I keep my license in my wallet or leave cash in plain sight while driving in Mexico.

Tamara Williams @ My Elated Odyssey : Hit and Run Accident in Berat, Albania

During a trip to Albania, where my friend and I had arrived in  Berat from Tirana , we were so excited to see a new city! Before exploring, we decided to grab something to eat and were soon met with an unfortunate event. As my friend had the right of way crossing the street, a car was not paying attention and hit her! To make matters worse, as witnesses were shocked and gasping, the equally shocked driver did nothing and drove past without checking on my friend. There were better ways to start an adventure in a new place! Thankfully, after a trip to the hospital, my friend was confirmed to only have a bruise on her hip. The local witnesses were also very helpful in lending a hand and ensuring she was okay.

One crucial thing we noted about Albania is that the drivers often ignore the road rules. You must elevate your senses as a driver and a pedestrian in the country. After that ordeal, we ensured that even with a crosswalk, the drivers stopped with no intention of advancing further. This was definitely one of our worst travel experiences but thankfully, we had no further automobile incidents for the rest of our trip!

Bernard Tan : The infamous Thai gem scam

I was approached by a ‘friendly’ Thai guy claiming to have worked as a teacher in Singapore, while navigating myself in Bangkok. He had mentioned that there is a temple that is opened today only and we should visit it. He stopped a tuk-tuk by the road and negotiated the price to 20 Baht. The tuk-tuk brought us to the lucky Buddha temple, at the temple we met some Thais that initiated a chat with us and ask us to head to the Thai export center. While at the Thai export center, we purchased some small blue sapphire, and it cost us about SGD 70 after discount. The gems that we bought were worthless. We also gave the tuk-tuk more than the 20 baht that was expected from us! We were considered lucky, as others have been scammed thousands of dollars but this was definitely one of our worst travel experiences.

Anne Slater-Brooks @ From Miles To Smiles :  Narrowly avoiding a riot in Tunis

The beachfront killings just a few days earlier seem to have angered the police as they systematically chase down pop up stalls, unleashing ferocious blows on those in their way, with no regard for age, sex or circumstance. We see elderly ladies thrown to the ground and trampled in the melee, pregnant women pushed aside and the growing panic of the more vulnerable.

I’m oblivious to my husband’s unease so intent am I on taking everything in, unfamiliar stores, scents of incense, street food and garbage, the occasional glimpse of a whitewashed architectural gem beckoning to me, until suddenly he grabs me and urges me to run in what was one of our worst travel experiences. ‘What?’ ‘Why?’ I shriek to no avail as he drags me away from an oncoming surge of people suddenly heading furiously in our direction. We dash around a corner, flip flops slapping the floor, adrenaline pumping as we fend off bodies jostling us. The panic is electric, as though a stray spark could ignite some unthinkable violence like a scene from Lord of the Rings.

We come to a stop in an oasis of calm where my ashen husband fills me in on events which I completely failed to witness. It seems we narrowly managed to avoid becoming embroiled in a Tunisian riot , gangs throwing bricks at a police cavalcade ahead, and locals of all age and race trying desperately to get away. Shaken we leave to return to the sanctuary of our hotel unharmed but a little more aware of how quickly things can get out of hand!

Read more Anne’s journey and read her precious travel tips at  TravelTheGlobe4Less .  Follow her travels on Facebook   and Twitter

Tamshuk @ That Indian Couple : Debit card cloned, Snakebite and Severe sickness in Thailand

I had set off for my travels in mid-June with a concrete plans and finances for the next 5 months. But today, I am back home in India as I write this post thinking about the mishaps I had in Thailand , especially Bangkok. On my first three days in Bangkok , my debit card got cloned and I lost more than 90% of my money  to an anonymous cash withdrawal with my card details. This I realized on the day I was leaving for Chiang Mai . Till today I am struggling to get any portion of that lost money back from any of the two banks.

Chiang Mai was really nice to me though with some great food at the night markets, lovely friends and those beautiful temples. Oh, I got bit by a snake right when I jumped into the river after a white-water rafting session. The availability of a snakebite kit saved any further “burns” for me. But the final blow came when I made another four day run to Bangkok to get myself a social visa for Indonesia – this, after I had spent a month in Indonesia using the Visa exemption facility. Already having an on and off cold, I landed in Bangkok with plans to fly off to Jakarta after four days. But, as destiny had other plans, I got sick real bad and at the end of day four when I was at the airport to fly off, I was declared “ Not fit to fly ” by the airport medical team. So, there ended my travel plans for now and I flew back to India !! This was definitely one of my worst travel experiences ever.

The purpose of this post is to highlight the fact that not all goes well when we are traveling. Long-term or even usual vacations always have the possibilities of being hit by unfortunate incidents. With the joy of traveling and visiting different places, comes the risk of getting unintentionally involved in bad situations. Having said that, will we stop traveling? Not at all.

42 comments

Oh god!! These kinds of stories are what make people doubt if they should travel. It is good to share them so people know what to be aware of while traveling.

How did they get your debit card details, did you ever figure that out??

Oh my! I read all of these stories and realize that all of our travel mishaps are NO where near as intense as these. WHEW! These are HORRIBLE! 🙁

I think, travels going wrong is a part of traveling and learning and every traveler goes through some mishap. I’ve been through it by not getting my visa, being mugged in turkey and stuff. But this yet doesn’t stop us from traveling. It’s a sad thing that happen to you with your debit card, these scams are so unfortunate.

Oh wow, I’ve heard and met people who fell for the gem scam in Thailand – apparently it’s super common!

Horrible about the violence in Tunisia 🙁

Thanks for sharing these! It is always good to be aware of possible things that can go wrong during one’s travels, especially scams. Tamz, we had a similar experience when we were in Naples, Italy. Instead of our debit card, our credit card was cloned. So many unauthorized purchases! Lucky for us, all charges were reversed on our card. A sincere good luck in getting your money back soon!

Wow that wasn’t the best experience you can hope for when travelling! Fortunately nothing has ever gone too wrong for me while on holidays. Probably the worst one was a stomach bug we caught in Turkey that had us in bed for most of our holidays, but at least it wasn’t anything too serious!

I had similar export scams run on me when I went to India. It happened everywhere I went in the country. Usually it was rugs and stonework. Maybe “scam” is too harsh of a word for what I experienced, as much as “forced factory tour and sales pitch” at the end of every tour.. there was no way around it. The craftsmen were brilliant sales people and really put on the hard sale. I quickly just came up with my narrative (which has the benefit of also being mostly true) that I live out of a backpack, have a strict 1-in-1-out policy on anything I buy and that, no, I do not have a home address where the products can be mailed. They usually moved to argue that I should buy some nice things for the lovely ladies in my life.. I would say that there were none, so then they would suggest to buy my mom a gift, and that is when I would lie and say she was dead (sorry mom!) but that also usually ended the negotiations and I was allowed to leave without having made a purchase.

All these experiences were awful. However, there is a silver lining to the stories as well. Telling them later would be so entertaining. Of course, there is a huge difference between losing most of your money (I am so sorry that it happened to you :(. Hopefully, you might still be able to recover your losses? ) and having a lesson learned from dealing with unscrupulous “guide” in Bangkok.

How terrible. Yes, the incidents go to show how vulnerable sometimes you are and how travel can sometimes go wrong. Thanks for sharing these for these are some learnings for all of us.

These stories make you realise how careful you do need to be whilst travelling but luckily there are more good stories than bad. And even though these things can be traumatic at the time it gives you a story to tell. Safe travels !!

wherever we go ought to be careful because there are bad people around us. do not be too trusting with new people you know.

Every traveler has at least a near miss with some disaster eventually. We should all remember that it happens to all of us, including the scams that make us feel stupid.

Gosh, those are crazy incidents! It is so important to research a destination and plan accordingly, especially if the destination is out of your comfort zone. I am glad you all are okay in the end!

Thank you for sharing a post on a topic that may be harder to talk about! Lots of people only mention when things go right – but it’s just as important to plan for contingencies 🙂

All we tourist want to do is travel and explore. It sucks that the natives are scamming tourist.

Every time I leave for a trip I really hope everything will go well. It would be a real nightmare instead!

These stories are terrible! Having a debit card cloned is my worst nightmare! I don’t know what I’d do if I lost all my money when I was traveling. For me, my worst travel story was getting caught in a city on lock down (Munich) because a shooter was on the loose.

whoa, that can be a scary situation too.

Well, every travellor has to go through something bad during their travels. I am sorry to hear about these but i think that they are experiences. As travel nurtures a person, these mishaps too nurtures them . 🙂

I love learning about travel experiences because when you wander around a city or the world, there’s so much that can happen, and that you don’t expect at all. When you’re encountering misaventrues, on the moment you’re just so pissed, but it’s such good memories! I had many bumps onto my travel journey, but actually, now I cherish them!

OMG I’m sorry that your card was cloned. I think that will be the worst on traveling overseas, or even not travelling… getting it cloned makes me scared.

I had a similar experience in Bangkok. The hotel guys had advised us to take public transport, but we wanted to save time in the process ended up spending more money 🙁

Yes it surely does. I was pickpocketed in Rome and I lost a lot of money. And another time, I was stuck in a stormy sea in the boat and was praying for my life

Yes lesson learned. But what a sad news. This must feel so bad. What a scam!

Travel can be really hard sometimes. We have not really had any major problems or issues until a trip to Mongolia last month. On our last day there we witnessed a car roll over just in front of us and when we got there the man and lady were weeping over their dead baby. A hard thing and yet we had to go on after about an hour when the police an ambulance finally came. Travel is dangerous but probably not more so than if you were home.

Oh that is such a saddening sight to see when you are traveling.

I had some bad experiences too, sadly that’s a possibility every time you travel. We need to be really careful. Story about avoiding riot is Tunis is the scariest one, it’s unbelievable how fast things can get crazy!

This is a side of travel to be kept in mind. I am traveller and this is such an amazing article I must say.

I’m sorry to hear about your travel situation in Bangkok. And that’s the spirit! You don’t let those circumstances discourage you from traveling again. It’s truly inevitable that mishaps happen in traveling. However, these unfortunate circumstances are what shapes us into stronger persons that we didn’t imagine we’ll be. Praise God that I still haven’t encountered those kinds of traveling mishaps, but I’ll learn from your experiences to be extremely vigilant.

I’m sorry to hear about your experience. Traveling has its own pros and cons but most important is be safe and cautious!

Things do not always go as planned. But we need to realistic and cautious at all times.

Scams happen everywhere. Being caught in an unfortunate situation where serious harm could have been incurred happens everywhere. Tam, you could have your card cloned in India too. You get sick in India too. So, yes, go travel again as soon as you are fit!

Mishaps are just… that. Nothing more but lessons learned.

http://www.amazinglifedaily.com #AmazingLifeDaily

As travels can be real exciting and fun, we cant dismiss the fact that it can also cost us big bucks. A number of natives can be real scammer and i really just cant understand why the need to be so dishonest and be such an opportunist.

Great stories from all the bloggers. Travel surely is an adventure which doesn’t always go to plan. While it might not seem so at the time the things that go wrong always give you the best stories to tell. I hope you get your money back.

Things always go wrong when you’re traveling long enough… it’s sad but true, and all we can hope for is that nothing leaves permanent damage, physically or financially! Good luck getting your money back!

OMG I’m so sorry about that. Actually I am scared sending important information through fb, email, viber anything specially online. Specially bank account…. Anywhere right now there’s a lot of scammers! But it’s okay only God can punish them. I’m sure there’s more blessings to come pa in your pocket.

Oh dear I am so sorry to hear about your experience. I would not know how to react if I were in your position I think I would freak out and cry! The cloning and anonymous credit card transactions sound really scary. I hope your feeling a little better now. 🙁

When traveling to another country we need to always be cautious. I’m sorry that happened to you. We’ve had the same experience once in Bangkok when the taxi driver drove us around in circles instead of straight to our destination. We need to always be alert.

Oh no! Those are the reasons why I don’t travel alone! I can be persuaded easily and I’d rather pay than find myself lost

Oh god I am so sorry to hear about your financial situation. How did it happen do you know? I must say I am really cautious when it comes to withdrawing funds checking both the hole where you put the card for any cloning objects and always hiding my pin code. That said I rarely withdraw cash preferring to use my credit card which is then protected by the card insurance. Being bitten by a snake sucks too. I thought I had bad luck travelling as I have had cellulosis, broken collar bone, snapped ACL etc. Hope you get everything sorted soon

Just one of those instances when you become that unfortunate one among a million. The atm machine apparently was rigged to read the card information which was then used to clone the debit card.

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Our Worst Travel Experiences & How You Can Avoid Them

• February 7, 2024

Traveling is just like any other part of life – it doesn’t always go our way. We’ve had our fair share of unfortunate events while out in the world, some caused by our own fault and some not. From each of our worst travel experiences, we’ve learned something from every incident which taught us how to better prepare for next time. The most important lesson we’ve learned from all of the dilemmas we’ve endured while travelling is to take it for what it is and not let it ruin your entire trip. A misadventure is still an adventure nonetheless.

In this post, we want to share a few memorable bad travel experiences which made us learn our lessons the hard way. Our worst travel experiences have essentially evolved into our best travel tips . Keep on reading so you don’t have to follow in our footsteps!

Is It Easy to Travel a Lot?

Putting the wrong type of fuel in a rental car, visiting a popular destination in july.

• Finding Dog Friendly Accommodation

Missed Connecting Flights

Leaving behind passports on an island, a luggage’s case of mistaken identity, ups and downs of road tripping, travel resources for the best travel experiences.

Whether some avid travellers may never admit it, travelling sometimes sucks. Yeah, I said it! There are times where we cannot wait to finish driving a 7-hour journey and just get into bed after a long day. Rushing through airports to make a connection in time while dripping in sweat? Forget it. Now, multiply these feelings by ten if you’re travelling with kids (let along young kids ) and it’s truly a wonder why we choose to do it all over again and again.

As with anything that’s worth doing, it can be challenging but you have to really love it. So it’s a good thing we are in love with travelling because in the end, this is what fuels us to get through the rough times. There’s no use in pretending that every trip will be perfect or that something won’t go according to plan because frankly, life just doesn’t work that way. What you can do is learn from past mistakes and become better at travelling with practice. Or, at least learn from our stories and save yourself the hassle.

Our Worst Travel Experiences

Not only is this one of our worst travel experiences, it’s one of our firsts. Many years ago, we rented a car in Europe for the very first time with plans to road trip through France. As one can imagine, many things were racing through our minds to make sure we 1. had a wonderful trip and 2. made it back in one piece. Overwhelmed by excitement, it didn’t dawn on us to think about fundamentals like refuelling. After picking up our rental car in Paris, we headed south. By the time we reached Bordeaux, we needed to gas up the car. After pulling into the gas station, we reached for the diesel pump and starting filling up our Fiat. 

We never made it out of the gas station parking lot after the car sputtered and died just moments after we started it. The Fiat was gas powered and absolutely did not like that we filled it up with diesel. We had to call the rental car company in order for them to come tow the Fiat away and drop off a replacement for us. This delayed our road trip by only a few hours since the rental company was prompt, but we imagine it could have been a worse situation with a less reputable rental agency. 

How to Avoid This Travel Mistake:

Ask essential questions about your rental car before leaving the car rental lot. If you’re not sure or only semi confident, ASK! Clearly, knowing what type of fuel your rental car takes is crucial. After this, you’ll want to be completely certain on how to open up the gas cap and so on. To our defence, France is one of the most confusing places for refueling in Europe. In France, “gazole” is actually diesel, despite it looking like the word “gas” which ultimately led us to our wrong decision. On the other hand, gasoline can go by the names of benzin/benzina or sans plomb. You can’t blame us entirely for making this mistake, right?!

From time to time, a proper summer holiday is planned with one priority… it needs to be scheduled for the summer. Naturally, the weather is nice and people have the best chance of taking time off from work or during summer break when travelling with kids. Although it sounds like the perfect idea, it can also significantly turn into a bad travel experience if you visit the wrong destination. Taking a vacation in June – August to a widely popular destination almost makes the entire trip not worth it. Summer holidays means crowds and lots of them. 

For us, Mallorca specifically comes to mind and should be avoided at all costs during peak months. There are just too many people and over tourism has unfortunately ruined such a beautiful island. The famous sites and renowned Mallorca beaches you see on your feed, are unbearable during the months of July and August. Naturally, us being us, we still found secluded places to visit on Mallorca . Enjoying hidden gems on the island instead turned one of our worst travel experiences into a memorable one.

Visiting a place with a lot of tourists versus none can make or break a trip. How do you avoid other travellers? Well, sometimes you can’t entirely but there are still ways to at least minimise the amount of people you’ll run into. For example, travel during shoulder season. This is one of the most common travel tips and for good reason. There are so many benefits to planning a trip for off months including lower accommodation costs and open availability for tours and activities. 

If summer is the only time you can make a trip happen, there is still one sure way to steer clear of mass tourism. Do not travel to incredibly popular places. The world is large and filled with ideal summer destinations that are off the radar. You just have to search a bit outside the box. Thinking of visiting Mykonos? Choose an underdog Greek island like Kythira instead. 

Finding Dog Friendly accommodation

We booked an apartment on Booking.com for a short stay in Ulcinj, Montenegro. Upon arrival, the owner saw our larger than life dog and decided that she did not want to host us. She spoke English well enough where I was able to ask “then why does your listing say you allow dogs?” As we stood there confused and equally as frustrated, we had to face the fact that we were simply being refused our reservation due to our dog. From the car, I hopped back online to find an alternative. Given the fact that Ulcinj isn’t exactly Barcelona, the number of places you’re able to find online are slim as it is. Montenegro also isn’t the most dog friendly country which means, our chances of finding a place to stay in the next couple of hours that will allow our dog were diminishing.

I booked another apartment nearby and on our way there, messaged the owner to give them a heads up about the dog in an effort to not repeat the same mistake. With our luck, this apartment also didn’t want to accept a big dog so we were denied before even arriving. This process repeated itself one or two more additional times before we gave up on the internet. We then relied on the old fashioned strategy of walking into any establishment that had “hotel” written on it just to ask if they had an available room for us and our dog. We were basically turned away by the entire city of Ulcinj. My final attempt was successful after 4 hours of driving around the crazed streets and in 100°F degree weather. We were so exhausted from this experience that we didn’t leave the air conditioned apartment for the next 24 hours. 

Although we had zero problems finding dog friendly hotels and Airbnbs in neighbouring countries, we should not have assumed that all Balkan states will be the same. From our time in Montenegro, we learned that big dogs (no matter how well mannered or trained) are simply not conventional when it comes to domesticated pets in Montenegro. Therefore, most people are cautious and do not want them in their homes or buildings. To avoid this being one of your worst travel experiences, do some research on how pet friendly a country is so you know what to expect. Furthermore, always make it a habit to let the hotel or apartment know you’re explicitly travelling with a dog , even if their listing already says “pets allowed.”

Comparatively, this isn’t at the top of the list of our worst travel experiences but it’s still a setback nonetheless. If you’re like us, you may always be attracted to the shortest flight paths with the least amount of layover times when searching for flights. So, when booking a flight from NYC to Bangkok, I wanted to minimise the long journey as much as possible. Our flight path included a one hour stop in Beijing before our arrival in Thailand. On paper, this looked like a fantastic and efficient idea. In reality, we were very wrong to choose this route.

As soon as our departure time in NYC was delayed, I could tell the rest of the journey was doomed. During the flight, attendants were already distributing the plans for everyone who was affected by the delay. Upon arrival, we were herded to customer service where they handed us vouchers for an overnight stay at a nearby (questionable) hotel with transportation included. That evening, we were fed a bowl of instant noodles with a hot dog in a squeezable tube.

First, the airline we booked wasn’t necessarily an award winning company. It even had an online reputation for not flying on time. If you do decide to risk it with a short layover, look up some reviews or data on past flights to see if you’ll actually make it. 

Secondly, keep in mind the size of the airport where you are transferring. For example, Beijing’s airport is a major transportation hub in Asia. This typically means physically getting from one gate to another takes time. 

Lastly, absolutely do not book a flight with a layover less than one hour if you are checking bags . When a connecting flight is delayed, luggage is deprioritized. This means it may not make it on the flight with you. At that point, your bags could meet you at some point down the road or, never.

During our first international trip together, Alex and I visited Greece with our friends. We started our Greece trip in Mykonos and later took a ferry ride to the island of Santorini. Once we arrived in Santorini and began unpacking, our passports were nowhere to be found. As my gut sank to its lowest point, I realised I had left them in our Airbnb in Mykonos. The irony was, I was trying to keep them safe by not carrying them around with us and therefore tucked them away in a drawer. When we were packing up our things to leave Mykonos, it escaped my mind to check that drawer. We were amateur travellers during this time! So this incident was quickly engraved into our minds as one of our worst travel experiences.

The first thing I did was contact our Airbnb host in Mykonos to let them know that the passports were left behind so they would know to hold onto them for me. The next step we had to figure out was a ferry ride back to Mykonos to retrieve the passports. There were no available ferries until the next morning so we couldn’t do much besides wait. The travel time between the two islands is around 2.5 hours. After traveling to and from the ferry ports, onboarding the boat and collecting the passports, we spent the entire following day in transit. This whole ordeal caused us to unfortunately lose a beautiful day in Santorini.

Aside from the obvious recommendation of simply remembering your things, make it a habit to open all the drawers, dressers or cabinets of your hotel before you leave. To this day, it’s a ritual we perform whenever we’re packing up to leave our stay. Another helpful tip is to ensure you have good communication with your hotel or host. This can get tricky with Airbnb stays since you don’t always meet the host or a person during check-in. Ensure you have a contact for a real human being who could possibly help you in case you do forget anything.

While boarding a completely full flight, I was one of the last passengers to get on the plane. Of course, there was no room for my carry-on bag near my actual seat so I had to shove it wherever there was availability. After rearranging some items, I forced my North Face backpack in an overhead compartment about 15 rows in fron t my assigned seat. Upon landing, I went to pull my bag down from the bin and it was no longer there.

Instead, I saw another grey North Face backpack about two bins down. I immediately knew what happened – someone had mistaken my backpack for theirs. I snagged the imposter of my backpack that was left behind since it had a badge on it with some contact information. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very helpful. I had no idea if this person had already left the airport or worst, was getting onto a connecting flight with all of my things.

I rushed to the airline’s counter to explain my situation in hopes to track the person down. After providing the name of the person written on the backpack, I was denied help. Apparently, this was a policy violation of sharing customer information. The fact that someone accidentally stole my belongings, was not a violation. As I continued to beg, one merciful employee agreed to help me and told me which gate I could find this person before they boarded their next flight. This person seemed completely unaffected by the fact that they almost left all of their things with me. We nonchalantly exchanged our backpacks before departing on our separate ways.

It turns out, those fabric ribbons or kitschy bag tags in the shape of a pineapple aren’t silly after all. It’s actually an extremely helpful trick if you have a common looking piece of luggage. Whether it’s a checked luggage or carry-on bag, make your item stand out. There should be no possibility that someone would mistake it for their own. 

We’re devoted road trippers which means we’re constantly exploring by car. Needless to say, this adds an entirely new level of things that could potentially go wrong. And guess what? They have! From trivial fender benders, mechanical breakdowns to a full blown accident, we’ve experienced our fair share of troubles on the road. Some of the more serious occurrences weren’t just bad travel experiences, they were just unpleasant times in general.

Our most notable incident was a car accident in Sicily which actually launched us to purchasing an entirely new car. In addition to this, we’ve made a handful of impromptu stops at mechanic shops. Sadly, some of these visits ended up being much more expensive than others. Unquestionably, this is the worst part about road trips but for us, the benefits continue to substantially outweigh the downsides. What we learned from each of these instances is that things will continue to happen. Aside from putting our best foot forward, there’s no sense in stressing about everything we cannot control. 

This last experience is not a travel mistake, but a tip on how to be proactive when travelling. The easiest thing you can do to protect yourself and your trip when travelling is to be insured . It’s unfortunate but we know that some of our worst travel experiences could have panned out much better if we were properly insured. The type of insurance that travellers can benefit from is overall travel insurance , rental car insurance and even flight insurance .

Affiliate Disclaimer: Please note that some links found in our posts are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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Roaming Around the World

Travel Guides, Tips, and Tales

Our Top 20 Worst Travel Experiences: A Year in Review

January 9, 2015 By John Widmer 39 Comments

The end of 2014 also marked the end of our first full year of travel. So we recently posted about our absolute favorite experiences from this past year roaming around the world.

But life on the road isn’t all gumdrops and unicorns. We certainly incurred our share of misfortunes too. Some of these tales are humorous takes from a few of our more calamitous situations, while others are downright terrifying.

But even with these ill-fated circumstances, there’s always a bright side. And I’m a firm believer that’s there’s always a lesson to be learned from others’ misfortunes. So maybe one of these travel mishaps may one-day help you avoid a similar situation. If nothing else, come laugh at us and our Top 20 Misadventures from the past year, which are in chronological order from when they occurred.

1) Breaking a Rental Car in the Yucatan (Mexico)

Ok, well this sign was altered a bit (for laughs) but you get the idea.

Driving across the Yucatan using rural back roads sounded like an awesome adventure early in our big round the world trip. But we were nowhere near prepared for the bad conditions of these dirt roads and the severe lack of signage. It’s a wonder we were able to navigate it with a simple pocket compass and a little luck. But what was even more surprising was that we got the car back in one piece (well, sort of).

After going over so many vicious potholes that were more like pot-craters and speed bumps known as “topes” that seemed to just spring up out of no where, the car’s undercarriage was completely wrecked and hanging on by a thread. I got my hands dirty and reattached it countless times. It’s a miracle the car was even still running. I was so nervous that the agency was going to bill us horribly for the damages incurred. But when we returned the car, they signed off on it and we made a speedy exit. I don’t feel dishonest about doing that either, because I’m fairly certain that the undercarriage was already in bad shape when I got the car.

Silver lining :

• We returned the rental car and weren’t charged any damages!

Lessons learned:

• Consider sticking to the main roads in the Yucatan when possible.
• A little patch-up work and a friendly smile can go a long way when returning a beat-up rental car.

2) Becoming Homeless in Tulum (Mexico)

January in Tulum is high season and accommodation can get booked solid. So we were sure to secure a room in advance. Yet the day before we were arriving, we received an email from the owner apologizing that he overbooked the place and informing us we had no room. That pissed me off but I was able to find somewhere else to stay and booked it immediately.

Then our bus to Tulum got sold out. So we had to take a late bus, arriving at about 11pm. We go to check in to our hotel and no one was around. We rang doorbells, called office/cell numbers, and yelled… but nothing. After walking past one “no vacancy” sign after another, we were at a complete loss for what to do next. It was now the middle of the night and we were officially homeless in Tulum, Mexico .

We finally decided to go to original place we had booked, who actually happened to make room for us after all. But although we booked a private room, the next morning we discovered we were sharing this room with a family of scorpions! Ahhh!

Silver linings:

• Hotels.com refunded our stay-that-never-was and gave us a generous $100 credit for our troubles!
• We ended up switching to a scorpion-free hotel, which we really liked.
• Make bus reservations in advance during high season in Mexico.
• Reserving through third-party booking sites do have benefits.
• During high season, have backup plans for where to stay.

3) Becoming Deaf in Belize

Heather first learned to dive when we were in Caye Caulker , Belize. During this time there was a cold going around the islands and Heather caught it. But it wasn’t very severe, so no need to stop our scuba diving pursuits. Yet when getting to depths, depressurizing (clearing) her ears was proving problematic. It just wasn’t working. She fought through the pain and dealt with it.

Over the next few days I noticed she wasn’t hearing half the things I was saying. I’m used to her ignoring me from time to time, but it was getting beyond that. Her ears never really unclogged and she was partially deaf. We later found out that you really shouldn’t dive with a head cold, as it completely screws with your ears.

• She still managed to successfully complete the course and get her certification.
• A doctor prescribed her some eardrops and medicine that cleared up the issue in a few days.
• Hearing is fully restored.

Lesson learned:

• Don’t dive with a head cold.

4) The Sunrise that Never Was (Guatemala)

The guidebooks raved on about how amazing the Tikal sunrise is. So much so that, as non-morning people, we decided it would be worth waking up at 4:00am to catch the spectacle. We trekked into the Guatemalan jungle and hiked to the top of one of the highest pyramids. Our efforts were rewarded with a sea of fog.

Silver lining:

• After the sunrise, we truly were rewarded by seeing lots of animals who are otherwise inactive during the day.

 Lessons learned:

• Sunrises aren’t always worth waking up early for.
• Check the forecasts.

5) Dangling Off a Cliff on Central America’s Highest Peak (Guatemala)

When we noticed that Central America’s highest point was near our planned route through Guatemala, we couldn’t refuse the challenge, so we decided to attempt the summit of Volcan Tajumulco . But we weren’t properly acclimatized and suffered horrible altitude sickness. And being only about a month or so into our trip, it probably didn’t help that we were still a bit out of shape.

But after a sleepless night, camping out under the summit in the absolute freezing cold, we woke up super early to make the final ascent and catch the sunrise. But because we were slower than the rest of the pack, we were led by the official guide’s 7-year old nephew. And this lad took us climbing up the wrong peak, which left us clinging on to the side of the mountain for our lives. Its probably a good thing it was pitch black and couldn’t see what was down below.

• We did eventially reach the true summit and the views were spectacular.
• Be sure to acclimatize before pursuing tall summits like this.

6) That Nasty Skin Infection (Guatemala)

Ewwwwwwww!!!

Back in Guatemala, what looked like a small bug bite on my leg started looking worse and worse. Next thing I knew a mass nearly the size of my fist was building up and I was walking with a limp. I was long overdue for a doctor visit. I finally went and the doc bandaged me up good, gave me a strict dose of antibiotics, and ordered me to stay off my leg. It took nearly a month to fully heal.

Then when we got to Panama, it happened again – on my other leg! WTF! How is that even possible? Thoughts started swirling that maybe this is something other than an infected bug bite but the Panama doctor gave it the same diagnosis as my first skin infection in Guatemala , and I was soon on another antibiotic regiment, which also eventually cured things up.

• Doctor visits in Guatemala and Panama are super inexpensive – I only paid $5 USD in Panama!
• Seek medical attention early before things worsen.

7) The Longest Bus Ride Ever (El Salvador)

Getting from Antigua, Guatemala to our next destination in Leon, Nicaragua proved to be no easy task. You must cross through two countries – El Salvador and Honduras – and it takes about 13 full hours. But we found a shuttle bus that offers this transfer, so we got up at 3am to begin our long day of travel down Central America. We first went to a beach in El Salvador to pick up some more passengers but ended up stopping here for hours to fix a mechanical issue. No problem, the beach was really nice.

But a few hours later, we were broken down again, this time at a gas station in the middle of nowhere. No one knew how long it was going to take. We figured maybe another an hour two. We chit-chatted with fellow disgruntled passengers, ate gas station food, and walked around the rest stop like lab rats. It was a full eight hours later when a backup van finally arrived to take us the rest of the way. There are horror stories about the dangers of driving through Honduras at night, which was now inevitable, adding to our worries.

Very sleep deprived, we finally got in to Leon almost exactly 24 hours from when we left, about 12 hours later than expected. We went right to sleep. But to add insult to injury, an hour later, an earthquake abruptly woke us up!

• We got to see the beautiful Pacific Coast in El Salvador.
• We got to fill up on delicious El Salvadorian papusas.
• Make the most of a shitty situation.

8) A Trifecta of Mishaps from Panama to Colombia

We blew chunks for days, got threatened by an island native, and I managed to loose my wedding ring. What a trip! Looks like I’ll need to break down each of these mishaps…

8a) A Sea of Sickness (Panama to Colombia)

We were about to set sail from Panama to Colombia across the Caribbean Sea and were advised to take seasickness medicine. I rarely ever get seasick so declined to do so. Once on the small sailboat, a most delicious coq a vin was somehow whipped up in the cubicle-sized kitchen. I stuffed myself with seconds, if only to lap up the wonderful sauce alone. And although I wasn’t supposed to be drinking on the antibiotics to treat my nasty skin infection, I decided to give in to the festive atmosphere and choke down some nasty Panamanian Guinness as we said “bon voyage” to mainland Panama. This was all a recipe for disaster.

Our cabin pre-spewing

I was the first to blow. And things only got worse as the sailboat tipped to what seemed like 90-degree angles and it all made for a completely sleepless night unsuccessfully trying not to fall out of our bed in between vomit sessions. It was just awful. We had another 36 hours of this on the back-end of our trip.

• Our fantastic experience visiting the beautiful San Blas Islands in calm waters, outweighed the rough nauseating nights during the rest of the voyage.
• We all dosed up on plenty of sea-sickness medication on the latter rough nights which kept spewing to a minimum.
• For rough seas on a small boat, just take the damn seasickness pills.
• Don’t overindulge.
• While Guinness made in some countries (like Belize) is great, it can still be pretty awful in others.

8b) Being Threatened at Knifepoint by a Drunken “Pirate” in the Caribbean

While sailing through the remote San Blas islands on our way to Panama, we stopped at a group of islands known as Coco Bandera, which were the most gorgeous islands of our voyage. We swam out from the sailboat to one of the tiny islands, which was perhaps less than 100 meters wide and long, and spotted with palm trees.

It was here that we ran into an indigenous Kuna man who had motored his little wooden boat to the island so he could chop down some coconuts with his machete. Upon locking eyes, I greeted him with a smile but he just gave me a stern look and continuously yelled “Mi isla!” (My island). Then he demanded that we pay him a $2 entrance for being on the island. I told him in Spanish that his “island was very pretty, but I do not have any money with me.” He replied that if we didn’t pay him, he would have our heads. After taking another glance at that machete, I just apologized and slowly backed into ocean.

This was NOT the culprit. (This was a very nice Kuna we met on another island.)

After a fast swim to the sailboat, this crazed Kuna motored over to it. He was even ballsy enough to demand to our Captain that everyone on the boat must pay him $2. Much shouting back & forth ensued between him and the Captain for the next 10 minutes, but he finally left and started harassing the few other boats in the harbor. Apparently he was completely drunk and acting all out of sorts. This was not reflective of all the other most pleasant experiences we had with the Kuna people who call these islands home.

• We didn’t pay his made-up fee and still left with our heads intact on our bodies.

Lessons learned :

• If there’s ever a weapon present during a heated conflict, get the hell out of there!
• Don’t bother arguing with a drunk person.

8c) Oops! Losing My Wedding Ring (Panama to Colombia)

During this same sailing trip from Panama to Colombia , we stopped occasionally to snorkel the beautiful reefs around the San Blas islands. By this point in our trip I had lost a little weight and was afraid my ring may slip off in the water, so I decided to store it on a shelf in our cabin, for safekeeping.

But days later when I went to put it back on, it was missing. I looked closely at the shelf and noticed there was a small hole, just big enough for a ring to slip through. In all the rocking in the rough seas, I’m certain that is exactly what happened. I tested the theory with a coin and could here it drop all the way to the hull of the sailboat. The captain explained there was no way to access the area unless the boat was put in dry dock and several days of work was done to pull off the panels. So to this day, my wedding ring still sits rocking back and forth on the Mintaka sailboat.

• Our travel insurance fully reimbursed us for this loss and I was able to replace it with the exact same ring.
• Be careful about where you leave valuables.
• Travel insurance can be a very wise investment for international trips.

9) Getting Threatened with Cobras (Morocco)

The $80.00 photo with a cobra

When in Marrakesh, a quintessential tourist experience is to go down to the Jemaa el Fna square and have your picture taken with the cobras and snake charmers. We just couldn’t resist this unique opportunity in Morocco, so we went to the square and I took Heather’s picture with the snakes. Its all tip based, and the snake charmers were nice and fun, so I went to give him a few bucks, which I thought was pretty generous tip, considering wages in Morocco. His demeanor quickly changed and he wouldn’t take my cash. He then explained to me that he charges about $80 USD to take pictures with his snakes. WTF!? I would never pay that much for a couple of mediocre snake pictures taken with my own camera.

After I adamantly refused, he said it would be okay if I paid about $50. “Sorry, still – no way I’m paying anything even close to that!” What a scam. This is basically robbery! The back and forth went on for about ten minutes, voices got louder, and he finally started threatening me by putting the cobras in my face! Yikes! I finally just threw the couple of dollars I initially offered him in his hat on the ground and we quickly scurried off without looking back.

• We got our quintessential snake photos.
• When dealing with street performers anywhere, always determine a price before taking pictures. (Rookie mistake.)

10) Getting Blasted by A Freak Sandstorm in the Sahara (Morocco)

Riding camels through the Sahara desert was a bucket list experience that we were super excited to tick off. But being in the heat of summer, we would have to patiently wait until the early evening to leave the town of Merzouga, which lies on the edge of the vast desert. We were all packed. Our camels were there. Our guide had arrived. It was finally time to go on our three-day overnight trek. Yet nearly a half hour past our scheduled departure time, we were still waiting at the tour organizer’s riad. Growing impatient, I finally asked the tour organizer what the hold-up was and he calmly explained to me that a sandstorm was approaching. A sandstorm? I went to the rooftop terrace of the riad and could see a cloud of darkness in the distance getting closer and closer. I helped the owner tie down some patio furniture and then it hit!

It started with a blast of warm air. Strong winds whipped furiously through the town and rivers of sand began to flow through the barren streets. I tried to stay atop the terrace to witness this spectacle but after inhaling mouthful after mouthful of sand, I decided it would be wiser to seek shelter. The sandstorm raged on. Finally our guide signaled for us to go and outfitted us with scarves to keep the sand out of our ears, noses, and mouths.

The sandstorm was still blowing full force yet we hopped on our camels and off we went into the desert as the murky sunlight began to fade away behind a blanket of sand. We rode on and watched as some dunes dwindled, while others were being built up. The landscape was being shapeshifted right before our eyes. Our Berber guide miraculously navigated us to camp, where we immediately ducked into tents to escape the horrible lashings we’d been receiving.

Silver linings :

• When we awoke the next day, the storm was over.
• The storm had created fresh dunes to go sandboarding down!
• If horrendous weather strikes, try to marvel at the unique spectacle rather than let it ruin your day.

11) Getting Attacked by Barbary Apes (Morocco)

Just hanging out with my monkey friends

We were so excited at the chance of seeing the Barbary Apes of Morocco’s Cedar Forests and were just hoping to get a glimpse or two of these wild animals. So we were thrilled to see dozens of them who were all fearless in getting nice and close to us. There were some vendors selling peanuts to feed them, but that just didn’t seem right.

After admiring them, taking pictures, and even playing with them a bit; it was time to have a picnic lunch. But these monkeys had other plans for our food and decided that it would be their lunch instead. Next thing you know they had attacked us stealing all of our food. How rude! We did manage to retain a canister of Pringles. But when we walked about a mile away to pop the top, out of nowhere, they reappeared and snagged our chips too!

• Hanging out with these primates was still pretty awesome.
• Don’t feed the wildlife, as it encourages bad behavior.

12) Learning Why Not To Go To the “Good View” (Spain)

The beaches of Cabo de Gata were among our favorite and prettiest beaches we’ve been to so far. The clear waters were incredible and I feel like this remote region is one Spain’s best-kept secrets.

But its no secret to nudists, as they were everywhere. Sure, there really were some beautiful women but there was also everyone else. Perhaps what gave us the biggest laughs were the two hippy guys who were very aggressively playing paddleball with one another. (You’ll have to use your imagination for that visual.)

There are many scenic cliffside trails which wind their way through the craggy coast. While exploring, I came across a sign, which read “Buena Vista” (Good View) and an arrow. So I followed the arrow, which led me to a 600-pound man, spread-eagle, who simply smiled at me. This was not a Buena Vista at all.

• While that wasn’t a particularly good view, everywhere else in this area certainly was.
• Don’t be overly trusting of signs.

13) Attempting to Drive Manual Transmission Through Spain

Renting a car in Europe can sometimes be challenging for Americans, since many of us are accustomed to driving automatic vehicles. In fact, I’ve never driven a car with a stick-shift in my entire life. Throughout Europe it can be nearly impossible to find automatics and if you do, you’ll end up paying about ten times the price of manual. To get to some of the far reaches of Spain, a rental car was necessary, and a manual was our only option. So I figured, “how hard could it be?”

It was time for me to learn how to do this. So when visiting friends in Cabo del Gata, I got a brief 15-minute lesson using their rental car. A week or two later, I watched a quick Youtube video on “how to drive a manual” and was off to the rental car agency.

I was horrible. I definitely stalled out more than a few times and felt bad for anyone driving within 100 feet of me. Spain was probably not the best place for me to learn a new driving skill. Unfamiliar roads, signs in Spanish, endless roundabouts, and lots of hills make for a recipe for disaster. The absolute worst was approaching red lights while going uphill. My palms would sweat at the stoplight as I rehearsed in my head putting the car into gear once the light changed. Instead I’d roll back and/or stall, nearly smashing the unfortunate car behind me. I still get panic attacks just thinking about it.

• I found Spanish drivers to be very courteous drivers, which helped my cause.
• I never hit anyone.
• I can now drive manual (err, sort of).
• Stay on flat roads when first learning to drive stick.

14) Escaping to Ukraine with No Place to Stay

We never considered visiting Ukraine , but when we found ourselves in Poland with only a few days left on our Schengen visa, it was the closest non-Schengen country nearby. So we thought it might be an interesting place to escape to and we’d work out the logistics once there. With all the negative press recently facing the country, surely there would be an overabundance of accommodation available.

Overnight train to Lviv

After a rough overnight train ride being constantly awoken by customs officials, we arrived to Lviv early in the morning. But our search for a hotel came up empty. Everywhere was actually completely full, booked solid. How could this be? Well, it was was Ukraine’s independence day and patriotic Ukrainians around the country had flocked to Lviv to celebrate. There were no vacant Airbnb apartment rentals, hotels were booked solid, and we couldn’t even find an empty bed in a hostel. We were starting to consider last-resort options like sleeping on a train station bench.

We then thankfully managed to find a strange pseudo-resort town named Truskavets, located a few hours away and known for its healing spring water, that happened to have a few rooms available. So we quickly booked one and hopped on bus to discover this off-the-beaten-path destination.

• Truskavets turned out to be a very interesting side-trip that gave us an opportunity to visit an area we would have never considered.

 Lesson learned:

• Research when each country’s holidays are and plan accordingly.

15) Getting Too Drunk in Ukraine and the Worst Hangover Ever

It was our last night in Ukraine and we had an early bus ride the next day. So we decided to go out for a few beers to celebrate and call it an early night. We ducked into a pub with some live music and were eventually invited to a table of Ukrainians our age, who were quite insistent on sharing their multiple bottles of vodka with us. Shot after, after shot, after shot, after shot. These bottles were seemingly endless and it felt rude to refuse their generosity, so we continued to oblige. I think Heather and I probably finished off an entire bottle’s worth ourselves during the hour period we sat with them, and that was after a good number of beers earlier in the evening.

Next thing you know, Heather is dancing with strangers and I can barely see straight. Yup, it was definitely time to form an exit strategy before those last few shots caught up to my brain. I grabbed Heather and we hurried out of the pub, which I recalled was right next to our hotel. Except, in this extremely drunken state, I couldn’t seem to locate it. Just then our phone died, so Google Maps wasn’t going to help us either. I tried to ask some taxi drivers but between the harsh language barrier and my slurred speech, it was going nowhere. Meanwhile, Heather sat in a drunken stupor with a now upset stomach.

Finally a cab driver was willing to help us and took us on a 10-minute drive across town. “Well this doesn’t seem right, but we’ll see where it goes.” He took us to a hotel that definitely wasn’t ours and I finally had the epiphany to show the night manager our room key. She explained to the taxi driver where to take us. We were thankfully taken back to the doorstep of our hotel which turned out to be about a half block away from where the cab had picked us up. SMH.

Needless to say, we missed our bus and suffered dearly the next day. It was honestly one of the worst hangovers of our lives. Vodka will never be the same again.

• Don’t feel bad about refusing a shot, particularly if it’s the seventeenth one.
• Its wise to travel with a backup phone battery.
• Know when to leave.
• Before we were in a drunken stupor, it was a really fun night with new Ukrainian friends.
• The fare of our very round-about taxi ride still only came out to about $2 total.

16) A Rumble in My Tummy in Transylvania (Romania)

Biking through the Transylvanian countryside past the UNESCO-listed fortified churches was a wonderful experience. That is, until we were cycling through farmland, miles away from the nearest town and my stomach began to churn.

I only had a matter of minutes before I was about to explode. This was farmland and there were no trees to hide behind to relieve myself. So I found a haystack which would have to make do so I could do my business. Flies and other insects were instantly attracted. Being in Transylvania, I wondered if I Dracula had cursed me.

I won’t go into much further graphic detail, but will just say this eruption was an extremely uncomfortable experience, which went on for nearly an hour. I did have a single lone napkin in my pocket, thankfully leftover from lunch, to attempt to clean myself with. Yuck. Luckily my stomach settled enough to ride back into town and things got better from there.

 Silver lining:

• This stomach bug was very short lived and I was fine by the next day.
• Whenever doing any outdoor recreation, always be prepared with some toilet paper, just in case.

  17) Getting Caught in Deadly ISIS Riots (Turkey)

During our visit to Turkey, tensions with the ISIS/ISIL activity in neighboring Syria were beginning to flair up. Yet everything in Turkey still remained safe. One day in the town of Antalya, we were getting ready to take a trolley to the bus station, but the trolley wasn’t arriving. I attempted to ask someone official-looking at the tram stop, and he just uttered something about “riots.” I thought I may have heard him wrong, as it was a nice and peaceful day in the seaside town.

But next thing you know there was a stampede of people heading right for us. Business owners began to shutter their shops as protesters rushed through. Smoke and fire soon filled the streets. Riot police soon followed.

I nervously asked someone what was going on and was explained that it was a protest for ISIS. I know ISIS has no mercy, so we quickly found a local bus to hop on and escape this tense situation. I later found out that the protest was actually Turkish youth protesting against their country for not doing enough to combat ISIS. Protests went on across the country that day, and although this was not in support of ISIS, many of these riots were violent and sadly caused dozens of people to loose their lives.

 Silver linings:

• We made it to the bus station without further incident.
• No deaths or major injuries were reported where we were in Antalya.
• Always stay abreast of evolving political situations.
• If violence erupts, leave immediately.

18) The Missed Ferry (Turkey)

We only had six very short days using ferries to explore the vast Greek Islands between Turkey and Athens. We devised a carefully planned out itinerary to make the most of our time. From Fethiye, Turkey there’s only one ferry leaving each morning, so we booked our tickets and arranged to arrive early. We showed up a full 30 minutes early but the ferry wasn’t there. Actually no one was. We went to the tour agency we booked the ticket with and discovered that the ferry actually decided to leave early !

With that, we kissed goodbye to one of our few days in the Greek Islands. It actually screwed up our entire itinerary, since each day relied on subsequent ferry connections and pre-booked hotels. We’d heard that Greek ferries are notorious for being late but never heard of them leaving early! We can now confirm to you that it does, in fact, also happen.

• We had an enjoyable extra day in Turkey.
• We worked out a new itinerary and were able to cancel hotel reservations.
• We weren’t charged for the missed ferry tickets.
• When catching an international ferry, consider arriving extra, extra, extra early.
• Be flexible to replan when travel hiccups occur.

  19) Getting Pickpocketed in Athens (Greece)

We were on a packed subway in Athens. Everyone was cramped, standing shoulder to shoulder. One man kept poking me in the ribcage, perhaps signaling me to scoot over. I tried to scoot but he kept poking me. It was becoming really annoying and was all I could think about. It was at that exact moment that I recalled some advice that an Argentinian friend had gave me if ever visiting her home country. She had explained that the pickpockets would poke you in an area away from your wallet, thereby distracting you from lifting your wallet.

I immediately reached down for my wallet but the thief’s hand had just grabbed it. Yet, I managed to smack it right out of the criminal’s hand and actually got it back! This happened right at our stop, so I quickly exited the subway car. At that moment an unfortunate passenger who was also getting off had realized his wallet had been lifted.

• I thwarted the thief and was able to keep my wallet!
• Never ignore good travel advice, particularly when it comes to your safety.
• Always hold on to your belongings in crowded situations.

20) Merry Christmas To Us: A Smashed Camera (Chile)

We were spending the holidays in Santiago, Chile and so decided to take a nice Christmas picture to mark the occasion. The photo was snapped just seconds before the fateful moment when the camera was smashed to the ground.

You see, we went up to the rooftop patio of our apartment building to take the shot. We set up a tripod that we had placed on a bench to give it the little more height it needed for the picture. We set the autotimer and then got into position. The picture snapped just before a gust of wind came, sending the camera on a forceful 7-foot fall smack down into the concrete below. It was a horrible site.

• We were able to get the camera repaired and it should be covered by our travel insurance.
• Be careful using tripods in windy situations.
• Travel insurance is worthwhile for international trips.

Look on the Bright Side!

Even with these misfortunes, we wouldn’t trade in this entire experience for anything. You just have to take the bad with the good. And we find that the “bad” makes the “good” all that much better.

And if this is the  worst of our past year in travel, I’d say we’re doing A-Okay.

Now for a more uplifting and inspirational review of our past year, be sure to also check out our Top 20 Favorite Travel Experiences  from the past year!

Related Posts

April 16, 2019 at 1:44 PM

Better Homeless in Hawaii For spring break this year we rented a VRBO suite in Hawaii. Two days before arriving we were told that the pool was out of service – this was our major search criteria. Over the first two days we discovered that not only was it out of service it was under full repair with jackhammering right outside our window. We had to move from this rental from hell. VRBO has acknowledged the misrepresentation but has not refunded the rental pinning that on the owner. Any idea what we can do to pressure them to refund us?

April 18, 2019 at 4:46 PM

Yikes, that’s pretty bad. What a nightmare! We usually do home rentals from Airbnb, so not really familiar with VRBO’s policies. It definitely sounds like you’re entitled to a refund, at least for the nights you didn’t stay, if not a full refund. Even if VRBO is putting that onto the owner, I’d seek help from VRBO to help mediate this dispute. Best of luck!

January 17, 2016 at 11:54 PM

I couldn’t stop laughing at #15 and especially the photo of Heather. 😀

January 18, 2016 at 4:19 PM

Haha! Oh, Cairo, what a crazy, crazy place! The chocolate covered picture of Heather? I laughed so hard when that happened. She got chocolate all over her face and then she immediately did it two more times! Lol, I suppose that’s what no sleep + a few strong Belgian beers will do to someone.

May 28, 2015 at 11:28 AM

I loved your post! It’s great that you can take a bad situation and find the good in it. I find some travel mishaps so funny (afterward) that I actually start wishing more things would go wrong. Happy everything turned out all right!

May 31, 2015 at 11:55 PM

Thanks Becky! We try to find the good in things and we hope others are able to learn from some of our mistakes. Everything has turned out alright for the most part. Even with all the wacky mishaps, we still decided to go for a second year of travels!

January 24, 2015 at 6:10 PM

This post is full of gems. I remember hearing about the cobra incident, but the drunken man proclaiming his island is beyond hilarious/ terrifying. Happy travels!

January 25, 2015 at 8:56 PM

Haha – thanks Bonnie! Yeah, we definitely froze up for a bit with the drunken Kuna man wielding a machete. That guy was nuts!

January 14, 2015 at 4:09 PM

This is a great post.

Looks like Guatemala was pretty sucky for you. I returned a while back and had a great time. Went to Tikal at sunrise and abandoned a shitty tour. Didn’t make Tajumulco due to protests closing all the roads; almost got stuck in Xela.

May the Silver Jews be with you

January 14, 2015 at 9:07 PM

Thanks! Actually, we loved Guatemala! Sure we had a few sucky incidents, but overall Guatemala was very good to us and has been one of our favorite countries so far. You’ll have to go back one day and tackle Tajumulco. Although it made our “top 20 worst” list, it was still one heck of an experience and glad we did it! Cheers!

January 12, 2015 at 7:39 AM

Very interesting post! The skin infection looks horrid indeed and I know the pain of breaking a rental vehicle (in my case it was a motorbike in Thailand), but all experiences (even the bad ones) are worth living because they are an important lesson. Take care, guys and hope you won’t have any such bad luck in 2015!

January 12, 2015 at 5:58 AM

You had me chuckling throughout this entire long post, right form the topes. Since I live in Mexico, I am painfully familiar with those Mexican speed bumps and what they can do to a car’s undercarriage–just ask the mechanic who recently installed a new muffler for me! I have also been far more intimately acquainted with scorpions than I would like. On the other hand, I have no desire to live anywhere else. Mexico, for me, is magic!

January 12, 2015 at 12:54 PM

Haha! It sounds like you can definitely relate to driving on those backroads. And despite a few travel hiccups there, we also really loved Mexico and looking forward to a return one of these days.

January 12, 2015 at 5:22 AM

Hahaha, those Mexican scorpions sure now how to gate-crash uninvited 😛

Yes, what jerks! Haha!

January 12, 2015 at 5:16 AM

This is definitely my favorite post of the month! Not because I enjoy hearing of other peoples bad luck but because many of them are actually quite funny and you have a great way of looking on the bright side which is really important when you travel. Plus if course you both came out of it all safe and sound. Thanks for the laugh!

January 12, 2015 at 12:57 PM

Thanks so much for the kind words! Yes, we always try to find try to find some way to laugh at our past misfortunes. And some are certainly easier to laugh at than others. And despite just a few more-serious situations, we did come out safe and sound. Thank you for laughing along with us!

January 12, 2015 at 3:47 AM

Ha, I got caught in a Moroccan sand storm in 2014 too but it was a highlight of my year!

January 12, 2015 at 1:00 PM

Awesome! I wonder if it was the same one. We were there in May. For us, the sandstorm was a highlight and a lowlight. While it really delay our trip and was extremely uncomfortable, it was incredible to experience this amazing force of nature.

January 11, 2015 at 9:43 PM

After 2 years of going around South America, I’m on my way to Central in a month and definitely bookmarking this post!

January 12, 2015 at 1:04 PM

Fantastic! Despite a few mishaps, we just loved Central America and hope you do too. Definitely make sure to check out our ‘Best of Central America’ post too where we highlighted our favorite experiences in the region. Hope your Central America travels are amazing! Bien viaje!

January 11, 2015 at 3:12 PM

Wow! Lots to report and some of it definitely not fun! What I loved about this post is your sense of humor keeps shining through, even though there were some potentially dangerous, and uncomfortable situations. Here’s to 2015!

January 12, 2015 at 1:09 PM

Thanks for the kind words Betsy! Yeah, we try to make light of some of these crazy situations we’ve gotten ourselves into. Its fun to look back and laugh at some of these, but at the time I never thought I’d be able to. Here’s to hoping 2015 will bring a few more funny stories yet a few less travel hiccups!

January 11, 2015 at 11:36 AM

These are great stories. Sometimes the challenges are just as memorable. I’ve almost been beat up by a group of Gladiators that Tara summoned over the tipping for pictures, we’ve been so blind drunk we couldn’t find our hotel across the street and had a ferry catch fire, which resulted in the best four day detour.

Love the stories, good and bad. Looking forward to many more.

January 12, 2015 at 1:13 PM

Haha! Yes, the challenges do make for some memorable stories. Some of your experiences you mentioned sound oh so familiar to us. And its funny how some bad situations can lead to some of the best times, as your ferry fire did. Cheers Mike!

January 11, 2015 at 11:26 AM

I loved reading this, even if there were some bad situations! You guys have had quite a year I hope your next one is filled with more great stories 🙂

January 12, 2015 at 1:14 PM

Thanks so much Leasha! Yes, it was quite the year, but that just help things to continue being exciting. Am also hoping we have some more good stories for 2015 but hopefully less machetes, vodka, and cobras, lol!

January 11, 2015 at 4:39 AM

im so glad you have written this! far too many blog posts on the amazingness of travelling and there is just as much crap stuff to balance it out (well some anyway)! feel your pain on some of these

January 12, 2015 at 1:17 PM

Yeah, we can sometimes get carried away writing about all the ‘amazing’ experiences that we realized we weren’t really showing the full picture of our travels. So I thought it would be fun to mix things up and shed some light on our struggles as well, as painful as some were.

January 11, 2015 at 1:11 AM

You guys had quite a year! Though I got to say I love the story in the Caribbean, very pirate, a great story to share! And I hate those guys that try to get money out of you for just having you taking a shot with there animals. We saw that in Lijiang, the guys had a llama and I was thinking seriously? In China? But of course as soon as you start looking they try to get loads of money out of you… But you guys do have a lot to share for your next party and so many memories out of all of that!

January 12, 2015 at 1:19 PM

Yes those picture guys sure can be brutal! A llama in China? lol! And, yes, I suppose that is another bright side, we certainly did get a few good stories to share out of all the calamity. Cheers!

January 10, 2015 at 9:39 PM

Like most tragedies on the road, these are pretty funny in hindsight. The lost wedding ring though, that’s pretty sad. Glad the pirate did not leave with your head. Better travels in 2015.

January 12, 2015 at 1:22 PM

Yes, we were pretty bummed out by the wedding ring, but its replaced now even though its not the original. I left my information with the captain, so who knows, maybe if they ever do maintanance in the hull one day and find it, we’ll have a nice surprise to look forward to. Very doubtful, but you never know!

January 10, 2015 at 9:22 PM

Pleased to see there was plenty of good with the bad but you did seem to have more than your share of bad luck in your 2014 travels. Hope 2015 brings more unicorns and less machete wielding drunks.

January 12, 2015 at 1:23 PM

Haha, yes – we too are hoping for more unicorns and less drunk island natives!

January 10, 2015 at 2:17 PM

Wow…so much stuff happened to you guys! I love that you are able to look on the bright side of things. I can throw one into the whole losing your hearing thing – I was once flying when overcoming a cold and the pressure change must have messed up my hearing….because I couldn’t hear properly for the next 4 days after the flight! Probably something very similar to what happened while diving.

January 12, 2015 at 1:25 PM

Ah, that sounds very familiar! Its crazy (and scary!) how pressure changes can really mess with your hearing when you have a cold!

January 9, 2015 at 10:17 PM

Lots of ups and downs, but nice to know you can take the positives out of them (and have lots of funny stories for afterwards!). I’ve had many a travel-mishap which feel crippling at the time, but now I never even think about them!

January 10, 2015 at 2:25 PM

Yes, its definitely nice to now be able to look back and laugh at some of these!

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The Best and Worst Travel Experiences of a Full-Time Traveler

Travel is a complex thing. Sometimes adventures aren’t always fun. But we believe even the worst travel experiences make for great stories!

Where to even start with this one? When I first decided to write this article, I was overly excited about it, but it has gone through a few phases since then. Initially, the memories rushed in, and I thought it would be impossible to condense 13 years of my best and worst travel experiences into something readable. Then, it morphed into a period where I went blank, and I couldn’t think of a single valuable story to tell. In short, it has been an introspective, and slightly emotional, journey to produce this one. I hope this personal list of interesting events gives you some smiles and a few pauses for thought.

Every adventure is a story to remember!

As this article shows, sometimes travel takes you to extremes. But that’s what life’s about, right? Experiencing every sensation and seeing every sight, picking up a mountain of stories along the way. Here at Let’s Roam, we’re all about life’s adventures. We work hard (and play hard) to bring you some of the best activities out there. Our hilarious scavenger hunts are world-renowned! We also offer cool bar crawls to keep you merry, scary ghost tours to keep you spooky, and awesome art walks to keep you cultured. What are you waiting for? Download the app and get this story started !

Making the Best Memories

A life of travel affords an education that nothing else can offer. However, full-time travel is different than taking short vacations. While other travel lists tout the must-visit sites of Rome, Dubai, and the Maldives, big attractions aren’t the things that stick with you over the years. There are a few adrenaline activities on this list, but many of my treasured memories aren’t at a major site or checking off a bucket list item.

I don’t travel with a full itinerary of tourist attractions. I am mostly just living. I travel slowly, leaving room for the unexpected. It’s where the magic happens! Although, I am still going to book that shark diving tour in Cape Town, South Africa, and hang out with the penguins in Antarctica! Oh… and I want to see those weird Moai heads on Easter Island! That’s a given. Anyway, the point is many of my memorable experiences are just very normal-seeming things, happy moments revolving around special people I have met, which I will attempt to explain in a way that is at least interesting to read.

How This Whole Thing Started

The first time I got on a plane was for a mission trip to Ethiopia in my early twenties. From that point, wanderlust took over. My husband and I vacationed in the spring, did an international service project for the full summer, and went on an annual mother-daughter trip for a couple of weeks in the fall. After years of this pattern, we decided to leave our full-time jobs and make a career out of what we loved. For the last 2.5 years, we have been total nomads.

I would like to note that I have been extremely blessed in my travel experiences, and nothing truly horrendous has ever happened to me . I count myself very fortunate. Some of these experiences, even the bad ones, are light-hearted and funny. Others are deeply personal and heavy, so there’s your warning. They are the truth of the life I have led, a life that I can honestly say, I am very grateful for.

My Best and Worse Travel Experiences

Best: the highest bungee jump in central america.

While exploring Costa Rica on an epic road trip, I decided to introduce my husband to the thrill of bungee jumping. We headed for the cloud forest. Monteverde Extremo Park has a unique setup, in that you plummet off of a moving platform. The platform hovers 450 feet above a lush canyon, and the fall is an adrenaline-packed 265-foot drop.

My hiking boots were too tall for the bungee strap to attach appropriately, so I had to go barefoot, which added an extra element of fear, as it felt like my feet were going to slip out the entire time! It was over in seconds, but what a rush!

Worst: Horrors of War

We were exploring Finland when the war broke out between Russia and Ukraine. We knew instantly that we had to do something. We didn’t know what aid we could offer, but we found an American crisis relief company that was heading into the area, and after a week hulled up in a hostel in Estonia doing training, we joined them in Poland. After a few weeks in Western Ukraine, we took over leadership of the revolving teams and moved to the capital of Kyiv. Our days were spent delivering food, arranging transport for escaping refugees, and assessing needs, and our nights were spent under constant air raid sirens.

My job was to organize itineraries for volunteers, maintain the safety of my teams, and procure goods for refugees and soldiers. My husband was leading smaller splinter teams into hot zones to deliver goods and procure vehicles for the team, so we were often separated. While we met the best of humanity throughout our time in Ukraine, we also saw the worst of what we are capable of. I held women who were grieving the loss of their soldier sons. I treated injuries from bullet wounds in babushkas. I consulted with pastors turned refugee center directors, and wives turned war brokers. Everyone was operating under the radar, using skills and connections to get supplies to the front lines, while caring for those who had fled.

We saw entire villages leveled, people homeless and afraid, and women and children abandoned. It was an impossible situation, every second a new tragedy to take in. Then, there were the stories of the atrocities being committed in the hot zones. I won’t go into details there, but trust me when I tell you that no horror movie has depravity equal to what some of these people endured. Ukraine was a life-changing experience, and one of my most difficult.

Best: Strength of the Human Spirit

Now that we are all depressed, let me acknowledge the silver lining of Ukraine. The strength of the human spirit, the capacity for people to serve others when their whole world is falling apart, and the compassion I saw will stick with me as long as the atrocities. I met countless ordinary humans, from all over the world, who set aside their normal lives to help. We were all operating outside of our areas of expertise and comfort, but we were getting it done together!

One dear soul, that I think about daily, was a gentleman we will call Dmitry. While delivering food to a decimated village, I walked through a tiny, green, wooden gate into the homestead of an elderly couple. It was there I first saw him, the 76-year-old grandfather of our guide (we needed local guides to ensure we didn’t wander into areas that hadn’t been swept for mines yet). Dmitry was using an ancient shovel, with a broken handle, to clear a pile of rubble from his damaged home. It was heartbreaking. He escorted us indoors to meet his visibly traumatized wife. I stood in awe, in the center of their small living room, bullet holes and shrapnel completely encircling me. I split our teams, sending half to finish our food delivery, and the rest of us spent the afternoon helping Dmitry clear the rubble.

This man, despite all that had happened to him, was the epitome of joy! You could tell he had lived a rough life, and this war was just another dent in the armor. He introduced himself, to my companions, as Arnold Schwarzenegger, then challenged them to a brick-lifting competition. As he pulled his three-sided, broken wagon around the corner, he turned to us and said, “I’ll be back.” We all lost it! He recited a sonnet for us about the moon, and he danced as he outworked us all. At one point, we were scolded for throwing away his “beautiful bricks.” He pointed to the gigantic hole in his storage building and said “I still have work to do, you know.” His resilience was awe-inspiring.

As we hugged him to leave, he asked the translator a question, before turning to us and spouting in broken English, “thank you-best first responders.” He closed the van door… and we all cried. His gentle and vibrant spirit reminded us all that life goes on, and that we still had work to do!

Worst: Caught in a Riot

A couple of years after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, we were working with a mission in the village of Titanyen for the summer. Haiti was, at the time, in chaos (little did we know it would only get much worse over the years). Cholera was running rampant through tent cities. Riots were breaking out over the lack of electricity and the failure of the government to offer appropriate aid.

One of the primary forms of civil protest was to block major highways, usually with a series of barricades composed of burning tires. While traveling home from a nearby village one day, we got stopped between barricades. With fire raging on both sides of us, we heard distant gunshots, and things got really serious as a civilian, armed with a giant machine gun boarded our bus. As we all held our breath, he asked our driver a few questions and lowered his weapon. He faced us, in what turned out to be an unexpectedly humorous moment, and said “This has nothing to do with you white people. Go home.” We had to chuckle as we caught our breath, said “thank you,” and proceeded home as quickly as possible!

Best: Albanian Birthday Celebration

In my travels around the world, The Albanian people are some of the most vibrant and hospitable I have ever encountered. A tour around Albania is a series of raki-drinking invitations, intimate conversations, and quality time. One evening we were walking along the beach in Ksamil, and we heard a loud party. As we paused to take a quick look, a very exuberant man waved us in to join. Turns out, it was the celebration of his son’s first birthday!

The whole family was there, and they had rented out an entire restaurant. They sat us down for a full steak dinner and drinks. The hospitality was remarkable. We were just strangers walking down the street, and they turned us into honored guests. They invited us to dance and taught us their traditional steps, which I’m sure we butchered. We spent the whole evening eating, dancing, and celebrating the life of little Fadmir. It was one for the books!

Worst: Haitian Hell-Hole Orphanage

On an earlier short trip to Haiti, my team was sent to assess needs in a local orphanage. When we arrived, the children were all sitting around on a concrete floor, in various stages of undress. The place was filthy, and the children were starving. Looking for anything that could help, I foolishly pulled out a Nutri-Grain bar from my bag. That was the moment when I saw two toddlers turn into the equivalent of ravaging beasts, fighting over a piece of meat. Two, innocent children, clamoring over the bits of an oatmeal bar. It’s one of those moments in my life that instantly changed me.

Best: Witnessing an Active Volcano

Volcanoes are one of nature’s most mesmerizing shows. One of the most active volcanoes in the world is Volcan de Fuego, outside of Antigua, Guatemala. While it’s a tough hike up neighboring Volcano Acatenango, this day trip was worth every painful step!

Once we reached the campsite, we settled into our mountainside tent and waited for the darkness of the night. At about 3 am, our guide opened our tent and excitedly called us to witness the spectacle. We could feel the rumble of the earth, and hear the roaring and the cheers of people hidden all over the mountainside. It was one of those magical moments that makes you realize how amazing our planet is. We ended the night with a hike to the peak to watch the sunrise over the volcanoes of Guatemala, and it was nothing short of a spiritual experience.

Worst: Turkish Rug Scam

Traveling in certain cities can be a real pain in the butt when it comes to tourist hassling. Istanbul is one of those places. We were walking along, minding our own business when a friendly local stopped to have a conversation. Now, normally, we are all about interaction with locals, but we want it to be genuine, and in touristy hot spots, it rarely is. Knowing this, we said “hello,” and kept on walking. The next one came up, then the next one. They just want to sell you something, but we evaded them all.

The next day, we were looking for a particular coffee shop. A local asked if we were lost and offered to take us to his favorite coffee shop. It was a public area, and there was no danger, so we went. Sure enough, we landed in his family’s rug shop. Trying to be polite, we accepted a cup of tea, as they showed us a few rugs. We finally managed to get out of there, convincing them that we live in a backpack and do not need rugs. It’s a slimy feeling to be lied to and taken advantage of just because you’re a foreigner.

The next day, it happened again! This time, we went with the flow. Knowing exactly where we were going, we gladly obliged. We drank about five glasses of chai, ate some cookies, and allowed them to unfold and pull down rug after rug, feigning interest. We then got up and walked out. When they approached us, we called the young man out for his lie and left. Maybe it was wrong, but we were so over it by that point.

Best: Learning the Bag Pipes

While traveling through Scotland, we decided to do a housesitting job in Edinburgh. The family was amazing. We watched their lovely home and pooch for a few weeks, while they were on holiday, and then we headed out for a road trip around Scotland. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away two days into the trip, and we had to turn back.

This incredible family took us in, and to cheer me up, they brought out the bagpipes. I must admit, it was incredibly humorous. My husband and I attempted to play, which is hard by the way, and we talked and laughed our way into the wee morning hours. It was one of those experiences that is nothing outstanding from the outside, but it was a small act of human kindness that was just what I needed at the time.

Worst: Ethiopian Girls’ Home

In the summer of 2009, we were working in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This whole trip was hard as we served in a leprosy hospital and a children’s AIDS hospital, but one day stands out above the rest. We went to visit a girls’ orphanage with the intent of having a girly day. We brought makeup, fingernail polish, and new shoes for the girls. When we were about to start painting fingernails and putting on makeup, a teenager pulled my friend aside and said “please don’t.”

We immediately stopped what we were doing and said, “Okay. We will, but may we ask why?” She lowered her head and stated solemnly, “you’re  only making them more valuable.” As the realization of what she meant flooded over us, so did a feeling of utter despair. As we exited the gate that night, local men were lining up around the corner, verifying the nightmare we had suspected. The headmistress was selling them. I’ve never felt so helpless.

Best: Caving by Candlelight

Semuc Champey National Park is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Deep in the Guatemalan jungle, this paradise is reached via a long bus ride from the nearest city, followed by a winding trek, in the back of a local’s truck to a remote mountain village. Once we arrived, we took a hike to the lookout for a view of the most stunning series of natural pools on earth, but that wasn’t the best part.

We crossed the river to private property, where the owner ran a natural adventure park of sorts. A Mayan guide then took us on the adventure of a lifetime! Using some local plants, he proceeded to paint our faces with “war paint,” giggling the entire time, as he transformed my husband into a jaguar. He then handed us a small wax candle and lit it. We entered a water-filled cave system that was nothing like any experience we have ever had. There were no safety harnesses, no protective equipment, and no safety waivers.

By rope, we crossed deep water pools, rappelled up a waterfall, and slid down a natural water slide, all with nothing but the glow of candlelight. The trip ended with a 3-story jump off an internal bluff into total darkness. Trusting our guide, we barrelled off into the abyss… and thankfully, just as he said, there was a deep body of water underneath! It was one of those unexpected exhilarating moments that was a real adventure!

Worst: Voodoo Village

I hesitate to include this one. It’s devastating, but it does have a happy ending. On one of my stints in Haiti, I went with a team to assess the needs of a new tent village. You never know what you’re going to get on these scouting trips, so we took an experienced team, but I never expected this.

A few minutes into the visit, one of my team members came expressing concern for a little girl. She had witnessed a grown man touch her inappropriately. I found the child. Picked her up and took her to the side. She was young, probably around 3 or 4. Her little body was covered in injuries that I won’t describe, but just know they weren’t normal for preschooler injuries.

We were later informed that there’s a rare practice in some voodoo sects where a scapegoat is chosen. Basically, in exchange for everyone else living safely, one child is turned over to the abuses of the community. That is what had happened to this little one.

We protected her the rest of the day and took plenty of photos for identification. She had an infectious giggle, and she was obsessed with my head of red, curly hair. We did have to leave her that evening, but we were able to get her information to authorities who evacuated her soon after, and, to my knowledge, she was able to grow up safe and protected.

Best: Ice Hut Camping

While visiting Finland, we got the opportunity to spend an evening in a traditional ice hut in Lapland. Even the bed was made of ice. We slept on a giant reindeer fur, in temperatures of -9C. The next morning, we awoke with a silly feeling of accomplishment. I mean, how many people get to sleep in an ice hut?

We celebrated by joining a dog-sledding expedition, hunting for the northern lights, and completing the Finnish sauna challenge (a visit to the sauna followed immediately by a roll in the nearest snowbank). It was a challenging, but fun, 24 hours!

Worst: The Incident With the Crane

In 2021, we rented an apartment in Istanbul for a couple of months. One morning, we were sleeping and were suddenly awakened by a massive crash, a roaring noise, and the shaking of our entire apartment building. The fright was real, as we were sure that it was a bomb. Our apartment had a large wall of windows, so we pulled back the curtains, hesitantly, to see what was going on.

It wasn’t a bomb. It was a giant construction crane. The mosque behind us was undergoing significant renovation. The operator had been lifting a large stack of thick marble squares over our apartment to the mosque behind us. The load was too heavy, and the crane wasn’t properly anchored. The entire truck had turned over in the street, causing the outstretched arm, and its heavy load, to tumble.

Luckily for us, it toppled just before the load reached us. The heavy marble somehow didn’t crash through our second-story bedroom ceiling, but hit the base of our building, just below our bed. If it would have fallen just half a second later, the load would have been directly over us and would have crushed us. It was a very shaky cup of coffee that morning!

Best: The Bravery of a Guilty Mom

She was guilt-ridden for leaving her new infant at home. She struggled through the entire trip, trying to find purpose and overcome her desire to hop the next flight home. She had paid for the trip before finding out she was pregnant. The baby was now 10 weeks old. She was pumping breast milk and asked if there was anyone to donate it to. There was a newborn in the next village that we had concerns about. The baby was a few days old and had already been to our clinic. The mother was a very young teenager and extremely ill-equipped. We sent the milk to them, but in a few days, this American asked to meet the baby.

When we arrived at the home, the child was listless on the bed, and the young mother was attempting to feed it rice. Just as we prepared to evacuate this child to the hospital, the American mother, crossed the room, picked up the child, and somehow roused it to feed from her own breast. It was weird, in a sense, but also miraculous.

After the child had its fill, this American mother of four, sat down with our female translator, and she spent the next 3 hours teaching this child-mother everything she knew about breastfeeding, child development, and raising babies. As we left that day, the woman turned and said, “the very reason I thought I wasn’t supposed to be here, is the only reason that I am here.” She saved that child’s life that day, and she is now a happy and healthy teenager. It was a heroic moment for a normal person, stepping outside their comfort zone, and saving the day. I’m glad I got to witness it.

Worst: Pamukkale

The famous white marble and bright blue waters of the pools of Pamukkale had been on my travel bucket list for a long time. Unfortunately, this was a case of “Instagram vs Reality” played out in real life. The sheer number of people was the first disappointment, but that happens at major sites, so we set out to find a quiet pool. Every second, some half-naked person was bumping into us while recording their sexy dance for Tik Tok. We had to duck the giant angel wings being used in a Victoria’s Secret-esc photo shoot, and try not to stare at a near-pornographic couples shoot next to us.

We have our own small Youtube channel and social media platforms, and I am not bashing the system. It is part of the travel world now, and we shoot at public sights too, but this was over the top! I’d never seen anything like it, and after 30 mins, we packed up and left because the natural beauty of this incredible place had been surpassed by the circus allowed to unfold there. It’s kind of sad.

Best: The Dublin Gentlemen

This was one of those rare occasions of pure chance that turned into an unforgettable evening. While strolling the streets of Dublin, we decided to tuck into a traditional-looking pub. It was a beautiful facility, well-renowned in the city, and a band of local musicians was playing in the corner. It wasn’t an organized gig, just talented people would come in off the streets, sit down, and pick up an instrument. If you played, you were welcome to participate.

After ordering a customary Jameson, we sat down, at the large mahogany bar, next to an elderly gentleman in a bowtie, snap cap, and cardigan. Firstly, he was adorable, and secondly, he exhibited that open kindness that the Irish are famous for. We began to talk about life and after about an hour, the leader of the band spotted him across the way. He said, “oh dear, I have been noticed. He will ask me to speak.” I chuckled, unsure what he meant, but as he predicted, the man soon approached.

After a long and poignant introduction, the band leader turned over the floor to our little friend, and he started a rousing rendition of a classic folk story. Turns out he was a rather well-known seanchaí, a bearer of ancient Irish history and lore. He transformed into another person for a few minutes, regaling us all most exuberantly. I was floored. It happened several more times during the evening, always to a raging round of applause. Between performances, he would retreat to his quiet corner with us, sharing the stories of his childhood in rural Ireland. To this day, we refer to him as our Irish grandpa.

Worst: The Bar Fight

This is another bad moment that ended up being funny. In 2020, we spent months traveling through Mexico. While hanging out in a wine bar in San Cristobal de las Casas, the man in the booth next to us became irate, screaming at some other person in the next room, who did not know him. It naturally drew our attention, and we turned to see what was happening. He then redirected his anger on my husband, screaming at him. My husband just smiled and looked away.

The man proceeded to get out of his booth and come to our table, cussing and screaming. He was very high on some sort of stimulant. My husband kept his smile and tried to keep the situation under control. I asked the man to leave, and he then began yelling at me. That’s when the smile left my husband’s face, and I prepared for a fight. About this time, some locals came rushing up, tackled the man, and threw him out of the establishment. We got free snacks out of the deal and a lot of apologies from sincere patrons, but I couldn’t help but notice his heartbroken girlfriend now in the booth alone. I went to sit with her and just hugged her. She was so embarrassed.

Later, we met them in the street, and she and I locked eyes in a nervous moment, not knowing what to expect. What happened was not at all what we feared. The man had come down off his high. He came over to us, apologized profusely, and then wrapped my husband in a full-frontal, bear hug. He then said, “God bless you,” and left us standing in the street, totally bewildered!

Best: Paragliding in Turkiye

After our near-death crane experience, the hubs and I joined a dear friend and took a road trip through Turkiye. We burned off some steam by, what else, barrelling full-speed off the side of a mountain. Oludeniz is one of the most beautiful beach towns in Turkiye and a famous place for taking to the skies. Our guides were excellent, the scenery was stunning, and it was just the adrenaline rush we needed. We followed it up with hot air ballooning in Cappadocia and exploring some of the ancient wonders of the world. It was a road trip full of amazing experiences, one after another!

Still More Memories to Make

I hope this article has inspired you to get out and explore this incredible planet we get to call home. Travel has offered me both devastating and rewarding experiences, and I could probably write another 5 pages, but I will spare you. In short, I’ve basked in the most fantastic sunrises, tasted the best food in the world, and pushed my body to its limits. I have gotten to take my mom rafting in Costa Rica, snorkeling in Hawaii, trekking in Italy, and adventuring in Spain, Belize, and Costa Rica. I’ve made life-long friendships in the Himalayas of Nepal and war-torn Ukraine. I’ve gotten to meet the best of humanity and share in their joys and their pains. It is a life that I treasure, and I’m not done yet!

This year’s adventures include exploring Angkor Wat in Cambodia, taking a motorcycle tour of Vietnam, and hanging with the locals in Thailand and Bali, Indonesia, so there are many more memories in the making!

As you probably noticed, the best part of travel for me is the people I meet! That includes the author of “How to Make Friends While Traveling,” my dear friend, Kristin. Check out her pointers for making the most of your next trip!

It’s a question I get quite often, and the answer is, “no, I don’t come from money.” Here is how I made it happen: “21 Clever and Creative Ways to Save Money for Travel”

Frequently Asked Questions

Common bucket lists include the Great Barrier Reef, Petra, or the Pyramids of Egypt, but avid travelers state that their best travel experiences revolve around the people they meet while exploring.

International travel offers some of the best experiences! Hike the glaciers of Iceland. Take a gondola through the canals of Venice, or trek the Inca Trail through Peru to Machu Picchu!

Fill your travel journal with experiences instead of attractions. The best things happen when you immerse yourself in culture. Don’t fill your itinerary completely. Leave room for the unexpected!

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Travelers Share Their Unsettling Tales From Around the Globe

Traveling can be one of the most exciting experiences in life, but it sometimes goes differently than planned. From muggings and thefts to language barriers and cultural clashes, plenty of obstacles can make a vacation turn sour. Here are some of the worst travel experiences shared by an online American community. While some of these stories may make you cringe, others might make you laugh out loud.

1. Parisian Perils: When Romance Meets Robbery

Paris, a city of elegance and allure for most, has its exceptions – such as the reader who regrettably experienced being spat on and robbed at knifepoint. Another user replies, expressing little surprise. They recount how, in their high school French class, they were taught that it’s impolite to keep hands under the table – a historical precaution against concealed knives by potential assassins. Truly, stereotypes have roots somewhere. Who knew dinner etiquette could be so… cutting edge?

2. The French Fiasco

Another tale of Paris gone awry. A user narrates how their family was mugged in the glaring light of day on a bustling Parisian street. To add insult to injury, when they reported the incident, the police merely retorted, “What do you want us to do about it?” While not everyone’s Parisian experience is marred by such unfortunate events, a number of readers have shared similar accounts. The lesson learned? The City of Light may not always be as luminous as we wish. Or perhaps, the shine of Paris is not immune to a few shadows.

3. Madrid Mugging Madness

And the plot thickens. The tales of robberies persist with a user recounting an attempted mugging in the Madrid metro. Thankfully, the user’s husband intervened, catching the would-be thief in the act. It seems the game of cat and mouse isn’t limited to cartoons, after all.

4. Roman Scamorama: When in Rome, Don’t Do as the Romans Do

The height of tourism season often spells an uptick in scams. However, a globetrotter among us insists that Rome, among all places they’ve visited, holds the record for the prevalence of scams and harassment. Perhaps, “When in Rome, beware the Romeos!” Yikes! downloaded

5. The Irish Airbnb Break-in

A reader recounts a tale from their Irish sojourn, where the Airbnb they occupied was burgled. The hostess was thrown into a frenzy, discovering a stranger pillaging her personal belongings in a restricted area. Now, that’s a new definition of “getting an authentic local experience” I’ll be they weren’t expecting! thief breaking in

6. Airport Armageddon

A globe-trotter relays a tale from a packed Italian airport. Within such a crowd, a certain amount of push and shove might be the norm, but one Italian lady stretched the bounds of acceptability. She thrust her pointed elbow into his side, twisting it to gain an advantage in the queue. If he was seeking a warm welcome, he definitely got more ‘point’ than ‘pasta’ in his Italian experience!

7. British Banter: Gun Laws and the Unprovoked Inquiries

Many attest to the wearisome nature of anti-American sentiment frequently encountered amongst Britons. As an example, a user recalls how any declaration of their American origin inevitably invites unsolicited discussions about gun laws. We’re not all residents of the wild west, folks. Still, it does lend a certain ‘bang’ to the conversation, doesn’t it?

8. Tokyo Drift Gone Wrong

While most of their Tokyo experiences were pleasant, one member shares a less than ideal interaction with a taxi driver in Akihabara, who vehemently refused to provide them service. The reason behind this is uncertain, but it did leave a sour note on their otherwise sweet Tokyo memory. Just goes to show, even in the Land of the Rising Sun, sometimes the hospitality doesn’t quite ‘rise’ to the occasion.

9. Not So Nice in Nice: When Rocks Rain Down on Tourists

Did we ever think that folks in Nice, France would always be, well, nice? After detailing two Parisian heists, we have a traveler’s tale of locals pelting them with stones at the beach. A rocky adventure indeed, in a way they certainly didn’t ‘pebble’ in their travel itinerary!

10. A Case of German Grumpiness

Lastly, a solitary explorer recounts an episode in Germany. As she awaited her train, an elderly man struck up a conversation in German, querying her origins. Upon learning she was from America, he launched into a loud tirade about Americans visiting Germany without the courtesy to learn the language. Evidently, the linguistic track can be a tricky one to navigate!

Most Dangerous Cities in the World, Ranked: Know Before You Go

These are the 10 most dangerous cities in the world, where stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage collide with alarming crime rates. We’re not saying don’t travel to these locations, but it’s important to be aware in order to stay safe.

10 of the Most Dangerous Countries for Women Traveling Solo

Sadly, there are still places where female travelers face a heightened risk of violence and harassment. As a result, it’s more important than ever to prioritize the safety of women on the road. To help you plan your next adventure with confidence, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 most dangerous countries for solo female travelers to avoid.

7 Most Dangerous Countries to Travel With Your Kids Today

Traveling worldwide is one of the most incredible experiences adults can give to children in their families. Interacting with other cultures is a priceless gift that creates memories for years to come.

Unfortunately, there are places where tourist travel is unsafe, especially with children, because of geopolitical concerns, crime, climate, and gang activity. So, if planning a family trip abroad, be wary of traveling to countries with high tourist safety risks.

Here’s What Travel Was Like 100 Years Ago

Travel has definitely improved over the past 100 years. And by the way, if you’re thinking 100 years ago was back in the 1800s, you might be showing your age…100 years ago was 1923 and Americans were hitting the road in their new-fangled automobiles.

Here are ten things you might expect if you traveled across America 100 years ago.

This article was produced by Our Woven Journey. Source Featured image credit: Deposit Photos.

Demi Michele

Demi Michele is a seasoned traveler, turned freelance writer. Having explored most states and ventured internationally, her love for outdoor cafes, new cuisines, and cultural immersion shines through her wide range of articles. Based in Texas with her family and two Scottish Terriers, Demi turns her adventures into captivating travel narratives to share with readers.

• Demi Michele https://ourwovenjourney.com/author/demi-michele/ 15 Quick Tips for Improving Your Manners (Because They Matter!)
• Demi Michele https://ourwovenjourney.com/author/demi-michele/ Travel Agents, Really? Is My $10K Vacation Just Peanuts to You Now
• Demi Michele https://ourwovenjourney.com/author/demi-michele/ 10 Best Trinkets and Souvenirs to Collect When Traveling
• Demi Michele https://ourwovenjourney.com/author/demi-michele/ 10 Hilarious Movie-Inspired Ways to Escape Your Toxic Relationship

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Highlights and Low-lights: My Best and Worst Travel Experiences in 2021

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From my many travel experiences in 2021, some stick out more than others — for bad and for good. In this post, let’s take a look back at the best and the worst of traveling this year.

My Best Travel Experiences of 2021

I spent 141 nights in hotels in 2021 , and some of those hotels were really awesome. However, my absolute favorite hotel of the year goes to the Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort. In my review , I said it may be my new favorite hotel. That still stands. I loved that hotel.

Cabo Verde is an island nation off the west coast of Africa and is connected to not only western African nations but also several countries in Europe, so flights aren’t too difficult.

Best New Place 

Among the places I visited for the first time in 2021, it’s not even close. Banff National Park and the surrounding area in Canada is just as good as the pictures make it look. My wife and I rented an RV for a few days and loved the experience. Definitely hope to do this again some day.

Best Flight

My favorite flight isn’t even close. I loved flying with Finnair from Helsinki to New York on their A350. You can read my gushing review here . The crew? Awesome. Experience? Phenomenal. Food? Stupendous.

Best Experience

I crossed off a few bucket list items this year, but one stands out above others. It’s the item I had to cancel twice previously, and it was also high on my wife’s list. We took a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkey , and it was everything we dreamed it would be. Probably even better than that.

My Worst Travel Experiences of 2021

Worst hotel.

Hands-down, the worst hotel crossed off all the boxes: rude staff, terrible breakfast, uncomfortable bed, and bad wifi. The only thing it didn’t have was bugs…thankfully. This dubious award for my worst hotel in 2021 goes to the Hotel Imperio in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Don’t stay there.

Worst New Place 

I guess “worst” is unfair, but “just wasn’t for me” could be more fitting. I just didn’t enjoy Niamey, the capital of Niger. It was unbelievably hot, there’s not much to see or do here as a tourist, and it’s one of those places where you feel like “I’ve seen everything” after half a day. Even TripAdvisor doesn’t have much for Niamey . 2 days there was more than sufficient. It just wasn’t for me.

Worst Flight

This is an easy one. My flight into Zambia. I had the window seat, a mom on the aisle, and a small baby in the middle seat between us. That baby cried for the entire 4 hours and then vomited (a lot!) on my shoes when we were coming in for the landing. Ew. This made it into my “worst of the month” for September , and I think it qualifies as the worst of the year, also.

Worst Experience

Nothing tops spending a few days in a hospital in a foreign country where you wonder if you’re dying, plus there’s a language barrier. I got malaria in Tanzania back in January , and this was definitely my worst experience of 2021–travel or otherwise.

Final Thoughts

I had some high highs and low lows this year. These are the best and the worst of my travel experiences from 2021 — flights, places visited, hotels, and experiences.

What are your best and worst travel experiences from 2021? Let me know!

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How was Guinea-Bissau? I was very interested in going there. (Apologies if I missed a trip report about it.)

Audrey – it was just OK. Not amazing. I’ve heard that if you get out of Bissau and see nature it can be more interesting. I will note that if you don’t speak Portuguese it could be a really, really frustrating visit. Even speaking fluent Portuguese, the creole-Portuguese they spoke in Bissau was often difficult for me.

Overall, seems like a pretty crappy year for you, especially getting malaria and going to an African hospital. Hope you got good treatment and are fully recovered and won’t have any relapses. Here’s to a better year next year with no hospitalizations!

Robert – The year only went up from, since that was in early January 2021. I wound up having some awesome highlights in the year–more good than bad.

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Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana Hotel Review 2023- Stunning Service

Over the top guide to visiting new orleans – where to eat, sleep & have so much fun in the big easy, grand hyatt baha mar hotel review 2023 – does it live up to its reputation from the past, springtime in the “city nestled in a garden” – guide to visiting charleston, south carolina.

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The Best (and Worst) Things That Ever Happened to Me Traveling

Jul 6, 2015 | Nomad Problems , Travel Inspiration | 36 comments

Do you ever find yourself getting caught up in the “worst case” scenarios?

Obsessively analyzing the probability of what may or may not happen? Doing everything you can to ensure that nothing goes wrong? Feeling nervous to chase after a dream because you wonder about the potential risks?

I used to be like that. And then I left to travel the world.

Traveling on my own through developing countries I realized that I didn’t always have the ability to avoid disaster. I didn’t always have control over my circumstances. Paradoxically, that lack of control made me feel more powerful than ever. I could let go of the obsession and let life happen.

I believe that even when I feel completely out of control, what I encounter in life occurs as a result of the energy I bring into the world. This is not to say that there’s anything wrong with risk protection and that it’s your “fault” if you encounter tragedy.

Rather, the point is that I take responsibility for what happens to me in life. I choose to live with a foundation of trust, rather than in anticipation of danger. For the most part it works out for me. I’ve been gifted with beauty far more often than pain. When I have experienced pain, I looked for the lesson, and found the beauty beneath it.

Travel, just like life, doesn’t have to be scary. It can actually be the most beautiful, liberating, experience that exists.

So today I’m laying it all out there, the best and the absolute worst things I’ve endured in over three years of travel. My hope is that reading them will show you that even in the scariest moments, you have nothing to fear in this world.

Best: I Overcame My Fears

Traveling on your own through developing countries, you’ll likely be faced with fears every single day. Communicating with people when you don’t speak a word of the language for instance. Or learning to ride a motorbike in the remote rice terraces of Indonesia. Jumping off of waterfalls with locals in Morocco. Getting lost in crazy over-stimulating cities. Sleeping in dorm rooms with absolute strangers. Encountering bugs the size of small cats.

On the road I’ve been faced with every fear imaginable. Instead of running from them, I worked through them. I stuck it out through the hard times, I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone, and I empowered myself to believe that I could overcome it. What I discovered, is that none of the things that once scared me… were actually scary.

This realization has granted me so much more possibility in what I’m capable of achieving and how I’m capable of living.

Worst: I Almost Drowned

Growing up near the Atlantic shore, I was no stranger to big waves. As a kid I ran into the ocean whole-heartedly, allowing the waves to tumble me back onto the shore. Back then I had no fear.

As I got older I developed an ego about this. I ignored red flags and friends who warned me about rip tides. I carried that attitude with me to Costa Rica, notorious for strong currents. On my second trip to Costa Rica, playing out in the waves alone when there were flag warnings, I nearly drowned. I got caught in a rip tide and couldn’t make my way back in. I grew so exhausted from swimming that I actually decided to just let myself drown. Fortunately, the beach had a lifeguard, who came out and rescued me.

Since then I’ve learned the difference between fearlessness and ignorance. If you treat the earth (or anything) with disrespect, it will eventually catch up with you. Now I revere the ocean, heed its warnings, and practice moving in harmony with the waves, rather than fighting them. In general, I strive to balance fearlessness with humility .

Best: I Learned to Relax

Before I walked barefoot in the jungle, lived in a house with tropical critters, and rode my bicycle to “work” in a bikini, I was what many people called “high strung”. I needed constant stimulation, had trouble sitting still, and I fell apart when things didn’t go as planned.

Then Costa Rica squeezed the stress out of me. I witnessed another way of life called “pura vida.” Where people truly lived the words “don’t worry be happy,” and any problem could be solved by jumping into the ocean. I surrendered to a slower pace, one closer to the rhythm of nature, and for the first time in my life I felt relaxed.

The more I travel in developing countries, the more I learn to relax. I’ve witnessed that whether I run out of water in the jungle mid shower or get sick on a 36 hour 100 degree bus ride, stressing about it is never the solution. The key is letting go of what you cannot control and finding happiness anyway.

Being able to find peace and contentment when life doesn’t happen the way I want it to, is the single greatest life skill I’ve gained.

Worst: I Was Scammed. And Scammed. And Scammed.

When you travel, especially on a budget in developing countries, you’re bound to get scammed . It doesn’t matter how savvy you are, there will be times when it’s completely beyond your control.

For instance, crossing the border into Cambodia from Laos and Thailand. Most of the borders into Cambodia are notorious for scams, which involves everyone from bus drivers to tour guides to government officials. They’ll overcharge you, convince you to pay extra for a different bus, and do whatever they can to get more money.

In Central America I’ve also had plenty of transportation scams. Most notably with taxi drivers, who have done anything from drive me around in circles to quote me an inflated exchange rate.

I’ve been overcharged, manipulated into playing card games, bait and switched in Morocco, you name it I’ve seen it. As a white American girl traveling on her own, I’m an easy target. The good news is, I’ve never truly been in danger. Usually it has simply involved an unpleasant argument, a longer journey, or paying a few more dollars than I should have.

The scamming may be inevitable, but there are ways to minimize the damage. Over the years I’ve developed some basic guidelines. I always research the local scams before I arrive in a country so I know the game that’s being played, I make sure to know the local currency and exchange rates, I feign confidence with strangers, and when I encounter a scam that’s unavoidable I do my best to not let it upset me.

For more tips on how to handle scams, read my posts How to Survive a Taxi Ride in Latin America , How to Travel as a Woman Alone in Morocco Without Going Insane , and I Scammed a Scammer in Phnom Penh .

Best: I Became Independent

Before I started traveling, I often blamed others for the limitations I felt in my life. I blamed my friends for not being more adventurous or available. I blamed my boyfriend for not being more open and loving. I blamed my family for raising me to be who I was. I blamed everything outside of me for my unhappiness.

Traveling on my own I had to take responsibility for anything from how I would find my way across a country on a chicken bus to where I’d be sleeping that night. I realized that I alone determined how my day, and ultimately my life, would unfold.

I learned what made me happiest and I took the initiative and the responsibility to make it happen. I acknowledged that my happiness and my life was up to no one but me.

Worst: I Ran Out of Money

When I decided to commit to a life of travel, running out of money was my greatest fear. And it happened to me. More than once.

Like the time traveling in Southeast Asia, when I was working as a freelance writer and didn’t line up enough gigs. Consequently I found myself on an island with only $30 in the bank. Or when I completed my Yoga Teacher Training and hadn’t worked in a month and had a negative balance.

It wasn’t easy, but running out of money has been the best thing that ever happened to me. For one, it pushed me to hustle. It reminded me to not get too comfortable. It challenged me to start adding more value to my creative endeavors. More importantly, it showed me that even my greatest fear wasn’t actually the end of the world.

Best: I Saw More Beauty Than I Knew Existed

You can never fully prepare yourself for the magic of seeing a sunrise over the ocean on a deserted island. Or watching the landscape change while riding in a long tail boat across the Mekong river. Or flying through glistening rice fields to a karst mountain and discovering a pristine cave pool.

You can never fully prepare yourself for the generosity of people who apparently have nothing. The locals who earn a dollar a day yet invite you to share their meal with them. The strangers on the bus who genuinely try to help you when they see that you’re alone. The children who call you their sister and play with you on the beach.

You can never fully prepare yourself for the beauty of the world. Witnessing it first hand is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Worst: I Was Stuck on a Tiny Sailboat With a Drunk Captain

Few situations are as uncomfortable as being seasick on a tiny sailboat with eight other people in the middle of the story sea with a drunk captain. Despite the many warnings, I took the notorious sailing trip from Panama to Colombia through the San Blas Islands. We were out at sea for five days with no refrigeration, no shower, and a captain who perpetually drank and smoked weed.

But I did survive, and I was able to practice meditation on a new level. I managed to stay calm despite enduring incapacitating motion sickness. I also learned enough about this backpacker right of passive to give my readers the best advice in my post How (Not to) Sail from Panama to Colombia .

Best: I Realized Happiness

Like many people, I once attributed my happiness to my outside circumstances. If I had a great boyfriend, then I would be happy. If I had the career of my dreams, then I would be happy. Consequently, my moments of happiness were fleeting.

Since traveling to Costa Rica, I’ve realized that happiness is far more expansive than I once thought. Happiness can actually be experienced in every moment.  This idea is embodied in the national mantra of Costa Rica: “Pura Vida.” Directly it translates to “pure life,” but it is used to express much more than that.

When the sun is shining, you’re having fun with friends, you’re falling in love, and you’re riding the high of the wave, you absolutely say Pura Vida. But you also say Pura Vida in your moments of greatest struggle. When it’s pouring down rain, you’re fired from your job, and when you’re heartbroken, you still say Pura Vida.

Pura Vida means choosing the path of happiness regardless of your circumstances. That happiness exists eternally. That happiness requires simply turning within and acknowledging that happiness is not only a choice, happiness is your true nature.

For more on Costa Rica, check out my ebook The Ultimate Guide to Costa Rica .

Worst: I Got Food Poisoning… A Lot.

I like to travel adventurously, and a big part of that means eating adventurously. However, with a sensitive immune system from a lifetime of Western medicine and antibiotics, I got food poisoning… a lot. We’re talking unable to keep anything down on remote tropical islands and in crowded hostels in developing countries . A couple of years ago it got so bad that I wondered if I would have to stop traveling.

Then I discovered an extremely effective probiotic beverage that I could make a continuous supply of while traveling, for free. Read more about what kefir is and how you can make it in my post How to Travel the World and Never Get Food Poisoning .

Even chronic food poisoning ended up being a blessing. It introduced to me the world of holistic health and wellness. Now I eat, live, and feel healthier than I ever did before I left to go traveling.

Best: I Found My Tribe

How many of us go through life with people around us, but lacking true connection? Despite my outgoing personality, I struggled with cultivating and maintaining friendships for most of my life . I often felt left out and wondered if I “fit in.”

On the road I discovered so many other misfits. People who defied convention. People who marched to the beat of their own drum. I befriended yoga teachers, healers, nomads, surfers, all kinds of people on a quest to discover more in life and more in themselves.

Today I have inspiring friends all over the world who come from all different perspectives. More than that, I have a tribe of like-minded individuals who support me.

Worst: I Got Bitten by a Wild Dog

The only time I’ve needed emergency care in over three years of travel was when a wild dog in Thailand bit me. Even this situation could have been avoided. I couldn’t get a good wifi connection at my hostel, so I decided to walk over to a restaurant on the beach in the dark. With my laptop open, the screen blinding me, I accidentally stepped on the dog. Terrified, he bit me multiple times.

How could this have been avoided? If I had been more mindful and aware of my surroundings, rather than distracted by trying to get wifi , it would not have happened. Though even this emergency wasn’t all that bad.

I went to a 24-hour clinic, got the rabies vaccine, and after about 6 courses of treatment over the following month I only spend $250. That cost was without having health insurance or travel insurance and it hardly broke the bank.

Best: I Discovered My Life’s Purpose

As humans we’re blessed with the incredible privilege of discovering the meaning of life. Though sometimes that privilege can feel like a curse. I remember feeling unsure about what I should be doing with my life. I knew that my purpose extended beyond working in a cubicle at a Marketing company, but I didn’t know how.

Leaving to go and travel the world was the first step I took onto the right path. Since then, the world has continually revealed the meaning of my life. What I mean by this, is that I’ve discovered how I can experience the greatest bliss and use my unique gifts to better the world.

If you’re hoping to do the same, check out my post How to Figure Out What the F*&K You Should be Doing With Your Life .

Worst: I Endured a lot of Sexual Harassment

Let me start by saying that sexual harassment happens everywhere in the world. It’s an unfortunate manifestation of fear. I believe that when men sexually harass women, it’s because they’re afraid of their own femininity and in turn try to dominate all femininity.

Nonetheless, there are certain parts of the world where sexual harassment seems to be more rampant than others. The places where I’ve experienced the worst sexual harassment include Nicaragua and Morocco, however all of Latin America has a well-deserved reputation for sexual harassment being “normal.”

It does get exhausting, at times even disillusioning. However I’ve never felt like I was in danger, and if I ignore people they usually stop. I’ve also noticed that when I confront the person they usually become embarrassed. The more you can humanize yourself, the less likely the harassment will be.

If you want to avoid it altogether, I experienced little to no sexual harassment in Southeast Asia (with the exception of one man who exposed himself to me and masturbated on the street in Chiang Mai).

Best: I Fell in Love

People ask me if I’ve ever found love on the road.

I find love on the road constantly. It’s there every time I look out the window of an airplane, when I run recklessly into the ocean, when I taste something I can’t pronounce the name of, when I sit in silence watching a sunset, and each time I exchange a smile with someone new.

The true, lasting love I’ve found on the road is a love for this beautiful world. Mother nature and all of her wonderful gifts are my greatest loves of all.

Worst: I Had My Heart Broken

Mother nature isn’t the only one I’ve fallen for. There have been a few times where I’ve fallen in love with men on the road, and each time I’ve found myself heartbroken. The relationships have ranged from disappointing to disastrous.

I’ve met my soul mate only to realize he was more of a one night. I’ve fallen for someone who told me from the start it had an end. I’ve been swindled by a Latino lothario who even had his sister beat me up one night in a bar.

But I don’t regret any of it.

As much as it hurts, when I’m heartbroken I feel the most gratitude. I experience a rawness that reminds me that I’m alive.

Best: I Found My Home

I may have lived there for most of my life, but Seattle never really felt like my home. I think many people feel that way about the place where they grew up, and possibly even the place where they live now.

Traveling opens us up to different possibilities. We see other ways of living and through that process we become more in touch with what feels naturally good. The more I travel, the more I discover where I truly belong. For me, that place is Costa Rica .

Worst: I Realized There’s no Going Back

I never planned to be a life long traveler. I thought I’d go to Costa Rica, relax for a bit, and come back to my conventional life. When I kept traveling, I thought I just needed to get it out of my system. Three and a half years later and I’ve accepted that this is in fact my life.

The worst thing that has ever happened to me traveling, is realizing that I can never go back.

I’ll never again live in the states and see my family every weekend. I’ll never again live a “normal” life. I’ll never again call my birth home, my home. The people whom I love more than anything in the world, will never be part of the lifestyle that I love more than anything in the world.

But even the worst thing that has happened to me, is also the best thing that has ever happened to me. Because though there may be no going back, I know that I’m moving in the right direction .

What’s the best and the worst thing that has ever happened to you traveling?

36 comments.

I’ve experienced most of these too, but every good moment makes the bad ones worth sticking out. For me, finding my passion in travel is my best experience – life just has so much more zest now! My worst is being scammed -not for losing money but because my fellow human being has taken advantage of me for their own gain – it’s just a very nasty feeling.

Ahhhh I totally agree! It can be heartbreaking when you trust someone and want to connect with them and see how they’ve dehumanized you. But yep, every moment is worth it because travel makes us feel so alive 🙂

Beautiful post! I don’t know how old you are, but you’ve learned at a young age what it takes most people a lifetime to learn, and some never do. Thank you for sharing your travels.

Thank you so much Lynn <3 I'm 28.

You keep inspiring me. In 6 months of travel I’ve been robbed 3 times, gotten in a moto accident, had worms in my arm, and had an ex lover hunt me down all over central america…..pura vida. The ocean is the only thing that saved me! You just learn to keep on moving

Hahaha wow Nat that’s a lot!! Yes there were a lot of misadventures that didn’t make it into this post, including my moto accident and getting robbed. The funny thing is, have you ever noticed that a “bad” day traveling is still better than a “good” day in the real world?

I absolutely love this article and your fearless perspective. After breaking my leg surfing in Puerto Viejo, however, and the astronomical bills that followed, insurance overseas is on my must-have list. Aside from the financial hit, the accident did not ruin the experience, whatsoever. Instead, it completely reinforced my faith in the power of travel. Things could have been much, much worse were it not for the kindness and attentiveness of strangers in that terrifying moment of pain and vulnerability. Thanks for sharing and safe travels!

Thanks so much Camille! (Love your name btw hehe.) What was the recourse when you broke your leg in PV? Did you have to go to San Jose? Would love to know more about the logistics of that. Safe travels to you too dear! xx

I love this post. I find so many aspects of it relatable. I particularly enjoyed the part about how one of the best things of travel is seeing the beauty in the world. I can’t wait to get back out there. I’m so glad our paths crossed in Costa Rica!Joanne

Me too 🙂 xx

Love your spirit and in my younger single days traveled by myself often. At the time I was responsible only for myself and I did have insurance but I never had to use it. Please do consider your family though. My stepson who has loves traveling, fell in Argentina and suffered a life threatening traumatic brain injury. We have had to spend thousands of dollars to go there and then eventually bring him home. I’m sure your family would do the same for you if you suffered a catestrophic accident. Something to think about.

Thanks Tanya, I appreciate it. Actually, I do plan to get travel insurance the next time I go somewhere unfamiliar 🙂

I like this post. Thanks for sharing.

You’re welcome 🙂

I’ve only been living in one country the past few years but since it’s very different from the U.S., I can certainly attest to bests and worsts while here.

Korea is not a full-on developing country because like you mention, they don’t really know how to relax here. Sure there’s tons of wonderful greenspace and beauty inside this tiny country but the people are too busy trying to make a living a become an overnight success to chill out.

Like you Camille, I’ve had to visit other places to learn the true art of relaxation. In Siem Reap and other parts of Southeast Asia, I felt like I could never leave and really didn’t anticipate my last days there. It’s going to be good to go back in the fall, and to see real relaxation first-hand.

As far as bests and worsts go, my wife and I have experienced everything from pure xenophobia and discrimination to the most random acts of kindness we’ll ever encounter. Life abroad is a challenge but also the most fulfilling time in a person’s life. Thank you for helping me revisit and form that thought through reading your wonderful post, Camille.

You are so welcome thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us 🙂 <3

You’re blog is amazing. Thanks for the inspiration. I gave you a little shout out on my blog today. I don’t write for other people, mostly just myself. So its not a particularly exciting post but I thank you for your inspiration.

Thank you so very much Danielle!! 🙂

LOVED this post. The part about finding your tribe really reasonated with me. I have yet to find mine, but I stopped using it as an excuse. I stopped putting the things I love on hold just because I don’t have friends along for the ride.

I admit, it still hurts when people stare and start in with the questions and opinions.

“Don’t you have any friends?” “I would never do that alone.” “Who did you go with?” “Are you by yourself?”

“I think it’s a waste to travel alone because travel should be shared. I think it would be such an empty experience.” (This was actually said to me by a “friend” before my solo trip. It hurt lol.)

I decided a long time ago that I’d rather do the things I love by myself than risk never doing them for fear of being alone, or because I’m waiting around for a tribe that may never materialize. Even so, pushing on through other’s opinions of me has been really hard.

Good for you for doing it anyway! I too had many “friends” who responded the same way before I left to go solo around the world. One friend said to me, when I was still undecided, “Go ahead & go and find your tribe!” I wasn’t sure that would happen, but it did! I meet people all over the world who are doing what we’re doing, and so much doesn’t need to be said or explained, because they actually understand! They’re at hostels, in restaurants, coffee houses, swimming with elephants, hiking mountains & surfing. They’re in Australia & Cambodia, Japan & Croatia & Western Europe. I’ve been gone 7 months & am rarely lonely. If you haven’t found your tribe yet, keep doing what you love & you will!!

Yes, yes, yes 🙂

Sam, I completely understand. I think it’s so beautiful that you are following your own heart, even if right now you walk that path alone. Stay strong, stay true to you, and the right people will enter your life. You will find your tribe <3

Life is full of highs and lows and i love that you balance the lessons you’ve learnt from them so well xo

Thanks Amy, sweet as always <3

I think we all experience many, many of these when travelling long term. Running out of money seems to happen to me every other week haha. But, I agree. There’s no going back to a normal life, despite all the good and bad things we encounter on the road.

I couldn’t agree with you more 🙂

The wonderful aspects of travel is that I have been able to meet so many wonderful people that I would not have met had I not left the United States. I have also come to realize that I need less to be happy and I have discovered interests that I would not have learned about if I had not have traveled – especially, taiko (Japanese drumming).

The worst thing that happened because of travel was that I made a lot of friends all over the world – friends it will be very difficult to meet up with again. Fortunately, I was in England last week for my Master’s graduation so I was fortunate to be able to see a lot of them. But there are a lot of people it pains me that I have not seen in a long time – due to distance.

I hear ya! It helps though to be grateful for the time you had with them, and know that not all friendships have to last forever in order to matter <3

Very nice post. I admire your bravery your passion for travel. Wish i could do that. Even after reading most of your posts- I still decided stay in Uk for holiday instead of going somewhere warm and beautiful. Will try to make rany days bit more adventerous by doing more indoor activities- bowling, skating, swimming, lazer shooting and so on. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Thank you sweetheart. I hear you, it takes time. It took me a long time before I finally took the plunge. You will take off when you’re ready <3

I’ve experienced most of your best and worst things when traveling too and it was just great to see it written down. Especially since for me it is some time ago that I really traveled, it was just great to read your article and feel like being back in this world of travel and wanderlust.

I just found your thisamericangirl.com by hazard because a friend posted this article on fb and I want to tell you how happy I am about having found this blog. I’m looking forward to reading more from you.

Aw thank you so much Caroline! That means so much 🙂 xx

This is a beautiful bit of self reflection. Thank-you for sharing it! I’ve had plenty of these too although managed to avoid getting bitten by a dog somehow so far.

You’re welcome love! xoxo

Wow. Thank you so much for this. You’re such an inspiration.

You are so welcome <3

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My Worst Travel Moments: Part I

October 5, 2021 //  by  Gwen Engler //   Leave a Comment

Somewhere in the middle of Alaska Month , as I was gushing over the beauty of the 49th State and waxing nostalgic on my golden years there, I had a revelation.

I’ve never really talked about the difficult parts of travel.

I’ve raved about the beaches on Vieques . I’ve swooned over the Scottish countryside . I’ve used superlative after superlative to describe a Chilean sunset . I’ve fallen under the spell of the Yukon . I’ve been enchanted by Paris , humbled by Vietnam , and awed by Belize .

But it hasn’t always been rosy out on the road.

When you write about travel for a living and doing your best to help people see and experience the world in the best way possible, it’s easy to default to the good stuff. But I don’t want to paint an inauthentic picture of my experiences or be so overwhelmingly positive that I come across as phony or insincere.

Don’t get me wrong, I have been incredibly fortunate in my travels. On the whole, I’ve been safe, healthy , and blessed with great experiences. But I’ve also had my fair share of mishaps and bad times. Some were self-inflicted, the result of poor decision-making or misjudgments. Some were freak occurrences, like natural disasters or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some were the result of traveling on a bare-bones budget, like finding bedbugs in your cheap hostel room or getting sick from bad street food. And some were just plain old bad luck.

Happily, I can look back on most of my bad travel experiences and either laugh or chalk them up as great stories. Because of this, I want to share some of my worst travel moments both to prove that things haven’t always gone perfectly in the world of Gwen and also to (hopefully) entertain you with some of my merrier mishaps.

When all was said and done, I ended up with enough “worst moments” to fill two posts. I’m sharing part one today, with part two to follow in early 2022 . I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into some of my less Instagram-worthy travel memories!

Mom, you may want to stop reading now.

My Worst Travel Moments

The gunfight in ecuador.

Let’s start with a big one. While studying abroad in Ecuador in 2008, the majority of my classmates and I were celebrating the impending end of our trip when a gunfight broke out in the club. Two of my friends had walked in on some guys doing drugs in the bathroom and were chased out at gunpoint. Amazingly, the shots missed them – though another club-goer was hit – and an all-out brawl ensued. Some local friends hurried most of the girls into a back room while the rest of our group rushed to the aid of the guys.

We learned all too late that the club was the scene of frequent gang activity and that the cops were paid off the look the other way. When police arrived to respond to the melee, the gunmen sauntered right by them and out the door. My friend Jeff – one of the guys who was shot at – ended up in the back of a cop car and was only saved from an Ecuadorian jail by the quick thinking and persuasive words of the teacher running our trip. Another of our guys suffered a broken nose and cheekbone, and the same teacher ended up taking a half dozen students to the hospital for minor injuries. Although we – thankfully – made it safely home to the USA two days later, our university launched an investigation, and the entire Ecuador program almost got shut down.

Thankfully, the program survived, and I’m grateful to have had nothing worse to show for the night than a stolen wallet and a tear-stained face. Despite the incident, I was elated to return two years later , and to this day I would go back to Ecuador in a heartbeat. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Broken-Toed Ballerina

Ok, let’s follow that heavy-hitter with a lighter offering. After spending the day tubing the Nam Song River in Laos and stopping at numerous waterfront bars along the way, I was feeling delightfully tipsy and enjoying hanging out with some new friends. The subject of dance came up, and I foolishly attempted a pirouette to emphasize a point about my eleven years of dance experience. Hours of tubing overrode years of ballet training, and somehow half of my supporting foot got left behind. I heard and felt a crack , and the next morning, my pinky toe was swollen, purple, and painful. I couldn’t wear sneakers for weeks, and it was days before I could walk without limping.

The Border Crossing Debacle

When crossing the border between Argentina and Brazil , an Argentinian customs officer claimed that there was a problem with my friend Kyle’s passport and that he wouldn’t be allowed to leave the country without paying an $80 “fee” (read: bribe). Apparently, the customs officials had failed to stamp Kyle’s passport when we returned to Argentina from Uruguay, so there was no record of him having entered the country. I’m not sure how 300 Argentinian pesos would have fixed this, other than lining the pockets of the officers who were now laughing in our faces and preventing our entry into Brazil, but we were stuck until we paid the bribe.

What followed was an annoying waste of time and money. I had already been stamped into Brazil, so I had to walk across the street and re-enter Argentina to be able to take Kyle to an ATM. (I was the only one who spoke fluent Spanish, and Kyle has a terrible sense of direction.) We left our other traveling companion, Curtis, behind with the bags while we caught a cab back to the nearest town, withdrew the money, and took a bus back to the border. Upon reaching the desk hours later, however, we were told that Kyle’s information had been found in the computer and we were free to enter Brazil.

Thanks, Argentina.

The Tour that Saw Nothing

Wildfires are common in Alaska , part of the natural cycle of regeneration and rebirth. During any given summer, there are usually multiple fires blazing in various parts of the state, often with little to no intervention because of their remote locations. Unfortunately, one of my three years working in the Great Land saw a large number of significant wildfires that spread across the entire state and into the Yukon. At one point, the situation was so bad that one of my tour groups saw and smelled nothing but smoke the entire way from Skagway to Denali: a distance of almost one thousand miles. Looking out our motorcoach windows was like looking into a cloud, and all the beauty of the region was completely obscured for almost a week of their vacation.

Thankfully, we emerged from the smoke into bright blue skies around Denali, and my guests had the most glorious weather imaginable for the final days of their tour. They even got to see Denali’s summit, an Alaska bucket list moment that more than two-thirds of visitors never experience. In the end, however, it was small compensation for an otherwise highly disappointing vacation of a lifetime.

The Hanoi Taxi Hostages

After spending the day exploring some of the sights in Hanoi, Vietnam , my two traveling companions and I hopped into a taxi to return to our hostel. The meter started going crazy as soon as the taxi started moving, and before we’d even made it around the corner the fare was three times what we had paid to get to our destination that morning. Recognizing a scam, we asked the driver to pull over. Kyle, who was in the front seat, told Katie and me that he planned to toss the guy 50,000 dong – about 30,000 less than the meter demanded – and leave it at that. Unfortunately, however, he was able to get out more quickly and handed over the money before Katie and I were able to fully exit the car. Incensed, the driver spun around, slammed down the backseat lock, and prepared to speed off with us trapped in the backseat. Thankfully, quick-thinking Katie threw more money at him and I managed to wiggle the lock open so we could fling ourselves out. The driver peeled out, and we were left shaken on the side of the road.

The Earthquake for the Record Books

While backpacking through Chile in 2010, my traveling companions and I were sleeping in Valparaiso when we were shaken awake by the fifth-largest earthquake on record at the time. It was a terrifying night that you can read more about in this post , and it reminded us just how powerless you can truly be on the road.

The Christ Under Construction

One of the most disappointing things in travel is when you finally make it to an iconic spot only to find it either closed or dramatically altered. That was the case when we arrived in Rio de Janeiro to discover that the famous Christ the Redeemer statue was covered in scaffolding as part of a massive restoration effort. While the views from the feet of the statue, which is located on one of the tallest peaks in the area, were still impressive, it was disappointing not to experience the iconic statue in all its glory.

The Irish Lemon

Renting a car in Ireland is known to be a bit of a hassle, mostly thanks to expensive insurance add-ons, narrow roads, and having to drive a manual car from the opposite side of the vehicle. During our multi-generational vacation to Ireland with M’s parents, we had the added delight of receiving a complete dud of a car. Almost as soon as we hit the highway, our car started rattling alarmingly, with the steering wheel vibrating right along. We ended up having to stop on the way to Belfast for repairs – the first of multiple detours to service the vehicle. Although we were eventually able to swap out the car halfway through the trip, it caused us enough delays and my in-laws enough stress to put a bit of a damper on our week in Ireland .

The Near-Drowning

At first, everything was going swimmingly – pun intended – during our beach day in Paraty, Brazil . Curtis and I were sunbathing on the sand while Kyle went for a swim in the calm blue sea. It was peaceful and pleasant until suddenly we heard someone cry out, “There’s someone drowning out there!”

My heart slammed into my throat as Curtis and I leapt to our feet to find Kyle bobbing out in the middle of the bay. He was waving his hands and shouting for help. I’m not a strong swimmer, so I could only look on helplessly as one man dove into the surf and two others worked to pull kayaks into the water. It seemed to take forever, but finally one of the kayaks reached Kyle and he climbed aboard. Thankfully, he was ok – he had swum too far out and then was unable to get back because of the strong tide – but it was still a terrifying ordeal that could have ended very badly if we had been alone or there hadn’t been kayaks nearby.

The Tale of Two Islands

This is another story I’ve shared before , but it was a huge disappointment when I arrived on Isla de la Plata, Ecuador, to find that the island that had been so lush and beautiful two years earlier was now a dry, barren wasteland. We had traveled to Puerto Lopez specifically on my recommendation that we take a trip to the island, spent more money than we wanted to on the tour, and then returned with disappointment and one of the worst sunburns of my life. For the next few days, the pain of my backpack straps on my angry, red shoulders was a constant reminder of our misfortune.

Well, there they are: the first ten of my twenty worst travel moments! Stayed tuned for Part II coming soon. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your craziest travel stories in the comments!

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My Worst Travel Moments: Part II 7 Ways I Travel Differently Now Than I Did in My Early 20’s Don’t Get Stranded Abroad: Why Travel Insurance is Important

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Our Worst Travel Experience Ever

Now that’s a title you don’t see too often! Despite the tales and stories of incredible once in a lifetime experiences and the wanderlust-inspiring Instagram photos – you CAN actually have bad travel experiences. Actually, it’s usually the norm – shit happens on a regular occurrence.

It’s usually nothing major, just the typical pitfalls of long term travel – bad accommodation, unfriendly people, being ripped off, eating something a little dodgy – but every once in a while, you experience something bad. Something downright terrifying. An experience where you legitimately fear for your life.

Ours happened on our first major backpacking adventure in 2012, when we went on a six week tour with Intrepid Travel (Disclaimer: the bad experience had nothing to do with Intrepid!) through South East Asia – Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

Cambodia was the first country we explored on our tour, and we’d had a few tough days to start with – I’d been struck down with food poisoning not once but twice within the first week. It had finally started to subside when we arrived in Sihanoukville, on Cambodia’s southern coast where we were stopping for a few days. The timing couldn’t have been any better – nothing but sun, surf and sand for several days of bliss.

Six of us – Mike and myself, Clare and Meredith, Sarah and Brandon – caught up for dinner and decided that we would take a trip the following day to the nearby island of Koh Rong. Koh Rong was a hotspot for diving in Cambodia, and Mike, Clare and Brandon being keen divers wanted to give it a go. Meredith, Sarah and myself thought we’d tag along to spend the day at the beach. We found a dive operator, locked in the ferry and dive package for the following day and got to bed nice and early – excited for our island adventures.

Picked up by the tour operator the following morning, we were taken to the ferry terminal outside of town and jumped on board the two storey vessel along with a number of other keen divers and beachgoers. The weather was glorious – the sky was blue and the sun was shining – we couldn’t have asked for a better day!

Dropping us off at the jetty on the Koh Rong side, we split up – the divers jumping aboard their boat for the day, and Meredith, Sarah and myself headed for the beach. We were told to meet back at the jetty at 4.30PM so we could get back on the 5PM ferry to the mainland. Easy done.

Walking past the bars and the small beach huts, we found ourselves a quiet beach on the far side of the island near a little restaurant and settled in for the day – sunscreen, hats, a good book and a sun-bed overlooking the ocean. Whilst the setting was postcard-perfect, upon closer inspection, we were pretty disgusted at how filthy the ocean was – the amount of rubbish floating in it was appalling. Meredith even found certain feminine sanitary items washed up on the beach. It was disgusting, so much so we didn’t even swim. I just hope they’ve cleaned it up since then.

After a somewhat disappointing day of dirty oceans, bad sunburn and expensive, mediocre food, the three of us made our way back to the jetty to wait for the other half of the group, hoping that they’d at least had a better day than us.

4.30 PM came and went and there was no sign of the diving boat. People had started to line up for the ferry back to Sihanoukville. Then the ferry showed up at 5.00 PM and people started to climb on. We started to worry, asking the ticket office how long the ferry would be here for. They told us not to worry. 5.10, 5.15, 5.20 PM…. no sign. At 5.30 PM, the ferry boat sounded, about to take off – but the rest of group was nowhere in sight. It took off, back across the ocean into the fading light of day and that’s when we started to worry.

Just after 6.00 PM, the dive boat pulled up alongside the jetty. As the majority of the divers headed towards the mainland, staying the night on the island, the six of us headed straight for the ticket office.

“No worry!” they told us. “Stay on island. Next ferry 10 AM tomorrow!” was their instruction. Except there was one problem with that – our tour group was due to depart from Sihanoukville back to Phnom Penh at 6AM the following morning. None of us had any way to contact our tour group leader to tell him that we were stranded on Koh Rong. Speaking with the dive company, we told them to find us a way back, and fast – as it wasn’t our fault that we had missed the ferry but because they were late.

First they offered us a ride back to the mainland in a tiny boat not dissimilar to a canoe – we laughed, and then told them to get serious. It was 6.30PM before a small, semi-enclosed fishing boat pulled up alongside the jetty and told us to jump in as they were heading back to the mainland. As it pulled away from Koh Rong, the purple and pink skies getting ever darker, we laughed together – glad that it was over, shared our crappy stories from the day (turns out the diving group had an awful day diving) and relaxed, knowing we’d be home in an hour or so.

Then it got dark.

Really dark. The sun disappeared, and we were surrounded by blackness, bar the tiny little light swaying from the roof of the boat above us. As we were miles and miles from land in any direction, there were no lights to be seen, no sign of life anywhere.

Then it got rough.

Really rough. Perhaps in a larger vessel, we would not have felt the swell so much, but in a tiny fishing boat, in the middle of the ocean – oh boy, you could feel it. As the waves crashed and splashed around us, flooding the deck, we all simultaneously gravitated to the bench in the middle of the floor, away from the sides of the boat, pulling life jackets over our heads and securing them tightly.

Then it got scary.

Really scary. The captain of the boat was steering the boat side on into the swell, guided only by the torch light his assistant was shining out onto the ocean in front of him. As the waves crashed, so would the boat, hitting the ocean with a thud before bouncing back up again. Lacking the power of a larger boat, he couldn’t seem to steer it any other way.

Did I mentioned that I can’t swim? That I’m scared of the ocean? And that I get sea-sick?

Well, I can’t swim, I am petrified of the ocean and boy oh boy did I get sea-sick. We managed to find one black garbage back lining a trash can, which I stole, and proceeded to stick my head in to vomit. Over and over again. The whole time, I kept saying to Mike “We’re going to die! Oh my god we’re going to die!” Even Mike – with years of State Emergency Service training, flood boat rescue courses under his belt and a strong swimmer – was pale, not opening his mouth to respond for fear of also being sick (there was only one bag), and also genuinely concerned.

The six of us huddled around each other for three hours. THREE HOURS. The ferry that morning had taken 45 minutes to reach Koh Rong, and this boat had been chugging along for over three hours – and I spent that entire time with my head in a bag, vomiting, and practically shitting myself that we were going to die.

Finally – and it couldn’t have come any sooner – we saw light in the distance. One single, lonely light – even the Captain’s assistant pointed it out excitedly. It took another twenty odd minutes to reach but finally, after 3.5 long hours at sea (where I’m pretty sure all six of us weren’t entirely sure whether we’d make it back or not), we abandoned ship and stepped onto dry land. I may or may not have kissed the ground…

However, once again – we were left stranded. It was now 10PM at night and the ferry terminal and port area was completely deserted. Without a map, we had no idea which way was town. Thankfully Brandon had a phone that he was able to set to roaming and he was able to pick up a signal, and he called the dive shop in Sihanoukville that we’d booked the tour with. Asking them to come pick us up and take us back to our accommodation, we waited on the side of the road for another 45 minutes before the headlights of a pickup truck came around the corner and pulled up to collect us.

What a day! We finally began to laugh again about it all, but there was no denying how tense we’d been – first the horrendous boat trip and then being stranded in the middle of nowhere. It was close to midnight before we all said goodnight to each other and collapsed into bed – thankful that we’d made it back in one piece.

So there you have it – travel is not always fun! We’ve heard of so many tales worse than hours, where serious injuries have happened in accidents, and even fatalities. Our experience was nothing in comparison to that, but it was still one where we were genuinely concerned. As everything was out of our control, we felt helpless. Being unable to swim, with a genuine fear of the ocean and being so horrendously sick did nothing to make the experience any less frightening. Needless to say, we haven’t been on a boat trip like that since….

What’s your worst travel experience? Have you ever been in a scary situation whilst travelling? Tell us in the comments – we know we’re definitely not alone!

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A Nomadic Existence

• The Inventory

What Was Your Worst Air Travel Experience?

Screaming babies, rambunctious adults, or something even worse.

Remember when air travel was all comfort and luxury, jet-setting around on the Concorde in full black tie regalia? Yeah, me neither. My years of air travel began in the era of discount fares, with airlines cutting costs and packing riders together to eke out every dollar , and things have never gotten better.

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Now, planes are packed to the brim with screaming babies and adults who hate their food , and air travel is a miserable experience. Some experiences, though, are more miserable than others. Today, we want to know about your absolute worst times spent in an airplane.

I’ve had plenty of terrible air travel experiences — former Jalop Victoria Scott claims I have the worst travel luck of anyone she’s ever met — but there are a few that really stand out. The stranding in Amsterdam , the time I had to deplane in Philadelphia for some unknown reason en route back from the Integra launch, the time my flight to Seattle for Ural was entirely canceled with no warning, the 18-hour travel day to Pikes Peak or the 24 hours and 10 minutes home from Sweden — I’ve had some adventures. One, though, takes the cake.

Coming home from a Subaru event, I ended up stuck — like nearly everyone else going home — in Palm Springs. This led to a comedy of errors involving shaving in the airport, taking a red eye home through SFO, and driving six hours on four hours’ sleep. It was not my favorite.

That’s my worst travel story, but what’s yours? Leave your answer in the comments, and we’ll pick our favorites later in the week.

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My 10 WORST Travel Experiences of 2019

Posted on December 11, 2019

I really don’t like talking about my bad travel experiences, as I always try to focus on the positive sides of traveling and the countries I go to. But sometimes bad stuff happen on the roads, and I also want to be honest about that, so people don’t think it’s all just picture perfect Instagram posts with no suffering.

10 Worst Travel Experiences Of 2019

The year of 2019 is coming to an end and I’ve had an incredible travel year, where I’ve visited more than 45 countries, new and old ones.. It sounds pretty much perfect, right? Well, not totally. These are my 10 Worst Travel Experiences of 2019!

10. No Phone For 1 Week In Somalia And Eritrea

I had some amazing days in Somaliland, Somalia and out of a sudden my phone goes out (Iphone X), and I can’t open it again. I try everything to recover my phone, but there’s nothing to do. My phone is dead! I’m the type who plans pretty much everything on my phone, so not having it to navigate/plan stuff was incredibly hard for 1 week of travel around Somalia and Eritrea. You can read the full story below by clicking the link.

1 Week In Somalia And Eritrea With NO PHONE

9. 20 hours delay in delhi airport, india.

Because of high tensions between India and Pakistan my flight with Air India (one of the worst airlines from my travel experiences) was delayed. They kept on delaying the flight with 1 hour at a time, so I had to wait in the Airport, because of the insecurity if we were able to go. I ended up waiting for 20 hours, and I just made it last second to some work I had to do in Denmark, because of this crazy delay! Really not nice!

8. Getting Attacked By 2 Gangsters On A Beach Club in Belize

I had a really nice time in Belize City and doing islands hopping in Belize, right until I went to a Beach Club in Caye Caulker Islands. Two drunk guys (probably on drugs too) pushed me super in the back randomly when I was standing in the bar, and I turned around and asked “what are you doing?” I asked as politely as I could, but the second after they were straight in my face threatening me, so I took one of the guys and threw him into one part of the club and the other guy into a wall 5 meters away. They pulled up a knife each, but some people and the security came in between and threw them out of the club. They were apparently known for being bandits and making a lot of troubles in the night life. My adrenaline was pumping and at that time, and I wasn’t scared at all in the second! Nothing happened after and I had a good time still in Belize, super beautiful country! I’m really not the aggressive type normally btw 😜

7. Spending 3 Days In San Pedro Sula, Honduras (Most Murderous City in The World)

Going to San Pedro Sula is an INTENSE experience. I did 2,5 days there, in what was the World’s most murderous city, until Caracas in Venezuela surpassed it recently! You can read about my time in San Pedro Sula here:

My 3 Days In San Pedro Sula The Most Murderous City On Earth

6. getting detained for 5 hours in ivory coast.

I was detained in Ivory Coast for 5 hours after taking a photo of a flag pole in Ivory Coast that a local Ivorian guy had just taken a photo of seconds before me without any problems. When I took the photo the police yelled “no, no, no!” and took me to the Police Station for 5 hours, where I had to talk to so many different Police Officers.. I threw a water bag in the ground of anger to show them I’m not an easy target to rip off and I’m not soft (that’s how things work in Africa sometimes), and after I slowed down, kept my patience and explained myself well, and therefore I managed to not pay anything. I didn’t do anything wrong and I was really mad about what the police did!

Read how it was like to travel West Africa below.

West Africa Solo With NO Car and 0 Flights Taken!

5. near death experience in monrovia, liberia.

I have taken between 1,500-2000 motorbike rides on my travels, but I’ve never tried anyone like this. Read about the MOST SCARY RIDE EVER here below!

Near Death Experience In Monrovia Liberia

4. hotel shaking because of 3 rocket attacks, aleppo, syria.

I had an amazing time traveling around Syria for 1 week, and to be fair the capital Damascus in the south feels even safer than most European capitals. But when you get adventurous (like I usually do,) and travel around a country like Syria, bad things can happen. I haven’t told so many about this, because I want to spread a positive image of Syria and because I had an amazing time in Syria, so I haven’t felt the need to mention it. But since these are my 10 WORST travel experiences, I will do it now. Rocket attacks. 1 of my nights in the north of Syria in Aleppo was intense and I couldn’t fall asleep that night after what happened.

I could literally feel 3 rocket attacks at my hotel, with ISIS less than 20 km west of the city. I went that time ISIS-Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was still alive, so it was an intense time in the north of Syria.

Check out my 100% honest video about Syria and the condition of the country here.

YOUTUBE VIDEO – Is Syria Safe? (DENMARK-GUY)

3. crossing the most scary border crossing ever.

You can’t believe how crazy this jungle border crossing was. They had closed the original border, so the only way was through the jungle in the night. Read about the story below!

The Scariest Border Crossing – From Guinea Bissau to Guinea

2. losing my passport in china.

In terms of my most difficult moment of 2019, it was losing my passport in China after coming back from North Korea. I had to stay in China for 1 week extra, and the process of getting an emergency passport was unbelievably hard. My own embassy was unable to help me, and I had to go to 20 different non-English-speaking Police Station, go to the Chinese Embassy and many other Government places in order to get my emergency passport to fly home. This is a process I wouldn’t even wish for my worst enemy, SO DON’T LOSE YOUR PASSPORT IN CHINA AS A DANISH CITIZEN! Or wherever you’re from! I did however try to enjoy my extra week in China as good as I could and got to see some new cool stuff on my 4th visit!

Positive mindset ALWAYS!

1. Caught In Shootings And Explosions In Liberia

I’m writing this 6 months after the episode and to be fair I still have the pictures in my head after what happened this specific day in Liberia. The day where some villagers blocked the only International road to Ivory Coast. I remember all the details, and it’s probably a trauma I’ll have for the rest of my life. Running for my life, seeing two people get shot. It’s something you really don’t want to try!

You can read about the story and all the details here:

Caught In Shootings And Explosions In Liberia

2019 – what a travel year it has been.

I’m writing the article from the slums of Luanda in Angola, which is said to be Africa’s new hotspot for kidnappings and I forgot all about mentioning a terrorist attack in Mali on my 2nd day there (140 killed), only 30 minutes away from me. I have 2 countries, which are considered dangerous left of 2019, and I hope to not add any more stories to this list.  It was hard to write this article of my worst travel experiences, because I’m a positive guy who loves to travel, and I want to inspire other people to travel more and see the beautiful World of ours. But I also want to show you guys my honest travel experiences, what comes with visiting 130 countries over 7 years of lots of traveling. What comes with being an adventure traveler, and not a tourist who just visits resort or luxury hotels in safe areas, or just sets a foot in a new country and say “hey, I’ve been there now.” That’s really not interesting for me. Traveling to 130 countries on FULL ADVENTURE MODE is not as easy as it might look on Social Media Platforms!

Stay Safe And Travel The World With No Fear

I haven’t told you the thousands of amazing memories I had this year in this article, remember that please. Take care everyone and safe travels always! Never let fear decide anything in your life!

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My ten worst travel experiences

After my feel good top ten travel moments of 2013 post and my ten amazing experiences while travelling the world , I thought I would head over to the dark side of travel for this Flashback Friday and go through some of my worst travel experiences.

Travel is not always fun, in fact sometimes it’s bloody horrible.  It’s easy to focus on the good because, thankfully, mostly travel is awesome. There are some experiences I never want to live again though.  My tag line for this site states that I will share the good, the bad and the ugly of travel – here is the ugly!  Here are my top ten worst travel experiences in chronological order…

1. Fainting on my flight to Europe on my second international trip

I have posted about this one before, so you can read the whole story .  Basically, I started to feel sick just before I flew to Europe and became very sick on my third and final flight from Singapore to London.  I actually ended up fainting!

The crew were horrible to me.  I was told I was lucky to be given water and that it was my own fault for drinking too much – even though I hadn’t had any alcohol.  I was also criticised for travelling alone.  On arrival at Heathrow airport, I was actually taken off the plane in a wheel chair by paramedics!

It was all very dramatic and not a recommended way to start a holiday, particularly my first backpacking trip alone at 21.

2. Getting gassed in Quito, Ecuador

I have no idea exactly what happened, but it was not good!

In bad travel experience #2, we were walking around Quito, checking out a market when suddenly we were coughing.  Everyone around us was coughing too and starting to pass out on the ground!

We thankfully reacted quickly and started running as fast as we could.  Once we left the area, we were ok and stopped coughing.

3. Being sexually assaulted in Turkey

I loved Turkey, but I struggled being a solo female traveller in Turkey.

Men were constantly trying to pick me up.  I covered up – despite being very hot, I wore ankle length skirts or trousers, and t shirts that covered me up.  I wore the fake wedding band, did everything I could basically, but it was relentless.  I would end up back at my room upset as I felt I had to start being very rude to everyone who tried to talk to me, as no matter how innocent their conversation started, it always lead to them asking me to come to their home.  I do not recommend young females travel to Turkey alone  – the only place I have been where I would say that.

Anyway, on my final day in Istanbul, I went for a long walk to an airline office.  It was all on main busy roads, and I would have thought I was perfectly safe.  On the way back, I soon realised that someone was following me.  I dodged around and thought I had lost him. Then, when I was walking behind a bus that was parked at the side of the road – blocking the cars going past from seeing me, he appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me around my waist and between my legs, rubbing my girl bits.

I screamed and yelled as loud as I could, and he thankfully jumped back and started screaming at me.  He actually looked shocked. Do some men really think women want to be treated this way? I ran onto the road and when I reached the median strip, I broke down on the ground and cried for quite awhile in the middle of a main road.

It was lucky I was flying out that night anyway, as I couldn’t stay in Turkey a second longer after that.  The whole incident still makes me want to cry today.  I have rarely told anyone this story, as I hate thinking about it.  It is without a doubt my worst travel experience.

4. Visiting the Egyptian Pyramids

My Flashback Friday post on why I hated my visit to the Egyptian Pyramids is actually one of my most popular posts.  Basically, there were so many touts hassling us in Egypt and at the Giza Pyramids, that it was impossible to enjoy them.  My whole three days in Egypt were horrible and this is definitely one of my worst travel experiences.

5. Mexico/US border dramas

I had some dramas crossing from Mexico to the US by land in 2006.  It started when the Mexican Army tried to take us away from a bus we were travelling in, saying that we had to leave the country immediately.  It didn’t improve from there!

We made our way immediately to a US border crossing , only to have them not allow us to get an exit stamp from Mexico, not believe us that Australians don’t need a visa and to give us the third degree.

It was all made worse by the fact that we had to travel back over the next day to get our Mexican exit stamp and repeat the whole drama again .

This is just a summary.  It was a stressful 24 hours and a bad travel experience that I never wish to repeat.  You can read the whole drama in the links above!

6. My travelling companion having a sudden seizure on a Grand Canyon tour.

I was riding along on a bus, when bam, my then boyfriend had a seizure.  He had never had one before, and I had never seen one before.  It was very scary.

The tour guide rung 911 and soon there were paramedics and police there.  We ended up spending a night in hospital and changing our plans to remain in the US while he had tests.  We had 7 months of our trip still to go and we nearly had to cancel it all.  Thankfully, he ended up being ok and we continued our trip.  It was a horrible couple of days though.

7. Nearly being robbed in Sofia

I was walking along the main road in Sofia when I heard a zipper sound… I started to turn around and there was someone’s hand in my backpack!!

I looked around and I realised I had been surrounded by young women, and my travelling companion was a few steps ahead of me. I screamed at the girl, and she pulled her hand out.  The group then encircled her and they slowly walked away, while I screamed out to my friend and at the girls.

I tried to check if they had taken anything while my friend tried to get to the girl who had had her hand in the bag to see if she had something.  My bag was full and it was hard to tell.  My friend couldn’t get to the girl thanks to the circle surrounding her.  He told me later that one of them had stood in front of him, so he had to walk around her and that is how they separated us.

While this was going on, an old local woman was screaming at us in Bulgarian.  It seemed like she was telling us to leave them alone.  Everyone else just watched or walked on.  I’m not sure what was worse, someone trying to rob me or all the people that were complicit in it.  It seemed like the old woman was part of it too.  I would have thought it someone tried to rob you, they would at least run off!  Even if she had taken something valuable, I’m not sure I would have been able to get it back.

Luckily the zips on my bag were loud and not that easy to open so I had been on to her straight away.  My bag had also just been stuffed full with bakery products on top, so she hadn’t been able to get to my wallet at the bottom.  When we got back to our hostel, we saw a sign on the wall that said to be weary of groups of well dressed, young women and described exactly what had happened to us!

We had loved our time in Bulgaria, so it was a shame it had to end on such a sour note with one of my worst travel experiences.  In saying that, I think things like this from time to time can be good reminders to be on our guard.  I have always been aware since then to not let people get in between me and other people I am travelling with like that again.

8. Being in Bangkok during a Thai military coup

Waking up in the morning to hear the news that the country I was in had just had a military coup is a very strange experience. It is hard not to think of violence when hearing the words “military coup”, and it was quite scary.  It turned out to not be that big a deal, but we did not know that at the time.  In fact, we knew very little as all the news stations were turned off.  Many people have told me they are jealous that I was there for such a big occasion, but I wonder if they would have been if it had turned out to not be peaceful.  It was definitely a bad travel experience.

9. Being kicked off a chicken bus in Guatemala

I had loved loved loved Guatemala on my numerous trips there until our last one.

It felt like everyone was trying to rip us off constantly and it was very trying.  The final straw was the last day we were in the country on our way to the Mexico border.  Yet again, the chicken bus guy tried to overcharge us and yet again we had to argue to try to pay the right fare.  In the end, he refused to lower the price and we refused to pay, so they stopped the bus until we hopped off!  It was all quite dramatic and a little bit upsetting that no one stood up for us.

We ended up getting on the next bus that came through and having to pay the fare again.  Needless to say, we were happy when we made it into Mexico!

10. KL accommodation mix up

This was the most recent bad travel experience.  Some of you will remember that we flew Bangkok – KL – Manila last year and I accidentally booked our night round KL airport for the wrong night – so we turned up and not only did we not have a room but the hotel was fully booked and we had a hard time finding somewhere else that wasn’t booked.

This may not seem like a huge deal but after a long day with a baby and a two year old, driving round in a taxi in the dark to yet another hotel that was full was hugely stressful.  It was not one of my finest moments as a travel planner and not one I am likely to forget any time soon. I  check any booking x 1000 now (compared to the x 100 I did before this happened!).  It was right up there with the other silly mistake I have made – when I booked two seats on a pricey plane trip from French Guiana to Brazil – both in my name instead of one in J’s name!

There you have it – my top ten worst travel experiences.  They were all bad and a couple were downright terrifying, but really, given just how much I have travelled, there is really not that much that has gone terribly wrong. I have done a fair bit of travel as a solo young female too. Perhaps something to consider if you are someone who is a bit scared to get out there and see the world 🙂

You can also read some other travel bloggers worst travel experiences .

What was your worst travel experience?

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"I Had 10 Minutes Until My Flight, Only To Discover..." 19 Unfortunate And Avoidable Travel Mishaps That Actually Happened To People

"It was one of the first purchases I made on Priceline back when you’d buy the airfare online, and they’d send paper tickets in the mail..."

BuzzFeed Staff

1. Travel is many things — eye-opening, magical, exhilarating, and, at times, stressful. For example, there's nothing quite like the anxiety-inducing feeling of racing through security just as your flight gate is about to close. Well, Redditor u/yankeevandal asked , "Everyone has a travel blunder; what's yours?" Here are the stories people shared.

2. "put my keys back through the airbnb letterbox, as requested. a few minutes later i realized i needed the keys to access the garage where my rental car was parked. it took an hour and a half for someone to come and let me in. i got to the airport just in time to see my plane take off.".

— u/RedundantSwine

3. "My dad once made reservations for a very nice hotel in Spain in a central location. He couldn't believe how cheap the rooms were and what a good deal it was. He and my mother went to check in, and the hotel said they didn't have any record of the booking. My dad pulled up the confirmation email to show them and realized he had somehow booked a hotel with the exact same name...but in Chile."

— u/gentlybeepingheart

4. "When I was in my early 20s, I went to a nightclub in Istanbul with my girlfriend. Throughout the night, I stupidly ordered several of these half-bottles of champagne that were on the menu with no price listed. Of course, when the bill came, it turned out they had brought me the most expensive bottles, and I could not afford to pay for them. After a long standoff, the club eventually believed I couldn't afford my tab or just gave up and settled the bill for some reasonable amount that I had on me. Obviously, they were trying to take advantage of me, but it was also very stupid that I didn't ask for the price upfront."

— u/Orange_Kid

5. "The plane I was on hit turbulence, and I dislocated both hip replacements. I had to lay in the center aisle for 45 minutes while passing out in pain until we could make an emergency landing."

— u/JonnyP3283

6. "I needed to take a train to the airport in Rome to catch my flight home. So I got on the track where the train to Roma Fiumicino was announced. The train was fast, but it took way longer than I thought it should, and I started to worry a bit about being late for my flight. Then we arrived at the next train station....which was Florence! Somehow I had taken the wrong train (for which I did not have a ticket), and I also missed my flight. I explained the situation to the conductor, who kindly let me stay on until the next stop, Milan, without paying for a new ticket. By the time we reached Milan I had already booked a hotel room and a new flight home the next day. I had never been to Milan, and I had a good time there, so in the end, it worked out."

— u/sumpuran

7. "I made hotel reservations for the wrong weekend. I had to find a new hotel 30 minutes away. The original reservation was for a hotel where I could walk out of my room and directly onto the beach."

— u/mook1178

8. "Booked a train ticket from Rome to Venice and drank way too much the night before. I rolled into the train station with about 10 minutes to spare — only to find out that it was daylight savings time, and I was actually 50 minutes late."

— u/Snazzypants11

9. "I missed my flight home from Ghana to California on a layover in Rome. I told everyone I fell asleep and missed the flight, but in reality, I was sitting at the wrong gate reading a book and didn’t hear my name being called (apparently, the airline was calling my name forever and then left me behind). In my defense, it was a really good book, and I was exhausted from a long travel day."

— u/zeebette

10. "I booked a holiday to Ibiza from the UK while out at a rave. The next day, I discovered that instead of flying from Southampton to Ibiza, I was actually flying Southampton to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Madrid, and Madrid to Ibiza. What should have been a two-hour flight took most of the day. Whoops."

— u/Ok-Topic-6971

11. "I once read the flight arrival time as the departure time. My girlfriend had to be home for a class by the next morning, so the only option was to make the six-hour drive. She wasn’t stoked with me."

— u/twankyfive

12. "I booked a flight to Manchester, NH, when I was supposed to go to Manchester, UK. I was proud of myself at first for finding a great deal. In my defense, this was years ago, in the early days of the internet. It was one of the first purchases I made on Priceline when you’d buy the airfare online, and they’d send paper tickets in the mail."

— u/HeatherAnne1975

13. "In Portuguese, gasolina means gas, and gasoleo means diesel. Despite the confusingly similar names, these two things are still not interchangeable. I learned this the hard way."

— u/c322617

14. "I missed a flight because I was eating a Big Mac. And my buddy just got on the plane without me."

— u/Gigahurt77

15. "I mixed up AM and PM for my flight time and showed up at the airport 12 hours late. Had to book a new one."

— u/dude341387

16. "I booked a flight to Santiago, Spain. Months later, when checking into my flight, I realized I had booked for Santiago, Chile. I repacked my bag and went to Chile six hours later with zero itinerary or reservations. I ended up in Patagonia and had an awesome trip."

— u/AccidentalTourista

17. "My husband passed a kidney stone on the first night of our honeymoon."

— u/TinyBunny88

18. "Turns out SJC is NOT the airport code for San Jose, Costa Rica. Rather, it's San Jose, California. I figured this one out too late."

— u/Frodosear

19. "A hotel I was staying at gave me the key to someone else's room. When I opened the door, there was some random guy lying on the bed without a shirt on. We both sort of jumped. I slammed the door shut and walked away. I got a free (and vacant) room after that incident."

— u/DJAlaskaAndrew

20. "I traveled for over ten hours for a sold-out festival in Vegas. All major hotels were sold out because of it, and I realized I booked the hotel for 2024 instead of 2023."

— u/smolperson

So, what's a travel mishap you'll never forget and never live down? Tell us your story in the comments or drop it into the Google form.

Share this article.

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10 of The Worst Cities to Visit in the U.S. – Visit These 5 Instead

Posted: April 29, 2024 | Last updated: April 29, 2024

Traveling across the U.S. offers a chance to dive into the heart of its diverse culture and landscapes. Yet, not all cities will fill your journey with the magic you seek. Some might fall short due to a lack of safety, attractions, or ambiance. We’ll warn you of 10 cities that may not be worth your travel dollars. More importantly, we’ll recommend 5 cities that promise to rekindle your wanderlust. These selected destinations offer excitement, peace, and authentic local experiences, guiding your next adventures toward truly memorable spots in this vast country.

The 10 Worst Cities to Visit in the U.S.

Here are the 10 worst cities in the U.S. that may not be worth your money.

1. Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, often labeled as one of the rudest and most dangerous cities in the U.S., has struggled with its reputation. High crime rates and deserted downtown areas mean many give the “Motor City” a wide berth, especially after a wave of poverty and crime prompted a mass exodus between 2008 and 2010. But don’t write it off just yet! Detroit is currently in the midst of an exciting makeover, with millions being poured into revitalizing old buildings, attracting young couples, and sparking new businesses. Community gardens and fresh initiatives are sprouting up, bringing a vibrant new energy to the city.

2. Stockton, California

Stockton, California, stands as a city grappling with significant challenges. It’s marked by high unemployment and violent crime rates, with around 1,400 incidents per 100,000 people, earning it the title of California’s most dangerous city. The 2008 financial crisis hit Stockton hard when it became the largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy protection in 2012. Although it emerged from bankruptcy the following year, the city’s job market has struggled to recover. As of 2020, Stockton is still facing an 6.8% unemployment rate , indicating ongoing economic difficulties despite efforts to bounce back.

3. Oakland, California

Oakland, California, has seen better days, struggling with tough economic times and high crime rates. Even though there was a slight drop in crime in 2018, it’s still way above the national average, especially when it comes to gun-related incidents. It’s not all doom and gloom, though! Oakland may be the most ethnically diverse city in the U.S., and it’s got a super progressive LGBTQ+ community. Plus, the weather is pretty awesome, boasting about 260 sunny days a year. And let’s not forget those breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay. Quite a mix, right?

4. Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland, once dubbed the “Mistake by the Lake” by Forbes due to its array of challenges, including significant crime rates and harsh winters, has had its share of hard knocks. Over a five-year period, the city saw more than 70,000 residents leave, seeking refuge from its high crime and unemployment rates. Despite being known as one of the poorest cities in the U.S., Cleveland boasts a rich culture. It’s recognized as a hub for rap/hip-hop and is home to several cultural jewels like the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Orchestra, Progressive Field, and the iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

5. New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven might be famous for hosting the prestigious Yale University, but the city’s got a tougher side that’s hard to ignore. It struggles with one of the highest crime rates on the East Coast—more than double the national average! On top of that, New Haven’s dealing with a 5.50% unemployment rate , which doesn’t just beat the state’s average but also the country’s. The reality is that parts of the city are pretty hard-hit, with poverty and crime being major issues. It’s even ranked alarmingly high for robberies and assaults in the U.S., quite in contrast to the Ivy League shine.

6. Memphis, Tennessee

This city, nestled in the South, grapples with serious issues like violent crime, gang violence, poverty, and corruption among its city officials, ranking it second highest in the U.S. for violent crime. Yet, its rich musical heritage and iconic attractions continue to draw visitors. Known as the birthplace of the blues and the home of Elvis Presley’s Graceland, it offers a unique cultural experience. Tourists also enjoy the East Coast Music Festival, Beale Street’s vibrant nightlife, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum, and the Memphis Zoo. Additionally, the scenic Mississippi River provides 5 miles of beautiful parks and outdoor activities.

7. Reno, Nevada

Reno, Nevada, famous as the “biggest little city in the world,” faces significant challenges with crime and unemployment. While it draws visitors with its lively casinos, the city’s 250,000 residents have felt the sting of falling housing prices, public service cuts, and layoffs. Despite these hurdles, Reno is on a path of transformation, spearheaded by projects like The River Walk. This initiative has turned what was once a rundown city center into an area filled with hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Reno’s effort to reinvent itself shows a city moving from tough times to brighter days ahead.

8. St.Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri, often finds itself cited as one of the more challenging cities in the U.S., primarily due to its high violent crime rates, which stand out nationally. The city has struggled with crime, including a significant number of homicides, contributing to a perception of safety concerns for both residents and visitors. Additionally, parts of St. Louis face economic difficulties, with noticeable disparities in wealth and access to resources across different neighborhoods. Despite its rich cultural history and contributions to the arts and music, these pressing issues have overshadowed the city’s potential, making it a difficult place for many of its inhabitants.

9. Camden, New Jersey

Camden has long been spotlighted for its high crime rates and economic struggles. Once a bustling industrial hub, Camden faced a steep decline as jobs vanished, leading to widespread poverty and one of the highest crime rates in the country. Efforts to revitalize the city have been ongoing, but the scars of its past challenges remain visible. Despite these efforts, the city’s reputation is still marred by safety concerns and economic instability, overshadowing its community resilience and cultural contributions.

10. Gary, Indiana

Since the 1960s, Gary has faced severe economic decline, primarily due to the downsizing of the U.S. steel industry. With one of the highest crime rates in the nation, Gary struggles with abandoned homes and a diminished population. These issues contribute to a challenging living environment despite the city’s rich musical heritage and historical significance. Efforts to revitalize Gary have been made, but progress is slow, leaving the city to grapple with its reputation and the ongoing quest for recovery.

5 Cities You Should Visit Instead

Some of the worst cities have lots of history, crime, and other elements that may keep you away. Not every city is created equal. Here are five cities that may give you more of adventure and things to see and do.

1. Seattle, WA

Seattle, the Pacific Northwest’s gem, boasts lush parks and stunning Puget Sound views. From the Space Needle’s rotating atrium, you can soak in 360-degree vistas. Beyond this icon, the city overflows with exceptional dining, top-tier museums like the Seattle Art Museum and the Museum of Pop Culture, and Dale Chihuly’s mesmerizing Garden and Glass. Though its grunge music scene’s heyday has passed, Seattle still pulses with rich music venues like Neumos and the Showbox, maintaining its cultural legacy and continuing to captivate visitors.

2. Charleston, SC

Charleston is a special city in America that has a lot of history and cool modern stuff, especially when it comes to art, culture, and food. It’s been around since the 1670s, and people love it for its beautiful buildings and churches. Lately, it’s also become famous for its amazing food and drinks. You can enjoy great views and hipster vibes at the Pavilion Bar, shop for traditional sweetgrass baskets at the City Market, and have an unforgettable meal at Husk. It’s a place in South Carolina that’s definitely worth checking out.

3. Portland, OR

Portland is famous for its quirky culture, innovative food scene that’s even better post-pandemic, lively arts, and stunning outdoors. Explore the city’s many food trucks, enjoy its gourmet doughnuts, and visit its breweries. For those looking to stretch their legs, biking around the city, hiking in the numerous parks, or wandering through art museums are fantastic ways to experience Portland. It’s a place where indulging in food and embracing the outdoors and culture come together perfectly.

4. San Francisco, CA

San Francisco is a unique city known for its steep hills and surrounding waters, with a climate that’s surprisingly cool year-round. Visitors are encouraged to pack a sweater and explore iconic attractions like cable car rides, Alcatraz Island tours, and walks across the Golden Gate Bridge. The playful sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf are a must-see. For those looking to dive deeper into local culture, San Francisco offers a top-notch cuisine scene ranging from Michelin-starred spots to casual eats, rooftop bars for drinks, and nature hikes for outdoor enthusiasts.

5. Boston, MA

Boston is a treasure trove of American history and modern vibrancy. Walking its Freedom Trail is like stepping back in time, connecting you to the nation’s founding moments. Yet, Boston is not just about the past; it’s alive with lush parks, innovative restaurants, and a thriving arts scene. Sports fans can catch a game at the iconic Fenway Park, while scholars and bibliophiles will adore its rich academic atmosphere. From the cobblestone charm of Beacon Hill to the waterfront allure of the Harbor, Boston blends the historical with the contemporary in a way few cities can.

Some Cities Are Great and Some Are Not

So, we’ve journeyed through some of the cities that might not top your travel list thanks to challenges like crime, unemployment, and tough living conditions. But let’s not forget the flip side—those hidden gems and vibrant spots that promise unforgettable experiences. So, why not skip the not-so-glam and dive into the cities that are waiting to wow you? After all, every corner of the U.S. has a story, and some of those stories are truly remarkable. Ready to pack your bags?

13 Expensive U.S. Vacations That Are So Worth It

Sometimes, the best memories come from experiences that push our budget boundaries just a bit. Imagine waking up next to the sound of waves gently crashing against the shore in a luxurious beachfront villa or sipping fine vintage wines. Yes, these experiences come with heftier price tags, but promise unparalleled enjoyment and lifelong memories. In this article, we’ve curated a list of 13 expensive U.S. vacations worth every penny you splurge.

16 Cities in the U.S. That Have a High Quality of Life and Won’t Break the Bank

In a world where 70% of Americans feel stressed about their financial situation, it’s no surprise that affordability is a major factor when choosing where to live. Yet money isn’t everything. Whether you’re moving as a family, a couple, or an individual, the quality of life there is also paramount. 

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