We’ve all been there. Your long-awaited vacation was spoiled (in more ways than one!) by rainy weather or motion sickness. Your flight was delayed. Your kids fought the entire 1-70 mile journey. You forgot your phone, passport, wallet and/or ID.

But what if things go really, REALLY wrong? What if there’s a stowaway named COVID-19 on your cruise ship? Or a murder on your interplanetary spaceship? Here are some vacations – both real and fictional – that went horribly, horribly wrong.

Unexpected creatures

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

From the perspective of the two grandchildren of Jurassic Park owner John Hammond, their visit to the theme park goes very wrong. An amazing technique for restoring and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Once extinct creatures now roam Jurassic Park, which is about to open as a theme park. Until something goes wrong and science unmasks a dangerous toy.

You can also try the first “Lost World” subgenre of science fiction/fantasy adventure stories, which was especially popular between the late 19th century and World War I. The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1912, is about an eccentric professor, a newspaper reporter, a biologist and an adventurer who investigate claims and then find themselves trapped on a remote and steep jungle plateau where they must survive prehistoric dangers if they are ever to return to the outside world.

If you’re looking for something lighter, try the sci-fi screwball romantic comedy The road to Roswell by Connie Willis. A skeptical bridesmaid travels to Roswell, New Mexico for her best friend’s wedding and discovers a real alien trying to abduct her.