Lonely Planet Writers' Most Unforgettable Travel Nightmares
Even seasoned travelers encounter mishaps—getting lost, cultural faux pas, or unexpected illnesses abroad. Lonely Planet's experienced writers and staff have their share of such adventures turned awry.
Colorful Mexican Day of the Dead skulls. Image by David Pedre / E+ / Getty Images.
With Halloween approaching, it's the perfect time to share these whispered tales of woe. From fireworks gone wrong to wildlife encounters and armed standoffs, here are some of our most harrowing travel stories, drawn from real experiences.
Stranded at a Brothel in Malawi
Traveling from Lusaka, Zambia, to Lilongwe, Malawi, by local bus, we reserved seats on an express service that never showed. Four hours late, we joined two other busloads on a vehicle making unscheduled stops dictated by the driver's whims.
My girlfriend and I squeezed into adjacent seats near our bags, loaded by touts demanding steep fees. Excess luggage towered precariously on the roof, drawing gasps from roadside locals. Unusually for the region, the driver eased around bends as the structure groaned under the load.
Twelve hours into a supposed nine-hour trip—with just one brief stop—we arrived after dark in Chipata, short of the border. Instead of the station, we stopped at a dimly lit market depot. Following music, we found ourselves at a brothel. The owner, eyeing opportunity but relenting to my girlfriend's presence, let us have a room until dawn if we stayed put. We gratefully obliged.
Bikini-Clad Leech in Thailand
Exhausted and dehydrated after 10 hours trekking in southern Thailand's prehistoric Khao Sok National Park, I checked for leeches as instructed by our guide, then collapsed into a bamboo lounger at my guesthouse. After dinner, sunset, and several cold Singha beers, a faint sensation on my upper thigh caught my attention. A leech, swollen to potato size with my blood, had dropped from my shorts. I dashed to the bathroom, where the bite in my bikini line bled steadily for three days.
The dreaded leech that chills travelers' spines. Image by Sarah. CC BY 2.0.
Bitten by a Mugger in Bordeaux
On my first solo trip at 19, I sampled affordable Bordeaux wines with hostel mates, then bought bottles to drink in a nearby park.
Needing relief after too many glasses, I ducked into a thicket—only to face a desperate mugger. As a feisty teen, I fought back, pinning him in a headlock. Victory turned sour when he bit my arm.
The French doctor bandaged it while muttering about rabies (la rage). Backpacking solo with a sling proved miserable. Nearly a year later, I still endured blood tests and shots, regretting not surrendering my phone.
A bandaged arm: hardly an ideal souvenir. Image by Garrett Albright. CC BY 2.0.
Gunpoint Silence in Washington, DC
Reluctantly staying in a DC hostel for budget reasons, my roommates and I chatted mid-morning about plans. A grumpy occupant, still in bed, demanded quiet. We whispered, but he pulled a gun from under his pillow, aimed it, and yelled to shut up. We fled; police soon arrested him. No day's sights could top that. Hostels? Even less appealing now.
Disoriented in Budapest
Landing in Budapest, the baggage carousel was aflame amid screaming Hungarians. Bagless and friendless—he was deep in pálinka (peach-flavored firewater)—chaos ensued. Reunited and tipsy, we hit a warehouse bar. My friend vanished; phoneless and mapless, I charaded directions to his street, number 56.
Misdirected to a kebab shop, I persisted, interrupting lovers who guided me to the right door. After futile banging (neighbors yelled), I slept in the doorway, aching and freezing, cursing my absent guidebook.
Guard Dogs on a Vietnamese Beach
A serene sunset beach walk in Vietnam soured spotting a dune mansion with an armed guard in a watchtower. Retreating, snarling guard dogs pursued. Staying calm, I walked briskly; the trained beasts escorted me safely away, leaving me shaken.
Gory Collision on Iceland's Ring Road
Spotting a bird in roadside grass while driving at 90km/h on Iceland's Ring Road, it suddenly flew into my windscreen with a splat, ricocheting over the car. A bloody smear required wipers to clear as I grimaced in horror.
Dynamite Debacle in Bolivia
At 19 in Bolivia, my friend and I bought dynamite as a tip for Potosí miners. Forgetting to deliver it, we detonated it by an 'empty' Atacama lake—near the Chilean border. Soldiers with rifles marched us to the commandant, whom I unwittingly annoyed by mumbling 'desayuno' (breakfast) instead of 'lo siento' (sorry). Our guide smoothed things; we bribed with film and were released.
Midnight Arrest Mix-Up in London
On my first UK working holiday, a 'social' hostel above a pub proved grim. At 1am, police banged doors, mistaking me for my violent dorm mate arrested for assault downstairs. Welcome to England!
Food Poisoning Fears on Tanzanian Safari
My husband suffered food poisoning while camping in Tanzania's wilderness. Paired toilet trips deterred animals, but exhausted, he went solo repeatedly, terrified of becoming dinner.
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