A London comedian accepted a random Facebook invitation to go on a lads' holiday with a group of strangers after their friend of the same name dropped out.
Ross Smith, 28, received an invite by Facebook message just over a week ago saying: "Hey Ross, me and a couple of my mates are in a predicament in which we have a mate called Ross Smith.
"We booked him a trip to Hamburg 30th March to 1st April, but he's an ungrateful **** and can't make it.
"If you fancy a free trip you are more than welcome to take his flight ticket and bed in the apartment."
After consulting friends on social media who urged him to take the trip, and although his mother reportedly disapproved, Mr Smith accepted.
He stocked up on holiday clothes and on Friday morning finally met his three new friends at a Wetherspoon pub in Stansted Airport.
On the first day of the adventure, Mr Smith confirmed the trip was "100 per cent legit" as he told the Standard: "I didn't take much notice of the message at first because I'm really not a lads holiday kind of guy.
"If anything is more than two stops on the Tube, I'm usually out."
After landing in Hamburg the foursome checked out their Airbnb apartment before heading out to explore.
Speaking from an Irish pub in the German city, Mr Smith said of his new friends: "They're not what I thought they'd be, we are still figuring each other out.
"It's fair to say there are some differences in our personalities although there's common ground with everyone so I'm sure we can find some.
"They organised this trip on a night out, whereas my holidays are usually the product of careful planning.
"Today I think the plan is to drink, chat and get to know each other. The night is only just beginning."
Asked how old his new friends were, Mr Smith said: "I don't know. About 30? Johnny must be 31 or 32 I guess."
Mr Smith will return on Sunday in time for a comedy gig he is doing on Monday at the Bill Murray pub in Angel, where instead of his usual routine he is now planning to talk about his trip.
