The Ultimate Holiday: A Collection of Short Stories With Fatal Conclusions

by Andrew Kraft

Traveling is never without risk. There are many things that can go wrong on vacation: lost luggage, missed flights, losing your phone, pickpockets, getting sick, physical injury, being kidnapped, and many more. Relationships are strained, homesickness is experienced, language barriers are present, and jet lag is felt. There are many types of travelers; the blogger, the thrill seeker, the honeymooners, the foodie, the digital nomad, and every other stereotype you can think of. We all have our own reasons for seeing every inch of this beautiful Earth we share.

These traveler’s vacations are extinguished early, resulting in gruesome and unique fatalities, which are specific to the country they are visiting. Each chapter explores a different country where our American tourists explore too vigorously, resulting in their unconventional termination. Explore the culture, discover the native language, learn the history, and experience the ultimate conclusion.

This collection of short stories features one-way tickets to Iceland, Mexico, Cuba, Romania, Switzerland, Colombia, Sweden, Canada, Dominican Republic, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, England, Germany, Netherlands, and Hungary.

Genres: Fiction, Ebooks

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2023

About the author

Andrew Kraft was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He has a bachelor's degree in economics from Towson University. He is an avid traveler and has visited over thirty countries on this beautiful planet we call Earth. Andrew enjoys running and has completed a few half marathons along with a virtual full marathon in 2020. He is a big fan of science fiction books, especially those involving the cosmos.

Reviews

[NYUSHUGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my favorites this year! Hands down, it’s macabre, but in a good way. I believe you will enjoy this if you are a traveler…with a sense of humor and realization that the stories’ unfortunate events CAN actually (and perhaps someplace, sometime) happen(ed).

These destination stories offer the usual descriptives of each of the countries/cities visited by way of tourist attractions, local food and fare, accommodations, customs, language, events, etc., which are relatable and prompt nostalgia if you have visited and partook in any of these elements at these places. This aspect certainly draws you in and provokes reminiscence of travels past and/or sparks future travel desires.

While reading these stories, I would suddenly recognize the foreboding path of impending misfortune and then BAM!!! The misfortune hits hard and THE END! I was literally left with my mouth hung open, exclaimed “Oh dayam!” and shook my head. The stories are seemingly ordinary travel escapades and then end… “brutally” comes to mind. However, these misfortunate tales are ironically funny! I highly recommend. This is definitely a different kind of vacation category book!

[Krystal Kraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always looking for new authors and this one did not disappoint. Totally loved the writing style! Something about knowing it was written with some real experiences gives it a whole vibe! Like what happened, what didn’t?!👀
I enjoyed learning some cool facts about other countries and traveling is a dream of mine so this book was so fun to read! Also Sometimes you just need a short book of quick little reads that each end fast and unexpected as well as some hidden humor like, “say kraft cheese.” Thank you for a great book!
I look forward to reading more!

[Ана Хелс · Rating 5 out of 5]

Забавна колекция от истории с неочакван край, в който много обикновени, почти невинни, средно неприятни хорица умират по вълнуващи начини по целия свят. Не, никой не е злодей, не е проява на някаква величава справедливост или плод на нечие безразсъдство, ами просто случайност. Смъртоносна, шантава, нелогична, но не съвсем неочаквана случайност, каквато може да се случи на всеки от нас. Предупреждение или успокоение, че лошите работи се случват на абсолютно всички хора - вие си преценете, докато задоволявате тъмната си читателска страна. И да знаете, че в каналите на квартала с червените фенери има стълби на всеки няколко метра, за да се измъкват от тях пияниците. Не подозирате колко важна е тази информация.

[Tim Shepard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid writing

The book has some good writing with a decent storyline to each short story. Was advertised as horror. Thus certainly isn't that. All the characters die in mundane ways but they do die. Wasn't quite what I was looking for hut it wasn't bad either.

[Timothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up about 1/3rd of the way through. I sort of liked the first story enough, it was weird and a bit surprising. By the third short story I was bored and couldn't justify to myself any reason to go on.

[Grim · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just awful to read. Poorly written and with sudden abrupt endings that not only didn't make sense but were so bad they took me out of the story. Not worth your time.