Vacations are meant for fun, but sometimes, they turn into nightmares. One woman discovered her boyfriend was a con artist after a hotel clerk warned her he’d pulled the same “forgotten wallet” trick on other women. Another guest opened their hotel curtains to find a man hiding—he’d just robbed a store. In an Airbnb, a couple found a “hidden” camera, only for the paranoid owner to burst in yelling at 2 a.m. Guests also dealt with disgusting motels—stained sheets, hair in showers, even flickering lights.

One woman checked into what she thought was a hotel, only to find it was secretly being converted into a senior residence. A man arriving at 4 a.m. was placed in a room the clerk hadn’t confirmed was vacant. Another couple paid for a luxury Valentine’s stay but were treated rudely and ignored.

Kids left alone in a hotel room once battled a spider invasion using marshmallows. Another guest panicked, thinking a stalker was following her—turns out, it was a staff member delivering towels. Others got trapped in bathrooms, or suffered sleepless nights in ant-infested hostels. These experiences may have ruined their trips—but they made for unforgettable stories.