Congratulations to Jennifer Powell of Courtice, Ontario, who is the winner of our “Travel Makeover” Contest. Jennifer has won a 7-night all-inclusive vacation for two at the Excellence Riviera Cancun in the Mayan Riviera, courtesy of Transat Holidays.

Jennifer’s name was drawn from those of all our readers who described their “worst travel experience” to us. Here is a sample of some of the stories we received:

It was August 11, 1991, Our Honeymoon. Plane delayed 12 hours. Spent most of our money at the airport. I had an allergic reaction to the sun 2 days later. My forehead swelled up like Frankenstein. Went to the resort Doctor. Got a shot. Next day Husband had an ear infection. Went to the resort Doctor. Got a shot. Next day ran out of immodium. We were really sick by then. Went to Doctor. Doctor invited us to his house for dinner…we really felt we got to know each other. Our Honeymoon in the Domincan Republic.
J.W., Courtice ON

Motorcyle headlight burned out in rain storm-had to sleep under a school bus for 7 hours before the service station in the little town opened. During that time a badger also took shelter under the bus but stayed near the front-to top it all off-he was a bad conversationalist and he took off with my wallet while I was sleeping! I'll never trust a quiet rain soaked badger again!
J.A., Prince Albert SK

Take care booking hotels online for Bangkok! I forgot to ask if the picture I was shown was for OUR hotel (it wasn't). I also forgot to ask if the balcony was safe to step out on (nope). Also whether the kitchen sink had plumbing (nope) or whether the pool water was safe to swim in (not recommended). But the price was great and we had a good view of the quality hotel that was in the picture!
M.A., Nanaimo BC

On the last day of my week holiday in the Dominican Republic, 40 minutes before check-out, I decided to have a quick shower before leaving the room. As I stepped out of the shower, the glass door fell off the hinges and smashed, glass everywhere. I was left with lacerations all over my back, legs and arms. I spent most of the day in the resort medical centre, before having to jump on the bus to the airport. The staff at the resort treated me nicely, but needless to say, travelling home with cuts all over my back side was less than comfortable. So, I have both memories and scars from that vacation! :)
A.L., Thunder Bay ON

During a cross-country road trip, my best friend and I made a crossing from San Francisco to Vegas via Yosemite National Park. We got lost in the mountains in the middle of the night, and just when we thought it wouldn't get worse, a herd of cows ran towards us and nearly pushed us off the mountain!
A.D., Peterborough ON

My mother and I decided to drive down to the U.S. to shop for a few days. When we arrived at our hotel, it was a motel that was attached to a strip club. Too tired to find another hotel, the walls were paper thin, we heard a couple having sex and the bathroom door fell off in the middle of the night.
K.S., Winnipeg MB

Booking last minute resulted in “a charming inn, just blocks from the beach.” That MOTEL hadn’t been redecorated since shag carpet and the colour harvest gold reigned supreme. The smell was one problem, sleeping in the saggy, lumpy beds another. A shot of tequila was required to face that room!
J.M., Oakville ON

Once I had to travel on a few hours notice. However, my clothes were still wet from the laundry, but I was late so I hastily shoved them damp into my bag. As fate would have it, the airline lost my luggage and it was several days until I got it back, all green, moldy and foul.
C.D., Edmonton AB

My worst travel experience comes from my decision to take a sleeper bus in China's mainland. I was 20 years old, 150lbs and 5'6" - and the bunks were 5'6" exactly, made from bamboo, and you were expected to share with another passenger (mine was a 6', 250lb male). Half-way through my 7-hour bus ride, I realized the driver was smoking opium and people were getting car-sick from his now erratic driving. Arriving safely at my destination of Beihai, China, was a shocking relief - to say the least.
R.H., Fort Saskatchewan AB

I travelled to Germany where you have to have a special plug-in for your electrical appliances. I tried to use one that wasn't right for their plug-ins. It was on my curling iron and when I used the iron it was so hot that when I released the iron from my head, the whole curl came with it. I now had a bald spot on my head for the rest of the trip.
J.H., Luseland SK

I guess my worst travel experience was when I travelled to Hawaii in my early 20's with a girlfriend and we were supposed to be staying at a religious camp and it turned out to be a nudist camp. What a surprise that was but we managed to get out of it easily and were tipped off by a friend.
A.M., New Westminster BC

First cruise ever - no luggage, no cosmetics, no meds. Myself and three daughters arrived at ship with luggage but the luggage never made it on board. We all had a good cry and then decided to try and have fun anyway. Had to go to lost and found and borrow clothes to wear for formal night (we had all brought new outfits to wear). Problem was 3 of us wear size 10 shoes - found three pair that worked - YIKES - one pair was about 6 inches high! Decided to just go with it and have fun anyway.
S.G., Victoria BC