12 Hilarious Vacation Stories You Won’t Believe Are True

Who doesn’t love a good travel story—especially the kind that leaves you laughing out loud? If you’ve got a sense of humor and a love for adventure, you’re in for a treat. We’ve gathered some of the funniest vacation stories from our readers, and trust us, they’re as real as they are ridiculous.

From a drugstore disaster in Germany to a T-shirt mix-up in Hawaii, these laugh-out-loud tales prove that sometimes the best travel memories come from the most unexpected (and hilarious) situations. So kick back, relax and enjoy these unforgettable travel moments—you just might be reminded of a few funny stories of your own.

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This antacid is the wurst

My husband fell ill after eating garlic soup on our trip to Munich, Germany. At a drugstore, I bought a box of medicine with a label showing a fizzy glass of water that looked like Alka-Seltzer. In the parking lot, my husband looked at the box and decided to track down an English-speaking employee to confirm what was inside. He came out doubled over with laughter: The product was denture cleaner. —Lois Terrace, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Smart car, silly mistake

We rented a Smart car on our honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico. I took a wrong turn and realized I was driving on a sidewalk. It was late, so nobody was around, and I quickly adjusted course. But we had a great laugh about it. I guess when you’re driving a tiny car, the sidewalk looks like the freeway. —Fritz Renner, Monterey, California

Cleaning up a storm

My wife and I were exploring a large sculpture park in Oslo, Norway, when we came across some pay-as-you-go restrooms. While I waited for my wife, a woman asked if she could use our restroom because her credit card wasn’t working on the next one over. I said she could go after me, then slipped by my wife as she exited, to piggyback on her fee. Inside, I suddenly felt something wet: A blue cleaning fluid sprayed through the air, dousing my jeans, socks and shoes. I scampered to the door, totally soaked, as gale-force winds whipped through the tiny room. I’d just experienced my first self-cleaning restroom. I really wished I’d let the other lady go first! —Randy Mikkelson, Plymouth, Minnesota

Aloha-ha-ha

AntonioSolano/Getty Images

Before we went to Oahu, my husband bought some Hawaiian print material to make a one-of-a-kind shirt for our trip. Strangely, we kept seeing people, over and over, in the same exact shirt. Turns out it was the hotel staff’s uniform. —Rita Long, Boiling Springs, South Carolina

Table for one, breakfast for three

My son took a few Polish lessons and decided to practice at a restaurant in the motherland. Using his new skills, he ordered three eggs with sausage, potatoes and toast. Imagine his surprise when he was brought three breakfast platters, each with eggs, sausage, potatoes and toast. He chose to eat all three rather than admit his error. —Jeanne Mosczynski, Wyandotte, Michigan

The trail less traveled

My husband and I visited New York’s Finger Lakes to see its famous waterfalls. At one site, we were surprisedto find no other cars in the parking lot. In the next five hours of grueling hiking, we didn’t pass a single soul on the trail. Finally, we arrived at a gorgeousthree-tiered waterfall­ with dozens of other tourists enjoying the sight. We asked one group which route they’d taken, and they pointed to a path no longer than 100 yards that ledto a full parking lot, snack bar and ranger station. After buying a snack and water, we started our five-hour trudge back to our car. —Kathy Golling Monongahela, Pennsylvania

Monkeying around

We were reluctantly packing to leave Costa Rica when a little monkey popped onto our deck. It danced around, leaped into the hammock, posed like a Hollywood starlet, and played hide and seek. Then it jumped down, stretched and somersaulted across the deck. Looking right at us, it dipped in a small bow and scampered away. —Diane W. Timothy, Centennial, Colorado

What are you dune?!

My wife and I took a taxi to an airport in southern Iraq for our flight to Baghdad. After some distance, the driver pulled off the road and drove into the desert. My wife and I looked at one another, terrified. Were we being robbed? Kidnapped? Suddenly, the vehicle began climbing a steep, sandy embankment. At the top, we swerved back onto pavement and were on the freeway. Shortcut! —Douglas Bennett, Littleton, Colorado

You’re on thin ice …

I grew up in Ohio, and during our vacations, Dad was big on not doing things we could do at home (reading the day away, eating at McDonald’s, etc.). One year, it miraculously began snowing a few days into our Florida trip. Seizing the moment, my brother said, “Dad, we could be doing this at home.” —Mike Kletzly, Lebanon, Ohio

Sans reservation

My husband and I went to Alaska to visit friends. For our first night, our travel agent had made reservations at a Best Western in Hope. We arrived in the fishing village (population 137), but the locals laughed when I asked for directions to the Best Western. Instead, they offered us either a cabin sans electricity or a cabin sans plumbing. I suddenly recalled our travel agent making a comment about Bill Clinton memorabilia in the hotel gift shop, and I realized she’d made reservations for Hope, Arkansas, instead of Hope, Alaska. —Linda Van Unen, Oakdale, California

This story has some holes

On a tour of Switzerland, I found a small grocery store in Geneva. At the cheese counter, I asked if they had any Swiss cheese, which is my favorite. The gentleman, very kindly, replied, “Madam, they are all Swiss.” —Betty Childress, Grand Rapids, Michigan

A top lass

Never say Brits aren’t hospitable. While visiting England, my mother and I had been exploring the countryside when we spotted an inn and decided to stop in for a spot of tea. We walked in and sat down by a roaring fire, and a woman asked if she could help us. “We’d like some tea and maybe a couple of scones,” I said. She returned with a lovely tea and scone service, which we thoroughly enjoyed. When I asked for the bill, the woman said there was no charge. “How can you run a lovely inn like this and not charge?” I asked. “An inn?” she responded. “This is my home.” —Nairn’ Gillet, Wickliffe, Ohio

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