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The Idler Book of Crap Vacations: 50 Tales of Hell on Earth
The party poopers at the humor magazine The Idler -- the same bunch who filled your brain with workplace horror in Crap Jobs -- now put a damper on the beloved annual getaway with hilarious true stories of nightmare vacations. Here, in all their hideous glory, are tales of leaky caverns, dodgy campsites, and bug-infested bedrooms in "luxury" foreign hotels. We've got dysentery disasters, land-mine-littered beaches, irretrievably lost luggage, and hours of exotic tarmac-sitting at the world's top airports -- not to mention Crap Vacation sex, crime, and toxic food you pay far too much for. So if you're making plans to get away from it all, make sure you're not going somewhere you'll want to get away from. Let Crap Vacations be your guide down that old holiday road. Getting back to the nine-to-five grind has never seemed to tempting.
- GenresHumorNonfictionTravel
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Dan Kieran
23 books16 followersDan Kieran is Deputy Editor of The Idler, a bi-yearly British magazine. He is a writer, editor, and CEO and co-founder of the crowd-funding publishing platform Unbound.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 21, 2019
Probabilmente mi aspettavo qualcosa di diverso e di più divertente. Le imprecazioni e la disperazione di chi racconta le proprie vacanze assurde dovrebbero essere simpatiche e far ridere, ma mi hanno solo trasmesso tutto lo stress che hanno provato i "protagonisti".
October 7, 2022
2.5 Stars!
Although nowhere near the quality, appeal or consistency of "Crap Towns" this little stocking filler of sorts still makes for some decent value in places. Though it is fair to say that what may have gone down well with many in 2005 suddenly doesn't read so well in 2022, much of this does come across as crass, sexist, shallow and ignorant etc, but I still enjoyed it to some degree and certainly found it entertaining.
Although nowhere near the quality, appeal or consistency of "Crap Towns" this little stocking filler of sorts still makes for some decent value in places. Though it is fair to say that what may have gone down well with many in 2005 suddenly doesn't read so well in 2022, much of this does come across as crass, sexist, shallow and ignorant etc, but I still enjoyed it to some degree and certainly found it entertaining.
October 23, 2010
This book isn't usually the type of thing I would review. It is more of a coffee table/bathroom book. You pick it up and read one story whenever you feel like it.
I also don't usually give too many negative reviews because who am I to judge someone else's art? It's mostly subjective and I think people who trash things that I love generally suck. However, I really don't think this book will fall into that category for anyone, so my rant continues.
It pisses me off on several levels. First of all, there are some (very few) true tales of amusing crappy vacations. Those travelers get my sympathy and a few chuckles. Everyone else, I wanted to punch in the face.
The rest of these people were stuck up pessimists who are the worst vacation locale selectors EVER. They should have just stayed home. Do some research, people. If the water is freezing and the sand is razor-sharp, perhaps you should have asked around before you went there. Also, all these family vacations you remember as being pure torture probably had more to do with the fact that you were a moody preteen and less to do with the vacation as a whole.
But, the absolute worst stories are the British people visiting American tourist destinations. If you don't like garish lights, gambling and inauthenticity, maybe VEGAS was the WORST POSSIBLE DESTINATION for you. Are you stupid? Not as stupid as the American tourists who enjoy it, apparently. Good thing you just spent all your time complaining instead of finding something you might like about it.
Waikiki was so terrible. Forget the beautiful views, warm water, nice people, and delicious tropical drinks. There were people lying in the sun and hamburgers and surfing and so many terrible things! I can't believe Americans love it there.
And Orlando is full of, you know, people who like Disney and sun and sand and bright colors and OMG, aren't Americans so stupid? OMG there were American tourists everywhere! Who would have thought??? Why are there so many Americans here in AMERICA????
Here's my travel tip: if your choice of locale is not suited to you, quit complaining, get comfy, and read a book. Just not this one. And next time, go somewhere else.
P.S. Don't be a dick.
P.P.S. I love British people, just not the ones who wrote these stories. Or Simon Cowell.
I also don't usually give too many negative reviews because who am I to judge someone else's art? It's mostly subjective and I think people who trash things that I love generally suck. However, I really don't think this book will fall into that category for anyone, so my rant continues.
It pisses me off on several levels. First of all, there are some (very few) true tales of amusing crappy vacations. Those travelers get my sympathy and a few chuckles. Everyone else, I wanted to punch in the face.
The rest of these people were stuck up pessimists who are the worst vacation locale selectors EVER. They should have just stayed home. Do some research, people. If the water is freezing and the sand is razor-sharp, perhaps you should have asked around before you went there. Also, all these family vacations you remember as being pure torture probably had more to do with the fact that you were a moody preteen and less to do with the vacation as a whole.
But, the absolute worst stories are the British people visiting American tourist destinations. If you don't like garish lights, gambling and inauthenticity, maybe VEGAS was the WORST POSSIBLE DESTINATION for you. Are you stupid? Not as stupid as the American tourists who enjoy it, apparently. Good thing you just spent all your time complaining instead of finding something you might like about it.
Waikiki was so terrible. Forget the beautiful views, warm water, nice people, and delicious tropical drinks. There were people lying in the sun and hamburgers and surfing and so many terrible things! I can't believe Americans love it there.
And Orlando is full of, you know, people who like Disney and sun and sand and bright colors and OMG, aren't Americans so stupid? OMG there were American tourists everywhere! Who would have thought??? Why are there so many Americans here in AMERICA????
Here's my travel tip: if your choice of locale is not suited to you, quit complaining, get comfy, and read a book. Just not this one. And next time, go somewhere else.
P.S. Don't be a dick.
P.P.S. I love British people, just not the ones who wrote these stories. Or Simon Cowell.
July 6, 2010
I picked this book up at borders bargain sale so I don't feel too bad that it was soooo awful! The stories are first hand accounts so they are not written by professions. I think of my bad vacations and I find the funny. This book had nothing but horrible experiences and some of them could have been avoided with a little research before said person got on the plane. I stopped about 15 stories in so this is not a full review. Oh and they are fond of the F-word just FYI.
October 23, 2012
Ma che carino! Humor con una morale e alcune informazioni interessanti per un turismo da responsabilizzare.
Si tratta di un'antologia di esperienze disadtrose in materia di vacanze: dalla gita in chiatta sul Tamigi alla Florida, dalle isole greche agli ospedali indonesiani, ce n'è un po' per tutti i gusti.
Sono stata piacevolmente sorpresa.
Si tratta di un'antologia di esperienze disadtrose in materia di vacanze: dalla gita in chiatta sul Tamigi alla Florida, dalle isole greche agli ospedali indonesiani, ce n'è un po' per tutti i gusti.
Sono stata piacevolmente sorpresa.
July 25, 2011
An anti-Baedeker! Hilarious from beginning to end--which only proves again there's humor in others' misfortunes. Four stars.
July 28, 2011
Not quite up to Crap Towns standard but very funny nonetheless.
October 19, 2011
made me laugh out loud... and admit to myself how crappy many aspects of my own vacations and holidays have been.
January 26, 2013
It's just like so many things in this life that are not as great as you think they are going to be.
January 28, 2015
Se la parola TRAGICOMICO avesse un'immagine di riferimento, sarebbe quasi sicuramente questo libro. Una lettura piacevole che vi strapperà più di una risata, consigliato!
April 7, 2015
Yuck! Don't read this while you are eating. Be thankful if you have not experienced any of these awful destination failures. It makes a great case for just staying home in your own comfy bed!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews