Struth! Five legged elephant dwindles traveller’s confidence

The sight of an aroused elephant apparently stunted one honeymooner’s enjoyment (flicker user: lens_buddy)

IN his continuing search for the more weird, whacky and wondrous in the world of travel, David Ellis says Britain’s Thomas Cook and the Association of British Travel Agents have compiled a list of their countrymen’s more bizarre complaints.

Howlers include one British honeymooner who on return home complained to his travel agent that his honeymoon had been ruined – because he’d been left feeling inadequate after confronting the sight of an “aroused” elephant.

Another complained about the seaside holiday spot that had been recommended to him because “the beach was too sandy,” while a couple were upset to discover fish swimming in the sea.

“No-one told us there would be fish in the sea,” the wife said. “The children were startled.”

And it seems some travellers also have a lot to learn about other aspects of nature. “I was bitten by a mosquito – no-one said they could bite,” one traveller wrote to his travel agent.

Then there was the British guest dining at a Novotel hotel in Australia who complained that his soup was too thick and strong. The waiter pointed out that it was the gravy for his main course.

And one young lady even blamed a hotel for her pregnancy. “My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room, but we were placed in a double-bedded room,” she wrote to her agent. “We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant – this would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked.”

Other complaints included “There are too many Spanish people. The receptionist speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners.”

Another holiday was spoiled because “too much curry is served in restaurants in India”.