my worst travel experience essay

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

Download your FREE 20-page Travel Planner Guide

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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

Now you know what to do to avoid these awful situations on your next trip, ensuring it goes smoothly!

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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.

The Sole Speaks

10 of My Worst Travel Experiences

Living through a pandemic as a single woman with strained familial relationships has demanded a lot of strength. The last few days, I have been reminding myself of all the terrible times I have had to face by myself in the past. These experiences, though horrid, did make me a stronger being and in times like these I draw strength from knowing that this badass Manisha who handled these 10 of my worst travel experiences in unknown lands, resides within me. I can summon her when need arises.

I have listed 10 of my worst travel experiences below, not to discourage you from traveling, but to remind everyone who needs to hear this that this too shall pass. When we are not left with any other choice, we have to be stronger than we know ourselves to be.

Often times, in such situations people say ‘It’s for the best’, so I have added that to give readers an idea how I view those experiences now.

1. Forgot my phone in a Toilet Booth at Chennai Airport

I was returning from my first international trip (Sri Lanka, 2015) and was severely sleep-deprived. I was waiting for my connecting flight at the airport and decided to take a nap for a few hours. I woke up past the beginning of boarding time and rushed to the toilet only to discover my periods had started. It was around 5 am, everything was quiet and empty but my mind was racing.

I rushed out as soon as I could and immediately heard, ‘This is final call for Ms. Manisha Singh’. Needless to say, I ran out and was rushed to the plane. This was happening 20 minutes before the departure time. Almost like a trigger, the moment I sat down, I realised I didn’t have my phone on me. I had forgotten it in the toilet booth.

I informed the staff to check if someone could fetch it for me. The airport was fairly empty, I believed my phone would still be where I left it. The staff told me they will inform the ground duty and get it sent to my destination.

At my transit airport (Hyderabad), not one person from the airline crew (Spicejet) knew what I was talking about and seemed fairly indifferent to the whole thing. But a person from another airline (Indigo) was very helpful, called the ground duty staff, called my phone which was ringing then. He told me the procedures at the airport that prepared me to handle the situation at Mumbai airport.

What did I do to fix the situation: I spent a few hours at Mumbai airport only to realise the crew hadn’t spoken to anyone or done anything about it. I sought help from other airport staff and no phone had been submitted to the lost and found. Later, someone started disconnecting the call on my phone, and a few hours later, it was turned off.

I wrote to the airlines later, but it didn’t amount to anything.

Lessons learnt: My contacts are now synced with google and so are my photos.

I don’t trust what the airlines staff (I believe they are as clueless as anyone else)

Most of my travels are now via Indigo airlines

Was it for the best: Nope, I could have used the phone for a few month months. There was nothing good that came out of it.

2. Stranded without a Hostel at 11 pm in Argentina

I was hitchhiking in Argentina. It was summers which meant sun set fairly late. My last ride dropped me near the bus stand and from there I had about 5 km to walk to the nearest landmark. Along the way, I stopped at a hostel to see if I was headed in the right direction. I had the address but my offline maps couldn’t exactly find the hostel. A guy at the hostel was headed in that direction and offered to drop me. I didn’t see any harm so I waited the 15 minutes he was going to take to pack up. around 9:30 he dropped me at the beginning of the street. I thanked him and started walking uphill. All the houses/hotels had gate locks so I couldn’t walk into a property to seek directions. I walked all the way up, couldn’t find the hostel, I stopped at a patch which was pitch dark, too afraid, I walked down believing I missed it along the way. Nothing. So, I walked back up all the way including the patch with no lights. Nothing again, there were no houses there either, just wilderness. Too afraid and tired (I had my backpack and daypack on me), I turned around, also tried a different smaller lane along, tried buzzing a house who cut the call after telling me they didn’t know where my hostel was. I reached back at the beginning of this road for the third time. It was well past 11 pm, I was afraid, along the way some dogs had started barking at me, one caught on to my trousers, and I just wanted to get away from the whole thing.

What did I do to fix the situation: I saw a couple in distance reaching for their car, I rushed to seek help. They didn’t know anything about my hostel but seeing me distressed they just took me under their wings. After a failed attempt at reaching the owners of the hostel, they called another friend of theirs and dropped me there. Needless to say, I was and am extremely grateful to them.

Lessons learnt: I swore to never reach a new place that late in the evening. At times I didn’t have a choice with the bus schedules but for those situations, I was better prepared.

I also switched to a different app (maps.me) that had much better offline data than google maps. This helped me with directions in new places.

Was it for the best: Yes, It’s because I didn’t find the hostel that next day I called the lady who had given me a ride to the town. She had invited me to her farm which turned out to be one of favourite memories from the trip. It’s exactly what I romanticised doing on my travels, cherry picking, making jams, sitting on the green grass with dogs.

3. A government Bus left with my luggage on board

I was headed from Hampi to Gokarna on an overnight government bus which was packed. At around 6 am the bus took a halt at a bus stand. I checked with the conductor regarding how long would it stay and I was told 10 minutes. So, I quickly ran out to use the washroom. I got back 5 minutes later, got on the bus and see my bag was missing and wait, there were other people sitting in my seat. I was confused, I asked the men on my seat regarding my bag and it was then that I understood that this was not the bus I was traveling in. That bus had left.

What did I do to fix the situation:

Panic-stricken me got out, approached the two policemen nearby who were extremely helpful. They made some calls, spoke to others, and first got me on a bus, traveled on the bus for a bit then explained to me that the conductor and driver will help me further. And, like they had some along the way, this bus overtook my original bus and they both stopped for me to be able to board the bus.

My bag was where I had left it, intact.

Lessons learnt: I travel with a fanny pack now so I always have my most important things on me like cash, ID proofs, phone, etc. (This is not something I would do in a country where robberies are common though)

Was it for the best: Ummm, I don’t know. It was just an adventure. I didn’t lose anything so that’s good.

4. Denied boarding my flight to Cuba

I was all prepared for my month-long trip to Cuba which means I had my currency changed to Euros, spoke to a guest house in Havana, read everything I could on how to travel there, and even had a travel friend I was going to meet up with on day 1. Cuba has no wifi and I don’t take local Sim cards so I was preparing for a month of no internet.

I had met a traveler traveling on an Indian passport who flew to Cuba from Cancun (Mexico) a few weeks ago. He was issued a tourist card based on his Valid US Visa on the Indian passport. my situation was the same but I still wanted to be certain so I went to the airlines’ office on the west coast (3 days before my flight) where I was informed that there’s going to be no issue getting the tourist card in Cancun. So, I took their work, flew to Cancun from where I was going to fly out to Cuba in less than 40 hours. I went to the airlines’ office to get a tourist card to avoid last-minute hassle and of course, it’s never easy on an Indian passport. The man behind the counter looked at the list and told me that he couldn’t issue Indian passport holders a tourist card. Rules had changed recently and the only way for me to travel to Cuba was to get a Visa. Getting a visa meant going to Mexico City, waiting for 5 days, and submitting a gazillion documents, none of it I was ready to do anymore. I was tired of trying to go to Cuba and being misinformed (I had a similar experience in Colombia but my fights weren’t booked then).

What did I do to fix the situation: I dropped my plans of going to Cuba, got my flight rescheduled (which costs nearly as much as booking a new flight), and decided to go back to Colombia from Mexico city after 2 months. This time I decided to spend in Belize and Guatemala. Countries I hadn’t been to and had chosen not to visit the only coz I was quickly running out of money.

Lessons learnt: Don’t trust the staff of airline companies unless you have things on paper. I also learned that there are no wrong answers in travel, I would have enjoyed going to Cuba but I also greatly enjoyed my time in Belize and Guatemala and met some incredible people along the journey.

Emotionally, I wasn’t affected in the least bit but I lost money that I was low on already.

Was it for the best: Yes, I instead got to go to Belize and Guatemala, two stunning countries, I hiked an active volcano something that I wanted to do since the very beginning of my trip. I’m sure Cuba would have been good too but that’s the thing, there are no wrong answers in travel.

5. Denied entry into Guatemala at the border

I was going to live on a boat for a few days, excitedly I took the bus from Belize to Guatemala border. Guatemala was also going to be last new country on the year-long adventure in South America. I exited Belize, paid my exit fee of $20, changed leftover currency to Guatemalan quetzal, and walked towards to the Guatemala border.

The short queue had me at the counter quickly, but only to be told that I couldn’t enter. India apparently was a type 3 country and on this passport a valid US visa made no difference to the entry into Guatemala. But I had done my research, I had read on the website, other people’s experiences and everywhere the information was same, Indian passport holders with a valid US Visa could enter Guatemala Visa-free. I tried convincing him to see the website, speak to a senior, or another colleague but nothing worked. So, I walked out, sat on the pavement and realized I was truly in ‘no man’s land’. I did not have a local SIM card from either Belize or Guatemala, there was no wifi, I didn’t know anyone in either of the countries except my host in Belize and my to-be host in Guatemala but I anyway couldn’t reach anyone.

What did I do to fix the situation: I asked an official where was the nearest Guatemalan embassy and was told in the town I had crossed while coming to the border. I sprung into action, walked back to the border, requested the person who had purchased my currency if he would give it back (he did), spoke. spoke to the officials at Belize border and requested them to let me in, took a shared cab to the town and landed at the Guatemalan embassy.

After a good waiting period, a gentleman came out and explained that I was indeed right, I don’t need a Visa for Guatemala with my Valid US Visa. The staff was very kind but I was afraid if I was turned a second time I wouldn’t have money to reach here and the office would probably be closed. I requested them to give me some official document that I can show at the border. The man obliged and gave me a piece of white paper with his signature and something scribbled in Spanish. They also called the border to clear things.

I hitchhiked my way back, exited the border (I had earlier requested them. to not charge me an exit fee again, they did not), joined the international queue at the Guatemalan border and my passport was stamped by. the same man without a word. It was at that moment I realized that none of it was about the rules, he was seeking a bribe.

Lessons learnt: On an Indian passport, be prepared for anything.

Was it for the best: It didn’t change much except that I lost some money but the time I had in plenty anyway. I didn’t get to stay on the boat but I took a different route that allowed me to go to a waterfall (Semic Champey) that was stunning.

6. Being stalked by a stranger in Colombia

Colombia clearly didn’t vibe with me. I had taken a bus that dropped me around the second-hand market lane, the only stop near my hostel. I started walking the few blocks to my hostel and noticed many shops were closed (It was weekly off). Since experiencing another worst travel experience (mentioned later in the post), I had gotten into the habit of watching my back often (literally). I cut a corner and a few feet later, turned around and my eyes met a man’s directly. And I instantly knew it was trouble. I was in a fairly busy block but after this, there was a near isolated section before I reached a central area. I stopped a little further at a stall and wasted time buying something, by this time the man had reached me and of course, didn’t go ahead. Instead, he went to the right and stood by a wall. I had nowhere to go, he was waiting for me to leave and he wasn’t being coy about it. All the shops in the building were closed, so I couldn’t go anywhere.

What did I do to fix the situation: I did what I had to, confronted him, in my broken Spanish but he didn’t flinch. He looked at me with his blank eyes. and then I saw some bikes coming towards me with police men. I started jumping in the middle of the road and spread my arms to stop one. The officer, didn’t bother checking this guy who casually walked away when I started yelling in Spanish that he’s been following me. I didn’t let the officer leave though and made him accompany me to the center from where I walked to the hostel by myself.

It had angered me not because I was in a vulnerable position, I had nothing on me then. I had already lost my phone and camera. I was angry because I had lost my valuables in that very city and someone wanted to rob me again!! I didn’t want another Colombian to rob even a pencil from me again.

Lessons learnt: No matter how rude it feels to turn around and look strangers in the eye, continue to do so.

Was it for the best: Nope, just made me more angry towards the country.

7. Discovering the last currency note gone on a Bus in Guatemala

I was on a chicken bus headed for the highway. From the highway I had to take a few more buses to reach Mexico border. It was my last day in Guatemala and I was headed back to Mexico. As the conductor approached, I dug into my wallet to get my last currency note, a 100 quetzals (~USD 13). I scrambled through my wallet but it was not there, I checked my backup wallet, not there, I checked my daypack pocket where I put away coins, not there. The conductor was standing looking at me probably wondering when will I stop with the act.

I asked him, ‘cuanto cuesta?’ (how much), I scrambled through my wallet and I had the exact change for ticket price so at least I was not going to be asked to leave midway which was also middle of a fairly empty route.

I knew the currency was gone, I had put it in my wallet only 2 days while preparing for a volcano hike. I had very cautiously spent money so I didn’t have to withdraw cash before leaving. Withdrawing cash drew a fee of around 50 quetzals. I felt saddened thinking who could have taken it, could it have been one of the locals when I left my backpack in the tent and went to see the sunrise? Could it be my hosts from last evening? Could it be the guy I shared a bus ride with? All options saddened me.

What did I do to fix the situation: Once on the highway I decided to hitchhike the 130 odd kilometers to Mexico border. I had Mexican currency left to get me through there before I could find a cash machine.

But hitchhiking in Guatemala is a bad idea. Nobody stopped for quite some time and eventually the car that did stop had 4 men inside. I was wondering how to decline the ride when a guy popped out and said ‘we’ll give you a ride but we’d like to discuss bible with you’. It turned out to be one of the most educating car rides on my trip. It was not just because we discussed the bible but we also spoke about each other’s lives and it was in this ride that I found words for my quest. ‘Don’t seek happiness, it’s temporary. Seek peace, it’s permanent. I truly believe in this and live by it.

Lessons learnt: No leaving cash behind, ever.

Was it for the best: Yes, that ride I hitched is a very important event in my life.

8. Finding myself on a Snow Hike Without Crampons

I was in Nepal during late 2018, the trekking season had just ended so I had given up on hiking the Annapurna base camp that year. I especially gave up the idea when I met a guy on my second day in Pokhara who entered the dormitory with such strong stench, he looked battered quite literally, and sought a soap from me. After his shower when we could talk, I learned he had just returned from the Annapurna circuit. That was a no for me.

In my second hostel stay, a few days later, I met another couple who had just returned from the Annapurna base camp and looked like they had returned from a stroll around the lake. They encouraged me to go for it if I wanted to. I met a few other people who said the same.

A few days later, I was hiking the Annapurna base camp by myself.

Towards the end of day 2 I did meet two super nice guys who continue to be my really good friends. I tagged along with and we continued hiking together. On day3, it started raining midway so we cut short our walking hours, it snowed afterwards. On day 4, we saw snow here and there but it kept getting thicker. It was evident I was not prepared for the weather but I was told I could rent crampons in the next village. So I marched on (mostly with the help of my friends) and before I knew it, I was beyond the point of return by myself. I would have needed help to cross certain difficult points.

There were no crampons at the next camp, which meant, I could stay back at this place and wait for my friends to return next day so I could hike back with them or I could continue pushing forward. I was so close to the top, I decided to continue walking plus I felt a lot more comfortable being with my friends than being holes up in a room alone.

The terrain kept getting worse (except the last stretch), we got caught in a blizzard that hampered the visibility but we reached with no injuries. On my way back, I couldn’t wait to leave the snow so we hiked until late evening to a base location with no snow.

What did I do to fix the situation: I took advice from the locals and put the largest pair of socks I had in my backpack and wore it over my hiking shoes. This is supposed to be better than crampons and I did find it extremely useful.

Lessons learnt: Nothing in the mighty Himalayas should be taken lightly.

Was it for the best: I didn’t die, so it’s okay.

9. Being Stalked in India

I am not being precise in the heading because unfortunately, it has happened more than once. I don’t wish to undermine the issue but in my personal experience, a lot of times it’s harmless.

The two times when I felt trapped and threatened was –

• I was walking the ghats of Varanasi (the steps near the holy river Ganga), I paused to get something from my bag when I noticed a man walk past me slowly and looking at me then looking back at me and a few steps later he stopped too. I didn’t think much of it but a few meters ahead noticed he was walking behind me (I was walking very slowly so it was unusual that we had the same distance between us as earlier). I stopped on purpose this time, and unashamed as he was of following me, he stopped too but a few steps ahead of me. This continued one more time. The third time I sat overlooking the Ganga though. I was afraid even sitting there because I had to turn around take some 50 odd steps, cross a few dark corners to reach my guest house. It wasn’t far once I climbed those steps but I am a slow climber and I feared being cornered along the way. One option was to go back and take a longer route that was busier. I sat there evaluating my options when I noticed two tourists walking up the steps. I quickly got up and went past them but continued walking in front of them. Once on top, I ran to my guest house. I had turned around from the steps to assess the situation, he was still sitting on the ghat but was not looking at the Ganga, instead, he had turned around and was looking at me.
• The scariest experience I had of someone following me has unfortunately been in one of my favorite destinations – Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu . I was walking in a quiet lane, looking at old buildings. I was working on a project back then that required me to assess properties as potential hostels. So, I would often walk into buildings, speak to the caretakers and inquire about the owners. On such a visit, I was walking around the property but I could barely communicate with the caretaker. I continued checking out the nursery and see if I could gather any details on the availability of the property. Soon the caretaker called me to explain her son was here and he could answer my questions. As soon as I met him, I was afraid. his pupils were dilated and he looked deadpan at me. He said nothing, just stared at me. He was another friend on a bike, I tried to look at him and talk but the caretaker’s son would just not look away. I wanted to run away but I pretended to be all calm and just waited for them to leave. I left soon afterward, at the next property I met a dog who stuck around while I was walking in the vicinity. I took a turn at a road that connects to the lake which is generally busy but this stretch was empty, another turn and I saw the man with dead eyes again. He was standing on the side of the road and continued staring at me. I was scared, really scared. I didn’t know what to do so, I had to pretend to be composed. I pretended like the dog was mine and took an about-turn because I knew I could seek help quicker on that road. But the moment I cut the corner, I rushed and entered the first building, a guest house run by the church. I ran in, make small talk with some guests I saw. When I turned around (I was at an elevation), I saw the man walking on the road I had taken. He had started following me. As a reflection, I ducked and continued sitting on the floor, hidden from the road for some time. The problem with this was, I didn’t know which way he went. There were three roads I could take from there and all of them were fairly isolated.

What did I do to fix the situation: I stayed hidden for a 20-30 minutes and then chose a path that took me to a busier section quickest and I ran through this stretch.

Lessons learnt: Always have a taxi driver’s number handy, in case you need a pick up from such situations.

Was it for the best: Absolutely not. Nobody needs such an experience in life.

10. Being Mugged at Knifepoint in Colombia

This hopefully remains one of my worst travel experiences because worse than this would be too much to handle. I was hiking back from this very popular tourist destination named – Montseratte in the capital city of Bogota. I was accompanied by my local host (a young woman), and it was about 4:30 pm (which means broad daylight). In fact, the reason we were rushing back was so we could make it back to her house while there was still daylight left. 10 minutes from the trail end (which joins a fairly busy road), three masked men jumped from behind a bulging boulder. In no time there was a man in front of me holding a machete to my throat and a man behind me. On my left, I saw another man with a machete chasing my host who was screaming and running backward.

They took my entire daypack (which had my camera, phone, passport, and both my debit cards, among other things that I had carefully picked 6 months ago for this trip of a lifetime). They also took my host’s sling bag which had her iPhone and her identity card.

What did I do to fix the situation: There were many things I had to fix in this situation starting from getting a new passport but the most difficult task was to access my money. The Indian banks I had accounts with had no presence in Latin America, they would not mail me the card either. It was a complicated task and a stressful 2 weeks.

After the robbery, I was left with less than $30 that was in my main backpack. I didn’t know how long I had to go on the $30 so I stopped taking dinner. I would cook lunch with just onion, tomato, garlic, and spaghetti.

I knew it was going to be an arduous few weeks, so the first thing I did was to find an alternate stay arrangement. I didn’t want my hosts to take the brunt of my situation. I knocked on hostel doors in the tourist town to find volunteer work. After nearly losing hope, and breaking down in tears in the middle of a street, I did find reception work in a backpackers hostel.

Two months later, I left Colombia for Mexico with a new passport, new US Visa, money transferred to my travel card, no camera, no phone (so no way to see the time or take pictures), but a great deal of determination to continue traveling.

Lessons learnt: I still struggle with this. I haven’t been able to make sense of that experience at all. Why did it happen, why did it happen to me, and what did I learn from it? I was already being as safe as I could. A few things that I experienced after the incident were:

• The incident, unfortunately, made me slightly indifferent towards the poor, the addicts, the whole glaring economic disparity esp. in Colombia.
• It reinforced the idea to never let the guard down. I was trying to book my exit tickets a day before the incident and had accidentally put my backup card in my daypack after that.
• I learned that locals don’t always know best. I was recommended that place by both my previous hosts and none knew of the situation there.

Experiencing and fixing a situation like that by myself definitely prepared me for everything. Like Cheryl Strayed would say, I felt like a total “hardass motherfucking Amazonian queen”.

Was it for the best: NO. I was never able to buy a camera again (I had bought it when I had a job), now I’m always somehow in survival mode. Trauma from that experience haunted me for months and it permanently changed my interaction with strangers.

I hope sharing these 10 worst travel experiences of mine which required me to go back to those unpleasant moments, helps someone find their strength back.

10 thoughts on “10 of My Worst Travel Experiences”

all seems to be a spooky/ thrilling scenes from a movie, more power to you 🙂

Yes, quite dramatic when I look back but we all have it in us to endure what seems unimaginable. And i’m sure many people are experiencing that right now with Covid.

Hmmm… well covid is a more of like a organised catastrophe , like we know its coming yet we let it come

From leadership point of view and large group behaviour but on an individual level, that’s not everyone’s truth. I got a really bad case of Covid last September while following everything I was supposed to (Staying home, going out once a week to get groceries, mask, sanitize, etc.)

Hmmm i get it 🙂 hope you are well now

yes, I am. I was a long hauler so my symptoms (esp. social anxiety and loss of smell) persisted for months.

Yea , many of my friends experienced the same .

Bad incidents somehow do ruin your travel experience, I’m glad you found ways to get out of these although I’m sure it must not have been easy.

Yes, for sure. We are only human, many of these incidents hurt how I interact with strangers and the trust I put in them. But except the robbery in Colombia, every other incident led to only short-term discomfort.

Well said, Manisha

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Wanderlust. Wander more. Wandercuse.

My Travel Horror Story – A Journey from Australia to the US

Last updated on March 4, 2019.

Hey fellow travelers! Today I’m bringing you a slightly different style of article – my biggest travel horror story. I am currently working on a collaborative blog post about travel failures with some of my amazing fellow bloggers and am anxious to start sharing some of my stories. So, I thought I should tell you about the worst experience I’ve ever had when traveling. Everyone has their own travel horror story – and I’d love to hear yours! For now, read on and see if you can relate to my experience moving back to the US from Australia. A nightmare at the time, but lessons well learned for the future!

If you’ve been keeping up with the blog, you know that I lived in Australia for a while. When I was getting ready to plan my trip back home, a friend from home said she wanted to come visit. Great! So, we started researching flights, knowing that we would be able to fly back together. We found a great deal on a roundtrip flight from New York to Melbourne and back, so we booked two. My friend flew out to meet me, and everything was going well… until it wasn’t.

Melbourne to Sydney

We got to the Melbourne airport, checked in and waited for our flight to board. When the gate attendant scanned my boarding pass, the machine made a disconcerting sound. I joked with the attendant, trying to put myself at ease, commenting that the noise didn’t sound good. She assured me that it was fine, and that I should continue to board the flight. Okay.

Sydney to Los Angeles

We arrived in Sydney and all seem to be going smoothly. But, when I went to check in for the next flight, I was told that my ticket was invalid. Seriously? I explained that the attendants in Melbourne had already let me on the plane there and I was already in the middle of my journey. Didn’t matter. I was sent to the tickets counter to purchase a new ticket or would not be allowed on the plane. I panicked. After spending a year and a half in Australia, away from home, all I wanted to do was be in my own bed. All my money had been spent on traveling around the land down under while I had the chance. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I couldn’t afford a same-day ticket around the world!

Thank Goodness for Good Friends

Luckily, my friend stayed with me (even though her ticket worked just fine) and had room on a credit card to use. But, before we got the new ticket, I argued with the ticket agent for the longest time about why my ticket was invalid. I had paid for it and had all my proof. She explained that you could not purchase a roundtrip ticket and only use the return half – which was explained nowhere when I purchased the ticket. I continued to explain that I could not afford to purchase a new ticket. Her solution? Purchase another roundtrip ticket and only use the first half. Seriously? She’s basically telling me to do what I had tried to do originally! I was so frustrated, but out of options. I just wanted to get home. So there went over $1,000 of my friend’s money.

Los Angeles to Chicago

Once we had purchased the new ticket, my friend and I then had different connecting flights for LA to Chicago. No worries, we would meet up again before our final flight to Syracuse. She was bummed because my flight was supposed to leave LA before hers – but in the end it didn’t matter. She beat me to Chicago. Why? Well here’s the craziest part of the story. I boarded my plane, ready to get even closer to home; to see my friends and family after so long. But the plane didn’t leave. We just sat there. Waiting. Then the plane started to roll out of the gate… only to stop. The plane came back to the gate, with all of the passengers left to wonder what was happening.

Wait.. What?

After some time, an announcement was made that the plane couldn’t leave yet. Apparently the wheel of the plane had run over the foot of one of the workers on the tarmac. They needed to investigate. Seriously? I mean, how does that even happen? How do you not see the giant AIRPLANE moving towards you? Ugh. We were told that we could not get off of the plane, that we would have to wait and it wouldn’t be much longer before we left. They lied. The airline decided that they couldn’t trust the crew that was onboard and that they needed to be replaced. More waiting. Tears started welling up in my eyes as I looked at the time, knowing that I was cutting it too close for my connecting flight home. In the end it was over three hours of just sitting, waiting on the plane for takeoff.

Chicago to Syracuse… or not.

With my new itinerary, I had a few hours between my connecting flight in Chicago. But you’re smart enough to figure out that I probably didn’t make it. You would be right. Of course I was sitting near the back of the plane, meaning I was one of the last to get off. Even though there was an announcement made to allow people with connecting flights to get off first so they had a chance to make it. People didn’t care.

I got off the plane and ran to my next gate. I don’t normally run. I’m one of those people who only runs in there is a clown chasing me with a knife. But I was desperate. The next few moments were like a scene from a movie. I ran up to my departing gate and saw them close the gate door. I can’t make this stuff up. But just like in the movies, they refused to reopen the door to let me on. (Later I found out that my friend had gotten on the plane and begged them to wait for me because she knew I was coming… They didn’t wait.)

Stuck in Chicago

So I was stuck in Chicago. I didn’t know it then, but Chicago would later become one of my favorite cities. But at the time, I was just upset. So close to being home, yet not quite there. Since I still had an Australian phone plan and couldn’t get wifi, I didn’t have a way to call my mom to let her know not to go to the airport to meet me. I ended up asking a stranger if I could use his phone, and he was kind enough to let me. Seeing my distraught appearance probably made him empathize. By the time I waited at the service counter top get my meal and hotel vouchers and then waited for the shuttle to the hotel, I had just enough time to cry it out in the shower and get a couple of hours of sleep in before my redeye flight.

Syracuse – Finally!

I did eventually make it back home later the next morning. Of course my luggage had been marked for the original itinerary, so it made it back to Syracuse the day before me with my friend. In a strange turn of events, she was able to take my luggage home, but hers had been lost along the way. Our luck just continued to be awful…

The Aftermath

Both my friend and I fought hard with the airline once we were both back in Syracuse. After weeks and weeks of back-and-forth, she did eventually get the new ticket refunded on her credit card. They also issued us two vouchers to be used on future flights. All in all, I‘m still not convinced the hassle and anxiety was worth my free flight to Orlando later that year.

Lessons Learned From My Travel Horror Story

• Always have spare cash or room on a credit card in case of emergency.
• Be thankful for WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and all of the new apps  that allow you to text and call through wifi.
• No matter how fast you run from one gate to another in the airport terminal, you cannot change other people holding you up or refusing to help you.
• Give yourself plenty of time between connecting flights. You truly never know what could happen.

I have traveled extensively since this disastrous adventure, and I have learned so much. I  never  want to relive this nightmare! If you have a crazy travel horror story of your own, let me know!

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24 comments.

Its things like this that make traveling scary. Glad you made it!

Thanks! I’m glad too!

Feels like just yesterday this happened to you!!

Can you believe it’s been seven years?!

I wish there was a dislike button for this comment – wish it wasn’t so lo by ago!!!! Come back!!!!!

snaptravelandpop

Tough journey!! Thankfully you made it in the end and have a good story to tell 😂

Ana - JauntingTrips.com

Omg… it was one of THOSE days! The good thing is that you made it home eventually. And one more piece of advice… things happen. Once they did, no use stressing yourself more about the situation. It is out of your hands and more stress won’t do you any good.

Yes! Such great advice 🙂

Mateja Drobnic

There is often a ripple effect with flights, when 1 thing goes south it seems everything follows. So sorry this happened to you. I am glad you eventually got reimbursed. 🙂

Very true. The downside to traveling sometimes.

TheAmandatoryAdventure

That is so crummy! I’ve had a similar situation on sprinting to the next gate and not making it. The worst! Glad you made it home ok though! Always a bright side 😉

Ha. Me too!

So unfortunate that happened to you.. but you made it. What a great story to tell 🙂

Silver lining 🙂

This is so crazy! I actually just heard about the RT flight thing where you can sometimes get a better deal for half of the journey, but then heard that airlines started to catch on. yikes! That would be such a frustrating journey, sometimes it’s just the way it is when one thing goes wrong it comes in a chain of events. Makes for a good story now though 😉

Yea it was definitely an awful series of events, but a funny story now!

So many airlines trying to nickel and dime us and making up their own rules as they feel is convenient for them. I lost a return flight home just a year and half ago with an airline that was worth about 600 $ and never got it resolved, so I’m more vigilant now about my big purchases with airlines. lucky you got yours refunded and vouchers

Oh no! I’m sorry to hear about that! Airline problems are definitely some of the worst.

Ugh, airlines are the worst. I can’t believe they jerked you around like that – except I totally can. So funny, our post this week is also about travel drama, but our weapon of misery was a car.

Ugh I’ve been there too! That will be part of my next post…

OH my gosh this is my worst fear having to pay for another ticket!! I have a flight coming up with a connections of 38 unites hAha well see if I make I it!

Yikes! Good luck!

Well first I have never even though of just purchasing a round trip and using it for only half the journey.. so that makes you a genius.. ha! But second I have heard a lot of people buying one way tickets (atleast for domestic flights in US) with connection but get off in the connecting city. Why, coz that was cheaper than buying a ticket to that connecting city directly in the first place. There is even an website which offers such tickets (who United tried to sue!). Bottom line is, if airlines keep doing tricky things to raise price then us passengers have to get creative to find cheap flights. So I totally understand you here. I am glad that at the end you fought it out to get your money re-reimbursed and reached home safely 🙂

Hmmm I may have to check out that website. Thank you!! But yes, they keep finding ways to charge us more. It’s crazy because flights around Europe or within Australia are SO much cheaper!

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Frederic Paulussen

My worst travel experience (so far)

I just came back from what so far is my worst travel experience. It was a city trip to Riga, a beautiful city I would love to visit again. Next time, I would do things differently tho…

In a couple of days, I’m leaving for Botswana for 3 weeks. Three weeks of no internet. Which means I will miss my girlfriend, and she will miss me (I think). For that reason, we booked a trip together before I leave, so we can make sure we had our dose of each other.

We pick a date as close as possible to the trip, we go on TravelBird, and we book our trip. Not a dark cloud in the sky. We are over the moon when we find a nice city trip deal to Riga . Click, paid, booked.

And then shit hits the fan

TravelBird goes bankrupt. They stop completely. In the Netherlands (which also operates in Belgium), they have a commission that takes over the customers and makes sure everyone can go on their trip or get their money back.

I’m in the category that gets a guarantee for their departure. I’m happy with that. I still e-mailed the hotel that was booked for me to be sure. Or the hotel which should have been booked for me.

I explained the situation to them, and they confirmed the messages. TravelBird did go bankrupt and try to book for me. But the booking was refused because of non-payments by TravelBird. A decision of the hotel I can totally understand. They, too, have a business to run. And accepting bookings from non-payers can send them the same way TravelBird went.

Emailing back and forth

I emailed the commission, explaining they haven’t made the booking they guaranteed me. They send me a letter, signed by their CEO that I can show the hotel. I tell them it’s a bit ridiculous since everyone can make a letter like that.

“Yeah, but it has the signature of our boss!”

Fine, I’ll send it to the hotel. The receptionist’s reply was, “We can’t accept this letter as a form of payment as anyone can have written this letter. I couldn’t agree more.

A lot of e-mails go back and forth from me to the commission. I’m claiming I want to have my money back. They claim that’s not possible. I claim they make the booking that I will pay for myself and reclaim the money with them. They can’t guarantee it anymore and tell me I can get my money back if I want.

I’m flabbergasted by this change of decisions, and by then, it was only a day before departure. I wanted to visit Riga; the money-back thing came too late. I told them that.

Actually, I started my e-mail with: That’s the most friendly ‘Fuck You’ I’ve ever received.”

I don’t get mad easily, but don’t push my buttons by going back on your word.

I’m coming on my own terms

A day in advance, I emailed the hotel again to let them know I was coming and would pay for the room myself. I want to be sure I will arrive somewhere and have a room.

Of course, I only book the room. I will have to reclaim the money afterward, so the extra things like cocktails I booked on TravelBird aren’t in my package. The hotel asks for an extra 40 euros for it, but I’m still unsure if I will see that money back. So I skip it.

Upon arrival at the hotel, I notice it’s a nice hotel. Or at least, the reception is nice. In the room, I notice it’s a bit outdated. TravelBird lured me with the four-star hotel thingy but little did I know that didn’t have to mean anything.

The window of my room only has one-half of the curtains. Luckily we are on the top floor, and no one can look inside. But still.

The furniture is old, which isn’t a drama. But I expected more of all of it.

There are two beds for us. Two single beds. As you might know, I hate that stuff!

What’s your biggest hostel pet peeve? #travelquestion For me, it’s when they give you a bedroom for 2 persons, and it’s actually a room with two single beds put together. I hate sleeping in those beds! pic.twitter.com/uSoHK3Z2Yg — Fredography ? (@FredPaulussen) October 28, 2018

On the second day, after our long day visiting the beautiful city of Riga, we arrive back at the hotel to find our door is still open. Housekeeping left it open when cleaning the room. Or yeah, the door sucks. But they should know. Lucky for us, nothing is gone.

Except for our towels. Housekeeping did take the old ones with them. But never replaced them. So I needed to go downstairs to ask for towels at the overcrowded receptionist. He was there alone, helping three families check-in and bring my towels upstairs—poor him.

On the way back home, my RyanAir flight had the most turbulence I ever experienced. Which didn’t help to make me feel good either? But hey, that’s life—end of rant.

What was your worst travel experience so far? Let me know in the comments!

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Tell Us: What's Your Worst Travel Experience?

A bunch of Atlantic readers in this discussion group are exchanging their travel horror stories. (If you’d like to sharing your own, please send us a note: [email protected] .) A short anecdote from the group:

I caught bronchitis when I was in Germany for a business trip. Spent the plane ride home sitting next to a strange drunk man who kept talking at me. Intolerable Cruelty starring George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones was the in-flight movie. I wanted to die.

Another reader shares that sentiment:

I was stuck in the snowbound Omaha airport with a three year old, a chihuahua, and a small carryon bag, for TWO DAYS. That was the ninth circle of hell. I wanted to die.

This next reader nearly did, for real:

Peace Corps: On a bus in Guatemala. A group of three teens in MS-13 [ a notorious gang ] decide to rob our bus. Being the only American on the bus and having just gone to the bank, I took all the money I had hidden in my bra and put it in my pocket ready to be robbed. People would get shot if they tried to run, so I prepared to give everything and pulled my passport out of its hiding spot in my bag so I made sure they knew they were getting it. Then some dude decided to John Wayne and open fire on these robbers, which resulted in a firefight on a very crowded bus. I had actually been the next passenger to be robbed, so the perp standing next to me was actively shooting. I dove under the seat and stayed there until literally everyone else had gotten off the bus. Bonus trip: I got a lightly armored security escort back to the embassy.

This reader’s experience is much more relatable:

I travel for work, so I have A LOT of these stories. I have two that beat out all of the other minor upsets though:

1) I started a flight with a guy interrupting me while I was reading just so he could tell me that he “might grab my knee” because he’s “afraid of flying.” I replied, “the fuck you will.” Then he proceeded to vape for the entire flight. When I pointed out that it’s a federal crime to do that, he said he had really bad cravings. AND THEN, as he was deplaning, he hit his lady-friend square on her read end ... it was the cherry on top of a disturbing trip. 2) THE WORST was when I was flying from Chicago to Manchester last October. The man sitting next to me spread all over my seat, took off his shoes, AND unbuttoned his pants. And when I asked to get out to use the restroom, he suggested that I just “climb over my lap, baby.”

Another reader, Nick, also had a creepy encounter:

On a six-hour train ride in China, a man stared at me the entire fucking time. Like literally he didn’t move his eyes off me. I don’t know if that was worse than the time I was really sick on a transatlantic flight, but it was definitely the weirdest.

This next reader thinks back to Memorial Day weekend in the late ‘90s:

I’m living on Long Island and using what precious little vacation and holiday time I have to visit my LDR girlfriend in Rochester. I have my friend drop me off at JFK in the late afternoon with maybe an hour to spare before boarding (plenty of time, as this is pre-TSA). As I’m waiting, the delays start piling up on the info screen because of some freak storm over half of the country, though the local weather is fine. My flight gets delayed, of course. Over the next few hours, the delay gets pushed further and further back. Finally, it gets cancelled. But by then it’s way too late to call any of my friends to pick me up. So I can either spend the night in pre-renovated JFK, or take a two-hour train ride home so I can sleep in my own bed for a few hours before trying again in the morning. Both options suck, but I figure some sleep is better than none and head out to the train. Now we come to the actual bad part. I have to take a rail shuttle from the airport to the station, then take two different subway rides into Penn Station, where I can catch a LIRR train to take me home. The first ride is uneventful. On the second one, however, I’m joined by a couple of young women a few seats in front of me, a younger man who goes to the back, and another younger man who does not take a seat but quickly sets to trying to impress the two women. Also worth noting is that I’m the only person on board who isn’t black. The young hotshot starts sort-of-rapping about how tough and badass he is. The women seem unimpressed as far as I can tell, but really this whole time I’ve just been trying very hard to focus on the Robert Anton Wilson book I’m reading. Hotshot changes tactics and tries to impress them by provoking me into a fight. He gets in my face and taunts me for being in the wrong place or something, but I just shake my head and keep my eyes on my book. The train slows and starts to pull up to the next platform. He disappears behind me, and a few seconds later something hard hits me in the back of my head. At this point I’m exhausted, frustrated, and already very angry about the flight situation. I was running on fumes and adrenaline. So when I got hit, something in me just snapped. I remember folding the book and putting it down. Thoughts about my physical abilities versus his and the possibility that he may have a weapon immediately popped up. The angry animal part of my brain was in charge, though, so I disregarded them just as quickly. I stood up and turned around to face whatever this guy thought he was going to do to me. The doors are open and he is gone. At my feet is the small, depleted corn cob from a discarded KFC meal box. I wipe some bits of kernel from the back of my head and neck. The women and guy from the back all rush over to me to make sure I’m okay. After we’re all sure I’m fine, the guy says, “It’s too bad he ran off. I was going to hold him so you could kick his ass.”

My Ten Worst Travel Experiences

One of the things I most enjoy about travel is the thrill of the unexpected: that tiny ristorante in a sleepy Italian village that just happens to serve the perfect lemon risotto when you turn up, exhausted after cycling those steep Tuscan hills. Or the church in Lisbon which hides the most extraordinary cloisters you’ve ever seen.

I’d be the first to say that travel can give you some of the most life enhancing, exhilarating and joyful experiences of all. But sometimes the unexpected isn’t a pleasure but a pain. There are times when travel can be frustrating, overwhelming and even frightening. Sometimes it all goes horribly wrong. Flights get cancelled, everyone is ill or the hotel that looked so perfect on the website turns out to be the hotel from hell.

But it’s often the unexpected and the things that go wrong that make for the best stories so here are ten of my worst travel experiences.

Being threatened with deportation from Hawaii

When I flew to Hawaii to interview the model, Marie Helvin, for the Telegraph newspaper, I was feeling very pleased with myself. I’d proudly ticked the box on the US immigration form to state that I was in Hawaii for work. I wasn’t feeling quite so pleased with myself when I got to passport control and was told that they wouldn’t allow me to enter the country without a valid work permit. They threatened to put me on the next flight back to the UK – another 18 hours of flying time.

I eventually persuaded them to call my newspaper editor who somehow managed to smooth over the whole incident and I was finally allowed in.

Rodents in the bedroom

When a massive rat ran out of the toilets while I was in a restaurant in Mumbai I reacted in horror. My Indian friend just laughed at me, saying, “it’s only a bandicoot!” There was a mouse in our room when we were staying in the Himalayas – for me, this was far worse than the time when a monkey climbed through our bedroom window and ran off with our fruit. Then there was the rat which scurried around in the open-air bathroom of our bedroom in St Lucia – I didn’t sleep all night.

I’d rather have a lion padding outside my tent at night than a rodent.

Being ‘stalked’ by a police officer in Rome

So when an Italian number showed up again on my telephone the next day at work I chickened out. One of my colleagues spoke fluent Italian. I’m not sure what he said to him but he never called again.

Being constantly ill in India

I backpacked around India for six months and hoped to avoid the ‘Delhi Belly’ everyone warned me about. It was six weeks before I got my first stomach bug. I had diarrhoea, chronic stomach cramps and was drenched in sweat for hours at a time, all made worse by the fact that we were staying in hostels that cost only 50 pence a night so there was only ever a hole in the ground for a toilet.

After that I’d get a tummy bug every couple of weeks and exist on a diet of plain rice and yoghurt for a few days until it was gone. It didn’t spoil my experience of India – it just became part of it. But I did get very thin. I looked like a half-starved hippy by the time I finally made it back to England.

Forgetting my yellow fever certificate in Tanzania

I grabbed a pen and tried to copy the scribbles from my husband’s certificate. My hands were shaking when we finally reached the front of the line and I handed it over to the inspector. To my relief, he waved us through.

Being followed home in Paris

Just outside the door to my flat he grabbed my arm. I was so scared I couldn’t even scream but the strange gurgling sound I made alerted my flatmate and she opened the door. The man ran back downstairs. It felt like a lucky escape.

Falling over everywhere I travel

I am very clumsy. I’m the girl who had to have plasters applied to her knees before she went out to play because the teachers thought it would protect them from the inevitable tumble in the playground. Even now, I’m constantly tripping over. Every summer I arrive on holiday ready to bare my legs – they’re smooth, toned and exfoliated – and within the first couple of days I am guaranteed to fall over and have a nasty cut on my leg for the rest of the trip.

My boys’ abiding memory of the Acropolis is not of the extraordinary historic site but of their mother tripping over her flip-flops and having to be patched up in an ambulance parked nearby.

Having my passport and camera stolen in Calcutta

Turning up at the hotel from hell in Marrakesh

When we arrived at the riad we’d booked in Morocco we were all exhausted – we’d been up since 4am to catch our flight from the UK. The hotel, which had looked so promising in the photos, was in a terrible state. There had clearly been a party the night before and there was rubbish everywhere. Half an hour after our arrival we were still sat at a table with our luggage, being ignored by the few staff who were clearing up. Our boys, aged 5 and 7, were hungry and upset.

By the time the manager finally arrived we’d called other hotels to see if they had a room available. He started shouting at us when we explained we no longer wished to stay. We finally agreed to pay for one night. It wasn’t until he had taken our bank card that we realised he’d keyed the total amount for the week into the card machine rather than the night we’d agreed on. We refused to complete payment and he refused to give us our card back.

We eventually walked out, leaving him with the bank card and wheeling our suitcases and children behind us. We hailed a taxi and cancelled the card on our way to another hotel.

My suitcase not turning up in Turkey

So these are mine, what are some of your worst travel experiences?

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Oh god what horrible experiences D:

Thanks for commenting! Yes, pretty awful but I lived to tell the tale and can laugh about most of them now.

I love this post! And you’ve had some pretty rough experiences. I would have to say my worst would be my luggage not arriving in Switzerland, getting bullied by panhandlers in Milan, getting food poisoning in Florence and my husband getting food poisoning in the Dominican Republic. (Maybe, we should be more picky with the restaraunts we select.) 😂

Thank you so much! Food poisoning is the worst – I’ve actually been really lucky not to have it much. Touch wood! It’s awful being ill when you’re travelling because trying different foods is one of the things I really look forward to.

I loved this post! You truly have had some crazy travel experiences, but as you mentioned they make for great stories. Thanks for sharing your adventures and mishaps!

Thank you so much. Definitely crazy but memorable! At least it hasn’t stopped me travelling.

Such a fantastic honest post Clare. Traveling is never all roses. A particular low point for us was getting squashed on a train with thousands of tourists pushing and shoving our 2 year old twins while I had my purse stolen. This was on Italy’s Cinque Terre a place very few people associate with challenging times! I think because you have these experiences travelling you become more resilient and determined to pick yourself up and get on with having a great time. You also surprise yourself with how resourceful you can become in a moment of crisis. Plus, you have lots of great stories to share!

Thanks so much, Katy. It’s particularly upsetting when you see your own children getting pushed and shoved by other tourists – that’s awful. Travelling has definitely made me more resilient and resourceful in trying moments. It’s quite good to be forced out of your comfort zone – you realise what you’re capable of in ways you would never have realised if you’d stayed at home. And I do love telling the stories!

Wow, you’ve had more horrible travel experiences than the average person! I didn’t forget my yellow fever vaccination paperwork but I actually got yellow fever symptoms from the vaccination while in Kenya so that was not fun:) It is terrible to be sick in a place that is not comfortable and without a flush toilet.

Yellow Fever symptoms sounds absolutely awful! You definitely appreciate the home comforts more when you do get back, that’s for sure.

My god! I think that I would just give up travel if I had half these problems. The worst we have had was luggage that was late. And, a rental car company that tried to gouge us with a $15,000 repair bill after we had already returned to the States. Hassles and lawyers ensued.

I think your €15,000 bill and ensuing hassle and lawyers sounds just as bad, Arnie! I just hate unnecessary paperwork and bureaucracy like that. As for mine, well I’ve lived to tell the tale and I’ll always keep travelling, that’s for sure!

Those are quite some stories! I have had my luggage go missing before and a few Delhi belly style experiences. Thankfully no scary men! And for me it’s cockroaches which I loathe *shudder* But it’s all part of the experience! Although I find it harder to adjust to things going wrong when my daughter is affected, I admit.

Far too many scary men in my travel stories in my opinion! Fortunately not for a good long time. I really don’t mind cockroaches which is probably just as well given that I lived with far too many of them in both Paris and India. I absolutely agree that it’s much harder adjusting to things going wrong when your children are involved. Fortunately most of my awful experiences happened long before the kids came along and they consider things like luggage going missing as an ‘adventure’ – unlike their mother!

Great post. Travelling always has its difficult and tough moments – it’s never always rosy that’s for sure. I got my passport, tickets and money stolen in India so know how that feels and was also terribly I’ll in Vietnam. Makes you stronger though!

Oh yes it definitely makes you stronger. And that has to be a good thing, right? Travelling has always made me realise I have more reserves and resilience than I ever thought I had. Thanks so much for commenting.

Those are some terrible experiences! The man following you really gave me the shudders! I’ve been terribly ill many times, missed flights, had luggage go missing, lost the key to our rental car and my husband was once stuck at the border in Mexico — but one of the worst we always remember was having someone following us flicking a knife and calling out down a long, empty back street in Jamaica. And also when I was on my own and had someone stalking me around the empty botanical gardens of Rio de Janeiro as it was starting to get dark. Thanks for sharing your experiences! #TheWeeklyPostcard

Oh my goodness, your Jamaica experience sounds really frightening – especially with a knife involved! Thank goodness you were with someone although clearly you were on your own in Rio which makes it all the worse. Thanks so much for commenting, Cindy.

We’ve all been there…talk about rats…yuck! I did a whole comic book leap from bed one morning when I woke up to one on my balcony in Italy one time!

Rats are so utterly awful, aren’t they? I could barely bring myself to choose a photo to go with the post!

Great post! I agree while they’re not fun going through them, travel mishaps make for great stories. That’s crazy about the policeman. I did a post called Roadtrip from Hell about not being able to get out of Florida, and having my wallet stolen in Spain was a terrible feeling too. Anytime you’re missing something in a foreign county is not fun!

Thanks so much, Corey! I must take a look at your Roadtrip from Hell piece although having just read your wonderfully enticing post about Captiva, I’m not so sure I’d be sad to stay longer in Florida!

Haha this is true! Actually I was secretly hoping we’d have no choice but to stay longer but my husband had to get back for something. Too funny.

I’ve read your post with a lot of interest, Clare, and I noticed a pattern: India was involved in most of your bad travel experiences. This is not accidental. You and I seem to have the same standards for cleanliness and the same phobias and India doesn’t fit our bill. There is a reason why I didn’t run arms open to this country so far, as much as I would love to experience the culture. Give me lions, give me bugs, snakes and whatever else, but if I see a rat of a mouse that place is compromised for ever in my mind and so is my travel experience.

Don’t let my experiences put you off visiting India, Anda. I was there for over six months and on a very tight budget so could therefore only expect the odd tummy bug and rodent. India really is the most extraordinary, vibrant, wonderful country and I’d absolutely love to visit again.

Wow, some truly scary stories!! Glad you somehow stayed safe through it all!! Found you through #TheWeeklyPostcard

I was nodding and smiling as I read through your list. So many of these mishaps we have all experienced. I find that these are the stories that we continue to retell for me years – is that the same for you?

Absolutely! I really enjoy telling the tales on our return – and several years later. It can be awful at the time but so much more fun in the retelling.

Oh my goodness! I don’t really know what’s worst but the one in Paris sounds traumatizing! :-/

The Paris story was definitely my most frightening travel experience, that’s for sure. I think I was really lucky escaping unharmed.

Good grief Clare, you’ve been through the travel wars! I can’t beat that but my worst experience was when Mum and my suitcases stayed in London whilst we travelled to Iceland for a long weekend. We had no cold weather gear so had to go out to buy fleeces and socks and knickers which was entertaining!! They finally turned up at the end of the second day so we managed but it was a good lesson so I always have a change of clothes or essentials in my hand luggage!! I hope this is the last of your bad luck!! Thanks for sharing!

I definitely learnt my lesson after my experience of losing my luggage. From now on I shall try and spread out my clothes among the other suitcases and try and pack at least one item of clothing in my hand luggage. I’m sure I’ll have the odd bad experience on my travels in the future but hopefully nothing as traumatic as some of the old stories!

some pretty bad experiences! luckily nothing worse happened in Paris!

I know! I feel quite lucky thinking about it now.

These are all pretty awful! The rodents…eeeeek!

Exactly my view!!

Being followed at night has got to be one of the worst and scariest experiences, it has happened to me once too. I’ve never had a mouse in my room and I probably wouldn’t mind it so much, but if I see a cockroach, I’m going to scream like a little girl, hahaha.

Haha! I’m a good friend of cockroaches but rodents of any kind give me the heebie-jeebies!

A brilliant idea for a post. I nodded along to some of them, rats in the bedroom (we also had a mouse in the bed in a posh villa), dodgy men, dodgy food, also ended up in hospital twice (once due to falling over too). Funny how our experiences are different but also similar!

Thank you! I think when you travel a lot you’re always going to have some bad experiences along with the good – hopefully they’ll make good stories afterwards. A mouse in the bed?!! It makes me come over all queasy just thinking about it! Glad to find someone else is tripping up all over the world!

Oh my goodness – I commend you for being brave enough to head out again after each of those experiences! I don’t think I would have coped so well, especially with the stalking; that’s utterly traumatic.

I must be seriously crazy – or travel obsessed to keep going! Most of these experiences happened a long time ago so I’m either more sensible, careful or just plain lucky these days. Still can’t stop falling over though!

Some of the worst travel experiences can seem funny, when looking back. The person following you home in Paris was scary though. My worst travel experience was at the airport in Siem Reap, when my friends and I were pulled out of the immigration line and made to stand at the side till everyone had passed through. They kept checking our passport pages on their computer over and over again, even though everything was in place, including the mandatory Ministry of Defence clearance certificate for Sri Lankans travelling to Cambodia. I thought they were going to put us back on the return flight but eventually they did allow us to pass through. I did have a similar experience at the Amsterdam airport as well while on a solo trip.

That sounds awful, Ahila. A real stomach churning experience waiting to see if they’d let you through! My father experienced that once when he flew into Miami and was held for over an hour because he had the same name as a wanted criminal!

Wow! You have definitely seen a lot. My sister-in-law visited Paris recently and had a similar experience – I am so glad you turned out to be okay. I lived in Hawaii for about 2 years and I can totally see that happening, but I’m glad you were able to get in. You’ve had some awful things happen but it seems like the beauty of travel has made it all worth it. What would life be if it weren’t for stories like these?

I feel very lucky really – and you’re right, they make for such great stories afterwards!

I feel like you could write a book on these experiences – some are truly terrifying (especially what happened to you in Paris, thank goodness your flatmate was home!!). I’m with you in the rodent fear too, I would have been paralysed with fear.

Polly xx Follow Your Sunshine

The Paris story was definitely the most frightening and I was so lucky my flat mate was home – not least because I needed a friendly shoulder to cry on. As for rodents… I struggled just choosing a photo to go with the piece. I just shudder thinking of them!

Crikey – you have certainly seen a lot of excitement in your travels! I hope you have 10 times as many good unexpected tales?…

Yes, fortunately plenty of unexpected good stories too – but they’re often not such juicy stories are they? I shall have to work out a way of working them into a post…

Great post! I have traveled a lot for work, but to date nothing major has gone wrong. I’ve been sick a lot. The worst is when you have to share a bathroom, and you have to hold on until the other does whatever it is they have to do. I do remember being so sick that I was using toilet and the bidet at the same time … Had my bag stolen in Buenos Aires but I’d left my passport at the hotel and was flying home the same day, so all good. Got drunk one night at the snake restaurant in Hanoi and left my friend as a hostage as I went to call the nearest police (turned out to be the national guard or something inappropriate), because the driver had doubled his fee. I have been very lucky, … to date.

I love the story about the hostage in the restaurant in Hanoi – sounds like a great story!! Quite quick thinking too considering you’d been drinking! Being sick in a shared bathroom is completely hideous. I’m sure I’ve blanked out most of my experiences of that in India!

Tarantulas at night in the jungle? Nope. Give me rodents any day 😉

I’ll take the tarantulas if you take the rats…

Deal. Nice doing business with you 😉

I love *real* travel stories of the lack of luck almost as much as perfectly curated presentations of sun-soaked vistas. I’m only sorry you went through all of the above!

I expect I’m a better traveller now for having suffered occasionally in the past – I should hope so anyway!! I always like to read the real, the awful and the just plain stupid experiences too.

Yikes, those are some pretty tough experiences to get through – but as you say, provided you can learn from them and laugh about them now, it’s worth going through I guess?! Thanks for linking up with #TravelLinkup!

I think so although I’m not sure I’d want to relive some of them again if I can help it. Loving #TravelLinkup!

Is it super terrible that I absolutely loved reading these?

I’m really glad you did. I love reading the more gruesome stories too, even if they are mine!

I’m wondering if the bad experiences in travel are like the pain of giving birth, you soon forget about it and go on to have more children/more travel, because I can’t remember many bad experiences at all. All I can think of right now is the farce of our honeymoon booking in India, despite the travel agent (back in those days before The Internet!) making it clear it was a honeymoon booking, every single place we went we were booked into a twin room!!! And every single time we said we were on our honeymoon and could we have a double bed we were downgraded to one; never upgraded! The final straw was that the whole aim of the honeymoon was to stay at the Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur where it turned out we had no booking at all so we ended up in a single maid’s room in the hotel opposite the Lake Palace without a window!!! Image how we’d slaughter the company now on social media if that happened. Back then all we got by was of apology was a bottle of Indian red wine! But we still loved our honeymoon and it makes for a good story just like you say. Oh and now I think of it I remember a knife being pulled on us to pay more for a boat trip in Ha Long Bay but my beefy brother in law fought them off!

Thank heavens for beefy brother in laws! Oh my goodness, Phoebe, at least you can laugh about your Indian honeymoon. Hilarious as a story after the event but not quite so funny from the maid’s room looking out on the wonderful Lake Palace! You must be right about bad travel being like the pain of giving birth. If you stopped to think about it, you’d be far too nervous/worried about it all happening again. But sometimes I feel I live for the adventures – something to think about when you’re having a bad time with the computer (definitely like me today!)

Excellent post. I’m with you on the rodent front

Thanks so much, Catherine. They’re just awful, aren’t they?!

Wow! Those are quite the experiences. Nothing too catastrophic has happened to me, there was the Airbnb where we showed up to vomit all over the sink- and the host insisted he was too drunk at a Christmas party to come fix it and the time I had to share a tent with a stranger at a safari in South Africa and was too afraid of the snakes/tarantulas/scorpions outside our tent to leave it after dark!

Actually that Airbnb experience sounds absolutely horrific, Amanda! Oh my goodness, how revolting! I remember lying in my safari tent in Tanzania, listening to the sound of the lions roaring outside.

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My Worst Travel Moments: Part II

January 18, 2022 //  by  Gwen Engler //   Leave a Comment

Last summer, as I was publishing post after glowing post about Alaska during Alaska Month , I realized that there was something missing from the blog:

The bad stuff.

It suddenly dawned on me that although I had always been honest and transparent in recounting my experiences, I also hadn’t shared many of my less-glamorous stories: the ones where something went wrong, I made a mistake, I was massively underwhelmed, or I found myself in a dangerous situation. While I have been incredibly fortunate on the whole – and this blog is full of highlights – there  have also been plenty of moments that were disappointing, frustrating, or even downright scary. 

To be fair, many of those moments occurred long before I started Full Life, Full Passport , back in my early 20’s when I was backpacking through places like South America and Southeast Asia . Traveling on a bare-bones budget through developing nations comes with its own set of quirks, risks, and discomforts, and we certainly had some adventures as a result. My travels since launching FLFP have generally been smoother and more comfortable, so there also haven’t been as many negative stories to tell lately.

But I never want to appear disingenuous, and I don’t want to give the impression that life on the road is always rosy and stress-free. Thus, I set out to share some of my worst moments and memories. In the end, there were enough for two full blog posts! This is the second; if you haven’t read the first you can  find it here . Otherwise, please enjoy this peek behind the curtain at some of my less Instagram-worthy travel memories!

The Argentinian Car-Flipping Fiasco

I wrote about this particular episode in another post , but I’ll tease it here. While driving a rental car in remote southern Argentina , I fishtailed on some loose gravel, hit an embankment, and flipped the vehicle up onto its side. I’ll never forget the stomach-dropping sensation as those tires lifted into the air, nor the lonely, desperate feeling of being sixty kilometers from the nearest town with no way to get help. 

Thankfully, however, no one was hurt, and thanks to the kindness of some passers-by we eventually got the car back on four wheels and operational. Although we drove it for another week before returning to the rental agency, they declared it to be totaled. Paying that bill – and the nightmare of challenging extra charges in a foreign country – added insult to injury and was not an experience I’d like to repeat.

The Terrifying Taxi

Our three-month backpacking adventure was nearly over as we piled into a taxi bound for the airport in Rio de Janeiro,  Brazil … and it very nearly ended before we arrived. At first, I thought our driver’s inability to maintain a constant speed and general disregard for red lights were just another quirk of South American driving, especially since it was 3:00 in the morning. By the time we reached the highway, however, he was swerving erratically, narrowly missing concrete barriers and alternating between blazing speed and what could be considered a crawl. He was hunched over the steering wheel, mouth opening and closing like a gaping fish, blinking hard and completely unresponsive to anything we tried to say to him. If the roads hadn’t been nearly empty due to the pre-dawn hour, I’m convinced we never would have made it to the airport.

Thankfully, we eventually got him to stop once we were within walking distance of the terminals and dragged our things the rest of the way to the building. It was the most terrifying car ride of my life, and I can only pray that he – and anyone else in his path on the roads that morning – made it home safely.

The Hostel Rat

Staying in hostels and cheap guesthouses opens you up to a world of new experiences, both good and bad. Nothing, however, prepared me for the night in Hanoi, Vietnam , when I came face to face with the biggest rat I’ve ever seen. We had booked a room on one of the upper floors of a multi-storied guesthouse, and I was sitting on the steps outside our door when a massive rat came bounding up the stairs like he was headed back to his own room for the night. He paused on the landing, looked at me occupying the next flight he had to climb, considered a minute, and then turned around and scurried back downstairs. I, on the other hand, returned to my room and checked out the next morning.

The Missed Bus Mishap

While visiting  Prague, Czech Republic , M and I decided to take a day trip to visit the storybook town of  Český Krumlov . We spent a fantastic day wandering the cobbled streets, taking in the lovely architecture and beautiful views from the castle tower. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding about the bus schedules very nearly stranded us in the quaint little city and jeopardized our train ride to Budapest  the next morning. Having no understanding of the Czech language or Český Krumlov’s geography, we had disembarked from our morning bus at the wrong station and thus arrived back in the late afternoon to see our return bus pulling away. We thought we were early to meet it, but the time we had been aiming for was the time that the bus would be arriving at the next station, the one we were supposed to have used in the first place.

It was a Sunday afternoon and the bus depot was completely deserted. We had no cell service, the station building was completely empty, and we were out of Czech koruna because we were supposed to leave the country the next morning. After much distress (on my part), much frustration (on M’s part), and a panicked run up the road to get cash from an ATM, we were eventually able to plead our way onto a later bus bound for the larger city of České Budějovice. There, after more confusion (the Czech language is impossible!), we were finally able to catch a late-night train to Prague and make our Budapest train in the morning.

The Washed Out Wonder of the World

Another disappointment on our South American backpacking trip was that, despite it being a major point in our itinerary, we never made it to Machu Picchu in Peru . A couple of weeks before we arrived in Cusco, heavy rain and massive flooding spurred landslides that washed out roads and rail lines near Machu Picchu. Thousands of tourists were stranded in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes and on the Inca Trail, many of whom had to be airlifted out by helicopter. Machu Picchu was rendered inaccessible, and we had to move on without crossing this wonder of the world off our lists.

Thankfully, I had been able to visit Machu Picchu a couple of years before during my study abroad trip, and we did end up having a great time in Cusco anyway. But it was still massively disappointing to be so close and miss the chance to see the mountaintop citadel again, and I felt terrible for my traveling  companions who had so looked forward to seeing the ruins for themselves.

The Stranding in the Slum

In the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, I spent some time volunteering at my dad’s cousin’s humanitarian center in Cite Soleil, a city within the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. Known as one of the most impoverished and dangerous neighborhoods in the western hemisphere, Cite Soleil is filled with wonderful people by day, but unfortunately it is riddled with violence and gang activity after dark. Thus, each day we would drive into the city in the morning, work as long as we could, and then return to our hotel near the airport well before dusk. 

One day, however, our driver failed to arrive at the appointed time and we soon learned that his van had broken down. We were stranded, and darkness was beginning to fall. None of our Haitian friends and center employees owned a vehicle, and there were no tap-taps (painted buses that serve as public transportation/shared taxis) to be found. Soon, the people would retreat into their homes, the gang members would emerge, and anyone who could be held for ransom – particularly foreigners – would be at risk of being kidnapped… or worse.

Thankfully, a Brazilian peacekeeping force from the United Nations showed up just as it truly started to get dark, and soldiers posted up at each of the five entrances to the square where the organization’s buildings were located. They stayed there, watching the streets, high five-ing with curious kids, and good-naturedly tolerating my horrible Portuguese until we were finally able to be smuggled out in the back of a box truck.

The Ex Factor

I’ll keep this one brief and vague, for everyone’s benefit and privacy, but suffice it to say that I once chose to go on a trip as part of a group that included an ex-boyfriend. I say “boyfriend,” but our relationship status had never really been clear and all in all it was a really confusing and heartrending relationship. An otherwise excellent trip was marred by this emotional baggage, and it was no fun watching him flirt and hook up with other girls as we traveled along. A word of advice: be very, very selective about who you choose to travel with, because it can make a huge difference in how much you enjoy your trip and how fondly you look back upon it.

The Unexpected Shower

While exploring ancient ruins outside the Peruvian city of Trujillo, I was peed on by the world’s ugliest dog. It sought me out specifically, lifted a leg, and doused my pants before I even realized what was happening. Although our guide sprayed me down with something I hope was disinfectant, I still had to walk around for the rest of the day covered in dog urine that was steaming in the hot desert sun.

The Bad News from Home

I was just starting my second season as a  tour director  in Alaska when I got the call that my grandfather had passed away. Although his health had been declining for a while, it was still a huge blow made even worse by the fact that I was thousands of miles away from home and family. It wasn’t possible for me to go home for the services, so instead I spent that week putting on a smile I didn’t feel and helping a new group of guests have a wonderful, stress-free vacation to Alaska. Luckily, I had a great group of guests that week, but it was still really challenging to have to be upbeat and positive when inside I was grieving, lonely, and frequently on the verge of tears.

The Oversharing B&B Hostess

When my best friend, Molly , and I embarked on our long weekend trip to Iowa and Nebraska , we were excited to spend the first night in a cute bed and breakfast in pretty Dubuque, Iowa. Upon arrival, however, we discovered a worn out old house groaning under layers of dust and cat hair, with a proprietress who was quick to inquire about our opinions on Donald Trump and reminisce fondly about her time doing LSD with frat boys in college. My allergic reactions to the B&B’s feline inhabitants were only slightly stronger than my discomfort at the amount of detail our hostess shared about her rowdy past and current political opinions, and I’ve rarely been more happy to leave a night’s accommodations in the (literal) dust.

The Unwelcome Bedfellows

With my bare-bones backpacking budget, it was bound to happen sooner or later… I just didn’t expect it to happen less than two weeks into our three-month South America trip. We had just checked into a nice-looking hostel in Cuenca, Ecuador , which boasted a great location and a stunning view of the city’s famous New Cathedral. That night, I turned down my covers and absent-mindedly flicked a bug off my sheets. I didn’t think much of it; everyone gets the occasional insect in their room once in a while. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just one bug, and it wasn’t just any old insect. I had encountered my first bedbug infestation. Thankfully, we were soon on our way out of town, and I was tremendously fortunate that the little buggers didn’t seem to hitch a ride with me over the border into Peru.

Well, there they are: the second half of my worst experiences on the road. Do you have any crazy travel stories? If so, I’d love to hear them in the comments!

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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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My worst holiday: Guardian writers on breaks that nearly broke them

Rescues, rows and robberies – sometimes vacations don’t go according to plan. Tell us your own holiday nightmares in the comments or via GuardianWitness

The Whitsundays: What sort of holiday requires instructions?

Our first holiday as husband and wife was a disaster. This is not counting the honeymoon obviously, because honeymoons must be resolutely remembered as blissful, otherwise the union is doomed. But our first holiday thereafter, still newlyweds, still getting used to life in tandem: disaster.

No one actually mentioned the word divorce so early in the piece but when you’ve got one sailing boat, five days of unseasonably appalling conditions and two captains overinflating their sailing experience and underreporting their bossiness, that’s the threat lurking behind every curt instruction.

What sort of “holiday” requires instructions? Well exactly. A holiday in which one person must necessarily take charge in a bossy-boots kind of way is no holiday at all. Add to this disgruntlement the necessity to yell to be heard over roaring winds while you veer dangerously off-course, and you start dreaming of a holiday to get over the holiday.

This is what we imagined: the becalmed beauty of the Whitsunday Passage, that spectacular collection of islands protectively nestled inside the Great Barrier Reef, safe from prevailing winds; bright blue languid days gliding over turquoise waters, taking turns at the tiller in our togs; finding our own private cove as the sun goes down; diving into warm pristine waters; the tinkling of intimate laughter; the fizz of champagne and the sizzle of prawns on the barbie.

This is what we got: driving horizontal rain (freezing); cyclonic winds (freezing); nasty, choppy, steel-grey water (freezing). A heaving boat, the relentless slap, slap, slap of the hull, no reprieve in quiet coves, and yelling from stern to bow. I’ll look at the map, you steer! No, I’ll steer, you look at the map! Release the cleat, I said, the CLEAT.

Our combined minutes of sailing experience brought us undone when we hit a reef on day two, with a sickening crunch and lurch onto that pale bit on the map that you’re supposed to avoid. Can’t you see the red lines? The RED LINES!

I’ll save you the pain of days three and four and take you straight to day five: a mayday call, a rescue mission, and a midwater transfer from lurching boat to lurching boat.

A friend of mine once said he reckoned the best test for any new relationship is the camping trip, but the yachting in cyclonic conditions with next-to-no sailing experience trip will do the trick too. If you can make it through that, calmer waters await. Lucy Clark

Tokyo: ‘Please do not be shocked by my appearance’

Before I got on the plane from Barcelona to Tokyo I emailed the friend I was staying with. “Please do not be shocked by my appearance. I look a little different. Also, I won’t have any money when I arrive, so if you can help me sort it out – appreciate.”

My appearance was shocking. I gasped with horror whenever I accidentally glimpsed at myself in the mirror – and that was before I even registered that it was me looking back. My face got worse on the plane ride to Tokyo – whether it was just the cabin pressure or the time that bruises take to bloom. But my friend, meeting me at a Hilton in Tokyo, blanched when he saw me. My eyes were black and swollen shut, one side of my face was also swollen and bruised and a long line of black, badly stitched thread ran down my right temple to my brow. The stitching looked like someone had killed a very black spider on my face but left the corpse there.

I had been assaulted and robbed in Barcelona a few days before, which resulted in two black eyes, a swollen jaw and fractured skull, now dented and stitched together by an exhausted intern who would never win a prize for the neatness of his craftwork.

My friend in Tokyo was a lawyer who dealt with the complexities of transnational airline leases and wore immaculately tailored suits. We made an odd-looking couple as we went from bank to bank with my passport, trying to get money out or get money wired or just access it somehow. In his flawless Japanese he negotiated on my behalf as I stood there – my face a grotesque mask. But each time we were rebuffed. In a chilled Starbucks my friend brought me an iced coffee, which I drank through a straw (my jaw still hurt) and said, “The people in the bank probably think I beat you up and am trying to drain your bank accounts. That’s what it looks like.”

We tried one more bank, and when they said no, tears burst with some difficulty from my swollen eyes, and the sight might have been so weird and sad that they finally said yes.

The rest of the time in Tokyo I didn’t leave my friend’s flat. I was anxious and exhausted, and had started to dream of the assault in shattered and jumbled fragments. In the day, when I should have been exploring Tokyo, I lay on the couch in the cool, dark flat and watched reruns of Dawson’s Creek. Brigid Delaney

New South Wales: Vomit and a blizzard

Holidays with children are wonderfully unpredictable. Our three-week international jaunt with a four-year-old and two-year-old, which included about 50 hours of flying time, was a dream, despite the horror stories involving toddlers and long-haul flights. It was a week-long trip to the snow that turned out to be the family holiday that would bring us to our knees.

We had it all planned. This would be a skiing holiday that would not break the bank. We borrowed gear, waited all year for Aldi specials on kids’ snowboots and booked a family room in the youth hostel.

The journey from Sydney to the snowfields takes about six hours, according to Google, but by the time we had stopped multiple times to intervene in children’s fights, change nappies and for plentiful snack breaks, seven hours had passed and we were only in Canberra. We booked a last-minute room at great expense in a hotel where there was a gathering of tax auditors or something, so the whole place was full.

The next day, we made it to our cosy room at the hostel. Then the projectile vomiting started. Our two-year-old had developed a high fever within minutes of us putting our bags down and was quite ill. Instead of marvelling at the snow swirling across the mountains outside, we were stuck in a room about the size of a small car trying to administer Panadol to a writhing toddler.

I stayed up most of the night worrying about how to drive in the snow to a hospital if things got worse – at one point he started convulsing. Vomit was on all of our clothes, the bedsheets, everything. We couldn’t turn the light on because it would wake our daughter so we had to use mobile phones to try to see what was happening (we hadn’t packed a torch). We couldn’t open the window to get rid of the smell because there was a blizzard outside.

The next morning, the conditions on the mountain were perfect but the little bloke was still very ill. Fresh white powdery snow was everywhere but we had to make the call to pack up and head home, fearing another night of temperatures in the 40s and no access to a doctor. While my wife packed up, I took our daughter to the snowfield to build a quick snowman and ride on a toboggan. In the end, we spent three days travelling, thousands of dollars probably (I didn’t want to add it up) and about 30 minutes – total – at the snow. Patrick Keneally

Sicily: Even shouting, we couldn’t hear each other

I’d pre-booked most of the accommodation for our driving trip around Sicily because with a five-year old the days of “let’s just see where we end up” were well behind us. But there was one day when I wasn’t sure how far across the southern coast we’d drive so I figured we’d just find something that night. “How bad could it be?” I thought. As it turns out, very bad.

Everything was full when we started looking in the late afternoon. Hours later, as the “I’m hungry” whine from the back seat turned into a meltdown, the tourism office in Sciacca said they had a “private rental”. We followed a bloke on a bike to a neat little terrace house near the port, paid him, promised to leave the keys on the living-room table, and wandered across the road to a trattoria for dinner, feeling quite pleased.

But as we returned we noticed the terrace next to ours was setting up chairs and tables on the pavement outside its front door and ours. Well-dressed young Italians were getting out of cars and a very loud sound check seemed to be emanating from our living room.

The terrace next door was a night club. The music began around nine, shaking the walls and vibrating through the floor. The pavement outside our front door was packed with screaming, dancing revellers. The “beer garden” included our back courtyard. Even shouting, we couldn’t hear each other. We drank some beers and tried to entertain our son who was hysterical with exhaustion. Finally, at 4am, the music stopped, but then the clean-up staff smashed bottles and sang football songs until dawn.

We left as elderly neighbours arrived home on the back of scooters, having obviously fled to sleep somewhere quieter. My husband may have thrown the keys into the harbour. Lenore Taylor

Sydney: A normal weekend day (in a bad way)

Our previous expensive family holiday had ended in disaster, so we decided to be smart and holiday at home this time. It would be cheap! It would be fun! We would save time travelling to our destination and just ... be.

I would like to write that things went well initially, but they didn’t. On the eve of our staycation my daughter got a temperature and was up all night saying her tummy hurt. Exhausted, we scrapped plans to go fruit picking the next day and stayed local. It was like a normal weekend day. We even went to the supermarket.

The following day we made it to the peach farm and successfully picked two bags of fruit! It was to be the highlight of the holiday. Gastro struck the rest of the family down in the following days. Oh, it was a staycation all right – in the bathroom.

When we finally emerged, thinner, paler and jaded, we had one day left of “holiday”. We went to the supermarket. The car broke down on the way home. Bonnie Malkin

The Netherlands: Car trouble

At one point on this holiday we visited the Vaalserberg, a place where the borders of Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet. So you can stand in three countries at the same time. That did not make it the worst holiday in itself, but I say that as a preface for a detail about this story. Which is that when we – my dad driving, my mum alongside, a 16- or 17-year-old fractious me in the backseat, my younger sister and brother – headed down a remote country road, I can’t remember what language the road sign saying DO NOT ENTER was actually in. Or maybe it was just a sign with no words. Anyway, the meaning was fairly obvious, in retrospect.

I remember the next bit, which was about 100m away: the wheels of the Nurofen-coloured Talbot spinning round in the mud, countryside flying everywhere like an outtake from Carry on Camping. Us getting out of the car while the local farmers – Dutch? Let’s say they were Dutch – watched amused and incredulous. My dad in his cords, out of the car, pulling clods from tyres. I think then a tractor, and a rope. And an exchange with the Dutch farmers about that sign back there, you know the one saying DO NOT ENTER in one (or possibly two, or none) of four languages. It wasn’t raining; I guess that was a silver lining.

And it also meant that when I became a driver myself I had learned my lesson. I’ve only so far since had to be pulled out twice by a tractor, when I was a reporter in eastern England, both times within weeks of each other. No one told me there was a ditch there. Or there.

Everything was wrong with that holiday. Night terrors. Family dynamics. Me. Flat as a pancake – the land and the atmosphere. It was the family holiday you vow not to go on again – and you don’t until you get older, when you find that your parents are just the sort of people you want to spend time with like that. Strangely enough it produced one of the best all-family pictures we ever had taken, us all smiling. It contained a broader truth but in that week was a hideous lie. My dad had a very dry wit and was not great with cars.

A year later, or before, we got off the motor-rail in Milan and – bang – the exhaust fell off. So we saw not so much of the Piazza del Duomo, quite a lot of the Talbot dealer in the less fashionable outskirts. And he had a line about inventing a new Olympic sport: Battery-carrying on the Pembrokeshire coast. We didn’t think it was much of a goer, but that was before they allowed synchronised swimming, and golf. Will Woodward

The Whitsundays II: Sea rescue in failing light

Tears of terror rolling down my children’s cheeks are the most enduring memory of my worst holiday ever – a sailing trip in the Whitsundays in April 2014 that turned into a sea rescue in fading light.

We probably should have twigged that something was wrong when the outboard motor on the dinghy failed on day one. An engineer was dispatched to repair it and we sailed north towards Hayman Island in a blustering 40-knot easterly.

After lunch the catamaran’s port-side engine failed. Powerful gusts – or “bullets” as they are known locally – tested our anchor overnight as we waited for another engineer. Surely day three would be better.

In the late afternoon we set off for a sheltered overnight mooring. After 10 minutes, the starboard engine’s gauge ran hot. My son came up from the cabin saying he could smell smoke as black clouds billowed out of the stern hull.

If a boat is on fire, you get off – they tend to go up (or down) very quickly.

I deployed the fire extinguisher as my husband lowered the dinghy into the water. The kids, aged eight and nine, sat silently, frozen with fear. I don’t think they had ever seen their parents in emergency mode.

I asked them to find their precious bed teddies – items I knew we could not live without. They say that’s when they knew we were really in trouble. The scraping sound that followed was unmistakeable. We had drifted onto the reef in a falling tide with no idea how much damage had been done ... by the fire or the coral.

Eventually the harbourmaster at Hayman Island came to our aid as night fell – but catamarans were permanently struck off our holiday list that day. Alison Rourke

Corsica: ‘It is forbidden to pee in your wetsuit’

Corsica, Zonza in particular, was, according to every person I knew who’d been (two people), a brilliant location for canyoning. You couldn’t go to Corsica and not canyon.

Our tour was jam-packed with outdoorsy types, the true kind– not the kind who only do outdoorsy for one day on one holiday per year. They looked fit, had hiking gear and, unlike us, had brought lunch. As the only non-French speakers, we felt alone and outcast. We went off to find a sandwich, contemplating for the first time that we may have got ourselves into a semi-dangerous situation. Or worse. A just plain dangerous situation.

When our guide told us to “try on” our abseiling gear and that he would check it for safety, I weighed up in my mind the pros and cons of the day as I now saw it.

Pros: Zonza was a great place to try canyoning. And the guides were cute!

Cons: we look like absolute fools, or worse – die! And that would be in front of the cute guides.

Perhaps had I been a bit more careful while hiking down to the canyon, instead of practising in my head all the words I knew in French that I could possibly put together to impress upon the guides and fellow travellers that I was not a complete fool after all, I would not have tripped on those stones, lost balance, fell over and then rolled sideways down the rocky hiking path.

We hadn’t even got to the dangerous part yet. I started to wonder if my £10m travel insurance policy would cover a helicopter coming in to get me right about now when my friend Helen enquired:

“Why didn’t we find out exactly what canyoning was?”

“I don’t know.”

A guide started giving instructions in French. He seemed to be saying pretty important stuff. People were watching him and looking serious. Every now and then some nervous laughter broke out. Eventually he looked at Helen and me and said: “Mathieu will tell you in English.”

After roughly five to seven minutes of watching him talk, Mattieu did. “So in canyoning you jump like this. You take one step forward and push off with the other foot, almost like running. Use your arms to get your balance and then do this.”

He crossed his arms across his chest. That was it. The other guide’s pep talk reduced to three sentences.

Before we left, our guide made one more announcement in English: “It is forbidden to pee in your wetsuit.”

We reached our first drop quite quickly, and were there met with a choice: a two-metre or four-metre jump. So this was canyoning: jumping off rocks into water you can’t see and abseiling down rocks at ever-greater heights.

My first jump turned out to be quite exhilarating and I began to believe the hike may have been the scariest part of the day. Then Helen said there was no way she was jumping off a nine-metre high waterfall. “I probably should have thought that my fear of heights may have affected my ability to do this,” pondered Helen, as she swam through the canyon’s fresh stream, face white and heart pounding.

Let’s just say, the next five hours were long. I’m glad I’ve done it, but I’ll not be canyoning again any time soon. On the plus side, we never had cause to call in that helicopter. Gabrielle Jackson

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Editor’s Note: We know that many of you are looking for help writing travel experience essays for school or simply writing about a trip for your friends or family. To inspire you and help you write your next trip essay—whether it’s an essay about a trip with family or simply a way to remember your best trip ever (so far)—we enlisted the help of Professor Kathleen Boardman, whose decades of teaching have helped many college students learn the fine art of autobiography and life writing. Here’s advice on how to turn a simple “my best trip” essay into a story that will inspire others to explore the world.

Welcome home! Now that you’re back from your trip, you’d like to share it with others in a travel essay. You’re a good writer and a good editor of your work, but you’ve never tried travel writing before. As your potential reader, I have some advice and some requests for you as you write your travel experience essay.

Trip Essays: What to Avoid

Please don’t tell me everything about your trip. I don’t want to know your travel schedule or the names of all the castles or restaurants you visited. I don’t care about the plane trip that got you there (unless, of course, that trip is the story).

I have a friend who, when I return from a trip, never asks me, “How was your trip?” She knows that I would give her a long, rambling answer: “… and then … and then … and then.” So instead, she says, “Tell me about one thing that really stood out for you.” That’s what I’d like you to do in this travel essay you’re writing.

The Power of Compelling Scenes

One or two “snapshots” are enough—but make them great. Many good writers jump right into the middle of their account with a vivid written “snapshot” of an important scene. Then, having aroused their readers’ interest or curiosity, they fill in the story or background. I think this technique works great for travel writing; at least, I would rather enjoy a vivid snapshot than read through a day-to-day summary of somebody’s travel journal.

Write About a Trip Using Vivid Descriptions

Take your time. Tell a story. So what if you saw things that were “incredible,” did things that were “amazing,” observed actions that you thought “weird”? These words don’t mean anything to me unless you show me, in a story or a vivid description, the experience that made you want to use those adjectives.

I’d like to see the place, the people, or the journey through your eyes, not someone else’s. Please don’t rewrite someone else’s account of visiting the place. Please don’t try to imitate a travel guide or travelogue or someone’s blog or Facebook entry. You are not writing a real travel essay unless you are describing, as clearly and honestly as possible, yourself in the place you visited. What did you see, hear, taste, say? Don’t worry if your “take” on your experience doesn’t match what everyone else says about it. (I’ve already read what THEY have to say.)

The Importance of Self-Editing Your Trip Essay

Don’t give me your first draft to read. Instead, set it aside and then reread it. Reread it again. Where might I need more explanation? What parts of your account are likely to confuse me? (After all, I wasn’t there.) Where might you be wasting my time by repeating or rambling on about something you’ve already told me?

Make me feel, make me laugh, help me learn something. But don’t overdo it: Please don’t preach to me about broadening my horizons or understanding other cultures. Instead, let me in on your feelings, your change of heart and mind, even your fear and uncertainty, as you confronted something you’d never experienced before. If you can, surprise me with something I didn’t know or couldn’t have suspected.

You Can Do It: Turning Your Trip into a Great Travel Experience Essay

I hope you will take yourself seriously as a traveler and as a writer. Through what—and how—you write about just a small portion of your travel experience, show me that you are an interesting, thoughtful, observant person. I will come back to you, begging for more of your travel essays.

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Essay on Travel Experience [200, 500 Words] With PDF

Travelling plays an important role in our lives as it enriches our experience. In this lesson, you will learn to write essays in three different sets on the importance of libraries. It will help you in articulating your thoughts in the upcoming exams.

Table of Contents

Essay on travel experience in 200 words, essay on travel experience in 500 words.

We travel to get away from the monotony of our daily lives. It’s a refreshing diversion from the monotony of everyday life. It allows our minds to relax and gives our inner child the opportunity to play. Some trip memories are nostalgic and melancholy, while others are daring and exhilarating. A trip to the graveyard, the poet’s corner in London, or one’s ancestral house, for example, is a voyage to nostalgia.

These travels allow them to relive memories and treasure golden memories from a bygone era. People who go on these journeys are frequently depressed and artistically inclined. Travelling instils a sense of adventure and encourages us to make the most of every opportunity. Some people prefer to travel in groups, whereas others prefer to travel alone.

Trips to amusement parks with massive roller coasters or a deeply wooded forest could be exciting. It’s important to remember that Columbus discovered America due to his travels. The journey becomes much more memorable when things don’t go as planned. For example, if a car tyre blows out on the highway and it begins to rain heavily, the trip will turn into an adventure, even though it was not intended to be such. A visit to a museum or a gothic structure, on the other hand, is sure to be exciting.

We travel to get a break from the mundane and robust lifestyle. It is a welcome change from the monotonous routine existence. It helps our minds rest and gives the inner child within us to have a good time.

Not all travelling experiences are adventurous and exciting, and some are nostalgic and melancholic. For instance, a trip to the cemetery or the poet’s corner in London or one’s ancestral home will be a nostalgia trip. Such trips help them re-live the moments and cherish the golden memories of bygone times. People who undertake such trips are often melancholic and have an artistic sensibility.

Travelling experiences bring enthusiasm and teach us to make the best of every moment. While some enjoy travelling in groups, some people love to travel solo. Adventurous trips could be to amusement parks with giant roller coasters or a deep, dense forest. One must not forget that travelling led Columbus to discover America. When things don’t go as planned, the trip becomes more memorable. For instance, if the car tyre gets punctured on the highway and starts raining heavily, the trip, even if not intended to be adventurous, shall become one. A trip to a museum or gothic architecture shall be thrilling. 

Last Christmas, my trip to Goa with my friends was an enriching one. The golden sun-soaked beaches offered a refuge from the humdrum city life of Kolkata. The cool breeze, the rising and setting sun, and the chilly wind all transported me to heaven. It was paradisal and divine. The cuisine was exquisite. The Portuguese culture and the museums offer various historical insights.

Although it was the peak season and most crowded places, people were civilised and cultured. The melodious music was in the air in every nook and corner, and the happy vibes were contagious. I danced, sang, played and had a great time. I tried sky diving, and it was a thrilling experience.

Besides fun and frolic, I found the independent spirit of people commendable. We spent three days in North Goa and two days in South Goa. We stayed at a guest house as most hotels were expensive and very occupied. We booked scooters to travel far and near. We also went on the cruise for the casino night.

My favourite spot was Thalassa, where we enjoyed the spectacular belly dance performance by males and females. We spent Christmas at Curlies witnessing the waxing moon at midnight. The lap of nature enriches one travelling experience and soothes their soul. The chirping of birds, the sound of the waterfall, the waves of a beach or the snow-covered mountain uplifts the traveller’s spirit.

One must not restrict oneself to a specific type of travelling experience. Life, after all, is a long journey that offers us different durations of vacations to make us laugh and learn at the same time. As Francis Bacon puts it, “Travel in the younger sort is a part of education, in the elder, a part of the experience.”

Hopefully, after going through this lesson, you have a holistic idea of the importance of travelling in our lives. I have tried to cover every aspect of a traveller’s experience within limited words. If you still have any doubts regarding this session, kindly let me know through the comment section below. To read more such essays on many important topics, keep browsing our website. 

Join us on Telegram to get the latest updates on our upcoming sessions. Thank you, see you again soon.

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Travel: Personal Experience

One of my passions is travelling. Travel involves visiting new places and meeting new people and having varied experiences. I come originally from Romania and have travelled to UK and US. I remember the quote by Samuel Johnson: “All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it”. I have had the luck of visiting better countries and I believe my travel experiences have taught me a lot about human life and helped me expand the way I see things.

When I first travelled within Romania, it opened my eyes to how other people live. I saw how people lived happily even though they did not have much money or luxuries. It taught me that to be happy, money is not the only thing. I must have an attitude to be happy with what I have. It also taught me to accept people from different races and colors. When I travelled abroad, I saw new cultures and different lifestyles.

It was very exciting and adventurous. I learnt to enjoy these new experiences, to become part of these varied cultures by taking their food, wearing their dresses, etc. This has created in me the awareness that people all over the world are basically the same but they are different in the cultures – have different ways of talking, singing, enjoying, dancing, writing, building, dressing and conducting business. I have acquired a more global perspective of the world we live in. My knowledge has thus expanded because of my travel.

Self-confidence is another quality that I developed as a result of travelling. Whenever I travel, I had to be responsible for my own luggage, tickets and documents. I had to be careful in taking flights and cabs. When I was in my home country, I used to be shy to talk to new people. But during my travels, I learnt to talk to strangers and ask for help whenever I needed it. This gave me the confidence that I can make new friends. Also, new places sometimes had new customs that I had to adapt to.

Travel is the time I use to read and listen to music. This also gives me the time to reflect deeply on my life’s goals and where I am right now. It is an ideal opportunity to break free from a routine lifestyle. I feel very much relaxed during my travel and enjoy seeing new scenes and landscapes. It gives me time to discover more about myself. For example, when I was in Los Angeles, I saw a rock music performance at a club where everyone danced. I had not danced earlier at clubs. But when I joined the fun, I was surprised to realize that I enjoyed the experience a lot.

Travel also gives me a sense of being free and independent. It makes my mind open to new experiences all the time. Even during a flight, I get to taste new food, hear a new language, see new ways of dressing and listen to new kinds of music. This is very exciting and I thoroughly enjoy my life during these moments.

Through my travels, I have made many new international friends. Conversing with them has helped me understand their cultures better and I also have opportunities of improving my English which is now very important when travelling in UK and US. Moreover, as I intend to study in United States, it is good to improve my language skills before I begin my studies. Travelling to the United States has also helped me absorb their local culture and understand the value of hard work.

Above all, whenever I return to Romania after my travels, it helps me appreciate my home country a lot. I value Romanian culture and the warm way in which people relate to each other. I can appreciate it all the more when I travel abroad. Thus, my passion for travel while giving me fun, dreams and confidence, has also educated me, helped me embrace new cultures and new communication skills, adopt a more global perspective, improve my English and given me lots of good friends and wonderful memories. It has made me a richer person internally.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, November 24). Travel: Personal Experience. https://ivypanda.com/essays/travels-personal-experience/

"Travel: Personal Experience." IvyPanda , 24 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/travels-personal-experience/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Travel: Personal Experience'. 24 November.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Travel: Personal Experience." November 24, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/travels-personal-experience/.

1. IvyPanda . "Travel: Personal Experience." November 24, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/travels-personal-experience/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Travel: Personal Experience." November 24, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/travels-personal-experience/.

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Essay on My Travel Experience

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Travel Experience in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Travel Experience

Introduction to travel.

Travel is like a book with many chapters, each telling a different story. My travel stories are full of colors, sounds, and tastes from new places.

Meeting New People

When I travel, I meet people with lives very different from mine. They share their stories and I learn new things. It’s like making friends in a playground.

Seeing Nature’s Beauty

Nature is a great painter. In my travels, I’ve seen mountains like giant guards and oceans whispering with waves. Each place shows me a new picture of the world.

Learning About Cultures

Every place has its own way of living, like a unique game everyone plays. I’ve seen dances, clothes, and foods that are special to each place.

Traveling is a joyful adventure. It’s like jumping into a book where every page is a surprise. I can’t wait to see where my next trip takes me.

250 Words Essay on My Travel Experience

My first trip.

My first trip was to a beautiful beach town. The sun was bright and the waves were gentle. I went there with my family during summer break. We packed our bags with clothes, snacks, and games.

We started our journey in our car early in the morning. The roads were not busy and the trip felt quick. We played songs and I looked out the window at the trees and hills passing by.

When we arrived, the first thing I saw was the vast blue sea. It was amazing! The beach had soft sand and I could hear the sound of the waves. We built sandcastles and collected pretty shells.

Trying New Food

We ate at a small restaurant near the beach. I tried seafood for the first time. It was different but tasty. We also had ice cream which was perfect in the warm weather.

Fun Activities

We did many fun things like swimming and playing beach volleyball. I also took a boat ride with my dad. It was exciting to see the water around us and feel the breeze.

Coming Back Home

After three days, it was time to go back home. I was sad but happy with all the new memories. The trip made me love traveling and I can’t wait to go on another adventure.

500 Words Essay on My Travel Experience

Introduction to my journey.

Traveling is like opening a book with pages filled with new pictures, words, and stories. I have been lucky to experience this joy through my travels. I want to share my travel experience, which was both fun and educational, in a way that is easy for everyone to understand.

Planning the Trip

Before going on any trip, planning is very important. I remember sitting with my family and deciding where to go. We looked at maps, read about places on the internet, and talked about what we wanted to see. We chose a place that had both mountains and a beach. Then, we made a list of things to take with us, like clothes, snacks, and a camera to capture our memories.

The Journey Begins

The day we left for our trip was filled with excitement. We woke up early, packed our car, and started our adventure. As we drove, I watched the trees and buildings pass by my window. I played games with my siblings and listened to music. The journey was long, but it was also a chance to see new places outside my usual surroundings.

Exploring New Places

When we reached our destination, I was amazed by the new sights. The mountains were tall and covered with green trees, and the sea was a beautiful blue. We went hiking in the mountains, and I felt like an explorer discovering a new land. On the beach, I built sandcastles and collected shells. Every place we visited had its own story and people who lived there, and I learned a lot just by looking around and talking to them.

One of the best parts of traveling is trying food that you don’t get at home. I tasted new fruits that grew in the mountains and ate seafood that was caught in the sea that same day. Some foods were strange at first, but I found that it’s fun to try new things.

Making Memories

Every day of our trip, I took pictures and wrote in a journal. I wanted to remember everything: the sights, the sounds, and how I felt. When I look back at those photos and read my notes, I can relive the trip all over again. These memories are like treasures that I will keep forever.

Learning Through Travel

Traveling taught me so much. I learned about nature, different cultures, and history. I also learned to be patient during long journeys and to be open to new experiences. Seeing new places made me curious about the world and eager to learn more.

My travel experience was more than just a holiday. It was a chance to see the world with my own eyes and learn things that books and school could not teach me. I made memories that will last a lifetime and found out that every place has its own magic. I can’t wait to go on my next trip and discover more about our amazing world.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Tourism — The Best Travel Experience of My Life – Burma

The Best Travel Experience of My Life - Burma

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5 Essays on My Travel Experience – Joys, Memories, Friends [ 2024 ]

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Traveling is the wonderful and most beautiful thing to have in life. Traveling broadens our mental capabilities and understanding of life. The following essay on topic My Travel Experience via travel to Goa sums up best life moments of my journey. This essay is very helpful for children and students in school exams and written tests.

List of Topics

Essay on My Travel Experience | My Joyful Train Travel Experience to Goa

Traveling bring a unique experience with wonderful memories to cherish for the rest of life. It exposes one to different lifestyles, people, and places. It helps us learn new things and explore the world beyond our imagination. For me, traveling is an opportunity to relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

I had always wanted to travel by train but never got a chance until recently when I went on a vacation to Goa. I took the train from Mumbai to Goa and it was a wonderful experience. The journey was very relaxing and the views were amazing. I saw different types of landscapes and villages as we passed by. I also got a chance to meet some interesting people from all walks of life.

I utilized multiple ways to  maximize my joy during train travel experience to Goa. I made sure that I had my travel essentials with me so that I could make the most of my journey. I carried a map of the train route, some snacks and drinks, and a book to keep me entertained during the long journey. I also made sure to dress comfortably as I knew I would be sitting in the same position for a long time.

>>>> Read Also : ” Essay on Experience is the Best Teacher “

I started my journey early in the morning so that I could enjoy the views of the sunrise. As the train made its way through the countryside, I was mesmerized by the beauty of nature. The fields, trees, and rivers looked like a painting. I also saw some animals grazing by the side of the tracks. It was a wonderful experience and I felt very lucky to be able to witness it.

The journey was a bit tiring as it took over 16 hours, but it was definitely worth it. I arrived in Goa feeling refreshed and relaxed. I would definitely recommend traveling by train to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of India’s countryside. It is an experience that I will never forget.

My Suggestion to Everybody Travelling via Train

1. Make sure you carry all your essentials with you, including a map of the train route, snacks, and drinks. 2. Dress comfortably so that you can relax in your seat during the journey. 3. Start your journey early in the morning to enjoy the views of the sunrise. 4. Talk to the people around you to learn more about their culture and way of life. 5. Take plenty of breaks to stretch your legs and walk around the train. 6. Enjoy the scenery as you pass through different landscapes and villages.

Therefore, my train trip to Goa was a unique one. I met different types of people from all walks of life. I also got a chance to experience the beauty of India’s countryside. I would definitely recommend this mode of transportation to anyone who wants to explore India. It is an experience that I will never forget. Do you like travelling by train? What are some of your best experiences? Let us know in the comments below!

Unforgettable Travel Experience Essay:

Traveling is one of the most enriching and life-changing experiences one can have. It allows us to step out of our comfort zone, immerse ourselves in different cultures, and create unforgettable memories. Among all my travels, there is one particular trip that stands out as my most unforgettable travel experience.

It was a solo backpacking journey across Europe, and it was my first time traveling alone. I had always wanted to explore the world on my own terms, without any restrictions or agendas. So, when I finally got the opportunity to take a month-long break from work, I knew exactly where I wanted to go – Europe.

I started my journey in Paris, the city of love and lights. From there, I traveled to Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. Each city had its unique charm and history that captivated me. The museums in Paris were a treasure trove of art and culture; the canals in Amsterdam were picturesque; the street art in Berlin was thought-provoking; the architecture in Prague was breathtaking; the palaces in Vienna exuded grandeur, and the ruin bars in Budapest were vibrant.

But what made this trip truly unforgettable was not just the places I visited, but also the people I met along the way. As a solo traveler, I had to rely on my communication skills to make friends and navigate through unfamiliar territories. This experience pushed me out of my shell and allowed me to connect with people from different backgrounds and nationalities. From hostel roommates to locals I met at cafes, each person had a unique story to tell and left an indelible mark on my journey.

Moreover, being alone in a foreign land made me more aware of my surroundings and more appreciative of the little things in life. Whether it was sipping coffee at a quaint café while people-watching, admiring a street performer’s talents, or getting lost in the cobblestone streets of old towns – these were moments that I would have missed if I had been traveling with others.

As my trip came to an end, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for this unforgettable travel experience. It taught me so much about myself and the world around me. It showed me that there is so much beauty and diversity in the world, and it only takes a curious mind and an open heart to experience it. This trip also gave me the confidence to continue traveling solo, and since then, I have visited many other countries on my own.

In conclusion, my unforgettable travel experience across Europe was not just a journey of visiting new places but also a journey of self-discovery, cultural immersion, and personal growth. It will always hold a special place in my heart and serve as a constant reminder to keep exploring and creating unforgettable memories.

My Travel Experience Story:

My love for travel started at a young age when my parents took me on my first trip to the beach. The new sights, sounds and smells fascinated me and I knew that I wanted to keep exploring more of our beautiful world.

As I grew older, my passion for traveling only intensified. I saved up money from odd jobs and planned trips with friends whenever possible. But it wasn’t until I took my first solo trip that I truly fell in love with traveling. Being able to set my own itinerary, make decisions on the spot and fully immerse myself in a new culture was an exhilarating experience.

During one of my solo trips, I went backpacking through a few countries in Southeast Asia. It was an eye-opening journey filled with adventure, delicious food and wonderful people. I learned so much about myself and gained a new perspective on life.

Since then, I have made it a priority to travel at least once a year. My destinations range from popular tourist spots to off-the-beaten-path locations. Each trip brings its own unique experiences and memories that I will always cherish.

Traveling has not only allowed me to see amazing places, but it has also taught me valuable life lessons. I have learned to be more adaptable, patient and open-minded. I have made lasting connections with people from different backgrounds and cultures, broadening my understanding of the world.

I believe that traveling is one of the best ways to learn and grow as an individual. It allows you to step out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself and gain a new appreciation for the world we live in. I am grateful for every opportunity I have had to travel and I cannot wait to see where my next adventure takes me. So here’s to more stamps on the passport and memories to last a lifetime!

Travel Experience in English:

Traveling with friends is an experience unlike any other. It allows you to not only explore new places but also strengthen the bond between you and your friends. Recently, I had the opportunity to go on a trip with my college buddies and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

We planned our trip for months, deciding on a budget-friendly destination that would cater to everyone’s interests. We finally settled on a beach destination and were eagerly looking forward to our adventure.

The trip began with an early morning flight and all of us being sleep-deprived, but the excitement and anticipation kept us going. As soon as we landed, we made our way to our accommodation which was right by the beach. The scenic view from our room instantly lifted our spirits and we knew it was going to be an amazing trip.

Over the next few days, we explored the local markets, tasted new cuisines, and indulged in various water activities. The ocean breeze, warm sun on our skin, and carefree attitude made us feel alive. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, took countless pictures, and made unforgettable memories.

But what made this trip truly special were the conversations we had. We talked about anything and everything, from our childhood memories to our future aspirations. Being away from the chaos of college life, we got a chance to connect on a deeper level and understand each other better.

Reflecting back on that trip, it was not just about visiting a new place, but also about the bond we shared. Traveling with friends brings you closer, teaches you patience and understanding, and makes for unforgettable experiences.

I highly recommend everyone to plan a trip with their friends at least once in their life. It doesn’t have to be an exotic location, even a nearby town or city will do. What matters is the time you spend together and the memories you create. It’s a great way to recharge and reconnect with your friends, and I guarantee you won’t regret it. So don’t wait, start planning your next trip with your buddies today! Happy travels! Let the adventures begin!

Essay on why traveling is Important:

Travelling is an important aspect of life that allows us to explore the world around us and learn about different cultures, people, and places. Whether it’s a short trip to a nearby city or a long journey to a foreign country, travelling has the power to broaden our horizons and change our perspective on life.

One of the main reasons why travelling is important is that it provides us with the opportunity to step out of our comfort zone and experience new things. When we travel, we are exposed to different customs, languages, and ways of life that may be unfamiliar to us. This allows us to challenge ourselves and learn more about who we are as individuals.

Moreover, travelling also helps us understand and appreciate diversity. In today’s globalized world, it is essential to have a broad understanding of different cultures and societies. By travelling, we get the chance to meet people from all walks of life and gain a deeper appreciation for their traditions, beliefs, and values.

Travelling also allows us to disconnect from our daily routines and live in the moment. It gives us the opportunity to relax, unwind and take a break from our busy lives. By exploring new places and trying out new activities, we can rejuvenate ourselves and come back with a fresh perspective on life.

In addition to personal growth, travelling also has numerous educational benefits. It provides us with the opportunity to learn about history, art, architecture, and other subjects in a hands-on manner. By visiting museums, historical sites and attending cultural events, we can gain a better understanding of the world and its rich history.

Travelling also has a significant impact on our mental well-being. It allows us to escape from stress, anxiety and other negative emotions that may be weighing us down. By immersing ourselves in new surroundings and engaging in new experiences, we can improve our mood and overall mental health.

Finally, travelling also has a positive impact on the economy. It generates employment opportunities and contributes to local businesses in the places we visit. By supporting the local economy, we can help improve the lives of people living in those areas.

>>>> Read Also : ” Essay On Transportation, Types & Importance “

In conclusion, travelling is an essential part of life that allows us to grow personally, culturally, and intellectually. It has numerous benefits that not only enrich our lives but also contribute to the growth of society. So, pack your bags and embark on a journey of self-discovery, knowledge, and adventure!

• Start with a compelling introduction.
• Share personal experiences and observations.
• Use vivid descriptions and sensory details.
• Include cultural insights and interactions.
• Reflect on the impact of the journey.
• Conclude with a memorable closing.
• A travel essay is a literary genre that combines elements of travelogue and personal reflection.
• It narrates the author’s experiences, impressions, and emotions during a journey.
• It often explores cultural, historical, or social aspects of the destination.
• Travel essays can inform, entertain, and inspire readers to explore new places.

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