The Guest From Hell: When Traveling With Friends Turns Into a Disaster Movie
There are two kinds of travel horror stories: the ones you share over drinks after the fact, laughing about missed flights and lost luggage—and the ones you fear will unfold before you ever leave home. On Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk, one user found herself starring in the latter: apologizing, in advance, for the friend she was about to unleash on the unsuspecting staff of a Chicago hotel (which, as she slyly put it, “rhymes with Myatt”). Buckle up, because this isn’t just a cautionary tale about bad guests—it’s a masterclass in travel drama, group dynamics, and the fine art of drawing boundaries.
When Your Friend Is the Real Travel Emergency
Picture this: You’re heading to Chicago with friends for what should be a fun getaway. The hotel is booked, the flights are set, and everyone’s excited—except one person. Instead of packing her bags, your friend is busy haranguing the front desk before even checking in. Her crime? Demanding a receipt for a stay she hasn’t paid for yet.
That’s the predicament Redditor u/mamasqueeks found herself in, and she didn’t sugarcoat it: “My friend is losing her mind… she should just stay home, but won’t.” The situation spiraled so quickly that mamasqueeks actually posted an apology to the hotel staff ahead of their arrival, and even made her friend call to apologize for her phone freakout.
But if you think that was the end of it, you haven’t traveled with the Guest From Hell. The update? Friend called back, asked for a mysterious “favor,” got denied, and doubled down on her rage. Meanwhile, mamasqueeks was done: “I changed my seat on the plane… If she gets booted from the hotel I am going to toast the karma. I’m planning on ignoring her this weekend. I’m not even sad she ‘won’t be my friend’ anymore.”
The Internet Weighs In: Friends, Favors, and Front Desk Fiascos
Reddit’s comment section didn’t disappoint. The story struck a nerve with hospitality workers, seasoned travelers, and those who’ve had to wrangle a difficult friend. The top comment from u/SkwrlTail cut right to the chase: “You and any of her other friends should probably confront her about this sort of behavior. Otherwise she will assume that it’s acceptable and continue, or get even worse.”
Others chimed in with equal parts empathy and tough love. u/Live-Okra-9868 set a firm boundary: “I outright refuse to be friends with people who I have to apologize on their behalf about their behavior.” Several commenters, like u/RedDazzlr, suggested staging an intervention, while others, like u/Mrchameleon_dec, called out the all-too-common excuse of “stress” as enabling: “Under stress is a bullshyt excuse! Your ‘friends’ are enablers.”
There was even a hotelier’s perspective in the mix. u/petshopB1986 advised, “Make sure you and the others in your party have a back up plan in case they refuse service if she gets out of hand. I’ve seen friends check in who weren’t friends at the end of stay.” Wise words—sometimes the real trip hazard isn’t turbulence, but toxic travel companions.
Group Travel: Fun With Friends or Survival of the Fittest?
What is it about group travel that brings out the best—and occasionally the absolute worst—in people? For some, it’s an opportunity to shine, bond, and create lifelong memories. For others, it’s a pressure cooker ready to explode at the slightest inconvenience.
As u/SkwrlTail’s mom once said (in a comment that should be embroidered on every group trip tote bag): “Some folks are put on this world to serve as examples of how not to act, and that we should be thankful for the learning experience as we stay the heck away from them.” Truer words, Reddit!
u/LutschiPutschi shared a bittersweet anecdote from the hospitality trenches: the silent suffering of partners who apologize for their loved ones’ tantrums. “Often the wife secretly came to the reception later and apologized. One even cried.” It’s a sobering reminder that bad behavior doesn’t just affect strangers; it ripples through every relationship in its path.
And, if you’re still wondering: No, it’s not normal to demand a hotel receipt for a stay you haven’t yet paid for. As u/wavywhatado exclaimed, “Has she never stayed in a hotel before?”
Lessons in Boundaries: When to Call It Quits
The original poster, to her credit, took the hard road: calling out her friend, insisting on an apology, and ultimately deciding she was done traveling with her. “I already said I won’t travel with her any more. I low key hope they cancel her res and DNR her—maybe she will learn.” (For those not fluent in hotel-speak, “DNR” means “Do Not Rent.”)
The community echoed her resolve, with some even admitting to “unfriending people like this before the internet” (shoutout to u/Counsellorbouncer). Because, at the end of the day, as u/zerothreeonethree wisely put it, “We teach people how to treat us. What we tolerate will continue.”
Conclusion: Don’t Be That Friend—Or Their Enabler
Travel is supposed to be an adventure, not an anxiety-inducing obstacle course of apologies. If you find yourself making excuses for someone else’s tantrums, consider this your permission slip to change seats—on the plane, at the hotel, or in life.
Have you ever had to wrangle a difficult travel companion? Or maybe you’ve worked the front desk and survived your own “Guest From Hell” saga? Share your stories (and your best boundary-setting tips) in the comments below. And remember: the real trip is the friends you don’t lose along the way!
Original Reddit Post: My Friend is the Guest from Hell - and I apologize