DO YOU WANT TO READ SOME AWESOME FUNNY TRAVEL STORIES?
Then, my friend, you are in the right place because not only you’ll read some truly funny stories here, but I am actually The REAL MASTER OF DISASTER! They should give me an Oscar for “Best Funny travel story” category. Yes, I’m that bad!
But as someone wise once said:
“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”
Mark Twain
A good funny travel story is usually the result of something that has gone (terribly)wrong. So there shouldn’t be anything to laugh about right? Except for the fact that you not only survived the accident but now you’re actually secretly proud to tell your friends all about your funny story over and over. I know I’m right…Confess! 😀
Those “Huh oh” moments can be quite unpleasant experiences, but you instantly know that they will make to the collection of excellent and interesting humorous stories for years to come! Heck, you might even score a date or two if you find an ironic person (Just saying!)
I love funny travel stories so much! They show the less glamorous part of traveling and are an important part of travel itself. They represent the challenge, the adventure, the thrill. The real deal, not those perfect Instagram shots we ALL know are staged. DUH!
So to quiet them down a bit I started to write a few humorous stories on FB and now I’m trying to collect them all and transfer my funny moments (disasters) while traveling in here too.
I just added the infamous one I had this year (2019 as we speak) when I first arrived in Australia for the first time 😀
But back to this article: I had a mission!
To search and collect all the funny or at least humorous stories related to travel around the web and put them together in a top ten post, easy right? Not quite!
To reach my goal I started extensive researches on blogs and various websites. I even searched the most remote pages of Google to spot them and it wasn’t as easy as I thought!
But, at least, what I found and selected in the end, is definitely worth reading! Someof the ones I’ve discovered are incredibly funny and humorous stories, others are creepy or beautifully written, whilst some others are quite spicy (stay away if you are a prude).
No matter how different they are, they all have one thing in common: They made me laugh or chuckle a bit. And in any case, if something goes REALLY WRONG, there are legal ways and consultancies services you can count on (which is a release! phewwww).
BEFORE GETTING TO THE FUN STUFF, A SERIOUS NOTE:
As a Master of Disaster other than the funny ones, I have so many horror stories to tell! I got injured and sick during my trips and they stole my possessions during a bus ride in Thailand once (including 1000 euros cash).
So a word of advice is in order: be extra careful when you choose the travel insurance for your trip! (Click here to see what I use , they literally saved my life and finances more than once).
I never go without it and even if in some of these funny stories it might not be necessary, trust me that in other cases… it most certainly is!
SO BACK TO THE FUNNY STORIES FINALLY!
Yeah, that would be me, with a whole tomato in my mouth in a pub in Amsterdam. WHY? There is no why, I simply like being silly 🙂
For each story, I will insert a quick excerpt to give you a glimpse of what the fuss is all about, and I’ll put the relevant link to the article if you want to read the filthy details 🙂
BONUS MATERIAL:
Scroll till the end to find an article that seriously cracked me up! It’s not technically a story, but it’s definitely travel related!
1| 24 HOURS TO GET TO MELBOURNE (AND ALMOST SLEEP UNDER A BRIDGE)
Category: Funny Stories
“I had dreamed of that moment for hours… That fantastic moment where I was given the key to my room and I would have seen the most precious thing in the world: A BED. What I see instead is a sofa in the living room of an unknown house, located in between the entrance door and the kitchen door. I swear I was about to faint. “
This is a new series of my blog. Given that my friends and followers on Fb love the live chronicles of my horror-funny travel stories I decided to start posting them here.
In this occasion… well, this is how the land of Kangaroos welcomed me on my first night Down Undernight, after 24 hours in the air, lost in space-time and angry like a stray cat 😀
Source Keep Calm And Travel: Humorous Stories turned into horror ones: Me, David & The Taxi Driver
1| ALMOST KILLED BY A TURKISH HAIRDRESSER IN GERMANY
Category: funny stories
“The hairdresser proceeded to shave around the perimeter of my hairline, focusing mostly on the back of my neck. He moved the razor in quick little strokes, handling its edge with feline grace. I made the mistake of picturing how easily he could take my eye out, or how quickly he might give me a Sweeney Todd, and it was then my complexion faded from ‘Eggshell Uncomfortable’ to ‘Chartreuse Sputum.’”
This is an absolutely brilliant story, reporting how a simple question about politics can change the course of a simple hair cut from magic to tragic.
Will our hero succumb under the claws of the Turkish hairdresser?
SOURCE: Oh God My Wife is German
2 |THE MYSTERIOUS EUROPEAN SHOWER
Category: Humorous Stories
“There were no knobs or handles of any kind that I could turn to get the water running. There was this little console inside, which I tried to use. At first, it seemed self-explanatory. It had dials for water temperature and water pressure, and a start/stop button! Plus, it was all in English! Surely I could figure this out, right?”
The mysterious shower
A very Funny insight on how an innocent European shower can become a mysterious sinister object for the poor American Tourist.Will Geraldine figure out how to handle a “highly technological” European Shower? Click on the link below!
This is a must-read tale from a super talented writer. Geraldine would be able to make you laugh even by writing on how she drinks her coffee!
Source: Everywhereist
3| CULINARY EXPERIMENTS
Category: Funny/Quirky stories
“While in Vang Vieng, Laos, two other travelers and I decided to visit the local market one evening. The idea was that we would each purchase some kind of food item to bring back to the guesthouse and share with the group for a nice local dinner”
The post I’m linking to is a collection of stories from Derek Baron. He decided to put together a list of the dumbest things he did during his 14 years of extensive traveling.
The result is a quite hilarious post where, among other funny experiences, Derek tells us how he decided to eat a Rat, in an attempt to try the local cousin. How did the experiment go? Read on to discover it!
Source: Wandering Earl
4| THAI MASSAGE OR THAI TORTURE?
Category: Humorous stories
Her black eyes examined me closely, wrinkles forming in her chestnut brown facial skin as she visually assessed me prior to my massage. “You big boy. I think you need two hours.” “No, I’m good with one.”
Would you like a massage??!
Beware of who you put your trust in. A relaxation massage turned into a Karate match against an old Thai lady. Who is going to be the winner?
Source: One dad one kid
5 |CHASED DOWN A MOUNTAIN BY SOME LOCAL WOMEN
Category: Humorous Stories
“Wow, these people are so friendly!” I thought to myself. This is exactly the kind of cultural encounter every traveler hopes for – walking down a mountain en route to a rural village, water buffaloes munching away on shrubs, women from a local hill tribe joining for a walk. Why this is the kind of stuff makes the feature story on the National Geographic! Right?
We’ve all been there: captured by the innocent smiles and kindness of the locals in a foreign land… Be careful when putting your pink glasses on, as you will also probably need a good pair of shoes to run away as fast as possible! Click below to read Audrey’s escape plan!
Source: That Backpacker
6 |DEATH ON THE BOAT
Category: Black humor / quirky Stories
“I immediately felt my chest tighten and my heart began to race as my mind replayed the events of the past few days – had I been using insect repellent? Had I been covered up? Had I been bitten? I was suddenly convinced that I was about to die too”
Lauren Smiling before the nightmare begins
What would you do if you find yourself trapped on a slow boat with a poor dead body lying next to you? This is obviously not a funny story, but a rather creepy adventure on the Mekong river. Lauren has an entire anthology of weird and funny-tragic stories on her website.
There I am, bumming at the airport before my flight and reading Lauren’s book!
A must-read! And now she has a book! Well actually I also have her book because her stories are just super fun, I totally recommend it, check it out in here!
Source: Never ending Foot Steps
7 |”MONKEY BUSINESS”. ON A CHICKEN BUS…
Category: Spicy Travel Stories
“As the bus ride progressed and the chicken bus going like crazy everyone sliding back and forth in every direction I noticed something weird. I kept feeling his leg purposely touching my leg so I, of course, started making my leg touch his as well”
Warning: Spicy Adventure ahead! 🙂 Some travel bloggers are quite adventurous and brave enough to tell us all about their hot encounters…
This story is probably one of the most popular spicy tales of the past few years. No need to get embarrassed tough. I actually admire those people who can be very open about their life, and the story is pretty hilarious! want to know more? Put the kids to sleep first 🙂
Source: Breakaway Backpacker
8| FLATTERY GOES A LONG WAY
Category: Funny Stories
“Hello! You are beautiful,” he began. While my first reaction was to keep on walking, I stopped to listen anyway. Because you have to admit, the man had a valid point.
Honestly? I didn’t know which post to choose from Sally’s dozen funny stories! She just drags you into her clumsy funny world so easily!
This time, she writes about how flattery seems to be her weak point. Apparently, she can’t resist a compliment and she was convinced to join a group of Chinese tourists, that treats her like the star of the hour!
Do you want to know how she ended dressed like a local on a rice terrace? Click on the link to read about her adventure!
Source: Unbrave Girl
9| FUNNY STORIES: OUTRAGEOUS PICTURES
Category: Visual Funny stories
Instead, I’ve decided to share some of the more quirky, bizarre, outrageous, outlandish, humorous, funny, ridiculous, absurd & truly off-the-charts moments I’ve experienced while traveling over the years, as summarized in a photo essay.
Indian-Man-Cleaning-Genitals
In a post about funny/weird stories, I couldn’t certainly forget to add a photographic essay on some funny/irreverent pictures from around the world! Get ready to chuckle! 🙂
Source: Nomadic Samuel
10 |SPANKED AT A FISH MARKET
Category: Funny /spicy /Humorous stories
“It was hot. Korean summer hot. Melting makeup hot. Seriously, summer in Korea gets up into the 30s and feels like plus 40s with 100% humidity and not a drop of rain. I had undone the top of my shirt to let a little air in and I suppose I should mention my breasts”
This is a funny short travel story on how you need to be extra careful whilst traveling in a different cultural environment. Especially in terms of clothing! 🙂
Source: The Escapism Artist
BONUS MATERIAL:
THE MOST HILARIOUS LIST OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) “Flight attendant on a Virgin Australia flight “And today we have someone who is celebrating their 21st birthday, please stand up xxxxxxx……Fancy that, 21 and never been in a Virgin.”
2) “Please feel free to leave behind any of your items in the overhead compartment; I’m having a yard sale this weekend.”
3) “Hi, I’m Captain Amanda Smith. Yes, I’m a female pilot and as a benefit, if we get lost on the way I won’t be afraid to stop and ask for directions.”
4)On an early morning flight, “I noticed a few ladies who forgot to put on their makeup this morning. I’ll be dimming the lights for your convenience.”
5)“How about that landing? Not bad for his first day.”
Do you want to read more?! Check out the full article, to die for!
So here they are, the 10 of the funniest/weirdest travel stories I found on the web and let me tell you, It’s been a real challenge to find them!
Why is that? don’t people write enough about their weird adventures? am I a bad researcher or it’s just Google trying to hide them really well??
Whatever the reason, it’s a pity because these are the kind of stories that transform the average traveler in a real Indiana Jones!
If you have a very funny or humorous Travel story to share, please leave a comment with your link or a quick recap! I’d love to discover other Crazy adventurers out there! Come out from your shell and share your stories with us!
Cheers!
Comments
Superb and valuable knowledge information because of useful updated for me, thank you so much for share this wonderful article.
this is freaking funny but this is common hacks everyone faces
thanks for this interesting article.
Oh God My Wife is German :p What was it???
Hahahah That story is pretty hilarious 😀
Wow, wonderful weblog format! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The total look of your site is magnificent, let alone the content material!
Thanks Sonia, I’ve been blogging for 7 years and it’s not easy at all especially considering that English is not my native language, but I try my best 🙂
What a nice experience when traveling !
A Great Info about to travel and so Funny. Happy to share this info to my friends which are very useful. Thanks for sharing
Sooooooo funny! Great share!
Thank you! Glad you liked it 😉
It is truly a great and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Such a Great Information about to Travel I really liked your article, your article is very frightened me in the learning process and provide additional knowledge to me, maybe I can learn more from you, I will wait for your next article, I’ve really enjoyed reading it throughout. Thanks for Sharing.
Thank you for your kind words! here is always something new to learn when traveling, even for veterans 🙂
This was an awesome post. it inspires me to send it my mother whenever I decide to travel overseas alone. She freaks out everytime.
hahahah I’m 41 and my mother still freaks out! No matter that I left my parents house at 19, we are always kids for them 🙂
Nice post! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Anna! Glad you liked it!
This makes my day. I enjoy every single story in this post.
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Loved every single story! I’ll have to write down some accidents that happened to me while travelling as well.
Hey Vincent, thanks for your comment! I’m sure you’ll have plenty of travel story, everyone has them and they are the best part of the trip 😀
Your post had gave me ideas that how to share funny video. Thanks for sharing
The index is really helpful. I love how you edit the post Glad you find the information useful. Thank you very much for share this great helpful information with us.
Uhmm there is no index? maybe you should read the article first 😉
I’d love to travel too! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Dear Lord! 4 years since the post was published but the comments just keep coming and for a good reason! Thanks for putting together this list and interesting read! The accident on the boat is truly a creepy experience!
Ahahah yeah, Travel gone wrong is an evergreen topic! 🙂
Superb and funny post..! Really loved it… Keep posting….
Thank you 🙂
Love this blog…the main reason being is as travelers we ALL have something happen during our adventures. Regardless if they are truly bad or bizarre my thoughts on these events turn out to be some of our biggest highlights! These are the stories we will find ourselves repeating to eager ears back home and on the road, if you visit Vietnam, you will get it !
Hey Hong, you’re so right, these are the stories people want to hear 🙂
I’ve had so many crazy experiences travelling. Once in Cambodia I was caught on a bus where the drivers were smuggling drugs behind my chair! Just last week I was hitch hiking and I got caught up in the middle of a street race on a single motorbike with two other people, two bags and no helmets. You can read about it on my blog
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Clelia
Hey Rishi
Thanks for adding your own travel nightmares! 🙂
Brilliant stories! If you’re doing anything similar in the future, hit us up, we have a lot to tell from our worldwide experiences! Great site by the way 🙂
Thanks Katie!
Yeah, Thank you for sharing, greating..:)
Thanks for stopping by!
I can totally relate about the European showers. During my trip to Europe, I was flummoxed by them.
Ah Sophie! I didn’t realize that the European shower could be so complicated 🙂
Nicely put…i like the MYSTERIOUS EUROPEAN SHOWER 🙂
ahahah Is it a mysterious tool for you too Vicky? 🙂
Hello my name is Daniel I’m a stand-up comedian from Edinburgh Scotland.
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Thank you!
Clelia
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I love the way you interpreted other people’s blogs with yours. Not only it is smart for your website but it gives a link to other website giving that person more followers. My blog is about traveling but in my eyes and the events that have happened to me during vacations.
Hey Tailor, thanks! I actually wasn’t thinking about my own website when I wrote this piece. I just loved the stories and wanted to share them all in one place 🙂
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Between last minute visa cancellation and getting stuck in a cave with a cobra I had my fair share of bad experiences, but I can see that I’m in good company! LOL!
Oh, and that announcements are hilarious! Ahahah
Gettin stuck in a cave with a COBRA?! Oh my!! 😀
Your style is very unique in comparison to other folks I’ve read stuff from.
Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark
this web site.
Thank you for your kind comment! 🙂
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I thought travel always goes wrong. Maybe that’s just me…
Not always..it depends on how much risk are you willing to take!
Even tho I’m European I can totally relate to European shower trouble 😉 Love this post!
European showers rock! 🙂 glad you liked the post Anna!
yes
Is that a rat? Ewww!
Yes it is! I have to say Earl was very brave to try it 🙂
Funny stories and unforeseen mishaps are always part of traveling. This is what makes it more memorable for us. Despite these, I know we can all say that without these funny stories, your travel wouldn’t be as fun as it was.
Hey Helen, if you have any funny story to add, feel free to do so 🙂
I love funny travel stories – and writing about them. My favourite lately was called the Perils of Potties in Japan – or something like that – featuring a hitech toilet that wouldn’t stop spurting water all over the place.
Hey Anabel, i’ve heard tat Japanese toilets are deadly.. I will search for the article, must be quite something!
I went on a road trip in Iceland in June and absolutely loved it! I would tell people (and did in a blogpost) to register with a free app that alerts search and rescue people if you vanish. Register at http://www.safetravel.is and download the free 112 Iceland app before you go. It could literally save your life – a lot of people wander off and get themselves in bad situations every year but if you use this they will save you from yourself (for free but a hearty donation should be considered if it’s your own fault!).
Thanks for the tip Kay!
Thanks for collect these stories.Will subscribes to get more story from you.
Glad you enjoyed it Louis!
Cool tales. I only travel so I don’t run out of dinner party conversations.. ;P The things that don’t go quite right are often the best stories!
true…people are more interested in the accidents than our amazing travel tales..
Love this blog…the main reason being is as travelers we ALL have something happen during our adventures. Regardless if they are truly bad or bizarre my thoughts on these events turn out to be some of our biggest highlights! These are the stories we will find ourselves repeating to eager ears back home and on the road. Of course they seem devistating as they are happening but we always have to look for the best in these situations and the most positive way out of these awkward moments.
Cherish them – One Life, One Planet.
@monkeyslick
Hi Evan, Very true…these are the best stories to showcase upon our return home!
We’d got our own funny travel stories following experiences close to home. Here’s one from when we visited a hotel in the south of the island: http://www.puretravel.com/Guide/Travel_writing_competition/Travel_Writing_Competition_2012_Entries_Page2/Cock_and_ball(s). After reading, you’ll be relieved to discover that there are no photos.
ahah i’m actually pretty relieved yes 🙂
Thought you might be.
I saw your request in our FB group and was sorry I couldn’t contribute any! These are hilarious though; the image of Talon and the old lady cracks me up 😀
Hei Aleah, pity you couldn’t contribute, i was hoping to have a top 20 but was quite difficult!
I appreciate the mention above and link to my post!
My pleasure!…Eating a rat is not something you see everyday for sure!
Thanks for featuring my story Klelia!
These are a great collection of quirky tales.
Indeed! 🙂
Great finds! I love these quirky stories and that could well be me trying to figure out how to use that shower!
Yeah some of them are really brilliant, it surprised me that i couldn’t find more of them on the web!Oh and for the shower…even if i’m european, i struggled with it at first too!
Thanks also for including my funny quotes article, they certainly make flying more enjoyable.
As for the Thai massage I can certainly vouch for that. I had a one hour head massage and was screaming pain with every touch. I promise you, never, ever again!
hahaha tell me about the Thai Massage, I totally understand why you don’t want to try again! I also had some quite unpleasant experiences…now I only go for a more relaxing oil massage 🙂
Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooollll…when finished barking loudly with laughter, I might share a story or two…
Fire away! You can’t imagine how difficult has been to find these stories around! 🙂