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From my experience and from what my doctor has told me, skipping the blank week on a tri-phasic pill causes you to spot until you have your period week again.

That said, I did this on my honeymoon (not knowing I would spot) and I was glad I did. I didn't have any bleeding on my vacation. The spotting didn't start until a week after what what would have been my period week. It wasn't super heavy, but it wasn't light either.... I was really happy when that month was over, but it was worth the uncomfortable few weeks in order to be in the clear for my honeymoon.

I don't think I had triphasic pills and I never tried to skip completely but I always pushed it by a couple days forward or backward and never had problems. Then again, I have vey light periods anyway.

@hellobeeboston: Gahhh, that SUCKS! But I guess now you know how your body reacts to trying to skip it.

I know this is too late to help you (sorry I missed the post when it went up!), but maybe it will help someone searching the same problem.

Your "period" on birth control pills isn't really a period, it is bleeding triggered by progesterone withdrawal. With triphasic pills, there's a slightly different amount of hormones in each week. Week 1 has the lowest amount of progesterone, week 2 is a little higher, week 3 is highest. For a lot of people, this means that going from the high levels in week 3 down to the lower levels in week 1 still triggers the withdrawal bleed. You can hack your pills by taking the second pack backward (week 3, week 2, week 1). A backup method of contraception is a good idea, but, you're much more likely to be successful skipping your period.

Sorry you had a super period-y vacation.