Help! Looking for your all time worst vacation experience!
 

Hello, fellow travelers! I am a newly-ordained Fodorite, and I need YOUR help!
I am doing some research on the topic of "Vacation Nightmares"(really really bad vacation experiences)and I would greatly appreciate your input. I would like to hear all about your very WORST vacations and what made them so terrible, could it have been avoided and so forth? On the flip side, I would love to know what makes the ideal vacation. Is it the location, the accommodations, attractions, climate,etc.? I realize that there are many variations in personal preferences, but I'm trying to gather some consensus about what people are really wanting/needing in a vacation experience, as well as what they would like to avoid. Also, a question: How many of you are concerned about safety when you travel? Is this important to most people or do you feel that problems rarely if ever occur? Any help or feedback you may offer would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you so much!

-Visiontree-

COMING HOME!!! :-O

The fat guy in front of me reclined his seat.

visiontree,in the name of full disclosure, do you mind sharing what this research is for? School? Work?

Sounds like an article. I wonder if quotes will be used and the site will be cited?

We always ruin everyone's fun.

How does one get ordained (as in "newly-ordained")?

Are pins involved?

Is there a ceremony? Initiation? The process must be secret because I've never heard anyone talk about it before.

I bet it has something to do with Kal.

Well, if there are pins and hazing and drinking and stuff.....I want in!

All this time I've wasted here, and I never knew you could get ordained. Wouldn't that mean I could take tax write offs?

so, vision tree...are you writing a book for "Traveler's Tales" and going to get rich and famous off our work? If so, shouldn't you offer us contracts first??

More the flight than the trip, but I was in a wheelchair after a car accident. I waited in the airport for 10 hours in that wheelchair and not only did they not do anything to make mre more comfortable or stop bumping me from flights, but one guy actually told me to get up and get out of the airport because I got frustrated when they refused to move me up the standby list. Awful . . . just awful! Moral of the story is -- no matter who is getting married, stay home if you were in a car accident the week before!!!

My scariest was being white water rafting when nearby armed sheriffs took down an escaped convict:


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1

I don't think I'm using the links right - I wrote it up in a thread called Montana Trip Report and has escaped convict in the title.

The worst was by far the trip to FL when 3 of the 4 of us caught a stomach bug (2 of us ON the plane). It was so miserable. I wrote about in a thread called "Your worst travel experience"

Fifth wedding anniversary. Hurricane Keith. Nuf said.

Being delayed on the tarmac over an hour in SFO for my first trip to HI in 79. It was a packed flight and the fans/ electrical in general wasn't working well (very stuffy!). They did give us free booze once we got in the air. I've just had other assorted flight delays and nothing very bad. That I can remember. ;-)

O.K., thanks for your replies. I apologize for my poor choice of words, using "ordained". I just meant that I'm a new arrival to the forum, and since I am, I guess it's normal for you to be skeptical. Don't worry, I'm not out to quote anyone or anything. I just have been hearing a lot about bad experiences, lately, robbings, assaults and other crimes aboard cruise ships, bad hotel rooms and especially lost luggage, especially recently. From what you describe, it sounds mostly circumstantial, not anyone's fault. So, maybe the problems are just exaggerated, rather than there being a "trend" in vacation misadventures and rip-offs. I hope that's the case, anyway!

Hello visiontree, my personal opinion..the ideal vacation is being with the right travel companion. If you are no matter what goes wrong all will be alright so to speak. And the vacation nightmare is being with the wrong travel companion. No matter how wonderful the location, the hotel, the food, the weather and the sights are if you are not with the right person(s) IMHO the vacation is a disaster. That is one then realizes that perhaps travelling solo is a great idea.

As far as safety..each person has a different opinion regarding that I believe and it depends on where you are travelling, how "street smart" you are.

You say you are doing some research..is this for your personal travels, an article or what?

If you are thinking about taking a trip and feeling uneasy or unsure about any of it may I suggest that you start a thread on the appropriate board (if going to Europe start it on the Europe board, if Asia on the Asia board etc.) And make you title is clear as to what your questions are unlike some threads that are entitled "Help!".
Best regards.

I have to agree with starrsville - heading home is a downer! I always want to turn around and do it all over again. Of course, we've had our moments of flat tires, bad hotels and meals, and the time my daughter burst out in tears when we thought our flight was canceled, but it never ruined our vacations. Safety is always an concern. We try to do as much research as possible (word of mouth, checking Fordorite experiences, etc.) about where we are going. We try not to put ourselves in a position where we would be unsafe. But I have to tell you, you can get mugged in the parking lot of your local grocery store and don't have to live in a big city. Use your head, be cautious and if listen to your instincts. If something doesn't feel right then heed the little voice in your head.
I hate to unpack because it means I must return to the daily routine. There is a moment, however, when I am developing ALL those photos (I'm a photography obsessed nut) when I'm transported back those wonderful days. Then I start planning our next adventure!

Karens - They made a movie about it called The River Wild with Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon. ;;)

I have never had a bad vacation experience (knock wood) to share with you. I've probably logged 30 trips by now, mostly to... Europe, Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii.

I have never been robbed, assaulted, pickpocketed, had a bad hotel room, or my suitcase lost by the airline. Heck I've never even had anyone be seriously rude to me!

That said... my flights have been delayed, sometimes by days, sometimes it rains on your parade, a few times I've managed to get fairly lost visiting a new city. Once I lost some cash, but that was my own fault.

So in summmary I've never had a "WORST" vacation, only good ones, usually I'd even say fantastic.

You will never be able to "gather some consensus about what people are really wanting/needing in a vacation experience" because it is different for everyone!!!

And even different for the same person depending on the particular kind of trip.

To answer your question about ideal "location, accommodations, attractions, climate" - I would have different answers if I'm telling you about what I want from Europe, or what I like for a fun-in-the-sun-with-palm-trees vacation.

My answers and preferences would vary depending if I am planning a trip going solo, with a close friend, small group of people, or family members.

OP (original poster) - you never answered the what kind of artcile question.

Where's my quarter? I answered the question? If you are going to make money off this, the least you can do is send me a quarter! :-(

I hate to say this, but my worst experience was taking a trip to Hawaii with my parents when I was 30. I was newly divorced and trying to make payments on a 2 income house with only one income. They were going to Hawaii and asked if I'd like to come along. I declined. They said "we'll pay" and I agreed. They were trying really hard, but it's hard to be the "kid" again after so many years of life experiences. Plus, Mom kept wanting to "talk" about "things" and I really didn't. (Plus, they are Southern Baptists, so no alcohol to take the edge off.) They were sweet to ask me along, but I should not have gone.

Worst was when I was 19 and in Myrtle Beach , SC with cousin. We had a lovely room facing the ocean. Unfortunately, nobody watched the parking lot, I guess and someone stole my car. We had to wire home for airline ticket money. Bummer.
Please, if anyone can find the story about a honeymoon couple who had to evacuate the Monarch after it hit a reef in St Martin. It's hysterical. They ended up being housed at a nudist resort. When they finally got home, their ceiling had collapsed and they both got sick. This is a story that makes you want to have a drink...

Trying to be robbed in Lima in broad daylight, twice in about 2 minutes (my fault, I dared ware a watch).

GoTravel [-X

I think the ideal vacation depends on where you currently are in life. When I was younger and working my tail off in the city, it was heaven just to go to an uncrowded beach and do nothing for a week. When I was newly single, I had a total blast skiing in Vail with a local ski club. It was just what I needed at the time. Romantic getaways, family camping trips, all were great when the circumstances were right.

The only truly bad vacation I can remember was when we shared a beach house with some friends the year our son turned two. It poured deluges all week. We were stuck inside while their 4 year old daughter screamed and threw temper tantrums the entire time. I thought I was going to lose my mind. It was the only vacation we could swing that year and I was so looking forward to it.

Nearly 5 months pregnant with my second child. Flying back to Chicago from The UK. There was a blizzard in Chicago and we circled and circled. Then they routed us to Detroit. I was STARVING. The flight attendant gave me a bag with 5 peanuts in it.

I wanted to knaw her leg off.

They sent us back to Chicago and we circled some more. They finally let us land after a 7 hour flight had turned into a 14 hour flight. My legs looked like tree trunks.

My dad had been sitting in the airport for 7 hours!
Then we had to drive home in that blizzard and that took over 3 hours.

At least there was food. The Wendy's burger we stopped for was about the best thing I've ever tasted.

Only two come to mind, and that is closely associated to what LoveItaly said, because to me, also it has more to do with the companion and context mood than the place or weather or hold ups etc.

And it was a cruise that my son, then 10 wanted to go on with his Dad to get him "away" from work. It was short 3 days, and then we did Disney. The cruise part was a one out of 10 because my ex slept the entire time and never even talked to the kid to speak of. I spent at least 1/2 the time we were onboard playing physical games like shuffleboard and pingpong with my son. Or going to a show with him at night. It was really sad. WDW was better, but the ex wouldn't go on a ride or to any show either. Sat outside and talked on his phone for business the entire trip. It was the last one.

And the other was a SunnyBrook Farm week when I don't remember anything because I had such a high fever. I vaguely recall about 30 kids doing a conga line through the cabin to wish me a "get better quick" with all home made instruments- as I kept my eyes opened for a few minutes. Drank lots of tea. Kids had a ball, of course.

YIPPEEE ! Somebody saved it on cruisecritic. Scroll down and read the story. It's the absolute worst honeymoon I can ever imagine!!
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=527215

LLindaC~ hard to beleive that ANYONE could have beat that poor woman's story.. thanks for the laughs..J.

I think we ought to find her, everyone send a dollar and send them on a free cruise! LOL! Isn't that story CRAZY?

Linda--OMG that is hilarious!!!!!

Since I probably can't have 2 worsts, here's bad & worse.

Camping in Wisconsin. Every campsite, we were surrounded by wasps. Eventually we realized we had a Paper Wasp nest under the hood of our car.

A can of Raid took care of it.

****
Flight from Miami to Minneapolis, the young mother next to me was airsick, vomiting in bag after bag...and I was holding her screaming infant for her. Sympathetically, yet thinking if I wanted to be holding a child, I would have brought my own instead of leaving them safely with my parents.