This paper presents a study exploring negative transformations in travel using empirical materials collected from two larger studies on travellers’ transformations. Study one uses personal field experiences triangulated with twenty purposively and systematically sampled independent traveller blogs on Vietnam. Study two uses semi-structured interview data from 43 international students in Australia as education travellers. The findings suggest that hostile events between locals and travellers serve as transformational triggers, including verbal or physical abuse. As travellers reflect on these hostile events, their social transformations occur, that is, their perspectives and behaviours towards the cultural other transform. The study also identifies how reflection on the cultural environment differs from self-reflections. While travellers might come to discriminate against the cultural other (i.e. negative social transformation), they may find that their travel overall is a personally empowering experience. Finally, this paper concludes by discussing its limitations and provides suggestions to explore negative transformations further.