10 times a vacation became a travel nightmare

Everyone loves a vacation, but there’s nothing worse than a trip going off the rails.

From personal experience, I’ve found myself in some truly unforgettable situations – be it a harrowing plane journey, a haunting hotel stay, or an eerie encounter at an Airbnb rental. The tales of travel woe shared by fellow globetrotters throughout history are endless!

Before planning your upcoming family vacation, take a moment to review some challenging experiences others have had, and consider whether the potential risks make it a wise choice for your loved ones.

Woman finds man hiding under her bed in Tokyo hotel

Indeed, Japan is often a highly sought-after travel destination. However, for one solitary woman, exploring it turned into a chilling ordeal.

Upon my return to APA Hotel on my second night in Tokyo, I detected an odd scent emanating from beneath my bed. Peering beneath it, I stumbled upon an unexpected guest – a stranger who let out a startled shriek before darting out of the building in a hurry.

1. Even though the police were called, since there weren’t any security cameras in the hotel, they failed to identify the trespasser.

2. Although the woman received a refund after the incident, it still left her extremely unsettled.

Airbnb clerk asks to take nude photos of Pokimane

During her stay at an Airbnb in February 2025, Twitch celebrity Imane ‘Pokimane’ Anys was taken aback when she found a collection of naked drawings adorning the walls.

In a recent disclosure, the live-stream broadcaster admitted that the Airbnb’s proprietor had taken the pictures and upon her arrival at the property, a receptionist proposed the proprietor’s photography services for a shoot.

Straight away, Anys’ mind sounded an alarm and her viewers expressed concern as well, advising caution throughout her trip. Fortunately, no untoward incident occurred, but it’s fair to assume that she didn’t anticipate being asked to model nude when she initially reserved the accommodation.

Man injured after getting trapped in airplane bathroom during flight

2024 saw a software expert aboard a SpiceJet flight, journeying from Mumbai to Bengaluru. During this trip, an unexpected predicament arose when he attempted to use the restroom mid-flight. Unfortunately, the flight attendants were unable to open the bathroom door, leaving him temporarily stranded.

The individual asserted that he sustained injuries while the aircraft was touching down, causing him to be thrown violently about, much like a carelessly discarded doll. To add insult to injury, he alleged that he received minimal help throughout the entire incident, a fact he captured on video.

To make matters worse, the 37-year-old was given a $60 travel credit as recompense, which he decided not to take.

Housekeeping uses man’s toothbrush to clean Vegas hotel

During his stay at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, realtor Lavell Jackson found himself puzzled when he realized that his toothbrush had apparently been employed for cleaning purposes by the hotel staff.

In a TikTok video, Jackson advised his audience to be cautious about leaving their toothbrushes out when staying at hotels. He explained that he immediately sensed something was amiss “the moment it touched my mouth,” as the bristles had turned “soft” and “degraded.

Regrettably, all he received as reimbursement was a $50 voucher and a replacement toothbrush from the hotel. This wasn’t the level of compensation the realtor had anticipated for such a sought-after location in Las Vegas.

Airbnb bans streamer’s account after scary home invasion

Experiencing home invasions is undeniably a horrifying ordeal, and what made matters even worse was that Airbnb took the additional step of suspending the user’s account.

Back in 2022, I found myself in an unfortunate situation where my Airbnb account was unexpectedly terminated. The incident occurred when two uninvited individuals forcefully entered the lodging I had booked, causing quite a stir.

Later on, law enforcement found a hidden stash of illegal items which they believed the trespassers had kept at the location. Additionally, Minx asserted that the trespasser returned to the premises following the break-in and made threats towards her.

Baboons break into Airbnb and steal alcohol

Among the unlikeliest and most astonishing nightmares on this list, a woman enjoying her vacation in Knysna, South Africa with her companions, had a harrowing experience when some baboons invaded their rented accommodation (Airbnb).

In a setting reminiscent of Jumanji, the woman asserted that the untamed animals had devoured the avocados they prepared for breakfast, along with their Hennessy.

In simpler terms, a viral video captured an instance where one of the baboons was seen perched on the kitchen counter, snacking on a bag of potato chips. It’s amazing how even tiny monkeys can cause trouble as big as King Kong.

Flights to China ruined after pilot forgets passport and turns around

Back in 2025, passengers aboard a United Airlines flight departing from Los Angeles to China were required to adjust their itinerary due to an unexpected circumstance: the pilot had inadvertently left his passport behind.

After only two hours into the trip, the flight encountered an issue and was diverted to San Francisco, delaying its departure by a total of six hours. As a result, some travelers had to adjust their appointments or switch tickets in order to make their next flight during their extended voyage.

Similar to other instances mentioned, those aboard the flight received minimal reimbursement as the airline distributed $15 travel credits to the approximately 257 passengers impacted.

TikToker finds hidden camera in Airbnb showerhead

Back in 2022, a video on the internet left people stunned, as TikTok celebrity Nathan Triska alleged that he had discovered a concealed camera inside the showerhead at the Airbnb he was staying at.

Based on Triska’s account, he’d often visited this spot before without ever locating a missing camera. He thought it might have been concealed there quite recently.

He added to the eeriness by disclosing that he couldn’t reach the Airbnb owner and got a cryptic text from an unknown number, cautioning him that he might be sorry for sharing his post on TikTok.

Tourists accidentally let over 2,000 moths into hotel room

2024 found me, an avid traveler, in a state of astonishment when a horde of more than 2,000 moths descended upon my hotel room like a natural wonder gone awry.

As reported by TikToker Jemma Sayer, upon entering their hotel room, she and her friend discovered bugs creeping in through a small gap near the door. They attempted to seal the opening with a towel, but when they opened the door, a cobra suddenly darted at them, followed by approximately 2,000 moths swarming into the room.

Fortunately, I was moved to a new, moth-absent room – a relief indeed! However, despite the improved accommodations, the traumatic encounter left me restless, and sleep continued to elude me.

Airbnb suspends listing after guest exposes roach-infested house literally falling apart

A writer named M.L. Rio, who paid $2,500 for a month’s accommodation, found herself in a horrific rental property, filled with cockroaches, rodents, leaks, and unresponsive customer service. In a widely shared online post, she detailed her disappointing experience, explaining that the house was not as advertised when she made the booking.

Following a complaint made to Airbnb, the writer was informed that they would issue a refund, but due to non-responsiveness from the staff member initially contacted and other representatives being unaware of the previous conversation, she found herself needing to return to the property.

In the end, it was only when her situation became widely known on social media that she received a complete refund. Moreover, Airbnb informed TopMob that they had taken down the listing due to the building failing to meet their quality standards.

2025-05-30 00:19