You worst holiday ever

That is awful Missingmoominmama. One wonders what would have happened if you weren't there. Something similar happened to us at Butlins Minehead - not nearly as dangerous but still quite unnverving - when the artificial wave swept by and carried my granddaughter away from us. I had to rush to grab her. She can swim but it scared her. The lifeguard didn't even seem to notice.

We’ve had mostly fabulous holidays, but the two I shudder when I think about them were both at Center Parcs. The first was with three children under 3, all of whom had bronchialitis. I spent the latter part of the week pacing the floor with whichever one was awake, with a pan of boiling water with essential oils in, bubbling away on the stove.

The second was when I pulled a young girl out of the pool because she was upright in the water, with just her fingers above the surface. As I hauled her onto the side, lots of water shot from her mouth. Her aunt came and shouted at her; her mum asked me what had happened, then her legs crumpled. The lifeguard took her away, wrapped in a towel, with her mum and aunt, and nobody else asked what had happened, or wrote it down. I was really shaken up.

A few mishaps and misadventures and some hotels I'll never go back to but I cannot truthfully say I've ever had a truly awful holiday.

But thank you everybody who's posted here. I've been planning all the places I'm going to go if and when it's legal again and, thanks to this thread, there's now quite a long list of places that are definitely off the bucket list!

So many!

Tunisia;
Being accosted by locals when in the search for food.
A dead turkey being displayed outside the hotel restaurant - it was on the menu the next day.
Being chased out of a casino by management for daring to complain about a single orange being served as a course in a 5 course meal. The other course was a bottle of water...
A knife fight breaking out in our bar area.

Bulgaria:
Local flooding for the entire 7 days.
No entertainment whatsoever - and no books.
No variation on the menu. At all.

Turkey;
Hotel was as new as it was in the 70's..... In the 00's, with all the wear too.
Hotel on flight path, so close that the air con unit fell off the wall with every flight that arrived.
Management demanding 10€ per day for said air con unit.
Staff breaking in the room to steal said air con unit.
Being threatened with a screwdriver held by hotel owner...
All inclusive; being charged for a butter pat.
Mixers were chargeable.
Tinned tomatoes and vine leaves served every single day, no other choice (all inc. remember?)
3 bombings in the week we were there.

Tenerife;
Food poisoning. Twice.
Hotel fire which was ignored by staff.
SiL gatecrashing holiday, uninvited and unwanted.. He just turned up.
Hoards of local gypsies swimming in already dirty pool, stole countless handbags and bag contents.

Malta;
Room broken into and camera stolen.
Used a local bus which broke down, took 3 hours for a replacement. It was 105° and no shelter.

All these woes include the mandatory awful accommodation and filthy rooms, broken tiles, bathroom floods, cockroaches, bad tempered and rude staff. Nowadays I'm happy to stay at my friends house!

I've just had the holiday from hell staying with a friend. We provided all the food, paid for all the lunches coffees etc. She ordered the most expensive meals she could and kept inviting her friends and expecting us to pay. Never again!!!!

GM11 must have been on the cruise after me the riots were just brewing, Cairo pretty chaotic, armed guards on the coach, next day we had an overnight in Luxor, that was very nice, then back to Sharm.
We were lucky!.

Red Sea Magic cruise on-board Thomson Spirit Cruise ship about 10years ago, we flew out to Cyprus to Board the ship for a 7night cruise around Egypt and a transit of the Suez Canal. We had been on this ship before, it's fairly old, but the food was basic Ok British cuisine, but nothing really special, about what you would expect of a decent works Canteen, which for the price, we were happy with. The main attraction was that DH had always fancied transiting the Suez Canal, after listening to tales from his brother in law who was stationed nearby in the Air force during the 2nd world war. The first few days passed without inceident, until we were berthed in Safaga, a horrible port right at the side of a huge Cement factory, which covered everything including the ship in fine grey dust. We sat out on the Portside upper deck in the warm sunshine, away from the huge heaps of dust, and facing over the town. The Cairo riots were making news, and most of the Coach excursions had been cancelled on the recommendation of the Foriegn office. Some passengers had decided to walk up into the town along the port road, but returned quickly on hearing gunshot. A Riot was taking place in the town centre, the Police were trying to deal with it, but it was heading down towards us and the port. The Captain was instructed to request all passengers be confined indoors by the port authorities, Tear gas was being used, as well as guns, and it was now visible in the approach road to the port, with open trucks full of armed protectors firing up towards a large Mosque. This went on for a couple of hours, thankfully no one from the ship got injured, and everyone gave a sign of relief as we finally left port to spend the night at sea.
Sham el Shiake Airport was another place that I would never want to visit again. We were first off the Coach to collect our Luggage to Check in. Several menacing looking men and Youths were grabbing Luggage and running off with it, Luckily they did not get ours, but those who challenged them were met with demands for money for the service of handing it back on an Airport trolley, but some went missing for good anyway.
I am disabled myself, and one of these men rammed a Wheelchair into the back of my legs causing me to fall backwards into it, he then ran through the airport as far as he could towards the Check in desk taking me with him. He then stopped, held his hand out, and demanded money, Luckily I had a new £2 coin in my pocket, so I have him that, which he examined looking quite confused regarding its value, which bought me enough time to get out of the chair and through the barrier to safety, where I waited for my DH who was following with the luggage a few yards behind me. Another family were not so Lucky, they had a shoulder bag snatched containing passports and valuables by a man on a skateboard whilst they were in the Air check in desk que.
Egypt is not a place that I would ever want to return to again. I have visited may places via excursions off a Cruiseship, but have been somewhat relieved. To be getting back.on-board after the experience and to the relative safety of my Cabin, and fairly decent food with a wide choice of menu and a comfortable bed for the night, with a English speaking crew.

Turkey, years ago.
My friend and me were constantly harassed by men, it was absolutely boiling hot, and she behaved like a sergeant major with a talent for drama thrown in for good measure.

I really shouldn't 'enjoy' these memories but some are really funny and some really revolting - poor holidaymakers!

We reserved a gite in southern France and on arrival it was shuttered and locked. Knocking on the house next door, the helpful owners quickly summoned the gite owners and there was then utter confusion as we were told that we had booked for the following week (we hadn't).

The gite was unlocked and as we were the first renters of the year, it had not been cleaned so we were asked to go away for several hours and it would all be sorted out. This we did (but were quite tired after a long drive) and returned to find everything sparkling clean, fresh flowers on the tables and food in the 'fridge. Wonderful!

However... during the night I found I was itching. I then spotted small black specs which moved... les puces, fleas! Turned out the house next door had many animals and they produced a prodigious crop of fleas which also enjoyed humans. We summoned the owners again and they produced 'le bomb', which fumigated the house.

After that we had a great time!

Oh (and this looks like a theme) we arrived in Spain after a three-day drive with our 18-month old baby to find the hotel had no record of our reservation (made by fax by our travel agent - and we had a copy!). We had to find another hotel and make repeated trips into the major town to see if our money transfer had arrived before we could pay for the stay in our hotel (pre credit cards! We knew our hotel bill was paid for so didn't take enough money to cover it).

Finally, my husband's fiftieth birthday gift was a surprise trip to France. We had a wonderful meal to celebrate but half-way through he disappeared. When, after half an hour, he didn't return I went to find him - being very 'ill' over the loo. Within half an hour I was joining him - then both of us, simultaneously had both 'ends' fighting for basin, shower or loo space. I fainted and began hallucinating and thought he was trying to strangle me - he was helping me up from the floor (well, that's what he said...!).

A birthday to remember.

Alicante. We had treated ourselves to a suite in the hotel and I spent most of it in hospital with an infection. At A&E no one understood English. I was so ill I just lay down on the floor as no one could understand what I was saying. Then they found someone who could speak some English. I fainted and came to being put on a stretcher and vomiting all over my face. They checked my health card and insurance before taking me to a ward. Two bed ward, the other lady had dementia or something and moaned and screamed all night. I had to walk to the toilets pulling my drips and collect all my urine for testing. Nightmare. My fibromyalgia started to act up and I needed to put a bra on to help. Ever tried putting a bra on quietly in the dark in the middle of the night with a drip attached?
Most awful time ever. Had to get wheeled on to the plane home. Will never be back.

Forgot to say, breakfast was tiny cup of coffee and mini roll with what I thought was a sachet of marmalade but was olive oil. And was so late one day that everyone was in the corridor looking for the trolley.
Someone told me later if we had been in one of the resorts that it would have been much better.

We always camped or caravanned but one November my husband had an extra weeks holiday. I suggested that we went to a favourite camp site at Antibes on the Cote d’Azur. He came home and said he had booked a Thompson Blue Riband holiday at Torremolinas.
I suffer from a back problem which means I have to sit upright. All the seats round the pool were unadaptable loungers so I took a chair from the lounge and was immediately told this was forbidden. The gravy on the dinners all had the same grey gravy and were served cold. The buffet lunch was set out uncovered qimmediately after breakfast not good in the heat and attracted flies. After two days I spent the night on the loo. I said I knew now why the toilet was en suite. After that I avoided the dining room and went out and bought food to eat in my room
Whilst waiting for the plane to go home I asked for the complaints book only toe told it was locked in the managers office. Some other guests we spoke to said they only had the English food. It was the same but in different languages. Finally got the complaints book where in all different language made the same complaints.
Some months later had a letter from the Spanish tourist Board to say the hotel had been demoted to two star.
The good thing about camping is that you know no one else has slept in your bed and you have cooked your own food.

Toronto in Canada.
Plane landed and we got put in a queue for immigration and were questioned for a couple of hours as to why we were only staying for 5 days and were we then going to disappear into thin air!
Got on the bus from the airport and they didn't do change so in the end the driver let us travel for free.
Got to the hotel to find it was in the middle of the red light district. We were surrounded by sex shops and peep shows.
We went to a local restaurant for dinner and beggars were coming in off the street begging for change as you were putting a fork full of food in your mouth and the manager didn't do anything about it.
Eventually we bought sandwiched and stayed in our room from 5pm to 10am everyday.
The only good day we had was when we did a trip to Niagra Falls.
It was the worst holiday ever and to think we had saved and saved to get there as it was on our bucket list.

I went with my daughter grandson and son in law to an ABnB in Cleveland America two years ago. We started worrying when we drove up to the house and it had grills at the windows and padlocks on the front door. The first night cars drove up and down the road honking and a party across the road made the walls vibrate. We complained to the owner and she said it was a one off. The same happened the following night, we complained and she put ear plugs and camomile tea through the letter box! The next night the same and I said is that fireworks, and my son in law said no thats gun shots. We left the next morning!! Went to a lovely hotel and enjoyed the rest of our stay.

My husband and I went to Australia for our Honeymoon on a touring holiday. We stayed with some relatives at first which was really lovely and they made us feel very welcome. We then went on to Sydney to collect our hire car to find my husband had forgotten his driving licence. We obviously was unable to get the car so my husband rang home for his son to post it on to us. We waited and waited and waited so eventually we got it. My husband went to the reception desk with licence in hand and grinning said to the chap I bet this happens all the time, the chap answered no sir you are the first. We never did see much of Australia.

I love Italy but our worst holiday was in Liguria, near the Cinque Terre, which are lovely. The accommodation was half way up a mountain, in the owners basement storage rooms! The wardrobe was full of their stuff, the bedroom walls were lined with chairs (which had to act as our wardrobe). The luxury bed was a bed settee. The 'precious' Russian bedspread acted as a door stop to prevent mice getting in under the 4" gap. Every surface in the living room was covered in knick-knacks (including inside the breadbin). The owner had a vast amount of wine stored there too, I still regret not helping myself to some of it. The owners had 4 huge Russian sheepdogs roaming around, you could be on a sun lounger and suddenly feel one of these beasts licking you. I could go on ... We lasted 4 days and headed to France, the Ibis outside Orange was paradise! We then found a lovely gite for the second week.

I guess my worst experiences have involved illness, especially D and V. One time we were in France in a B and B, with shared bathroom. It was grim.
When my children were small the baby became sick and a bit dehydrated. It was a bug and went through the family. We were in a lovely family- friendly hotel, complete with laundry room, which helped, but inevitably the bug went through the hotel.I felt bad as we had started it. I informed the proprietor but he just said “ Too many ice creams” and did not take it seriously.

Backpacking in old Yugoslavia in 1970s with boyfriend. He arranged flights which was supposed to be to Greece but he thought this would be more of an adventure ! It certainly was.
At airport everyone except for us was collected in a tourist coach. We were sorting out bus services when a police car pulled up ,opened doors and several police officers beating up a young man. The police looked at us and pulled a gun. Thankfully there was a taxi nearby and we jumped into that and just said drive.Don't know how we survived the 2 weeks but was so relieved to be on the plane home. Scary !

Against my better judgement DH persuaded me to go to Brittany with another couple who'd bought a 'doer-upper' farmhouse which contrary to their description was a bit of 'a tip'. They were nice but there was tension between them - as though they were on the point of having a row and only our presence kept it polite iyswim. We spent the first and last weekends with them and the middle part just the two of us cycling and camping.

It was 'half and half' weather wise. You can guess, can't you? The days we spent with our friends we had brilliant sunshine, the others torrential rain with a few dry spots. It was so bad that we sheltered in a phone box for a short spell until a Frenchman wanted to make a call. Our map which was on the bar bag of the tandem got all soggy and almost fell apart. You only get punctures in the rain, don't you? We fixed it under a bus shelter. I don't think I've ever been more relieved to get home.

I was a horse mad 12 year old. My parents had booked the holiday of a lifetime - a week in the Peak District, staying on site at a trekking centre so I could ride every day.

We arrived in the afternoon, and thankfully I had a short unplanned ride....cos the following morning whilst waiting to go out I slipped over and broke my arm!!

A whole day of holiday wasted in A&E (x2 - we first went to Buxton who couldn't deal with it so when they established it was probably broken sent me to Macclesfield) and absolutely no riding for me.
I remember being in so much pain, and I couldn't even groom with my good arm cos it jolted the broken one too much (I broke the humerus so it was more "vulnerable anyway". Never was there a bone more inappropriately named!)

To add insult to injury that was the last holiday we ever had.

We went to Jersey for a week when our sons were about 7 and 5. Unfortunately it was cold and rained every single day and although we stayed very close to the beach our boys only spent half a day there one day when the rain had stopped. Our next family holiday was to Majorca to make sure we got some good weather.

My mother was a health visitor and one of her patients raved about a place called the Solway Lido so we went with my mum for a week . When we arrived our chalet smelt terrible and at night the smell from the blankets was ripe . The only good day was one we motored along to the Lake District. Second last day DS aged 5 developed mumps and was sick in his bed. That was our excuse to head home .
DH and Iwent on a Thomson cruise for our 30th wedding anniversary as friends were keen cruisers. The Med in June should have been OK but the weather became terrible and , on the night of the captain's dinner , we were prostrate in our beds. I would not even move to scratch my nose and just wanted to die . We phoned for the doctor and was told there was a long wait for her . She eventually arrived and when we sat up to speak to her we both had to run to the toilet to be sick . DH still says she was called Dr. Hitler and it cost us dearly to have have the injections. We just have the memory of lying in bed and our gin bottle sliding from side to side . I enjoyed the rest of the cruise but DH was only happy where we arrived back on dry land .
Then there was the holiday in the south of Teneriffe. We had armed guards on the gates of the hotel . We went for a walk along the beach and there was a dead body . It was a drug feud and when we got home I discovered two other fatalities that same week in our resort.

Euro Disney,I'm afraid! It was our first time, unaware of the need to book to see characters, have photos taken with them. Queues for everything were horrific. Our granddaughter, who had been so excited to go, was underwhelmed. We loved the Wild West show and her favourite part was the Lego store!!

Our worst experience is nothing like as bad as everyone has described so far.

One year we hadn't planned anything. Children had all left home and we hadn't been camping for years but we thought we'd give it a go. We still had all the wherewithal.

We packed and drove down to Annecy. It poured the whole time. We were squelching through mud and one morning DH saw an airbed float out of the next tent with a child asleep on it.

We packed up and went home. It wasn't Annecy's fault. I would happily go there again.

I seem to be very susceptible to getting the runs, though. In 3 hotels I have had to send DH down to reception to get more loopaper. Once in France, once in The US, California or Nevada, not sure now which, and once on a New Year weekend package here in Germany.

I managed to clean up after me OK except in America where they have those useless fixed showers. In the end I filled a waste paper bucket with water and sluiced down (myself and the walls - sorry if that's TMI) with that.

Deffo skiing holiday in Bulgaria ( back in 1990).. hotel warm but we slept in dorms and the food was awful ... butter rancid jam out of date by years ; we were shown a meal on a plate with no explanation of what it was and we had to point to the one we wanted: beer was cheap there was no snow to speak of so no skiing, thank goodness for Chicken 'n chip shacks. We went on a trip to the nearest big town and they were very proud of the department store which was practically empty; a few items in glass cases dotted around and a few rails of all the same clothes reminded me of UK shops/choices from 1950/60. But we made the best of it, thankfully no-one got ill. Also another bad one was Gran Canarias in week before Xmas.. xmas decs amounted to one piece tinsel and a couple of candles; too cold to even sit in the sun, all local shops, bars closed at beach, the food in the restaurant was worse than awful; so every day we got the bus into Porta Morgan for dinner ( which was lovely).... not sure what I expected but as a Grand Vacation Club ( points based ) holiday, which had been good before thought it would be better than is was and we love Gran Canarias normally.

I can't remember any example of bad holiday, to be honest. There was a sad accident once, when my family had beautiful two weeks with my sister's family and we took a lot of pictures, knowing we won't see each other for a long time. At the the end of our stay we took our DGC tp the swimming pool and her DGS took our camera with him to take more pictures. He then dropped it to the pool accidentally and we couldn't get it out for several minutes and when we finally took it out, it turned out to be badly damaged (memory card included). It was pretty old, so no surprise, but it was sad to lose all the pictures just like that, I was hoping to make a smartshow 3d video about our vacation later! Now we are extremely careful with our cameras and save all our photos to the laptops and computers as soon as possible