Competition: win over £450 of brilliant summer reads

Bad weather on holiday and had to spend most of the time indoors -.-

I think it all started when I was a teenager and went on holiday to a caravan in Cornwall with my DP.
The site was fairly new but the caravan was what you could call 're-conditioned' - in fact so newly re-conditioned that all the paint inside was still wet and we got it all over our clothes.

There have been so many holiday mishaps since then, far too many to list!!

Which one?

There are so many to choose from, and we are staying at home this year you may be relieved to hear.

(We can laugh now though, but most of them were at the time)

I haven't had any (touch wood) as an adult most memorable was as a child going on a family holiday to Guernsey we arrived late in the evening. My mum absolutely hated the holiday cottage we had booked and refused to stay. The only place available was the most expensive hotel on the island! Turned into a very expensive but nice (for us kids) holiday!

Ours would have to be the one we just got back from down in Newquay! If you used the shower in one of the bedrooms it leaked into the living room, the electricity kept blowing out, the beds were rock hard so every one kept waking up with bad backs. Then there was the actual park we stayed in, everything was closed (amusements etc) and the kids play park had even been cordoned off!

The time we took our boys to Spain and our youngest cried all night,
I was terrified he was going to fall off the balcony and then I came down with a tummy bug!

The time my family went on holiday to France, and the satnav said "you have reached your destination" in front of a run down shack with boards put up where the windows had been smashed...

Really stressed out so booked a week in Lanzarote. Went on a Thomson flight =, first time we had ever travelled with Thomson. Had children sitting in front who thought it a game to keep putting the headrest down and peering at us through the gap pulling faces. Had children sitting at the back kicking the seats all the time - believe me we were stressed out by the time we got there. Yes they had parents with them who did nothing!!

A few years back we were going on holiday to Spain. I had a cup of hot chocolate on the flight there and promptly spilled it down my white top and burnt my boobs. The next day in Spain I bit into crusty bread at breakfast and broke the crown on my front tooth and had to visit a dentist who didn't speak English,I was terrified. The day after that I received a phone call to say a very dear uncle had died very suddenly. It had taken my cousins a few days to find my phone number and the funeral was the next day so I couldn't attend. What a first few days of a holiday.

When our daughter was 16 we decided to take a holiday to Butlins Holiday camp, at Minehead.

The holiday was a disaster from start to finish! The accommodation was very cramped and basic, the weather freezing cold and pouring with rain, and our teenage daughter was bored with everything we tried to do.

She just wanted to do her own thing, which was to be as far away from her parents as possible. She and her dad were at loggerheads throughout the holiday. Everything we asked her to do, she pushed her luck causing more arguments.

With rain pouring down the windows, we were all ready for the journey home, knowing that our dog Sam who we had left in kennels, would be so happy and excited to welcome us home.

However, when we reached the kennels, we were devastated to hear that our wonderful, much-loved pet had died that morning.

We were devastated!

I have four holiday disasters! 1. In 1982 I went to Holland in a camper van and tent with husband, 2 year old son, my parents, sister and her two children. My son developed severe tonsilitis (finally removed age 21), it was boiling hot and we missed the ferry home resulting in a long drive to another ferry port. 2. Later in the 80s on the way to Gatwick for a holiday in Spain we were in a motorway accident. I was sat in the back and saw a lorry heading straight for us. My brother in the passenger seat managed to reach the excelerator (automatic car) and we zoomed backwards out of the way. He undoubtedly saved our lives. Spent the holiday bruised down one side. 3. Late nineties decided to walk 50 miles of the Cornish coast with husband and daughter to raise money for the RSPCA. Camping on the beach campsite at Par there was a storm and we were all relocated to a local community hall for safety after the tents were washed away. 4. Spent a camping holiday in France in 1979 stopping all the time to be sick - turned out I was pregnant!

My holiday disaster was when I went to Spain with my friends and my suitcase had been lost, had to wait nearly a week for it to turn up

Caught German measles while on holiday - in Germany! Surprisingly, they don't call it German Measles, but 'die Roteln' - or something like that (the German equivalent of Rubella)

When I was a young 'ish' single mum, having recently divorced my first husband, I saved up for ages to get the £300 so that we could go 'all in' and took my three offspring to a holiday camp (which shall remain nameless!) near Blackpool. It was a real route march getting there on the train, in 1985, three trains and then a bus, with luggage and everything but the kitchen sink! Upon arrival we were directed to our 'chalet' which turned out to be a really grim first floor apartment, up rusty outside 'fire escape type' steps. There was an electric fire hanging off the wall above the main bed, the windows had mould all around the inside and I could have wept. The only redeeming feature in the flat was a huge bath, which all the kids could fit into. It rained all week but fortuntely there was a wonderful indoor swimming pool which the kids were happy to almost live in, whilst I nearly expired from humidity and the ever presetn smell of chlorine!

The food was 'buffet style' but almost inedible as other guests seemed to have no thought for niceties and frankly you wouldnt want to touch what was on offer unless it was in a sealed packet which most of it wasn't. Towards the end of the week there was a terrible, tragic accident involving a young person on a scooter, near the resort reception and at that point I threw in the towel and we checked out two days early.

I wrote to the the holiday camp chain and expressed my disappointment, horror and disbelief at the conditions there and assured them that never in a million years would I use them again. Their response? £30 of holiday vouchers to enable us to go there at discouunt the following year!! Never!! I didnt even try to give them away to my worst enemy!

Would have to be our trip to a Christmas Market in Frankfurt, we missed our flight from Bristol by 3 minutes due to roadworks. Staff assured us we would make the flight from Heathrow 4 hours later so we paid to fly from Heathrow, unfortunately traffic was at a standstill on the M4 so we also missed that flight. We eventually flew the following morning and had a great time, on returning to UK we were unable to get back into Wales, as Fathers For Justice were protesting on the bridge so we had to sit in the car for several hours!

Well, there was the time we went to France for a few days. This was years ago - no mobile phone. Carefully marked up a map of where we were going, together with the address of the place we were staying. Carefully left it on the table at home and left without it!! Picked up the hire car and - shockingly - the French car had French sat nav. Who could have predicted that?!

I was desperately trying to remember my 30-year old French lessons from school. The other half was desperately trying to remember the details of the B&B he had booked. It was evening, we were in a rural area where most people didn't speak English. We thought we were going to have to sleep in the car at one point! Then we came upon a late night pharmacy. Lovely gentleman took sympathy on us and let us use his internet to look up the hotel, then he helped us with the directions and printed off a Google map for us.

Phew - I was so relieved when we drove up outside that B&B.

I look back on it now and can see how naive and daft we were!

We'd always done well on fishing trips as we had the car to pile loads of stuff in. However, one year we decided the take the motorbike and just what we could pack on it - disaster! The weather wasn't that great, the only place we could find to camp was rubbish, the ground was lumpy and our cheap light tent had none of the protection and comforts we were used to. We accidentally rolled the tent up with my better half's sunglasses still inside, then ran over the lot as the bike slipped trying to get out. No shower, achy, hungry and thirsty we called it quits and headed home the next day. Fingers crossed as this selection would give me some lovely and interesting reading.

Oh dear, I've just remembered one that fills me with guilt and horror even now.

1994. We were heading out on holiday and as we waited for our flight to be called at Manchester Airport, in walked the full Leeds United team, all in their official gear, heading off somewhere warm for an important tournament. I forget what or where, but doubt that DS has. He was 9, a fanatical supporter, carrying his newly bought copy of Match with his team on the front cover, and wearing his own full Leeds United kit for the journey.

DH had a chat with a couple of the players, I busied myself taking loads of photos of the DC with the team, particularly of DS with his big (literally, 6' 3") hero, Carlton Palmer. DS was over the moon, never stopped talking about the encounter during the flight and the coach transfer, bought a postcard as soon as we arrived and sat down to write it before we unpacked, to let his best friend know what had happened at the airport.

And it was at that very moment that I realised with a sickening thud that there was no film in my camera.

I went on a holiday with my fiance (now wife) intending to learn to fly whilst there, we had it all booked in advance.
I was flying around one day accumulating hours prior to my test when I noticed an unusual looking air force base.
I was in California and flew over and over it for a good long while enjoying the sunshine and blue skies and watching the people below running to their planes and either putting them away or getting ready to take off, I assumed it was a drill so I flew away to give them room just in case.
When I landed all the flying instructors along with the other students came running out to meet my plane, looking angry and horrified.
Long story short I had been flying over a restricted military base and they were getting ready to force me down after failing to contact me on my radio. I knew nothing of this as the radio was not working. Eventually everything worked out OK but another fifteen minutes and I would have been in serious trouble.
I passed my test though so all is good.

OH and I went on a week's holiday to Northumbria. I was fine when I left home but had a streaming cold by the time I got there. By day 2 it was obvious I also had the flu, I have never felt so ill in my life. We couldn't get the coal fired central heating to work properly and OH had to go and find decent drugs for me. Our active week of cycling was completely ruined as we were in a cottage in the middle of nowhere and TV reception was woeful. I think we were both glad to leave and go home at the end of the week.

I always, every single time, set off the metal detector at the airport. I deliberately don't wear jewellery or underwired bras, when travelling, so I have no idea why it happens, but I get frisked every single time!

We have a regular holiday spot, just to avoid disasters! Our worst was deciding to day trip on the ferry to Guernsey with two little granddaughters (many years ago now). The passage was so rough they were both incredibly sick & had to spend the rest of the day wearing tourist t shirts whilst I carried their soiled ones all day! Try going to a cafe or restaurant carrying two smelly tops around...

My DD arranged to take me on holiday to Menorca for my birthday - she even booked us into a hotel near the airport as it was an early flight, and arranged for transport to Bristol Airport in the morning. We joined the queue to check in for Menorca and at the desk was told we were in the queue for the wrong flight. Right destination ..... Wrong flight. They tried to get us on to the right flight but it was closed. My DD pleaded with the very young airport manager to let us join the flight ... But no, he was more intent on throwing his weight around and refused. Not to be outdone on the holiday, my daughter rebooked a flight from Birmingham .... We dashed up to that airport by coach and caught that flight by the skin of our teeth! This turned out to be a very expensive break .... I think that airport manager had seen too many episodes of "airport"..... He was very mean.

We were holidaying in Ibiza to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and had booked an 'allocated on arrival' to save ourselves a few bob! Much to our amusement we were placed in an 18 to 30 year old hotel!

However it was not too horrendous and found ourselves welcomed into the fold of a group of youngsters much younger than our own kids! ?. As much as we tried to seclude ourselves, we were sought out after our evening meal and encouraged to join in. On our anniversary, hubby was rather jovial after the rather large jug of Sangria we had with our evening meal. Subsequently our new adopted family were encouraging him to 'celebrate'. After crashing into our beds I was awakened by someone knocking on our door, despite my efforts I could not rouse my inebriated hubby! Suddenly a little voice rung out ....... 'Let me in' ...... Shock horror hubby was outside in his canary yellow underpants! He had woken up and gone in search of the toilet!! Woken up in the lift when a rather posh looking lady was about to enter ( his words ), and pressed the button before she could get it. It took hubby a long time to get over his experience, and taught him to not be so competitive in keeping up with the youngsters Lol ?

Me and DH went to Turkey and when we got there had a horrendous coach journey to our hotel up mountainous winding roads where the driver on more than one occasion got to near the edge and had all the holidaymakers gripped in their seats, some were actually crying, me included! He stopped for a 'cigarette break' while we 'admired the view' and he left me and DH behind. We screamed and shouted at the coach to stop which it eventually did and we breathed a sigh of relief when we reached our destination. I had a really bad back at this stage and realised our room was the top of a 4 storey hotel which had no lift so each time we went out I had to heave myself up and down the stairs. The beach was a walk down (up on the way back!) a steep hill which sent my back into spasms but I was on holiday and determined to enjoy it! One day I got dehydrated and passed out in the hotel restaurant and had to drink a cocktail of goodness knows what containing 95% salt - disgusting but it did do the trick thankfully. The next day we were on the beach and from the tv monitors from the bars we saw in disbelief that planes had flown into the Twin Towers- yes it was 9/11. I had to stay in my room for two days at this point as my back had seized completely and I saw every news coverage of that terrorist attack from my hotel bed. The last day I was determined to go back to the beach one last time but due to my immobility it took longer than normal and our favourite spot on the beach was taken up with other holidaymakers. Not long after I'd gotten myself 'positioned' on a sun lounger the most horrendous noise appeared to be getting closer - it was a tourist bus who's brakes failed at the top of the hill and ploughed into people on the beach (where we would have been sat if my back had been ok) only coming to a halt as it hit and landed in the ocean. It was awful, so many were hurt and there were police, ambulances and medical staff everywhere. The coach was full of English tourists just arriving from the airport. Luckily they were all ok. We were so glad to be going home the next day but paid for a taxi to the airport - there was no way we were stepping foot near a coach again!