Travels Gone Wrong! Worst Travel Experiences By 19 Travelers

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

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

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

Marya Sutimi @ BeauTraveler : Getting Sick in Laos

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

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

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

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

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

Maartje @ Unieke Vakantieplekjes : Robbed in Tulum, Mexico

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tina @ Veganderlust : Cancelled Flights at Auckland, New Zealand

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

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

Karen @ Outdoor Adventure Sampler : Medical Emergency in Mexico

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

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

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

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

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

Kristine @ Wanderlust Designers : Scammed in Milan, Italy

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

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

Melissa @ My Beautiful Passport : Scammed in Panama City

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mansoureh @ Travel with Mansoureh : Scammed by Police in Mexico

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

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

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

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

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

Bernard Tan : The infamous Thai gem scam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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