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The Worst Places to be Hungover When Traveling
Most of us have gone a bit overboard on the local beer or spirits when in another country. My worst experience was in Sydney, where my two friends and I found ourselves with a 4L box of wine that we bought for $10 and refused to haul any further on our way up the coast. We had one night to drink it, and it just happened to be Mardi Gras.We finished it all right. But most of my share ended up coming up the way it went in, if you get my drift. Running through the halls of the hostel, trying desperately to get my key card to open the door to the communal bathrooms before spewing up last night's ill-advised double serving of fries rates up there as one of the worst days of my life. Make that two days. Here's what I consider to be the worst places to be hungover. Feel free to add your own in the comments:
- On a boat off the coast of ... well ... anywhere: After one tequila-fueled night in Puerto Vallarta, my friends and I had to take a booze cruise or forfeit our deposit. So we went and oh my goodness, I've never been so seasick in my life. Actually, I've never been seasick period, besides that day. The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns is also notoriously choppy -- one girl on a boat trip I went on had to be air-lifted back to shore!
- In a Tuk Tuk: Bangkok is beautiful but it's also hot and polluted and I can see why people splurge on cabs -- breathing in the exhaust is enough to make anyone hurl, whether they're already feeling a bit queasy or not.
- In transit: Not only will exhaustion make you prone to missing your bus/flight/train/ferry but the motion/turbulence/rocking is bound to make you feel a bit ill. Plus, those miniature bathrooms leave something to be desired when you're feeling nauseous.
- Locked out of your hostel: Many hostels have lock-out rules during the day so while you want nothing more than to sleep it off, you'll have to do it elsewhere. I recommend a nearby park if it's nice out. If it's not, you might be outta luck.
- Outside when it's hot: Laying on the beach with a bunch of bottled water is an okay way to recover, but there's a fine line between being tolerably hot and being unbearably hot. Insane heat is uncomfortable when you're feeling your best, so it's really, really brutal when you're feeling your worst.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Maytag Jul 31st 2007 9:03PM
In a 2-hour line at an airline check-in counter, especially in the summer when it's hot.
jon Aug 1st 2007 11:17AM
At work.
In an engineering factory.
At a desk 10metres from a 100ton drop forge.
With a bit of a cold.
Oh wait, that's me now.
I wanna go home.
Val Aug 1st 2007 12:01PM
Mexican Jail! Trust me on this on, you don't want to wake up in Juarez holding cells hung over.
Val Aug 1st 2007 11:55AM
Mexican Jail! Trust me on this one, you don't want to wake up hungover in a Juarez holding cell.
Willy Volk Aug 1st 2007 4:03PM
On a slow-moving bus from Lundazi, Zambia to Chipata, Zambia with a puppy and all your belongings in the world. Thank God I had my gourd with me, otherwise the floor would've been splattered.
sandymaple Aug 1st 2007 6:44PM
In a tiny motorboat on the Churun River in the Venezuelan jungle. At 5am.
JT Aug 6th 2007 3:32AM
In the Prado museum in Madrid, trying to appreciate Goya's painting of the legend of Chronos, but only able to see a horrifying giant picture of an old man eating a baby.
Gena Aug 5th 2007 6:46AM
at the annual fair smelling all the food and watching people on the rides....Ewwwww
Richard Aug 5th 2007 9:43AM
Not to be a wet blanket, but have any of you ever been to an AA meeting? You can learn how to live without alcohol and never have to worry about a hangover again.
ballin3000 Aug 5th 2007 9:42AM
Richard, are you really serious?? This post is about people's experiences with a crazy hangover story. AA is for alcoholics, and just because someone barfs their brains out one or two times, it does not mean that they have an alcohol problem. Take your sober living Jesus thanking holier than thou attitude to a bar and have a shot.
Fran Aug 5th 2007 9:43AM
I have only had two hangovers in my life, so I don't think AA meetings would help.
But the worst one was while at a military school. Getting up at O'dark thirty to do PT and a 6'7" (HUGE)guy yelling in my face. Knowing my A__s belonged to Uncle Sam. EWWWWWW! No sleep, no bathroom, no air-conditioner, no breaks! I suggest if you are in the military, DON"T TRY THIS! Even though it is a fond memory of my younger days.
Karen Aug 5th 2007 9:43AM
please, a hang-over story does equal drinking problem...
1toomany Aug 5th 2007 9:42AM
Worst place to be hungover? Would have to be downunder on a glass bottom boat off the coast in Cancun after waaay too many shots of tequila at Carlos and Charlies the night before. The wife said I was greener then the plants.
sametcalf Aug 5th 2007 9:42AM
Oh god...taking my kids and their friends to Hersheypark (amusement park) with no other adults with me. Worst hangover in my life..and had to ride the rollercoasters so they wouldn't think anything was up. It was also about 95 degrees outside. Baddd Day!!!
jen Aug 5th 2007 9:42AM
At work
teaching dance
to little kids
that's just being a mothaf___er!
catholicgirl4 Aug 5th 2007 9:42AM
HeyBallin3000,
I am not in AA, but I find what you said about Jesus and the AA group very mean and cold. I think that you should really take a look at your own life and find Jesus yourself before passing judgement on others.
Crissy Aug 5th 2007 9:34AM
~At my house! Even though I had access to all my things...bed, water, aspirin etc... The worst hang over I ever had was after a practice session, my band went way "over board" on Southern Comfort... I felt like a bus had hit me...literally! Ewwww... will never drink that stuff again! Missed work too! Sorry boss!
fanof8 Aug 5th 2007 9:43AM
Any place is bad for a hangover- but in my opinion, the worst place is anywhere but the comfort of my home.
Anonymous Aug 5th 2007 10:31AM
I know I may be taking my life into my own hands posting this here but . . . well I am doing it anonymously.
I have on occasion gotten totally blasted out of my skull on booze however I have never had a hangover. Can someone describe exactly what it's like I've been curious for a long time.
smartandstrong42 Aug 5th 2007 10:32AM
Richard,
Just because someone has a few pops once in awhile doesnt make them an alcoholic. Just because you dont know when to say when doesnt mean others cant. Hangovers happen depending on a mix of drinks, what you've had in your stomach food wise, etc. People can drink plenty without getting hungover and that still doesnt make them ready to trudge up those 12 steps.