Paul and I landed in Rhodes one very hot August and trudged around with rucksacks to find a room. All the B&Bs were full. The heat made my feet swell so I walked barefoot on rough ground.

After 12 hours, relief came in the form of a Greek man in a van. 'Hop in,' he said, 'I have a room.' He drove us to a large but isolated house. 'Here is your room,' he said, leading us to a single bed and filthy bathroom. He told us to keep the light on in the night 'for security', took the rent and disappeared.

Within five minutes we were in bed and, despite the warning, switched off the light. Seconds later there was a frenzied scratching sound above our heads. Quickly flicking the light back on, we saw dozens of cockroaches crawling through the cracked and loose hanging ceiling tiles. We shot out of bed, packed our things and - with my feet now bleeding - followed the neon lights to Rhodes Town.

As we were turned away yet again by another hotel receptionist, a young man approached us, introduced himself as Konrad and said: 'These people won't help you. Come upstairs and take the two spare beds in my room. No need to pay.'

He led us to a luxurious room with three beds. Everything was fine but for a bedside table covered in empty beer bottles. Konrad appeared edgy, nervously smoked yet another cigarette and announced that he was off to the bar.

I got in one bed, Paul got in the middle bed and we left one nearest the door for our host. I vowed to sleep with one eye open, unsure of what Konrad would do.

A couple of hours later I heard him return and in the moonlit room saw his outline standing still at the foot of my bed. I held my breath but he went to the balcony for a cigarette. In the morning, I woke up, saw that Konrad was not around and said to Paul: 'Thank God that weird guy left me in peace all night.'

'He may well have left you in peace,' Paul replied, clearly livid, 'but I had to keep fighting him off. He was stroking my arm, trying to get in bed with me, telling me he loved me.'

That morning we went to Ixia and found a room in the home of a Greek family. Poppy and her father looked after us and the holiday passed without incident.
Ilona Hill, Bolton

Have you had a crap holiday?

If so, tell us about it. The writers of stories we publish will receive a £16 Lifesystems Adventurer First Aid Kit from Cotswold Outdoor (0844 557 7755; cotswoldoutdoor.com) for taking the sting out of minor holiday mishaps. Email crap.holidays@observer.co.uk