12 Stories About Surprises That Can Await Us on a Journey

We look forward to holidays, and get delighted when we travel. Even if it is a weekend trip somewhere not far away. But traveling can be full of surprises, both pleasant and not so pleasant. Our article has stories like this.

• We went with my husband and daughter out of town for a couple of days. We stayed in a hotel and booked a small and inexpensive room. The hotel seemed to be decent, 4 stars, but I found someone’s hair in the bed. I thought it was probably a hair of a cleaning lady.
  But it was still unpleasant. I called the reception and complained. The manager apologized 5 times, I think, and offered we move to a suite for the same price. It was very nice of her.
• I booked a single night at the Hyatt Regency in Miami Brickell before a cruise. Even used a 25% discount code on the booking. Went to check in to the room assigned, and the key card didn’t work. Went back to front desk and modestly asked for a river view for the inconvenience.
  Basically got a $500-night corner room for $200 on a higher floor. Took lots of pictures of the drawbridge and mega yachts going up and back. © FriedEggSammich1 / Reddit
• I was traveling by plane. And then a massive snowstorm hit. A huge blizzard hit the Midwest, and I was stuck in another city.
  So, the airline put me up for free in a fancy hotel in the center. I had food and drinks delivered to my room, which the airline also paid for. And the next morning, when the weather cleared, they put me in first class because there weren’t enough seats in economy. © lunch22 / Reddit

• My flight failed to take off with engine trouble... they taxied... then tried again. It failed to take off again, nearly going off the runway. We needed an airplane tow truck thing to move us back to the gate. They cancelled the flight, couldn’t get me in another plane for 12 hours, and failed to tell me that plane was going in the complete wrong direction, to a 3-hour layover, to then get me on a flight home.
  They almost killed me, delayed my arrival at home by ~22 hours, spent 9 hours on planes that day instead of the 3 and a half, and they gave me a $6 lunch voucher to compensate me. © SaltyJake / Reddit
• I was scammed by a travel agency. They praised a “great” hotel in Turkey, like it was new, 5 stars. I arrived. The area is small, the dining room is in the basement, the choice of food is modest, the room is small.
  I went to the guide, told him everything and said, “I can’t stay here for 10 days, move me to another hotel.” He remembered one from memory. He said that he has a friend who works there, he will call him.
  There was a room available, I gave him $100 and $25 for a taxi and went there. The hotel was way better than the previous one. I no longer use travel agencies. © Overheard / Ideer
• We went with my son to Egypt. At that time, we had money only for a 3-star hotel. The first morning after check-in, I had a fight with a local Egyptian manager: when I asked him a polite question, he unceremoniously sent me away.
  I went to the travel agency’s office totally mad. I stormed into the director’s office and complained about the boorish behavior of the hotel employee. They calmed me down, gave me some goodies and asked me to wait a bit. In about 20 minutes, they brought this manager and apologized.
  They said, “Now they will take you to the hotel, you will pack your things, and we will move you to a 5-star hotel. And this employee will be fired. Are you okay with this compensation? Naturally, everything is at our expense.” Thus, we spent 2 weeks in an excellent hotel for a symbolic price. © Anonymous3556791 / Ideer

• My husband and I went to a countryside hotel for a weekend to unwind. Breakfast was included in the room price. Buffet table was from 8 to 11 in the morning. We were too lazy to get up early, so we came for breakfast at 10:30.
  We looked at the food and there were remnants of former luxury. We barely found some cold pancakes, and that was all. We went to the manager to sort it out. I ask her why there’s no food. And she replies blatantly, “You have to come early, then there will be food.” I was stunned.
  I said, “Pardon me, if there’s still 30 minutes till the end of breakfast, there must be food. Let the cook make more if there’s not enough.” And she gave me this disdainful look and said, “Madam, we plan the amount of food, we don’t go beyond the limits. If you are late, it’s your problem.” We left them an angry review and went home hungry.
• A few years ago, I was in Thailand with a friend. One day we went to rent a scooter. We approached an Indian guy who worked there and he kindly helped us.
  Turned out to be quite a nice and cute guy. We got to talking to him. I complimented him about India, because I always liked the culture of these people, their traditions. And TV shows! He was very surprised, invited me to dinner, and I agreed.
  I still remember how we were sitting in one of the places in Thailand and singing together, “Jimmy, Jimmy, Aaja, Aaja.” We still keep in touch. We have agreed that in the near future we will go to visit his family in India. © Chamber 6 / VK
• Once I stayed at a big hotel, and as the front desk clerk was checking me in, suddenly she had a bright smile and was like, “Ah yes, hello, Mr. Tracuivel! We have your suite ready on the top floor, with window view of the ocean, of course. This badge will also give you free entry to the massage spa and champagne bar. And I’ve already reserved the conference room for your business meeting, as you requested.”
  “Wait, what?” It turned out there were 2 Tracuivels with the same name staying at the same time, and the clerk thought I was the other super important Tracuivel who got Executive Member this and Gold Premium that and so on, but by the time she realized the error, she’d already assigned me the room.
  And instead of redoing it, she just let me have the ocean view suite for my economy Joe Shmoe room rate, for which I again thanked her. A true princess, she was. I didn’t get to have any of that fancy spa stuff, though. © Tracuivel / Reddit

• My wife dreamed of going to Paris. She doesn’t work. I’ve been secretly saving for years. Finally saved up enough money. I took a holiday at work. I bought plane tickets, booked and paid for a hotel.
  I thought everything was perfect. And after that, I told my sweetheart about it. And then my wife got offended that I booked a not too nice hotel (she checked online). She said she wouldn’t be able to take nice photos there!
  At the end of the “conversation,” she called me a cheapskate and left for her mom’s place. I don’t understand what exactly I did wrong. I even gave my beloved wife a lot of money a week before the trip so that she could buy new clothes for the holiday, go to the beauty salon and so on. I tried hard, but she is not happy. © Chamber 6 / VK
• Arrived solo in Las Vegas at a well-known large hotel in the wee hours of the morning, after a much-delayed flight. The hotel was fully booked, they wanted to give me a voucher for some place across town, I said, “No way, I’m not leaving, you gave away my reservation, you find me a place here.”
  After much deliberation, the manager gives me keys to their best suite which has floors on 3 entrances, a piano, wet bar, and indoor waterfall. I don’t generally like Vegas, but I enjoyed giving my traveling co-workers tours of a life I’d never experienced before. © gemstun / Reddit
• Flying to Tokyo, the flight is oversold, and we hear the call for volunteers. I convince my partner to walk over to the desk with me since we have some time to spare to find out what they’re offering. They had no other volunteers and were offering compensation plus comped hotel, dinner, and breakfast.
  Without negotiation, they offered $2400, and we were like, “Hell, yeah,” and took the offer, thinking it was $2400 for both of us. Turns out it was $2400 each. Ended up paying for most of the trip and my partner said yes a second time on the trip, so I came home with a fiancée too. © goplayfetch / Reddit

And here are some holiday stories with wild twists. Check them out.