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Waking up early, bags packed, and excited to catch a flight to your next big adventure. Arriving in a new city, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. Finally stepping into a spacious hotel room with a breathtaking beach view. All the ingredients for a dream vacation, right?

But just because you’ve planned every detail doesn’t mean the universe is on your side. Suddenly, your plane is delayed by seven hours, the charming cityscape doesn’t look quite like the photos, and that “beach view” turns out to be a noisy construction site.

These unlucky travelers know this feeling all too well, and they’ve captured their unexpected vacation fails to share with the world. Some are funny, others are heartbreaking, and a few are downright shocking. Scroll down and see for yourself!

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    #3

    Took This Photo Of The Beautiful Sunrise At Our Bed And Breakfast, Years Ago, During Our Honeymoon. I Didn't Look At It Closely And Sent To All Of Our Family. Nothing Says "Welcome To The Family" Like A Photo Such As This

    Took This Photo Of The Beautiful Sunrise At Our Bed And Breakfast, Years Ago, During Our Honeymoon. I Didn't Look At It Closely And Sent To All Of Our Family. Nothing Says "Welcome To The Family" Like A Photo Such As This

    narlycharley Report

    While I wouldn’t wish a disastrous vacation on anyone, it doesn’t take much to end up with disappointing travel photos. Even after the best trip of your life, you might come back with pictures that don’t quite do it justice. Sometimes, bad lighting, confusing angles, or awkward composition are the real culprits.

    #4

    Living/Working In Hawaii, Took A Break To Travel. I Don't Travel A Lot, But When I Do, Everything Is Under Construction

    Living/Working In Hawaii, Took A Break To Travel. I Don't Travel A Lot, But When I Do, Everything Is Under Construction

    harriealexis07 Report

    #5

    First Vacation I’ve Had All Year And Work Won’t Stop Texting Me… Should I Send It?

    First Vacation I’ve Had All Year And Work Won’t Stop Texting Me… Should I Send It?

    twentysomething3 Report

    #6

    2 Weeks Ago My Youngest Daughter Broke Her Leg 1 Week Before Our Holiday. Yesterday I Broke My Own Leg (On Holiday). Poor Sis And Mom

    2 Weeks Ago My Youngest Daughter Broke Her Leg 1 Week Before Our Holiday. Yesterday I Broke My Own Leg (On Holiday). Poor Sis And Mom

    Ruud1983 Report

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    Joe Switzer, a filmmaker based in St. Louis, Missouri, and Jordan Carnegis, a photographer and artist in Orlando, Florida, shared some helpful tips with Hilton on how to make your travel photos memorable, so you can look back on them fondly for years to come.

    And don’t worry if you’re not armed with an expensive camera—Switzer notes that today’s smartphones are powerful enough to make anyone feel like a professional photographer.

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    When you’re on vacation, you’ll likely be surrounded by incredible sights. But Switzer and Carnegis recommend capturing not just the scenery, but also the people with you.

    “Take pictures of the view in front of you, but take the cheesy selfies, too,” says Carnegis. “You can Google a picture of Yellowstone, but you can’t Google your kids’ [reactions to it]. Take the time to focus on the people you’re with and the memories you’re making. I think that’s what people miss the mark on most.”

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    #10

    This Is The One Thing I Am Most Worried About Before Getting On A Plane

    This Is The One Thing I Am Most Worried About Before Getting On A Plane

    Addian4 Report

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    reuben kift
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, anyone that does this to me is getting stabbed in the foot with a pencil.

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    #11

    A Beach Day That Turned Into Me Tripping On A Rock And Falling Down The Sand Dune

    A Beach Day That Turned Into Me Tripping On A Rock And Falling Down The Sand Dune

    MaddieGehring Report

    Another common pitfall is taking photos with social media in mind, only looking for what seems “Instagrammable.” Switzer and Carnegis encourage letting go of that mindset. “Photograph the moment as it happens,” says Carnegis. “Keep it organic. Keep it loose. Keep it candid.”

    #13

    Includes A "Private Balcony." Is Just A View Of The Wall Of The Next Building

    Includes A "Private Balcony." Is Just A View Of The Wall Of The Next Building

    Jagokoz Report

    #15

    This Is The Result When I Ask My Boyfriend To Take A Picture. Can’t Stop Laughing

    This Is The Result When I Ask My Boyfriend To Take A Picture. Can’t Stop Laughing

    bobbyklootwijk Report

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    One of the biggest mistakes amateurs tend to make is positioning their subject directly against the light.

    “It’s all about the light,” says Switzer. “Always turn your subject to let that light hit it. Always look at the light.”

    This might feel counterintuitive, especially when you want that perfect shot of your friend against a gorgeous sunset. But shooting directly into the light often leaves you with an overexposed background and faces lost in shadows.

    #16

    The Hotel I Booked Weeks Ahead Didn’t Have A Room For Us When We Checked In. Gave Us A Sofa Bed In A Conference Room

    The Hotel I Booked Weeks Ahead Didn’t Have A Room For Us When We Checked In. Gave Us A Sofa Bed In A Conference Room

    Llebanna Report

    #18

    I Drove 4 Hours (One Way) To See Radium Springs, One Of The State Of Georgia’s Natural Wonders . . . After A Heavy Rainfall

    I Drove 4 Hours (One Way) To See Radium Springs, One Of The State Of Georgia’s Natural Wonders . . . After A Heavy Rainfall

    Don_Quixotel Report

    To take your photography to the next level, learning a bit of basic composition can go a long way. Instead of always centering your subject in the frame, both Carnegis and Switzer suggest trying the “rule of thirds.”

    Position your subject in the right, left, top, or bottom third of the image, moving slightly off-center. “It makes it so much more interesting than just a stagnant, ‘Here I am in front of the Golden Gate Bridge,’” says Carnegis.

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    #20

    I Was On My Way Down The Tallest Mountain In The UK And This Happened

    I Was On My Way Down The Tallest Mountain In The UK And This Happened

    randompolicy Report

    Many cameras and phones have a grid setting that divides the frame into nine equal sections, helping you visually apply the rule of thirds. Place your subject along the lines around the center square. “This is hard because your brain tells you to keep people in the center,” says Switzer. “But if you watch a lot of movies, you’ll notice everyone’s usually off to the left or right.”

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    #23

    These Tourists In Hawaii Took A Wrong Turn

    These Tourists In Hawaii Took A Wrong Turn

    pandabatron Report

    #24

    Lesson Learned- Don't Trust Just Any Tourist To Take Your Photo

    Lesson Learned- Don't Trust Just Any Tourist To Take Your Photo

    batmanfantasy Report

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    Fat Harry (Oi / You)
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I ever visit Pisa (unlikely) I'm definitely not posing for this tired, overdone tourist photo.

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    That said, remember to put down your phone or camera now and then and simply enjoy the moment. “There are extremes from ‘We don’t have a single picture of this trip!’ to ‘We have photos of every single thing we ate,’” says Carnegis. “Just pick the best things to shoot. You don’t need a video of the whole birthday song. Just take a couple of snips.”

    #25

    Half Way To The Road Trip In Sicily, The Tire Just Exploded Out Of Nowhere. Happened Exactly 12 Hours After I Had Food Poisoning The Night Before

    Half Way To The Road Trip In Sicily, The Tire Just Exploded Out Of Nowhere. Happened Exactly 12 Hours After I Had Food Poisoning The Night Before

    ken0746 Report

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    troufaki13
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone's given you the evil eye. Take this for protection 🧿 (also talk to a nonna if she can remove it for you)

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    #26

    Tire Went Through My Windshield On The Interstate

    Tire Went Through My Windshield On The Interstate

    kaopectate Report

    #27

    4 Hours Into A 13 Hour Road Trip To My Family's 3 Week Vacation Of The Year And I Just Realized That In The Rush To Leave I Forgot To Bring Any Other Shoes With Me

    4 Hours Into A 13 Hour Road Trip To My Family's 3 Week Vacation Of The Year And I Just Realized That In The Rush To Leave I Forgot To Bring Any Other Shoes With Me

    carrs-for-life-32 Report

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    Heffalump
    Community Member
    14 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a guy, these kind of things create the only circumstances when I ever buy shoes.

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    Mason Kronol
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It’s a shame shoe stores don’t exist anywhere else.

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aw, Crocs have their uses. I have two dogs, one's a puppy and the other has mobility issues, so there's been times when the outdoors are moderately slathered in poop. Crocs are wonderful outdoor shoes that are eminently washable XD

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    Diolla
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Eh, Crocs are not bad for holidays. Would be worse if you were still wearing your dress shoes.

    Breadcrumb.
    Community Member
    17 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I remember losing a shoe on a road trip and walking into a shoe store with one shoe "I know you need two shoes to enter but I lost one..can you please help me"

    Raffe Raffen
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Any other shoes"? Surely the "other" is superflous in that sentence considering the footwear!

    Riley Quinn
    Community Member
    15 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Went cross country with a newbie that dressed for the weather at the take off point. The US is a pretty big country with lots of different weather that this clown didn't take into consideration. So, off to a thrift store we went to buy appropriate clothing.

    OpheliaPoe
    Community Member
    15 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My partner, new and young, I told him "Put everything we need to pack in the middle of the living room." He brought me stuff, I packed it in my car. Finally I asked, "Is there anything else?" He said no. What he meant was, no, he had grabbed all of HIS stuff. He left a bunch of mine behind. And thus I hiked Yosemite in flip flops. My hiking boots were left in the middle of the floor.

    Rodney McKay
    Community Member
    23 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Use the duck tape that you wisely brought to make a heel band and you'll be all set.

    BSellen
    Community Member
    1 day ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    timhood
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Surely, *somewhere* on that 13 hour drive is a place to buy shoes.

    PeePeePooPoo
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would love that for me, no one could stop me from buying new shoes lol

    O. Puntia
    Community Member
    1 day ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    This comment has been deleted.

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    #28

    Went On Vacation And

    Went On Vacation And

    Went two states away for a weekend trip, were checking out of the hotel to find this. All 4 wheels stolen in the hotel parking lot. Of COURSE the hotel doesn't have cameras in the parking lot. Can't get it towed because it doesn't have wheels to get on the damn truck.

    jules_144 Report

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    #29

    I Have To Travel To Another City Asap And This F***er Decided To Park Its Car Right In Front Of My Garage. It Has Been 45 Minutes And This Is Not The First Time This Is Happening. Still Waiting For The Tow Truck

    I Have To Travel To Another City Asap And This F***er Decided To Park Its Car Right In Front Of My Garage. It Has Been 45 Minutes And This Is Not The First Time This Is Happening. Still Waiting For The Tow Truck

    Hrokle Report

    #30

    Loved My First Trip To Japan. I'm Too Tall For Japan

    Loved My First Trip To Japan. I'm Too Tall For Japan

    allkindsofmamba Report

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    Leoninus Fate
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I know the feeling, Im Japanese but I'm 7'4, I have a condition where your body doesn't stop growing, and for other medical reasons, this being paired with me being albino..... yeah I kinda stand out back home {Osaka, Shaa-nai~!} and everywhere else

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    #32

    Just Wanted To Enjoy My Vacation

    Just Wanted To Enjoy My Vacation

    Went on a trip for almost 2 weeks. Started to feel sick 5 days ago and just thought I was dehydrated. Came to the hospital to be told I have a severe uti, kidney infection, and sepsis. My flight home was supposed to be tomorrow. I have no idea when I’ll be able to go home.

    jen12617 Report

    #33

    I'm On My Honeymoon

    I'm On My Honeymoon

    Had sushi for dinner last night at the all-inclusive resort my new husband and I are staying at. 1am rolls around and I'm throwing up like crazy, then it's dry heaving for another hour. We call the resort doctor, he takes my temperature and listens to my belly with a big "oh no" face, so guess who gets to go to a clinic in a foreign land (we're in the Dominican Republic)? Me!!

    I have a bacterial infection in my guts! My white blood cell count is bananas! We get to spend $4000 upfront cuz I need to be hospitalized! Weeeeeeee!

    Get Travelers insurance, be better than me. Don't know what the resort will do but it sounds like they're willing to work with us.

    Sufficient_Tarot Report

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    #34

    Where My GPS Indicates The Train Station Is Supposed To Be

    Where My GPS Indicates The Train Station Is Supposed To Be

    FlowerPotage Report

    #36

    First Day Of Vacation

    First Day Of Vacation

    Unfortunately there was someone right behind us and I couldn’t stop it time. Lucky for us the deer jumped and hit mostly glass so no airbags! But it did take out the cargo rack and sunroof and ended up being over 14k in repairs!

    scottydznknow Report

    #37

    On My Honeymoon In Hawaii And Turns Out I Got Ringworm From The Armrest On The Plane

    On My Honeymoon In Hawaii And Turns Out I Got Ringworm From The Armrest On The Plane

    SokkaStyle Report

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    Ace
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It takes hours to develop. probably at least a day to get to that stage, so it's impossible to identify the cause of the contamination. It's quite unlikely to have been the armrest.

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    #38

    This Happened Last Year, Flying Back From Vacation. They Told Us Our Suitcase Must Have Fallen Off The Transport Truck. Everything Inside Was Gone, Yet They Managed To Retrieve The Bag

    This Happened Last Year, Flying Back From Vacation. They Told Us Our Suitcase Must Have Fallen Off The Transport Truck. Everything Inside Was Gone, Yet They Managed To Retrieve The Bag

    CatchyUrchin Report

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    Skogsrået
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You were robbed, I have never known anyone that has actually been compensated when this happens.

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    #40

    I Drove 1000+ Miles To See The Eclipse

    I Drove 1000+ Miles To See The Eclipse

    Like millions of others in American today, I took time off work and drove over 1000 miles to see the eclipse, only to have it spoiled by mother nature. Oh well. 🤷🏼That's life.

    Gnarly_Sarley Report

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    #41

    I Traveled About 1500 Miles To See Fenway Park For The First Time. Here Was My View

    I Traveled About 1500 Miles To See Fenway Park For The First Time. Here Was My View

    rcoberle_54 Report

    #43

    We Visited Mount Rushmore During A Controlled Burn

    We Visited Mount Rushmore During A Controlled Burn

    chezznul Report

    #44

    This Is How The Luggage Containing My Playstation Arrived

    This Is How The Luggage Containing My Playstation Arrived

    Yamoyek Report

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    Passerby
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The PS5 fared better, thankfully. I checked the reddit.

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    #45

    Went On Vacation On Our Family's Boat... This Is My Attempt At Taking A Shower

    Went On Vacation On Our Family's Boat... This Is My Attempt At Taking A Shower

    imgur.com Report

    #47

    A Stray Golf Ball Hit Our Windshield On The Way To The Beach And We Are On Vacation

    A Stray Golf Ball Hit Our Windshield On The Way To The Beach And We Are On Vacation

    sacredkin Report

    #48

    The Day Started Off Amazing

    The Day Started Off Amazing

    devoncone Report

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    #49

    My Vacation In Rio And Seeing The Cristo

    My Vacation In Rio And Seeing The Cristo

    OwnedYou Report

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    Passerby
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I kinda like this. The fog made everything look more majestic and mystical.

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    #50

    First Night After A 12 Hour Drive To Belgium

    First Night After A 12 Hour Drive To Belgium

    thetommyboy99 Report

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    Cat Chat
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This happened to my back window the day before I was planning a 2 day drive to move for college. Luckily my dad had connections and it was fixed in time.

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    Note: this post originally had 108 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.