THE IDLER BOOK OF CRAP HOLIDAYS Edited by Dan Kieran. Bantam Books 2005. Subtitle – 50 Tales Of Hell On Earth.
As it says this is a collection of nightmare holiday
stories from a variety of destinations throughout the World, Including UK
destinations like Scarborough and Blackpool. International holidays include
cruises to the Bahamas, Mount Sinai, and the deservedly winning tale in the
countdown goes to Sunny Beach Bulgaria which is described as little short of a
miserable place for vacation. Some of the venues are actually very nice, but
the stories are not an overall voted hellhole, but based on specific letters to
The Idler in which unfortunate travelers relate particular holidays they have
taken. It is not impossible that you could visit the same places and have a
terrific time. As well as the main holidays from Hell countdown, the book has
subsections on stuff like unethical holidays (usually with a top five) in which
includes tours of the killing fields of Cambodia. There is also a subsection on
the five most ecologically damaging holidays in the world, which puts flying
anywhere biplane in the first spot. This is an entertaining and often morally
thoughtful book, which makes you very glad you were not on many holidays as
presented by these authors, who are usually the holiday makers themselves
rather than a panel of smug travel experts and celebrities. There are some
clever, witty cartoons by Gwyn, and deliberately selected dull drab photographs
from most of the holiday destinations described that really help to enhance the
book. There are some obvious deserving choices, such as Club eighteen to Thirty
holidays, and some surprises. Someone thought to send in their holiday at home
as their worst ever. There are of course bound to be arguments over this from
those who think of some nightmare holiday of their own that was not included.
There will also be those who read it on their way to their holiday destination
who suddenly realise that it is included in some detail right there in the
pages understudy.
© Copyright. Arthur Chappell
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