Vacations are supposed to be about relaxation, adventure, and making happy memories. But sometimes, they turn into experiences we’d rather forget. From creepy encounters to shocking surprises, these travelers learned that even paradise can hide a dark side.
Here are 13 real stories of people whose hotel and Airbnb stays became unforgettable—for all the wrong reasons.
Story 1 — The Luxury Hotel Con Artist
My boyfriend planned a romantic weekend at a luxury hotel. Everything felt perfect—until checkout. His card got declined, and he turned red with embarrassment. I smiled and paid for our stay.
As we were leaving, the receptionist discreetly pulled me aside and said, “Be careful, I’ve seen this guy do the same thing with other women. He comes here, his card gets declined, and they end up paying for everything.”
I didn’t believe her then—I trusted him. But over time, he began repeating the same behavior: shopping trips, dinners, even “emergencies” where I’d cover his expenses. The final straw came when he tried to pressure me into “investing” in a fake business.
That hotel weekend wasn’t just a romantic getaway—it was the beginning of a long con I didn’t see coming.
Story 2 — The Man Behind the Curtain
My dad once checked into a first-floor hotel room, opened the curtains, and froze. A man was hiding there.
My dad calmly said, “Excuse me,” closed the curtains, picked up his bag, and walked straight out. It turned out the man had just robbed a nearby store and climbed in through the window to hide.
That was the quickest checkout of his life. © arcant12 / Reddit
Story 3 — The Airbnb Intrusion
We found a hidden camera in our Airbnb bedroom. My husband covered it with a towel, and we went to sleep.
At 2 a.m., the owner burst into the room, screaming, “You idiots! That camera’s for security—you covered it!”
He claimed it was pointed outside to watch for car thieves, but breaking into our room at night crossed every boundary. The next morning, we left immediately and left a review warning future guests.
Later, we read that other guests had the same experience—the owner’s paranoia had turned his “safe Airbnb” into a surveillance nightmare.
Story 4 — white curtains, ocean view, “rustic charm.”
My best friend and I rented a cheap beach cottage that looked dreamy online—white curtains, ocean view, “rustic charm.” But when we arrived, the place smelled like mold, and there were dead insects on the floor.
That night, we heard scratching sounds in the walls. By 3 a.m., something actually scurried across my pillow. We turned on the lights to find a rat sitting on the nightstand, calmly staring at us like we were the intruders.
We packed up and left immediately, sleeping in our car till sunrise. The next morning, we demanded a refund. The host refused, claiming “country cottages naturally have critters.” © Anonymous / Reddit
Story 5 — The Motel That Even Staff Hated
I booked a cheap motel for my daughter’s gymnastics competition. It looked fine online—until we arrived. The sign wasn’t lit, the parking lot was pitch black, and two sketchy guys loitered outside.
Inside, the sheets were stained, lights flickered, and the shower drain was full of hair. When I asked to cancel, the front desk clerk sighed and said, “I don’t blame you. I’m just waiting for Kohl’s to hire me so I can quit this dump.” © DareWright / Reddit
Story 6 — The Hotel That Became a Nursing Home
Years ago, I booked what looked like a romantic hotel getaway. Turns out, it was under renovation—being converted into a senior residence.
I checked in beside a sign advertising a “Diabetes Workshop.” My room had emergency cords by the bed and bathroom, and everything smelled faintly of antiseptic.
It was too late to cancel, so my boyfriend and I spent the night awkwardly listening to the sound of wheelchairs rolling in the hallway. © GrammaMo / Reddit
Story 7 — The 4 A.M. Mystery Check-In
After a nightmare of flight delays, I arrived at my hotel at 4 a.m. The night clerk looked confused and started calling random rooms to see who might have checked out.
He finally handed me a key, but I knew he had no idea if the room was actually vacant. I deadbolted the door and unplugged the phone just in case.
An hour later, someone tried to get in. Apparently, the clerk had given out the same room twice. I didn’t sleep a second that night. © gjallard / Reddit
Story 8 — The Valentine’s Day Disappointment
I splurged on a luxury hotel for Valentine’s Day. But when we arrived, the staff looked down on us like we didn’t belong.
The “spacious suite” was the size of a closet, and the air conditioning was broken. When I politely asked for help, the receptionist rolled her eyes and said, “It’s just warm because of the season.”
Romance died that night—suffocated by heat and bad attitude. © sksksk1989 / Reddit
Story 9 — The Spider Invasion
We were a group of kids left alone in a hotel room while our parents went out. Suddenly, the walls seemed to move—hundreds of baby spiders crawling upward.
We panicked, sealing ourselves in the bathroom with a towel under the door. I slept in the bathtub that night. When our parents returned and opened the door, they screamed louder than we did. © SKirby00 / Reddit
Story 10 — “eco-friendly.”
During a mountain retreat, I stayed in a cabin that claimed to be “eco-friendly.” The power went out at night, which I thought was part of the experience—until I realized the owner had turned off the generator to “save fuel.”
The cabin had no locks, no phone signal, and was miles from town. Around midnight, I heard footsteps outside and saw flashlight beams through the thin curtains. I called out, but no answer.
The next morning, I found animal tracks—and human boot prints—by the door. The owner just shrugged and said, “Probably hikers.” I never packed faster in my life. © Unknown / Reddit
Story 11 — The Hallway of Footsteps
At a Philadelphia hotel, I went down late at night to get extra towels. In the elevator, a man kept asking personal questions. When I got out, I heard footsteps behind me.
I panicked, sprinting down the hall and pounding on my room door for my friend to let me in.
When I looked back… it was just the hotel staff bringing me the towels. © I_Need_To_Get_A_Life / Reddit
Story 12 — Locked in the Bathroom
During a vacation, I got stuck in the motel bathroom when the lock jammed. They had to disassemble the doorknob to free me. At least they upgraded our room afterward. © vesnapukanic / Reddit
Story 13 — The Hostel of Ants and Despair
My friends and I once stayed in a hostel that felt more like an abandoned asylum—cracked tiles, flickering yellow lights, sagging beds, and ants. So. Many. Ants.
We couldn’t afford to leave, so we spent four nights there, barely sleeping. By the end, we were exhausted, itchy, and forever traumatized—but at least we had stories to tell. © Anonymous / Reddit
Closing Line
From hidden cameras to rodent roommates, these vacation nightmares remind us: sometimes, the scariest part of traveling isn’t getting lost—it’s where you end up staying.
