Whats your worst vacation mishap? Here's mine...

[TipsyTraveler]

This is what my DH's sense of humor looked like that night they took us in.

 

[camreesmom]

My first trip to Disney World ever. Looking back it is a cute story to tell but so many bad decisions.

Well fast forward to day of trip. We get up at crack butt of dawn o'clock at head to the Philadelphia airport. I was pretty nauseous in the car but figured no sleep (I was the kid in those 90s commercials who can't sleep knowing they are meeting Mickey tomorrow) and the crazy cab driver meant I was car sick. We get to the TSA line and the entire time I feel sick I figure it is just the car sickness. The line felt like forever and boyfriend keeps saying we can go home and reschedule it isn't that big of a deal. I start crying and saying no I've been waiting for this day my entire life I'm fine it is just car sickness. Next thing I know I throw up but there is no trash can in the TSA line so I had to do it in the recycling bin. At that point I felt weak but better so was like lets push through. We get to Disney, I'm overly emotional and nauseous the whole trip. I will never forget at Garden Grill asking the waitress how fast it spins because it was making me sick and felt so fast. She laughed and said rough Mission Space trip. I was a trooper through that trip even the time I was so weak after a day in the parks that I rolled my knee and couldn't walk back to the room so my fiance carried me. There are only a few small details I remember and it seems I must have had a 24 hour stomach bug that then just made me so weak that I didn't recover until days after we got home.

Lesson totally learned that if one of us is sick we just postpone the trip. We totally laugh now about how determined I was to push through but realize how stupid I was to actually go.

I thought we were the only ones that used that phrase.....lol

 

[minniecarousel]

Dang! My mis-haps are nothing compared to most of you!

We took a Hawaiian island-hopping cruise. I let the cruise line book our airfare to Honolulu from Oakland. We get to the airport & our flight was cancelled. So they book us on another flight out of San Francisco, so they put a group of us in an airporter van (talk about Mr Toad's Wild Ride!) So the hotel we're booked at didn't know where we were when we landed in Honolulu (we were doing a few days there before we boarded the ship). They finally get us to the hotel. They drop us off near an escalator in front of the hotel - no problem. A few days later, we had our luggage picked up from our room. We were told to wait fortune us to the airport @ the bottom of the escalator. Turns out busses pick up & drop off on a side street - at the bottom of a different escalator. We missed our bus looking all over for it, called the cruise line. Finally got the late bus to the ship (we weren't late) but we almost didn't get our luggage, because it didn't get on the bus we should have been on. Someone saw us frantically waiting for another bus and asked our name & they hand our luggage in the back. Whew!

One I still can't figure out: we were booked @ Saratoga Springs (our DVC home resort) We were hoping to get a split stay @ Boardwalk. The final 4 nights come thru for the Boardwalk! Except when we move over to the Boardwalk they have us there for one night, back to SSR for one night, then back for 2 nights at Boardwalk! Crazy! I didn't think they'd do that. They were totally booked for our 2nd night (some ESPN sports award show). Oh, but the swanky Grand Villa was available for that one night! We ate a ton of points on that. The 4 of us in a 3 bedroom Villa.

 

[E&Cmom]

On our first trip to Disneyland, we decided to rent a car and drive to Hollywood and Santa Monica on our last day. We were actually going on a Mexican Cruise the following day and did 5 days prior at DL. We got into a car accident on thr Pacific highway not far from the pier. DH (BF at the time) was at fault. We were ok but the rental car was totalled and guy fender was damaged. Turns out we had the wrong car rental insurance so it ended u being a very costly outing and I was pretty sore on the cruise. I also got really sick ( not accident related) on our final days in Mexico . When we went to DL again, we didn't rent a car.

 

[wilkeliza]

I thought we were the only ones that used that phrase.....lol

I use the non-Dis appropriate version but edited myself.

 

[bcla]

Thinking about more, we probably got scammed in Thailand. We booked a city tour of Bangkok after having a pretty good tour the previous day that we arranged with the tour desk at our hotel. It was going pretty well, but by the end it became a pain when our group was taken to a ruby factory tour. It wasn't much, but I think the tour operator got a cut of any sales. The gems frankly looked cheap, and we weren't interested. The next stop would have been another factory tour, so we asked to be let out. Our guide arranged for a driver to take us to our hotel. Strangely enough, the car ran out of fuel, and the driver spoke enough English to ask if he could borrow some money, and the tour company would get it back to the tour desk. It was about the equivalent of $10, but when we went back to the tour desk we were told that they didn't have anything.

During that same trip a cab driver drove us to some random location when we asked for a recommendation for a place with seafood. We suspect the driver also got some sort of fee. The place wasn't really great and we declined. We paid the driver even though he offered to take us elsewhere. I think we walked around this really dark part of Bangkok until we found a more touristy part of town. We also had some difficulty getting some cab drivers to understand us when we were returning to our hotel. We got dropped off at the wrong place once. We then got back to our hotel and saw a card we could carry to show the name of the hotel to a cab driver in Thai.

 

[pocomom]

Well not as dramatic as some , but I took a 7 week cross country trip with my kids, meticulously planned out. We homeschool and the trip was part of school so the kids were heavily involved in all aspects from routes, stops, meal plans etc. Plus my older girls are very used to packing due to extensive traveling, and visiting with their dad every month or so. So we created packing list and the girls then 11 and 8 were responsible to packing and getting their stuff on the RV. We were sharing most of our tolietries, and everyone has RV toothbrushes so that part was taken care of. The day before we leave, I check the kids lists and everything is checked off. Next day, off we go! We get to our campsite late and I tell the kids to get ready for bed, and my younger dd tells me she forgot her pj botoms AND underwear. Any underwear. So I tell her to grab some shorts or leggings. Oops. She didn't pack ANY pants or any kind of bottoms at all. Our budget was busted the first day, when I had to go buy her all new pants, shorts, undies, and pj's for weeks on the road. Now, I check their bags

 

[usnuzuloose]

Our honeymoon.

DH won 2 night hotel stay at a hotel in Reno, in a golf tournament. We decided to use it on our honeymoon, pay for 3 extra nights, and enjoy the time alone. (Yes, Reno NV. Not really a honeymoon destination, but hey, we weren't really planning on being out sightseeing...)

We rent a car, drive to Reno after the wedding. There are forest fires on the drive there. It's a bit scary to see the red sky to one side and nothing but black burnt land to the other.

We arrive, about 2pm, and our room isn't ready. Ok, we'll check back in a few hours. Wander off to gamble a bit. 4pm, no room yet. Okay, we'll check back in a little bit. Go gamble a little more, wander around the hotel some more. 6pm. No room ... So, now I'm getting a bit perturbed. They finally offer to take our luggage off our hands (yes, we had been wandering the hotel for 4 hours with our luggage; they said they were "really backed up" and couldn't when we first arrived and asked them to hold one suitcase and one overnight bag); give us two free buffet passes, and we go to dinner. Gamble a bit, and come back at 8pm. No room. I ask for the manager, they find one, I ask why no room. He finally finds us a room after about 30 minutes, and we ask to have our bags brought up. (Can you see where this is going?)

It's now 10pm, and no bags. I call down, and they can't find them. So I hike my behind downstairs and ask for the manager again. Luckily, he's still there, and I ask him to take me to the luggage area. No bags. He finally locates them...in his office. I carry them upstairs, and we finally settle down for our first night together.

At 2am, the door bursts open (we had just gotten down to sleep about 30 minutes earlier). We had the "security lock" set, so it shouldn't have opened all the way, but it did. Wakes us both out of a sound sleep, me screaming (we had had a home invasion a few years earlier, and I think this hit that note in my sleepy state), DH bouncing out of bed stark naked. Drunk guy at the door goes "oops", drunk girl starts giggling and asks if he planned a surprise for her, he shuts the door. We call down to the desk and are told "oh, we didn't know anyone was in that room." We relock the door, put our bags and the chair in front of it. Drink a little, have a little more us time, and finally go to sleep.

I head down to the desk about 9am and ask for the manager. Hey, it's the same guy from the day before, and he looks so sad. I explain what happened, he apologizes, comps the night. (so now we're at 3 nights free, 2 paid) Hands me more free buffet coupons (4 dinner, 4 breakfast)

We do our thing, gambling and stuff, see a movie, have lunch. Take trips to our room for more us time, room hasn't been cleaned yet, but no worries. Take a nap, and stuff. It's now 4:30sh. I'm in the shower, housekeeping walks in (no knock, no callout). DH is on the bed, in his boxer briefs. Flings the sheet over him, says "Hey!". She starts opening the bathroom door, he's telling her to leave, I'm stepping out of the shower. Housekeeping gets to see my goodies, she drops the towels on the floor and leaves the room. I get dressed, DH showers. I go to the desk, tell them about her just walking in with no knock, and seeing things that weren't meant to be seen in public. Manager (same guy still!!) apologizes, says there is a housekeeping strike going on and the few housekeepers they have working are temps and most don't speak English. Comps another night.

*side note I've not asked for one thing from the hotel. I've been calm and polite each and every time I've gone to the desk or made a call. The only time we've not been polite to this point is when DH was telling housekeeping to leave the room and it was "get the h* out!"

The rest of the night is uneventful. Gambling, movies, dinner, and lots of us time.

The next day, we're having us time, about 8pm. Note: there has been no housekeeping service that day. Beds are still unmade, no clean towels, trash hasn't been emptied...whatever, it's not a big deal. Housekeeping tries to enter (we moved the chair in front of the door again....after being barged in on twice, we're pretty much done with trusting the "security lock")...no knock again. She's yelling in Spanish about needing to clean (I understood parts of what she was saying), we're yelling to her to shut the darn door. I'm so done with this hotel at this point. I throw some clothes on, and head downstairs. Hey, it's our old friend, the manager! He sees me coming to the desk, and I swear I see him start to hide. I let him know that yet again, housekeeping has walked in with no knock, and that this time, if we hadn't had a chair in front of the door, she'd probably be freaking out about walking in during us time. I let him know we'll be checking out the next day and to cancel the two remaining nights. He says he can't cancel them without charging us for the last night. Um, nope, he's going to cancel them at no charge right now. He tries to talk me into staying, giving us the remaining night for free, and I'm "no thanks".

The next day, we go to check out, and the lady at the desk is all "but you have two more nights with us!!" Nope, no thanks. We leave, and head home. Decide, when we get home, that we're not ready to be there, so we head the other direction, and go to Wendover. Stay on the UT side (cheaper rooms) but go play on the NV side (alcohol and gambling!!!). Stay two perfect nights (room ready at 2pm when we arrived, housekeeping came by between noon and three the 2nd day...and KNOCKED), head home. Go get DD#2 from our friends (where she was staying while we were out of town), DD#1 comes home from her grandmother's (her other parent's mom), and all is good, right?

Nope. The hotel in Reno decided to charge us for 3 nights. (they had a credit card on file for the 3 nights we were going to pay for) Even though we had 2 free nights with the golf prize, and two nights free from the manager. It takes me two weeks to get that mess straightened out, and in the end, I had to go through Visa to get it done.

I hope you were not at the Atlantis. Good grief it almost sounds like when we got married in Reno.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I had two stories in mind, but you reminded me of a third, so I will start there.

Some time in the early 80s, we were camping at Sequoia National Park in California. When you camp there, they warn you about bears. Where to store your food, not to eat in your tent, etc. On our 2nd to last night of the camp out, it rained, badly. So we ended up eating in the tent. Every time a crumb was dropped my mom would panic. But we got through the night. We got up the next morning, looked at the car, and their were paw prints on the window, big ones. Needless to say, we tore down camp, and left a day early.

In 1981, we were flying between Mazatlan and Puerta Vallarta Mexico. We landed, and saw that our engine was on fire! It got put out, but it was nothing I had ever seen before.

Finally, back in 1984, July 18th to be precise, we were visiting my Aunt in San Clemente, CA. We managed a Disneyland trip while we were there, I remember because they were celebrating Donald Duck's birthday that summer. We decided to go to Tijuana. It was my first (and only) time there. We shopped, explored, etc. Then we crossed back into the U.S. It was time to eat, and my sister and I saw McDonald's, and we asked to eat there. My mom didn't want that again. So we drove on, and ate at some restaurant in some shopping center elsewhere. We eventually got back to my aunt's house. Both she and at least one of her daughter's come out, and say "Thank God you're ok!" It turns out that shortly after we drove past that McDonalds a man named James Huberty walked into that very same place, carrying a pistol, a shotgun, and an uzi. He ended up killing 21 people, and injuring 19 others.

I don't think about that day a lot, I can't believe how fortunate we were, all because my mom didn't want crappy fast food. But when I do think about it, I really appreciate my life, and how blessed I am.

That was a horrid day. I remember it all to well.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We booked a surprise trip to Disneyland on May 5-10 when an amazing Southwest fare sale popped up. Well I realized that those dates fell on a Tinkerbell Marathon weekend which explained why I couldn't find any decent rooms within walking distance to DL. Luckily it's easy enough to change your ticket for free with SW so I cancelled our original tickets and booked us for May 19-24. Easy!

Except for one thing. When I rebooked us I somehow managed to only book my husband. I didn't read the confirmation in detail when it popped up--just casually glanced over to make sure the new times and dates worked. We also booked using airmiles so it's not like I noticed a missing airfare charge on my statement or anything.

Anyway we wake up at 0200 for our 0600 flight. When I go to do the online checkin I see it only says my husbands name. I thought that seemed odd but we have never flown SW before (we transferred our miles in from my Chase card)--maybe we have to check in individually? That must be it. Search my email for confirmation #'s for my girls and I. Nothing. Then I look at my miles balance and see it is only minus the amount my husbands ticket cost . Thats when it clicked and I wanted to puke. At that point it's 0315, the kids were loaded up in the car already and we needed to be on the road to the airport. I make a desperate call to customer service and explain everything. The CS rep told me there was additional availability but it was going to be about 3x the original cost in miles to book. . I decided to live dangerously and see if I could get it sorted out at the airport, expecting the worst but hoping to get better than the outrageous cost of a same day ticket.

I got to the airport and made it to the customer service counter and started crying which was NOT my intention but not having a ticket for most of your party 2 hours before your flight is sorta stressful . Luckily the check-in lady was SUPER helpful. She made a couple phone calls and booked us on the same flight for the same cost as the the tickets were when I originally booked. Crisis averted! She gave me a hug when it was all done. I am SO not a hugger but after her saving my epic mess up I was more than willing.

That sums up my worst vacation disaster.

I can feel your pain. Wow unbelievable that it all worked out.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

I hope you were not at the Atlantis. Good grief it almost sounds like when we got married in Reno.

We were at the Rainbow Hotel and Casino. I don't think it's there anymore.

 

[tcufrog]

I can't decide if it was the time when I was backpacking in Europe with my sister or the puking cruise. Once when we were backpacking in Europe in the late '90s we took the wrong train in Budapest with the goal of reaching Vienna. Unfortunately we didn't realize we were on the wrong train until we were quite late into the trip. By the time we realized it the only stops we saw were benches in the middle of open fields. By the time we realized what was going on we discovered we were headed straight for the Balkans during the Bosnian war. Luckily there was an actual stop with a building right before the border. When we got off we saw two Americans arguing in Hungarian with some sort of official. They had come to Hungary for the first time to bury their father. Their father had fled Hungary at the start of the Cold War and returned after he retired and USSR collapsed. The official had confiscated their passports and wanted a bribe. We gave them what cash we had (not a lot since we were broke college students) and they got their passports back. We all got on a train headed to Vienna and they paid us back once we got there. By the time we got to Vienna though the only rooms available were quite pricey for our modest budget. WE thought about sleeping in the train station but were afraid the rooming cops would arrest us.

A few years ago we went on a cruise. Unbeknownst to us our youngest son had the stomach bug. We didn't know because he started puking when we got on the boat and it was too far from dock for us to get off. Not a single day passed without someone puking everyday despite my best efforts to keep things sanitary.

 

[here757]

I use the non-Dis appropriate version but edited myself.

Lol I use it here in va.. Uneditted

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Last year my family, along with my sister's family headed to Riveria Maya; we'd be celebrating my niece's 18th birthday while we were there. Early on, my husband became ill with vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Within 5 days, he'd lost 20 lbs. He and my niece were hospitalized in Mexico. We were quickly educated on the health care system in Mexico, which is very much a business. In order to exit the ambulance, each of us were required to put down a $3000 deposit. The security guard at the entrance was there as much for guest safety, as they were to be sure guests paid before leaving. Absolutely understandable, but just different than I was used to. I purchased medical trip insurance, so everything worked out for us. While there, there were many other families there from our same resort in our wing. Some tested positive for noro or roto virus. I really felt for the Canadian family with two kids hospitalized, no trip insurance, and over $20,000 in medical bills.

We refer to this trip as the trip that just keeps giving! Upon returning, my husband had to have multiple rounds of IV fluids, then later, an abscess drained (twice, several months apart), drainage tubes, and a subsequent surgery.

We know we are very fortunate to have good health, and have the finances to be able to travel. One year to the date, we returned to the Riviera Maya, rented a villa on the ocean, and redid the trip from hell! Loved every minute of it.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

Funny you should start this thread --
Mine is going on right now. We got to Vero Beach and I was so looking forward to on the beach. But in chasing a flip flop out to sea on the first day, I fell, a big wave took me, I broke a bone in my leg and now I'm . In a wheelchair and out of commission for the rest of the vacation! Not at all what I had in mind.

 

[indygirl99]

Lets just say it was interesting.

Bad mushrooms, hubby (now ex) used to being coddled and my no nonsense mother.

Let your imaginations roll. Yep I laugh about it now, ex not so much.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Lets just say it was interesting.

Bad mushrooms, hubby (now ex) used to being coddled and my no nonsense mother.

Let your imaginations roll. Yep I laugh about it now, ex not so much.

Did he eat the mushrooms, or did he smoke them?

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Did he eat the mushrooms, or did he smoke them?

You're doing it wrong.

 

[ronandannette]

...I purchased medical trip insurance, so everything worked out for us. While there, there were many other families there from our same resort in our wing. Some tested positive for noro or roto virus. I really felt for the Canadian family with two kids hospitalized, no trip insurance, and over $20,000 in medical bills.

We refer to this trip as the trip that just keeps giving! Upon returning, my husband had to have multiple rounds of IV fluids, then later, an abscess drained (twice, several months apart), drainage tubes, and a subsequent surgery.

We know we are very fortunate to have good health, and have the finances to be able to travel. One year to the date, we returned to the Riviera Maya, rented a villa on the ocean, and redid the trip from hell! Loved every minute of it.

I suppose that could happen to anybody, but for some weird reason there seems to be a disproportionate number of Canadians that are ignorant to the fact that our "free" healthcare doesn't entitle us to anything outside our home province. Even travelling from one part of Canada to the other can result in hefty OOP medical bills if care is required. I guess an awareness of the need for medical insurance just isn't a "thing" for us like it is for Americans.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I suppose that could happen to anybody, but for some weird reason there seems to be a disproportionate number of Canadians that are ignorant to the fact that our "free" healthcare doesn't entitle us to anything outside our home province. Even travelling from one part of Canada to the other can result in hefty OOP medical bills if care is required. I guess an awareness of the need for medical insurance just isn't a "thing" for us like it is for Americans.

A friend of ours here in Arizona refused to get trip insurance for a cruise to Canada, saying he had Medicare, why would he need trip insurance? Medicare does not cover problems outside the states. Before he retired he was an insurance salesman. oh well. His wife had a bad tooth ache on our cruise but toughed it out til they got home. I do hope they had some sort of dental coverage.