Vacations are supposed to be a time to unwind, make happy memories, and enjoy a change of scenery, but sometimes, the unexpected creeps in and turns those plans completely upside down. That’s exactly what happened to thirteen travelers whose stays went from relaxing to downright disturbing.

One woman went on what was supposed to be a romantic weekend getaway with her boyfriend at a luxurious hotel. Everything seemed perfect—until checkout. His card was declined, and she ended up footing the bill. On the way out, the hotel receptionist quietly pulled her aside and warned her that she had seen him pull the same trick with other women. Though the woman dismissed the comment at first, over time, she noticed a pattern—he constantly asked her to pay for things and even tried to rope her into a shady investment plan. That hotel stay marked the beginning of her awakening, and while she eventually left him, she never forgot that moment. In another incident, a man checked into a ground-floor hotel room and opened the curtains only to find a stranger hiding there. Calmly, he excused himself, gathered his belongings, and left the room before reporting the situation to the front desk. It turned out the intruder had recently robbed a nearby business and had snuck in through the window.

Then there was a couple who booked an Airbnb only to find a hidden camera in the bedroom. They covered it with a towel, but were jolted awake at 2 a.m. when the host barged in, yelling that the camera was for street surveillance after recent car thefts in the area. Regardless of his excuse, the couple felt violated and left the next morning, leaving an honest review to warn others. Upon reading additional reviews, they learned they weren’t alone in experiencing the host’s intrusive and paranoid behavior.

One parent booked a hotel for their daughter’s gymnastics competition, drawn in by glowing online reviews and affordable pricing. But upon arrival, the hotel was nearly impossible to locate due to an unlit sign, a dark parking lot, and shady figures near the entrance. Inside, the lobby lights flickered, the room was filthy with stained sheets and hair in the shower, and the fitness room had one broken machine. When the parent went to cancel, the front desk clerk simply said, “I don’t blame you. This place is gross,” and admitted he was hoping to get hired somewhere else. Another guest booked a hotel night for a reunion with their boyfriend, not knowing it was mid-transition into a senior living facility. The lobby featured signs for diabetes workshops, and the room had already been converted with an emergency pull cord and sterile hospital-like furniture. The atmosphere was a far cry from the photos online.

In a different case, a traveler arriving at 4 a.m. for a work event was given a room after a confused front desk clerk made several calls. Thinking all was fine, the traveler unplugged the room phone and tried to rest. But just an hour later, someone tried to force their way into the room—the same room had been double-booked. The other guest was eventually offered a place to sleep on the lobby couch. These stories share a common theme: when you travel, you expect a place to rest, to feel safe, and to enjoy your time. But for these individuals, their vacations became unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. Whether it was a manipulative partner, a hidden criminal, a privacy-violating Airbnb host, or simply a rundown and misrepresented hotel, each experience left a lasting impression. These aren’t just funny travel mishaps—they’re reminders to trust your gut, read the fine print, double-check those reviews, and never underestimate the importance of feeling safe when you’re far from home.