40 Dumb And Funny Mistakes People Made While Traveling

Underestimated how long it would take to get from my hostel to the train station in Berlin and missed my train to Prague by about 5 seconds. Had to purchase a new train ticket for the next train at a heftier premium price.

Not my mistake, but I've heard from a friend who was the victim of the Belarusian Ladder Scam. There are regional version, but it allegedly originated in Belarus.

The gist of it is that my friend saw a man in peril hanging onto the side of a building that he was painting. The man was holding onto the scaffolding, clearly in distress. My friend, a good Samaritan, runs to the ladder and climbs up to help the guy. Unbeknownst to him, another man comes out from around a street corner and begins vigorously shaking the ladder, demanding money. They lost 200 euros this way.

My first solo trip and first time out of Europe (to South Korea in 2012). The only pair of shoes I took was the new shoes I just bought and was wearing, which turned out to be very low quality. They had these air chambers in the soles which broke pretty much on the first day and cut into my soles, so both had like 3-5 big blisters spread across them. So I could barely walk, only had those s****y shoes, and it turned out they didn't have my size at any of the nearby shoe stores. Eventually figured out that there was shoe stores with bigger sizes near the American military base. I had a taxi take me there, and the largest shoes they had fit me perfectly. After that the trip was great, but I lost at least 3-4 days to that lol.

Lesson learned: make sure to wear proper shoes and bring backup shoes if you're planning to walk a lot.

Was in Paris. Took a train to CDG to catch a flight that cost me round $450. Got to CDG, didn’t realize there was a shuttle between terminals. Took a bus to get to Terminal 2b. Bus took me back to the city center and I had to get another flight for the next morning.

$600 mistake.

EDIT: really it’s a $1050 mistake

Once I was flying from San Cristobal de las Casas to Cancun and I had booked the flight for the right day just the following month. Exact same flight. I didn’t realize until I basically got to the airport (2 hrs from the town) … tried to switch it but there was nothing they could do. Mind you, I had a broken foot so that whole thing was not fun to deal with with a boot in a wheelchair/crutches. I’d never done anything like that. I now always triple check the dates and times.

I mistakenly assumed "Departure time" was "Boarding Time". Luckily there was bad weather at the airport so the flight was delayed and I was able to board.

The whole ''I want to go to out-of-the-way places, see how people really live'' thing, you can get away with it in some countries or regions, in others it verges on stupidity.

The time I ''took some back-streets'' in Ho Chi Minh City, was followed by a guy that was out to rob me (stupidly had a new digital SLR slung around my neck), I ended up getting lost in the tangle of streets with this guy following me the whole way, ended up in a live-kill market. Saw and heard things in that market that should have put me off animal products forever.

The worst though was in Cambodia. Stopped in Battambang for one night. I learnt later that Battambang has another nickname which made total sense to me when I learnt it. I hate touristy areas so went for a wander to the outskirts and found this hotel that looked okay, at least externally. Went in and asked for a room, the owners spoke no English and I certainly don't speak Khmer. Still, I managed to convey that I wished to stay there. They looked horrified, which totally confused me. I was tired, hot and persistent however so they let me take a room for the night.

Got to the room, which I could only describe as being built for orgies. Bed almost in the centre of the room, a weird hexagonal shape and raised up on like a dais. Mirrors everywhere, including on the ceiling. I thought it was hilarious, but made sure I checked the bed linen. Really, I should have just gone back and said ''no thanks'', and kept going. I was absolutely dog-tired though and you get some really bad rooms everywhere you go, so whatever. I had a shower and thought I would head out for something to eat.

It had gotten dark, and just up the road from this hotel was a side street which had lots of fluoro lighting and karaoke pumping from various establishments. Sweet, I like watching karaoke so I decided to head down. You're accustomed to getting looks as a pasty-redhead tourist, especially in SE Asia, but I started to get a little unnerved by just how much I seemed to draw attention. I quickly headed into this karaoke hall that had patrons drinking beer and eating food. Right, let's just go in and get a feed and get the hell out of here back to my Porn Studio room.

Once again, it was like those old Westerns where a stranger walks into the saloon. A buzz kind of went through the place, and *everybody* turned to look at me. I sat quickly, a lovely woman (who spoke no English, and I speak no Khmer) quickly came over with a bucket of Angkor beer bottles in ice. I gestured for a menu, which seemed to cause her some alarm but she came back with one. Menu was written in Khmer so I just picked something off one of the pictures. The food arrived quite promptly, which was merciful, so I just tucked in.

Anyway, in strode this man with an older teenage boy in tow. This caused quite a lot of hushed chatter among the locals and averted gazes. This man was well-dressed, and I thought he looked like some official-type. He looked over at me and then proceeded to stride straight over to me. The next few minutes was one of the most bizarre times of my life. He said ''hello'', and I responded in kind. He said ''you're very handsome'' and then proceeded to reach out and start stroking my head with his hand. I froze completely, my eyes darted to those around me and all I saw were horrified faces peering back at me. I muttered a ''thanks'' and just proceeded to keep eating, my mind racing the whole time. He then said ''very handsome'', and (I'm not kidding) he pushed his groin at me so that, basically, sitting on my left shoulder was his crotch. I flashed a look at the boy and he looked horrified and repulsed. I just sat, stared ahead, and just pretended I wasn't there - his hand stroking my head the whole time. This seemed to take forever, and honestly it took longer for him to register my disgust than it ought to have. He did stop however, just turned and left. I just sat dazed, with pitying looks being shot my way from everyone. The lovely woman came, I paid without finishing my food and just left.

Talking to another traveller about this in Siem Reap, he kindly let me know that Battambang has the nickname of ''Bottombang'' and is quite the sex tourist town, albeit for men who prefer the company of other men. I believe the town has tried to clean up its image in recent years though (my little encounter was about 7-8 years ago).

After that little foray, I decided it best to not venture beyond the ''safe'' touristy areas in my travels. Not by myself at least anyway.

I’m a bit scatterbrained but haven’t had any major mishaps when travelling.

I lost my phone when I was on a night out in Budapest but luckily I was with a friend so I could still get in contact with people.

At Monterey airport, I realised at check-in that I didn’t have my phone - all my flight and hotel details were on it so I was starting to panic a bit. I knew it would either be in the taxi (ran outside and the driver was still there - we searched the taxi but no sign) or I’d left it at the guesthouse I’d been staying in. The lovely man at check-in phoned the guesthouse and the manager found my phone on a bench outside. Hopped back in a taxi to collect it, then back to the airport. Managed to make the flight and kept a very close eye on my phone for the rest of the trip.

Showed up to the Uffizi musuem with reservations for the wrong day… turns out it was the next day which i had already booked a wine tour.

I called the wine tour and they moved me to the same day, luckily! Barely made it . Think it was meant to be, met some people from the Uk that I talk to regularly now and plan on visiting next year.

Miscommunicating with the co-driver, almost getting killed by a truck, sweet age 21.

Almost walking into a crime rehab center on a remote island near the mexican coast.
climbed the island's hill, got a bit "dereailed" on the way down, and the center's area was open on that side - there was just nothing to run away to.

^(got stopped by two friendly guys telling me I barely missed the "inmates" going for a swim - on their own, which, as they said "could be a little problem".)

Driving in Dushanbe - forgetting my drivers license and car papers in the hostel. Getting into a police checkpoint. Realized it the very moment I saw the cops. but them checking on each car created a jam, no way to turn around.

^(Immediately asked how to get to my destination, which switched the cop to "help the tourist" mode. Got directions, and a friendly goodbye, no papers asked.)

Taking a wrong turn at the Absheron peninsual near Baku, THEN trying to take a photo with one of the pumps, *THEN* handing over my passport to the guard (instead of just showing it). AZ is very paranoid there esp. about Armenian spies.

^(lucky me, no armenian stamp in my passport)

Taking on a hitchiker in Tehran, getting into a scam that I still have to wrap my head around.

^(Cost me four hours and nothing else, but still.)

Getting lost in a posh(!) Buenos Aires subburb, then getting surrounded by a pack of dogs. Free roaming dog in Argentina are *not* afraid of sticks and stones. Getting a hands-on experience on how they hunt "big game".

^(some local saved me.)

Phew. That's kinda cathartic.

Booked bus tickets online for a Prague-Berlin trip. Bus at 3:30. Show up at the bus station and...no bus. Went to info desk and they gently reminded me they use 24 time in Europe. My bus left 12 hours earlier! Cost me another $20 to buy another ticket. Cheap lesson learned there.

Once in Krakow I let two sleazy girls lure me to a clip joint, where they tried to charge me about $110 for 3 drinks. I was able to bully and bluster my way out of it.

Used hotels.com to book a room online. No refunds, unlike booking.com Lost about $200 when I changed my plans.

Got annual travel insurance for Europe, got a chest infection in Israel = no insurance... That was a super crappy holiday. Lesson learned

My first time flying out of the country I was 16 and traveling alone. It was my first time on a plane. I got up to use the restroom and the woman beside me told me to take my passport (not sure why she couldn’t have watched it for me). I somehow promptly dropped my passport into the toilet where it slipped through the toilet crack and into the… well…

A flight attendant tried to retrieve it (god bless her) but with no luck.

First international trip I was so excited, I walked right out of the airport without getting a sim card. The tram was fairly new, so they had lovely employees helping the tourists get on their way, so it still didn't hit me. I was staring out the tram window with child-like wonderment the entire trip, just a happy little moron. Then I pulled my phone out for the walking instructions to the hotel and that's when I realized my mistake.

I had looked up the instructions the night before, but it was quickly obvious that I did a p**s poor job remembering them. I hadn't slept on the flight, because of the excitement and I found out Edinburgh has some San Francisco-esque steep streets, which is a blast with luggage. Thankfully a wonderful local was kind enough to point me in the right direction after about 30 minutes of trying on my own. All I could do was laugh at myself, good lesson to learn early on, always have paper back ups of important info. You know, common sense. I will always love Edinburgh for the stupidity it inspired in me and the kindness of the people who helped me.

I have to say, you've got a great attitude about this. While I'm sorry it happened, I think your attitude will likely help in still making the most of this trip. I hope it's better than you expect, and I hope that some day you hit a jackpot of good luck on your travels. And this may be naive of me, but could you call in and check, maybe someone has cancelled or got sick and you can squeeze in? Fingers crossed a miracle is in your near future!

I was in Vietnam with a friend for a few days. We were splitting, she to go home and I was going to another city... One I thought was like an hour away called Hoi An.... Not to realise that when I'd booked my hostel, it was is Hanoi.

This distinction is a little clearer in Vietnamese but just typing in quickly in Booking.com... I didn't realise. When we were checking out and the receptionist was asking about our plans and she was like "well that's a long journey how are you getting to the airport?" Needless to say I was very confused and stressed.

But I decided to just go to Hanoi since the booking was non-refundable. A quick Skyscanner search, £45 and an overpriced taxi and I was in Hanoi. Felt so stupid though because my friend asked about my side of the trip 3 times before we left.

Bought $400 worth of festival and gig tickets for the wrong month and they were all non refundable. I thought it meant 7/6 meant 7th of June but apparently on these European tickets it means 6th of July. Deeply frustrating - these events were the whole purpose of the trip! Didn't realise til I turned up

On my first solo trip my departing flight was from Budapest early in the morning. I had a lot of physical forints left over that I wanted to spend... I went to bar with a friend and spent the lot. When we stood up to leave, I realised I'd had a bit too much, considering the fact that I had to go back to my hostel, pack my bag silently, find the bus and navigate the airport. I managed to do ALL of this completely zonked. But as soon as I sat down, I nodded off to sleep. All my hard work, down the drain. When I woke up, I was sober and promptly realised I'd missed my flight. I'm a bit more seasoned now, and if this happened again, I would take it as a sign to stay in the city a little bit longer and take the next cheap flight. But I was 18 at the time and scared s**tless, so I booked a flight for the same day. A couple of hundred euros I'll never get back :( I also went to Auschwitz recently with my boyfriend. We are both living in the Benelux region and are used to efficient and regular public transport. We didn't even think to check the train schedule back to Krakow. We almost got stranded there because they stop at around 7pm.

so two major mistakes my husband has made (please dont judge him):

-flight from Orlando to Paris was printed as military time on our tickets. He fudged up the time we were suppose to be there versus take off, so we ended up GETTING to the airport when in reality the flight was taking off so we missed our flight.

- totally separate trip, again Paris related: **Not budgeting**. Right after our wedding, we took off on a 10 day excursion that went to London, Paris, Berlin and Venice. Because we didnt have a joint account set up, he deposited a majority of the money made out to us in his account. I didnt think the wiser. Well that back fired because we were yolo'ing the hell out of our trip and were broke by the time our Paris leg was up. Thankfully I had my own money but because of that we do not share money at all lol. Mind you, this was 8 years ago so he has grown up a lot since then but on a side note I will tell you, not sharing money makes for a happier marriage IMO. Dont beat yourself up too much OP. Happens to the best of us.

I arrived in Rome on Easter weekend and didn’t prebook tickets to see the Coliseum for some reason. Maybe I had checked and noticed usually tickets were available same day. Anyways, went to see the Coliseum, but it closed early that day because of Easter weekend celebrations. That was my last day in Rome so yay.

I went to the wrong airport and had to get a taxi that cost more than 100 euros. worst day of my trip so far.