What’s the worst travel experience you’ve ever had?
I’ve stayed in some great places over the years, but one of the most memorable was a youth hostel in Paris where breakfast was strictly rationed.
We’ve visited Paris twice, staying both times at a youth hostel in the 10th arrondissement. It was conveniently located, close to the centre of Paris and the Metro, which made getting around easy. The accommodation was basic, but we weren’t there for the luxury.
Breakfast consisted of one bread roll and a glass of orange cordial, supervised by a rather austere-looking woman. I once made the mistake of taking two bread rolls. Her response ensured I never made that mistake again.
On our second visit, something went wrong with our booking. We arrived to discover that the hostel was fully booked and wouldn’t have a room for us for another two nights. The staff were remarkably confident that a small hotel around the corner would have vacancies. We couldn’t understand their certainty until we arrived.
The place was decidedly dodgy. There was mould throughout the shower, and we wondered what we’d got ourselves into. But we had little choice, so we stayed. There was one consolation. The breakfast was considerably better than the bread roll and orange cordial. And nobody seemed concerned about how much we ate.
We survived the two nights and were surprisingly relieved to return to the youth hostel. Even the woman guarding the bread rolls seemed almost welcoming.
But there was an unexpected bonus. Next door to our temporary accommodation, we discovered an exceptional restaurant that we would never have found otherwise.
That’s one of the curious things about travel. The experiences that seem dreadful at the time often become the stories we remember most fondly. I’ve forgotten countless comfortable hotel rooms, but I still remember that mouldy shower, the woman guarding the bread rolls, and the wonderful restaurant we stumbled upon.
Perhaps the worst travel experiences sometimes make the best stories. And occasionally, they lead us somewhere we’d never have thought to go.
What’s the worst travel experience you’ve ever had?
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