The popular Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.

The Creepiest Places in the World


May 1, 2025 | Samantha Henman

The Creepiest Places in the World


The world can be a vast, terrifying place—but some locations have utterly chilling histories that aren't for the faint of heart.


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AI-generated image of a man wanting a refund for hotel parking.

My hotel charged for parking even though the booking page said parking was included. Can I get that fee removed?

The hotel specifically stated parking was included, so you understandably thought that part of the trip was already covered. But then a nightly parking charge appeared on the bill anyway. Whether that fee should stay may come down to one deceptively simple question: what exactly did the booking promise?
September 7, 2026 Alex Summers
Frustrated older woman with short grey hair on vacation

My adult children wanted separate vacations after we arrived, even though I paid for a family trip. Can I be angry, or is that just normal now?

If you paid for a family vacation because you wanted meaningful time with the kids you almost never see anymore, of course you feel disappointed when everyone immediately branches off. But the important question is not whether you feel hurt, but what expectations were actually discussed beforehand.
September 4, 2026 Carl Wyndham
Fb (1)

My airline made me check my carry-on at the gate, then lost it. Does a forced checked bag get treated differently?

You packed carefully, breezed through security, and thought your carry-on would stay by your side. Then the gate agent said the overhead bins were full and your bag had to be checked. If the airline loses that bag, the big question is simple: does a forced checked bag get treated differently from any other checked luggage?
September 7, 2026 Miles Brucker
Fb (1)

My parents upgraded themselves to first class using family points and left the rest of us in economy. Is that selfish or their prerogative?

A traveler recently described a painfully familiar vacation drama on Reddit: their parents used shared family points to upgrade themselves to first class and left the rest of the family in economy. The post struck a nerve because it sits right at the intersection of loyalty-program rules, family expectations, and plain old travel etiquette. The big question is not whether airlines allow this, because many do, but whether it is selfish when the points were earned or pooled as a family asset.
September 7, 2026 Miles Brucker
Fb (1)

My vacation rental host says guests aren't allowed to use the living room after 10 PM. Can a host restrict rooms we've paid for?

You book a whole vacation rental expecting to spread out, sink into the couch after dinner, and use the space you paid for. Then a host drops a surprise rule that says the living room is off-limits after 10 PM. It feels jarring, but whether that restriction is allowed depends on what was disclosed before you booked and what the platform's listing terms actually promised.
September 7, 2026 Miles Brucker