🌍 Ten Tiny Travel Fails and What They Taught Me

 🛏️ When I Booked the “Cute, Budget-Friendly Hostel” That Was Neither

I fell for the pictures. Again.
The listing showed fairy lights, smiling backpackers, and a rooftop view that looked like it belonged in a Netflix rom-com. It was described as “a vibrant and cozy budget hostel with a community vibe and modern facilities”. It had four stars, 73 glowing reviews, and the price? Too good to be true — which, spoiler alert, it absolutely was.

Let me take you to the moment I arrived.

The tuk-tuk driver squinted at the address twice before dropping me off at the end of a narrow alley. “It’s in there,” he said vaguely, pointing toward a dim-lit lane that looked like it might lead to either a hostel or a horror movie set. With my 12-kg backpack and blind optimism, I walked in.

The first thing I noticed was the smell. Not the smell of food or incense or even city life — no, this was the damp, mildew-scented perfume of forgotten basements. The once-pink walls were now a shade of “mouldy confusion,” and that rooftop terrace? It existed — but only if you squint past the laundry and broken chairs.

My dorm room was a cramped six-bed box where the fans barely spun, and the only window opened into a brick wall. One bunk creaked every time I breathed, and the lockers were missing actual locks. But the best part? My bed was missing a bed-sheet. When I asked the staff, a sleepy guy at the desk handed me one like he was doing me a personal favor.

I tried to shower off the disappointment. The bathroom, however, had other plans. The shower head was a sad trickle, and I had to choose between holding the door shut or holding my towel — not both.

That night, I didn’t sleep. Between the snoring symphony of the guy in the bunk below, a dripping pipe, and the stray cat that kept meowing outside the window, I questioned every life decision that led me there. I also discovered that "free WiFi" meant "barely one bar near the reception."

But here’s the thing: I learned a few important travel lessons that day.
✔️ Always check recent reviews — not just the glowing ones from 2019.
✔️ Photos lie. Especially ones taken with warm filters and strategic lighting.
✔️ If the price seems too good to be true, it usually comes with water damage and a side of regret.

I checked out after one night and booked a slightly pricier guesthouse two blocks away. It had clean sheets, functioning fans, and didn’t smell like sadness. Worth every extra rupee.

Travel isn’t always perfect. Sometimes, you end up in a dreamy hostel. Sometimes, you end up sleeping next to someone’s leftover instant noodles and a mosquito with a personal vendetta. Either way — you get a story.