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The joy of travel is in the discovery. However, in these days of Tripadvisor, Instagram and Google maps, the magic of the unexpected has been diminished somewhat; we seem to want to find exactly what we are looking for, rather than simply bask in the newness of it all.

There is a certain kind of traveler that takes this concept to the extreme, and would probably be happier just staying at home. You'll find them in English pubs up and down the Spanish Costas, red as lobsters, tucking into egg and chips and complaining about the lack of Marmite or baked beans, or some other obscure product from the U.K.

Then there are the Instagram hordes who saw a heavily filtered picture of an iconic attraction and join a huge crowd of people with selfie sticks, jostling to get that exact same shot. Hardly the breathtaking and romantic experience you had in mind, was it? When reality fails to match expectations, based on the promise of home comforts or unrealistic Instagram images, people get disappointed and make ridiculous complaints.

These vacation complaints, made to real travel agents and tour companies and based on a Thomas Cook/ABTA survey, are so absurd that it's hard to believe that they are real. Spanish people speaking Spanish in Spain? The brochure didn't tell us it would be like that! Why is the sand yellow? I expected white sand!

I guess the lesson to take from all the disappoint and ridiculousness is this: Travel without expectations, and accept that the world doesn't exist simply to cater to your comforts and photography needs.  Go with an open mind to discover, experience and learn!

Scroll down below to see the list for yourself, and tell your travel stories in the comments!

#1

Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

Peter Dickinson Report

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kaisu-reinikainen avatar
Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This can't possibly be real, no one can actually be this stupid

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But are we getting more picky about our holidays? How are people's travel habits changing? Let's take a look at the ways that technology and modern life have affected the ways we choose to spend our time off.

We travel more frequently but for shorter durations: "The Office for National Statistics in the UK conducted a survey called the International Passenger Survey in 1996 and 2016 to uncover the biggest changes in the travel habits between the 1990s and now – that’s a 20-year study," Drifter Planet writes.

"The results show that Brits are now going on more holidays than before. In 2016 they went on more than 45 million holidays abroad, compared to only 27 million in 1996, an overall rise of 68%. But despite this, holidays are becoming shorter, proving to be one of the biggest changes we’ve seen over the years marking a huge decline of two week holidays. A week-long break is now much more popular than ever before and there’s been an increase in holidays lasting up to 10 nights."

With budget airlines making the citybreak a more affordable option, it's no surprise that people are exploring their own continent more, rather than save it all for one big summer trip. It keeps you fresh to get frequent little escapes from work and daily life, rather than waiting almost a whole year for the summer to come around again!

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Active holidays are on the rise: As people are becoming more health conscious, so are wellness holidays becoming more popular. Instead of letting it all go with booze and food while away, people are seeking to recharge, repair, and have more of a fitness-oriented break. Things like Ayurveda, Yoga, reiki, body detox, spa and meditation holidays have all seen a huge spike in interest, while classics like hiking, camping and cycling are as popular as they ever were.

Conversely, the old 18-35, contiki tour classics are on the wane, which many people would see as a good thing. While there are still plenty of resort options if you want to get wasted, sunburned and laid, it doesn't quite seem to have the same appeal to the younger generation as it did for us oldies. Maybe kids these days are just more sensible, introverted, health and image conscious to get into wild drunken brawls on the streets of Benidorm or Ayia Napa.

#4

Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

Peter Dickinson Report

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james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your husband is probably making the person bathing topless uncomfortable. It should not be allowed to ogle.

tehbonz avatar
B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Straight men (regardles of age) stare at boobs if they're on display. That's just a fact, even if some guys swear to their partners that they don't. Most guys try to do it discreetly so they're not noticed, but I agree that just plain ogling is uncool and makes the sunbather feel uncomfortable. As an aside, I find it massively uncool that guys can walk around topless all over the world but women are made to feel ashamed if they do it.

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dons avatar
Calypso poet
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of men shouldn’t be topless at the beach. 🤢

kaisu-reinikainen avatar
Kaisu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your husband's a perv, that's not the fault of the women sunbathing topless

chrismugea avatar
Chris Mugea
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think people use the term "perv" too loosely nowadays. If I see naked boobs I'll look. What's wrong with that? I'm not objectifying anybody, I'm not getting my w***y out, I'm not cat-calling, just looking. Boobs are great, let them out and let me look at them. It is normal!

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Wil Vanderheijden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Husband could have closed his eyes and relax, but the sight of unpixelated and unblurred breasts probably was more then he could handle. Book your next vacation somewhere in the Bible-belt. I'm sure your husband can relax there.

crunchewy-watson avatar
CrunChewy McSandybutt
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could it be that the hubby couldn't relax because of the wife's incessant bitching? Just a guess.

mgutierrez137 avatar
Mad Haberdasheress
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, before I get buried in flames and downvotes, let me say that I agree this is a ridiculous complaint. However, if you have even a shred of social awareness, you know that while there is absolutely a way that things *should* happen (i.e. people should be able to sunbathe topless if they want to), the world we live in currently guarantees that will rarely happen. In certain areas where puritan values are less dominant, topless/nude sunbathing is going to happen, accept it and move on. To play devils advocate, if you are in an area where it is less socially accepted, you also have to be aware that you will likely be objectified/criticised if you choose to participate in such activities. Again, I am NOT saying that this is ok at all, but it is part of being an aware human being.

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María Hermida
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the wife invented the whole complaint because the husband looked a couple of times and it made HER feel uncomfortable.

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TheExtremeSmell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m usually topless at all beaches I go to. Letting my man nipples out for all to see. Children run and scream dogs Yelp and ladies faint at the sight.

idrow avatar
Id row
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I honestly want to smack stupid women like this. I hope someone told the husband to stop being a creeper.

valeriegibson avatar
Valerie Gibson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

During orientation on my trip to the Bahamas, we were told "ladies if your husband is late coming back from the golf course, holes three and four overlook the nude beach".

grossclaud avatar
Claudia Gross
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe he should be raised differently. Go home to your prude place where you live. For cgrists sake

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Bogdan Constantin Dinu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reading the comments leaves me baffled. Women have the right to bathe topless but men should avert their gaze? Are you slow? Breats are still sren as a sexual component by either straight or gay... so if they can be out so can the penises and vaginas!

jnmaresca avatar
Justine Nicole
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where are these quotes coming from...?? I feel like someone just made them up

krois-pe-el avatar
Slune
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see the guy nonstop lying on his tummy,never wanted to go for a swim!!!

diana4words avatar
Diana Crawford
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Husband need not relax while watching others showing their nature self-when he is wearing swim wear. The relaxing will come, when the husband join the gathering and become nude.

mikep23 avatar
Mike Procaccini
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If he closed his eyes which a lot of people do when laying on the beach he would be relaxing!!

nikki_16 avatar
Nikki
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

then find a beach that is kid friendly and not a nude beach??

gingyjaye avatar
Mary Jaye
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I THINK YOUR HUSBAND ENJOYED IT AND RELAXED MORE THAN YOU THINK AND YOU KNOW IT.

4grand2great avatar
Esther Evans
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's the one complaining...He probably didn't mind at all...LOL

dirigobill avatar
Bill
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't stare and don't carry a stack of ones around at the topless beach

le06152 avatar
Kim Mahood
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol. Gotta suck that belly in if there's tittays about 😋

vikrant-talponkar avatar
Vic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can you also please share the things you are allergic to? Yeah.. we need to get rid of it from Earth.

hikari-kamui731 avatar
Iceroyalmilktea
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont get the logic there. they have the right to dress however they want (or in this case, undress), but other people dont have the right to look in front if theres a topless woman there? I get that oogling is rude, but avoiding from looking at all is a tall demand. if someone is prepared to walk outside naked, at least be prepared of the views of people?

mikep23 avatar
Mike Procaccini
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry but if your boobs didn't look like pancakes you could have taken off your top too!!!

pmnovack avatar
Kanga9ine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll bet it was more distracting for the wife watching her husband go from zero to 60 in his speedos. Schwing!!!!

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Social media's effects: Back in the old days, you'd arrive at your destination with maybe a guide book, a map and some interesting new banknotes. These days, we've seen photos of everything, read all the restaurant reviews, know which attractions we want to photo ourselves, as well as the funky 'hidden' bars and hangouts. We all find these things in the same place: Google. 'Top 10 things you must see in Porto' leads tourists to the same few places in the city, all busy instagramming away and trying to keep the crowds out of their image.

If somewhere happens to be particularly popular on Instagram, it will be packed with people trying to get that 'money shot,' rather than simply enjoying the aura of the place. The tumbling, colorful buildings of Cinque Terre; the strikingly blue streets of Chefchaouen, the sun setting over the pyramids of Giza... we've all seen these iconic images in gorgeous photos, and we want to take those exact same photos. Perhaps it has always been that way, but Instagram has definitely 'influenced' the way we travel.

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#9

Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

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vikrant-talponkar avatar
Vic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a Goan, I apologise for this obviously forsee able error. Next time we'll suck the spices out, before we serve you gravy!

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#14

Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

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Kwj
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like someone has "sniffed" too much hairdye chemicals already :O

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#16

Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

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#19

Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

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Rowlie
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have solved it by pushing them into the water to wait for boat's arrival

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#21

Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

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Foxxy
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You would hate it in Australia. Shops open 9am - 5:30pm Monday to Friday except late night shopping one day a week, which finishes at 9 pm. Saturday is 9-5 and Sunday is 11-5. Although supermarkets are open from 7 am - 9pm mon to fri.

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