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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

Kaisu
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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."

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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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    #3

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    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.

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    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

    Foxxy
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created 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.

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    #5

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Rowlie
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I heard that his wife saw it too and left him for the elephant

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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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    #6

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

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    #8

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Kay Cee
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The dumbest thing I've ever heard

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    #9

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Vic
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created 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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    #10

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Daria B
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mosquitoes love imported food. ♥

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    #13

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Rose the Cook
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Who would wear a swimsuit that had been worn by others anyway?

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    #14

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Kwj
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created 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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    #15

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Carol Emory
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Too bad you can't be arrested for being stupid.... But then again...the police would be constantly busy with stupidity complaints.

    Molly E
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone that dumb, shouldn't be living alone.

    Hallie
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I just can't get my head around how someone can be THAT stupid. How is that even possible?!

    Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The right move for the hotel manager would be to put a door sign in her room that says " DO NOT STUPID"

    Carol Emory
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They should have stood on the other side of the doorway and yelled "We can get you out, but it's going to take a while and it won't be cheap. Are you sure you want to spend another $200 to get out of there? After all, the room looked really nice on the website and we can always have room service slip you food under the door."

    Mary Jaye
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    HOW DARE THEY DO THAT TO YOU!

    Id row
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone should check the lost and found for her brain.

    Norman van Druten
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe it was for the best that she just stayed in her room.

    Lisa Chambers
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ah unsupervised travel. Gets them every time.

    Valerie Anne
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some people should never leave home

    Melinda Burge
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So what does she do when the sign says please make up my room?

    Kristina Cowan
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That poor woman, she must have been so scared... At least she could get room service so she doesn't starve to death... 😞

    no_name
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I actually had to read it out loud three times to fully comprehend it. The level of stupidity is just beyond my understanding

    3xtr3m3
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I guess thats a 'sign' of stupidity :D

    Alex Craig
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How do you even breath unassisted?

    Leesa DeAndrea
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Guess it was her first hotel experience?

    Mike Procaccini
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The warning was real!! To protect the world from this woman!

    Kanga9ine
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would have lit a bomb just outside her door to add a story to her boring retelling if this vacation

    Annamay
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had that happen on a cruise! I thought I was going to starve to death!

    AnnieLaurie Burke
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The general population was probably safer if she had stayed inside.

    Donna Reynolds
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She also believes the earth is flat.

    Jarno Flinkers
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Imagine being THIS stupid. Try it! And now I forgot what I wanted to reply.

    Em Morris
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How have these people survived up to now?

    Kayla Albert
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Really!!! I'm scared for the future if this is how dumb people really are!!

    Vic
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They should've handed her a page with "Please turn over" written on both sides. That would keep her busy for a looong time..

    Something
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's an old blonde joke. Interesting if it really came true.

    knittin' kitten
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's a reason why I go stupid people oxygen wasters people that dumb do nothing but waste space and breathe my air

    JessG
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is this for real?!?! It's kinda shocking to think someone is so dumb!

    Marty BlackEagle-Carl
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    she should of listened.... gotta put one on her hoe door now.

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    #16

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Kaisu
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish people like this would just stay in their own countries

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    #17

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Tiffany Marie
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think One Person.. Made all these stupid comments.

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    #19

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Rowlie
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created 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

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Foxxy
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited) Created 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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    #22

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Christopher Rhind
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ginger Nuts likely the nickname the shop keepers had for these tourists.

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    #23

    Funny-Customer-Travel-Complaints

    Peter Dickinson Report

    Foxxy
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Plot twist, they were the noisy and unruly guests.

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