39 Awkward Vacation Photos You Absolutely Should See

A family traveled to the historic city of Hoi An, Vietnam, to see if they could push the boundaries of traditional, exaggerated family vacation photos.

It's with a mixture of excitement and bewilderment that we report that their attempt was a success. In fact, seeing all four of them striking the same expression and pose was almost too much for us to handle.

As this couple tried to take a tender and innocent photo, they were surprised by a massive wave and almost swallowed before they even had a chance to snap a nice picture. That’s really hilarious! We feel your pain!

We also can’t help but wonder how they’ll react to this photo when they see it again in a few years. In any case, it will remain a photo that is unforgettable and brings back many memories!

It’s truly tough to find a bigger tourist cliché than posing in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. But hey, sometimes those clichés are just too tempting to ignore, and after all, they’re fun, right? Sure, there are plenty of other well-known clichés out there, but this one is definitely a classic!

What can you say? In a world that changes way too fast for our liking, at least we can count on some things staying the same.

This picture can be deceiving. At first glance, it looks like these two are having a chill time, and why shouldn’t they be?

They literally have a sofa bed on the beach. But when you think about it, you have to wonder how much time and effort these two put in to get that piece of furniture there.

Oh, these two seem to be having fun. Or at least, they looked like they were having fun before the woman took a tumble right into the sand. Sure, a walk on the beach might seem like a romantic activity, but anyone who’s actually tried it knows how difficult it is to pull off successfully.

While the beach might seem like the perfect spot to take sweet vacation photos, that’s not always the reality.

Sometimes you get the idea for the perfect vacation photo when you see something cool around. In this case, it was this mural in Byron Bay. The two friends thought it would be hilarious to make it look like one of them was jumping into the ocean.

Although they got a quirky photo out of it, we have a feeling that the “landing” must have been painful.

True. Beach life in reality often looks quite different from the perfect images in magazines or on Instagram. It can be chaotic, messy, and sometimes even uncomfortable when you’re walking around half-naked.

This photo gives a realistic idea of ​​the beach: it’s windy, sandy and not always comfortable.

What on earth is going on here? Okay, you’d think this guy is taking a photo *of* something *in* the trash heap, but really it looks like he’s capturing a great moment *in* the trash. Maybe he spotted something interesting in the junk, but we can’t really tell what he’s looking for, or why he’s taking pictures there.

Maybe he does this on every vacation to capture the unique scenery. Then again, whether he has a reason or he’s just plain crazy doesn’t really matter – it’s funny to look at, at the very least!

Can someone help this poor bloke? Looks like he’s about to drown. These two were probably aiming for a romantic smooch and to enjoy their vacation, but the horse groomer is struggling to stay afloat. Clearly, he’s suffering more from this situation than the horses are. As you can see, his head is almost completely underwater.

It’s pretty hilarious to imagine this couple looking back at this photo in a few years. They’ll probably be somewhat embarrassed. But who can blame them? It’s quite awkward, but also too amusing to ignore.

This baby doesn’t seem happy at all. Don’t worry, little one, the dolphin just wants to say thank you for the visit to the zoo. It’s still funny how scared the baby looks and that it’s still outside the dolphinarium. You have to wonder, what parents would do something like this to their child, and who thought this was a good idea.

It’s okay, because it will be a great first memory. When the child is grown up and looks back at this photo, they will either laugh or cry – and it will still be a great memory. Maybe not for the little girl, because she’s too scared to look at the dolphin.

This guy looks like he’s having a truly awful sunburn. And the worst part is, he probably didn’t even realize it until it was too late. Looks like he’ll be stuck wearing sneakers for the next few weeks to give his feet a break.

Crocs are ugly enough as it is. Add a nasty sunburn to the mix, and he’s practically guaranteed to win first place in the World’s Ugliest Feet competition.

Has Mickey Mouse gone mad? We don’t know what happened in the background, but it definitely looks like the popular Disney mascot is fed up with cheese.

It’s most likely the angle the photo was taken from, but it definitely makes for a funny photo bomb in the background. The couple probably got the shot they needed after their new friend left.

We all know that feeling of being stoked when a wave is coming, and then suddenly getting smacked in the face in a hilarious way. You try to stay upright and not get bowled over by the wave. Sadly, this family shamelessly lost this “game”.

As they were trying to take a cute and innocent photo, this couple was surprised by a huge wave and almost swept away before they had a chance to get a nice picture. It’s genuinely funny! We feel their pain!

Imagine trying to take a selfie with your significant other, and then suddenly finding an unexpected guest on your shoulder who’s also posing. That’s exactly what happened to this couple right in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

It’s hard to say if it’s a clown, a mime, a street performer, or just someone who loves makeup. Either way, it would be a little unsettling to suddenly see that face in the camera. Hopefully, the couple eventually got the photo they wanted after their “new friend” moved on.

This poor guy unwittingly found himself on the wrong side of this monkey, which isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence. In some countries, monkeys are allowed to roam freely for cultural and religious reasons, without much human control.

Whether the man really wanted to be that close to this primate is probably not the case. It’s definitely an unforgettable photo that is sure to give some people a good laugh for years to come.

This amazing photo is the result of extremely cold air! The girl in the picture was enjoying a dip in a hot spring and tossed her wet hair back in the air when the temperature was minus 20 degrees.

The result is this incredible hair sculpture, which hopefully didn’t hurt too much when she started to thaw out in a warmer place.

One of the perks of traveling is that it exposes us to new experiences. It seems this woman had more wildlife encounters than she bargained for.

Her facial expression and the way she’s hugging that llama suggest she might not be the biggest fan of birds. The poor little llama looks just as bewildered as she does.

Look at that face! Clearly, this stingray has no malicious intent whatsoever. It just wanted a hug! Apparently, the one that attacked Steve Irwin was more of an exception, because most stingrays just seem to be smiling and happy to pose for the camera. What’s not to love?

It’s clear that this guy is a real gentleman! We wish him all the best, but interspecies relationships rarely work out—especially when those you’re trying to woo are scared to death! We humans are right to be wary of befriending creatures that could kill us with a sting.

You’re either having a great day at the beach or a terrible one, depending on who you are in this photo. Remember: crime doesn’t pay, even when you’re at the beach! Now we’re curious what kind of beach-related crime this dude might have committed.

This is a vacation photo that probably won’t be framed and displayed! Or who knows? Maybe it will! We imagine the ladies in this picture are probably finding it funnier than the man. Sometimes you’re just in the right place at the right time.

Is this woman sitting next to a black hat on the beach, or has she mastered the art of levitation? The beach might be a magical place, but we’re pretty sure it’s not *that* magical! Or maybe we’re just going to the wrong beaches – you never know!

While this is a clever composition for a photo, the longer you look at it, the more the image loses its magic. You really only get the effect when you take a quick glance. Still, this is definitely an image that people will remember in the years to come.

When a kid is armed to the teeth with a water gun, no swimmer is safe. This lady may think she’s enjoying her day, soaking up the sun, and without a care in the world. But it looks like she’s in for a rude (and wet) awakening. Hopefully, this kid isn’t too accurate!

However, the kid might be in for a rude surprise of his own without even realizing it because when Mom’s angry at him, no kid is safe! It’s obvious the kid’s plan wasn’t thought out down to the last detail. Someone’s vacation is about to be ruined… or maybe even both of theirs!

These folks caught some serious air on their tubing trip! But something tells us this wasn’t exactly the plan. A wild flight through the air with six of your closest friends doesn’t really sound like how we’d choose to spend our vacation, but hey, who are we to judge?

We’re sure everyone was okay after this crash. Probably… assuming nobody took a foot to the face! In a few years, this will be a hilarious memory for these people, but we imagine they weren’t too thrilled with their unintentional flight through the air at the time.

They were trying to recreate a famous pose that would have actually made for a great photo. It’s just a shame that bird flew by. Honestly, in this case, we’re on the bird’s side. There’s nothing quite like animals ruining people’s fun. Besides, “Titanic” came out decades ago… pick a different movie to recreate!

We expect people to be clumsy sometimes, but honestly, we’re a little surprised at how bad that bird is at avoiding obstacles while flying. Maybe it wasn’t an accident? These folks were trying to reenact a scene from “Titanic,” but it seems this feathered friend is more of a fan of “The Birds.”

When you’re vacationing in a tropical, gorgeous environment, it’s the perfect moment to use your phone camera’s panorama feature. There’s just too much beauty to capture all at once, so it seems like a wise decision. What could possibly go wrong with such a simple and nice thing?

If you want to know what can go wrong, just take a look at this photo. Obviously, these travelers need a little more practice with this advanced technology. Or maybe she just has a crazy plan! However, there are signs that this isn’t the case!

Vacations are usually a no-homework zone, but we’ll make an exception in this case because it’s so hilarious. Either this guy’s channelling the Headless Horseman on his break, or he’s got a solid grasp on how light refracts in water. Either way, it’s a pretty fun way to illustrate a physics concept!

Still, we’d probably be pretty shocked if our physics teacher was demonstrating the wonders of physics in swimwear. That’s definitely not what we signed up for when we enrolled in education. Surely there’s a way to get the point across without any awkward moments for the entire class!

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the perfect spot for ridiculous and silly photos. Who’s visited without pretending to hold up the tower? Although these photos might look goofy, they’re definitely better than the photo this woman took!

We definitely give her points for creativity, but this photo is just too cringe to enjoy. Still, we have to give her credit for having the guts to strike this ludicrous pose! Sometimes, even if you can do something, you shouldn’t.

This is the story of a family that went on vacation, possibly for the first time ever. How else can you explain their sunscreen application blunder? Our guess is that, for some unknown reason, they didn’t realize you’re supposed to rub sunscreen in.

But we have a feeling they’ve learned their lesson and won’t make a mistake like that again.

This couple will definitely never forget to put on sunscreen again! This family photo will forever be a reminder of how important it is to protect yourself from the sun. The painful sight will surely remind everyone not to skip the sunscreen and to explain the importance of sun protection to the next generation.

We can only imagine how painful it is for them to get out of their swimsuits. Before they do, they should definitely send this picture to a sunscreen manufacturer and see if they can get a deal for an advertising campaign. This photo is the best proof of why sunscreen is so important, and it could motivate many people to better protect themselves from the sun.

Yep, this photo is totally real! The little kid is just chilling in the sand, and his monkey pal is hanging out comfortably on him. A gorgeous parrot is perched right on his knee. It’s a truly unique and unforgettable snapshot, one the kid will love showing off for years to come. It’s a wonderful reminder of a special encounter with exotic animals on the beach.

Move over, Dr. Doolittle, because there’s a cute and much younger rival in town!

We all know that a vacation these days isn’t a real vacation unless you have incredible pictures to post online. How else are people going to know you were having fun and that they should be jealous if you don’t upload fancy pictures?

These two acrobats decided to show off their skills by posing on a bridge. And while we are very impressed, we’d also like to advise them to chill out. It’s a vacation, so take it easy and don’t try so hard.

All this Australovenator wanted was a friend. But for some strange reason, the potential friend runs away whenever the poor, lonely dinosaur tries to make friends.

In fact, this photo is a failure on all levels. The creature couldn’t find a friend, the girl was terrified, and the parents just wanted a cute holiday photo. In the end, nobody got what they wanted.

Most of us have been like this kid at some point, and some of us have been like this mom. But usually, moments like these go unnoticed by the camera, so not everyone gets to see them. We’re guessing the mom wasn’t thrilled and maybe even asked for this picture to be removed from all the photo albums.

Nowadays, everyone only posts the picture-perfect family vacation photos and deletes the ones that aren’t quite up to par. But back when these photos were taken, it wasn’t so easy to get rid of them.

This isn’t a scene from “Jaws,” but a real photo! Even with the sign warning about sharks, many beachgoers couldn’t resist getting close to the water.

Well, if this is the only way to get in the water on vacation, we can understand the temptation to dip your toes in. But is the risk of a potential shark attack really worth it? Hopefully, everyone who went in the water got out safe and sound!

Ever get that awkward feeling when you arrive at the beach and peel off your shirt and pants to reveal your swimsuit underneath? Take a tip from this guy, who seems to be confidently changing clothes while flaunting… whatever this is.

Whether he was in the middle of changing or trying to start a trend, we can’t recommend this look for a day at the beach. It looks uncomfortable… for everyone!

It’s heartwarming for parents when children in a family are together long enough to take a photo. This photo would have been almost perfect for a Christmas card, until a strong gust of wind or a sudden sneeze hit the girl on the left.

Capturing the right facial expressions in a group photo can be a real challenge. Hopefully, they eventually caught the perfect moment!

Anyone who’s ever been on a vacation that involved monkeys knows that these cute little creatures, while innocent-looking, are actually anything but.

It’s common knowledge that monkeys will steal food, hats, and other random items from unsuspecting tourists who are just trying to learn more about the monkeys and have a nice time. This little guy is begging for food like a pro, which made for a hilarious photo. Luckily, he hasn’t stolen any food from them yet. At least, not yet.