18 Vacation Moments That Top Any Souvenir

A dream getaway is usually meant for unwinding, restoring your energy, and simply enjoying the moment. But the people in these stories ended up experiencing far more excitement than they ever expected. At least they walked away with unforgettable memories they’ll be sharing for years to come.

• Camping in Capitol Reef National Park with my family and one other family. We drove there without AC, kids and dogs piled in with all the camping gear in 100+ degree weather, 6-hour drive. Get there and set up camp, have dinner and get to bed early. We would tie our dog up to a tree on a leash that was long enough to reach into the tent, so she could sleep at our feet and go outside if she needed to. Left the tent half unzipped for her to go in and out. A skunk wandered into the tent, woke the dog, who started barking incessantly, the whole family was woken out of a dead sleep, stuck in the tent with a spraying skunk that can’t find its way out, and a barking dog. The aftermath was horrific. The stench we were covered in was so strong we were gagging; all our suitcases and extra clothes were covered in it. No showers at this campsite. We all had to “sleep” in the back of the truck the rest of the night. The other family wouldn’t come near us in the morning. Loaded back up in the truck for another 6 sweltering stinky hour drive home — all fighting for the first shower/bath in tomato juice when we got home (I guess that’s what removes skunk scent?). It was horrific. I’ve never once camped as an adult. I’m too traumatized. © wallace-asking / Reddit

My dog said, “Vacation mode: activated.”

• I arrive at a secluded, coastal hotel around 2 a.m. When the taxi pulls up to the hotel... it’s on fire. When the owner, standing out front sees us, he opens the taxi door excitedly, “You come. I have nice room for you!” I point out that the hotel is on fire but he simply gestures and says, “Small fire. No problem. You come.” I. Am. Utterly. Exhausted. I find myself following the owner into the hotel, stepping over fire hoses, waving away smoke, passing fire fighters as they run up and down a very nice staircase. We pause at the second floor landing and the owner tells me, “See. Fire only on this side of hotel. This side no fire. You come.” My exhaustion removes every ounce of common sense and I follow him to a room down the hall. The room is indeed fire-free. I quickly scan the in-case-of-fire message on the back of the door, checked the window escape, and promptly pass out with my gear and boots on. In the morning, I awake (alive) wondering if I dreamt the entire thing. I go down the smokey stairs past the charred other side of the hotel. The owner is so happy to see me (still alive) that he eats breakfast with me. I went back a few years later, and the hotel had fully recovered. © neverpennyless / Reddit

My dog wanted to go on vacation with us, so she tried to blend in with the luggage.

• I went on the sea vacation alone. Every morning I went to the beach and bought a chocolate donut on the way. About a week later, a neighbor started hitting on me. One day I woke up to a knock on the door, opened it, and there he was with a tray in his hands, and on the tray was a pile of chocolate donuts! He made them himself. I let him in, we chatted. From that morning on, we were together every day until I left. But he found me at home later! We’re getting married soon. © Caramel / VK
• A few months ago, I hopped in my Renault Clio and took a month-long solo camping trip across Namibia.
  The feeling of standing alone in a place like Deadvlei, or watching the sun go down over a landscape that hasn’t changed in a thousand years, is a kind of magic that photos can’t fully capture.
  There’s something special about seeing a stunning landscape and not having to say a word to anyone, just letting it wash over you. Or having a rare wildlife encounter that feels like a secret just for you.
  It wasn’t always easy, and there were definitely moments of doubt, but the feeling of complete freedom and self-reliance is something I’ll carry with me forever. For any fellow introverts who recharge in solitude, this was the ultimate battery charger. © solocampingafrica / Reddit

I decided to grab a hot dog on vacation.

• So I’m 32, traveled China solo for the first time, and I spent like three days debating whether to actually do the Great Wall trip by myself. kept overthinking it. What if I can’t figure out the didi? what if I get lost? what if something happens and I’m just there alone on a mountain? Classic spiral lol
  But I did it and honestly it ended up being one of those days that kind of changes something in you, you know?
  The views up there though... standing on the Wall, looking out at that landscape, knowing where you are and that you got yourself there alone... I got emotional. It’s one of those moments where all the anxiety and overthinking and fear just melts away and you’re like oh, this is why people do this.
  Then it started absolutely pouring. I waited inside the towers with a bunch of other people during the worst of it, and honestly the shared experience of hiding from rain with random strangers felt weirdly bonding even without speaking the same language. When it cleared up most people had left so the walk back felt almost private. Just me and this ancient structure in the mist.
  I know this sounds dramatic but something shifted that day. Like I proved something to myself that I didn’t even know I needed to prove.
  Anyway yeah. Do the thing. Especially if it scares you a little. © Lufarinelli / Reddit
• When I was 19, my mom gave me money for a trip to the sea. I had a holiday romance there. 2 months later, I realized I was pregnant. That’s how, 10 years ago, my daughter was born. All these years I made up stories that her dad was a sailor or a pilot. Recently, I found him on social media and shocked him with the confession. He responded by saying that he dreams of having children and would happily acknowledge our daughter. © Mamdarinka / VK

This is math I do not understand?!

Found in my room in a Best Western in Sur, Oman...how does that even work?
I’m so glad my phone has an alarm. 🧐

• We were on vacation in Egypt at a big Red Sea resort. Every day we left a small tip for housekeeping, and every day we came back to ridiculous towel animals—swans, elephants, even a monkey once. Honestly, it was the best part of the trip.
  On day four, we had no small bills left. We figured we’d tip extra tomorrow.
  We came back from dinner and everything looked normal... until we saw it. A small desert lizard darting across the rug. I shrieked. My partner shrieked. We basically jumped back into the hallway.
  We froze, trying to figure out what to do, when a housekeeper appeared from the corridor, carrying cleaning supplies. We pointed wildly at the lizard, and she just nodded, calmly caught it with a small dustpan, and carried it away without a word.
  The next morning, we left her a huge tip.
  That afternoon, we came back to our room and found a towel folded into a perfect lizard, sitting on the bed. Clearly a playful “thank you.”
  We laughed for ten minutes straight. Best tip ever given.

Our vacation rental was described as having a golf course view. Technically, that was true...

• Greece. Rhodes. Waiting in a queue in a small village bakery shop, I looked outside and saw a nearby parked car shaking slightly. I thought, “The driver must have left his engine running.” Then the woman serving in the shop suddenly screamed loudly and ran out the shop. Following her outside, I looked down the long straight country road and could see the entire road rising and falling in waves, just like undulating waves at the seaside. It was of course just an earth tremor. But scary enough to scare even the locals. © wcrucre / Reddit
• In a restaurant in Brno in the Czech Republic, we didn’t speak much Czech, the staff didn’t speak much English. So they resorted to making the animal noises so we knew which meats we were ordering. By the time the waiter had got to the grilled lamb, half of the other guests in the restaurant were joining in. © Unknown author / Reddit
• While on vacation, I met a guy and we had a whirlwind romance. The guy had a beard, and like in a fairy tale, he allowed me to pluck hairs from his beard and make wishes. We remained on good terms and corresponded via mail. In one of the letters, the envelope contained red hairs and a note: “Only for the most desired things.” So I wished for our reunion. 4 years later, that wish came true! © Karamel / VK

Here’s what I spent my vacation money on. It’s a sleep paradise.

• I was flying back from a two-week holiday in Bali, already in that fragile, post-vacation depression state, shuffling through security and trying not to make eye contact with reality. The line stalls because this middle-aged guy in front of us starts arguing with the staff. They’re calmly asking him to take off his jacket. He keeps insisting he can’t. Not won’t. Can’t.
  This goes on for a full ten minutes. People are sighing. A toddler is losing it. I’m mentally drafting complaints I’ll never send. Eventually two armed police officers show up, which really escalates the vibe.
  After some very patient explaining, the guy finally gives in and shrugs off the jacket.
  Underneath? A bright pink crop top with “Birthday Princess” in glittery letters stretched across his chest.
  Dead silence. Then someone snorts. Then everyone’s laughing. Even the police. The guy just stood there, resigned, like yeah, okay, this is my life now.
• Just got back from a week in Greece. Sun, lemon trees, tiny villa—perfect vacation. That evening, I noticed a weird itch on my ankle. By 8 PM, it spread up both legs. By 9, it wasn’t just an itch—it was a full-on red, bumpy rash. Scratching only made it worse.
  My partner tried cold compresses and aloe. When that didn’t help, our neighbor, a nurse, came over with hydrocortisone and every trick she knew. Even the building superintendent stopped by with some vinegar-soaked cloth ritual. Nothing worked.
  Meanwhile, my younger cousin, visiting for the weekend, kept giggling every time I freaked out, pacing and scratching like a maniac. “What’s so funny?” I demanded, desperate and miserable.
  Finally, she dragged me over to the kitchen and pointed at the oregano container I’d brought back from the Greek market. It was half empty and leaking fine dust all over my clothes.
  Apparently, that was the culprit. Lesson learned: shake out your souvenirs. Oregano may be delicious in food, but apparently it’s brutal on skin.

Loved these vacation stories? There’s plenty more where that came from. Check out this article for even more unforgettable vacation stories that’ll make you laugh, cringe, and maybe double-check your souvenirs.