#1
As it turns out, we weren't able to get off the beach onto the actual island because of a razor sharp barnacle wall surrounding the whole area, so we were trapped on a sand bar until the next morning.
So unfortunately, as night fell, the tide started rising, and only a tiny sliver of the sand bar stayed above sea level. The ground was soaking wet and sopped through the tent we were sleeping in, but to add insult to injury, turns out the sand bar was also a huge horseshoe crab mating ground. So the rest of the night we basically were wet, cold, and being swarmed by horseshoe crabs mating against our tent.
Truely one of my worst nights.
#2
#3
Visiting and exploring a new place can be thrilling, refreshing, and sometimes a little chaotic too. From the excitement of discovering hidden cafes to snapping that perfect sunset photo, travel gives us stories to cherish.
But, before the adventure begins, there’s a little behind-the-scenes magic, planning. Whether it’s booking the right flights, sorting local transport, or finding a stay that matches your vibe (and budget), a little preparation goes a long way. After all, no one wants unexpected “surprises” on vacation, especially not from the hotel room!
#4
She lived in an apartment with her parents but the place was a wreck. Trash everywhere, dirty dishes. But the worst of it was they didn't potty train their little dog so it would pee all over the kitchen and they would just put a paper towel over it. The kitchen was covered in paper towels 🤢🤢
I tried to not go in the kitchen but I knew the urine was tracked everywhere. What really got me was when the dog stepped in her bowl of hamburger helper and she laughed and kept eating it anyway.
#5
#6
We went to bed that night, defeated, knowing we'd be covered in rats.
To understand what really makes or breaks a trip, we spoke with Swati Jain, who works with the Mumbai branch of Kesari Tours, one of India’s trusted travel companies. The company has won several awards, including the India Travel Awards 2025: Voted Best International Tour Operator of the Year. They have helped thousands of travelers plan their dream vacations.
Swati, who has been in the travel industry for over two decades, shared how drastically travel planning has evolved. “Things are so much easier now,” she says with a laugh. “Scouting for accommodation is a few clicks away today. Earlier, we had to send people physically to check places out before confirming bookings. It was time-consuming and unpredictable.” According to her, while technology has made planning convenient, it’s also made travelers a bit too trusting of online reviews and pictures, which can sometimes be… deceptive.
#7
The house turned into a swamp, we opened all the windows and doors, turned on every fan we could find and still it was just awful. The bedroom was so hot we couldn't use it so we slept on the couches which were so soaked by the end of the day that you could press your hand into it and your hand would come up wet.
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#9
“Finding good accommodation takes patience,” Swati emphasizes. “It’s not always easy to find the perfect spot that checks all your boxes. We have to consider location, safety, and comfort, and of course, budget. A 3-star in one country might feel like a 1-star in another, so managing expectations is key.” Her team often filters dozens of listings before narrowing them down to a handful that meet the right balance between affordability and experience.
#10
I had already had two almost-sleepless nights at this point, so if it wasn't for complete physical exhaustion there's no way I would have managed to get the 20 minutes of sleep I eventually managed just before 05:00 in the morning.
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#12
Swati also warns travelers not to get swayed by glowing reviews alone. “I believe sometimes reviews can be misleading,” she admits. “A few years ago, for a youth tour in Spain, we booked a hotel based purely on its five-star feedback online. But when we arrived, it was terrible! Later, we learned they gave free shots at the reception in exchange for positive reviews.” She laughs at the memory, “It’s a good reminder, always read between the lines, and never assume that ratings tell the whole story.”
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“Another important thing to consider is location,” Swati advises. “Usually, if the hotel is in a sketchy or far-off area, that’s already a red flag. You might get cheaper rates, but safety and accessibility come first. A good neighborhood not only makes you feel at ease but also saves time and money on local travel. Plus, it’s much easier to explore on foot or find decent food nearby when you’re in a central area.”
Then come the amenities, those little comforts that can turn a stay from stressful to smooth. “Always check what’s included,” Swati says. “Today, everyone expects reliable Wi-Fi, clean bathrooms, and at least basic air conditioning or heating. Also, check the room size! Sometimes photos make it look spacious, but when you arrive, it’s barely enough for your luggage. Don’t hesitate to message the property for clarification before booking.”
#16
If you've never been to the Iceland airport, there's not much to do. Doubly so on the pre-security screening side. Well, we landed and walked for a while, but about 2 a.m. I just couldn't do it any longer. I found a spot in a corner, out of the way, and lay down with my head on my bag.
At 5, I was awakened by a security guard screaming at me that I had to get up, that they didn't allow people to lie on the floor. She also had an empty plastic bottle in her hand, and she was banging it against her other hand about an inch from my nose.
I staggered over to a bench and tried to sleep, but those benches are hard as bricks and uncomfortable as all get out. I spent the next 5 hours or so in a constant state of half-asleep, half alive of fatigue. I don't think I've ever been more miserable.
The plus side was that the flight to Boston from Iceland went pretty quickly thanks to the Benadryl and rum combined with that fatigue. I woke myself up snoring on the plane while the flight attendants were giving the speech about how to wear seat belts. I don't remember much after that until we landed.
#17
I was five months pregnant and enormous (FWIW, it was all belly... people who approached me from behind were always shocked to find out I was pregnant. Always told me, "It's a boy, isn't it?" Yes, twas a 12+ lb baby boy) Anyway.... it was Memorial Day weekend and we decided to go camping. We had the one baby in the oven, an 18 month old "Max", and a ten year old "Jake".
Why we thought this was a good idea, I'll never know. Chalk it up to rose tinted glasses. We live in the Houston area. The drive alone was arduous enough. We get there though, and it's lovely and wind blown and wild. We set up camp and the balmy ninety degree temps take a nose dive. Well, we had sleeping bags but this cold was relentless. Plus it was windy. And Max kept crying and crying, something he never did. He was always a chill child. But from the moment we set up camp he had become clingy and fussy and now that night had fallen he was full on wailing.
We didn't know how to handle a crying child. Hand to God, he had never cried like this before. We never had to comfort him. We had no clue what to do besides hold him close and rock him gently.
He didn't seem to be sick. No fever. He wasn't prone to ear infections and his ears didn't seem to be bothering him. He was dressed warmly, unlike the rest of us.
It was full on dark, just past nine, when a park ranger rolled into our campsite. He said he was going to have to ask us to leave if Max didn't settle down because we were disrupting quiet time.
So we gathered our things and bundled into our truck. As soon as we were in the truck Max stfu.
He began baby talking and leaned into me and snap! fell asleep. We waited a beat and then moved back to the tent, which we hadn't dismantled yet. We had just begun to settle down when he woke and began to cry again, this time with renewed vigor. We went back to the truck. I told my husband he and Jake should go ahead and sleep in the tent and I would stay in the truck with Max, the screamer. Quietly, they did just that. A couple of minutes later Max woke up screaming again. He didnt settle down until my husband and Jake got back into the truck.
We resigned ourselves to a long, uncomfortable night cramped in the truck. I needed to pee, but didn't dare leave because I thought Max would wake up crying again. Max slept through the night.
As soon as dawn broke we packed up the rest of our stuff and in the midst of doing that my husband saw fresh, large piles of animal scat behind the area where our tent had been pitched.
Now there haven't been bears, wolves or mountain lions in Texas in decades. But that was one big pile.
Maybe Max knew something we didn't know. In any case... that was THE most uncomfortable, long night ever.
Sorry for the lengthy post.
#18
One especially big sale, he needed me way early and I sat from noon until 8am, with two other proxies. One was a nice lady who worked with one of his partners, the other was a guy that went to high school with my mom and was an unmedicated schizophrenic. It started snowing around 2pm, and by dark it was coming down heavy, like 1-2" per hour. She was quiet and nice, but he was getting increasingly bizarre, ranting about how the Mississippi froze over in 1979 and that's why coyotes were all over the NYC tristate area. We nodded politely, and shared a concerned look.
At 4am, he woke us up screaming about how it wasn't fair that "she took [his] kids" and how Lyndon LaRouche was gonna help him get them back. He then opened the door, and ran out into the shin-high snow without his coat and disappeared into the dark. As far as I know, he never had any kids. I never heard what happened to him, but I got a story and $200 for the ordeal.
When it comes to travel bookings, Swati’s golden rule is simple: flexibility is everything. “We always book places that have free cancellation options,” she shares. “Plans can change, especially with group tours or during uncertain weather. Having the flexibility to modify or cancel without penalty gives you peace of mind. It’s better to pay a little extra upfront than lose the entire amount if something goes wrong.”
#19
Imagine being in a room with hundreds of creepy dolls on shelves all around the room, all staring at you. Didn't help that her house is victorian and weirdly laid out. Her living room was ground floor, and then you'd go down a steep set of stairs into the basement (which is where the guest room was..) this led out to her back yard, weird house built on a weird slope.
I couldn't move from fear, I literally lay there all night terrified to move incase one of the dolls moved. 😂 Branches hitting against the window and the rattling of her heating pipes helped make it a very horrific night.
I refused to ever sleep there again, so she introduced me to the other guest room (that I didn't know existed) and this room was first floor, zero dolls, pretty pleasant place to sleep. Why did she torment me with the doll room 😂😂.
#20
