A new study of 2,000 holidaymakers has uncovered the UK’s most embarrassing travel blunders – with 86% admitting to cringeworthy mishaps abroad
Brits’ top holiday gaffes include suffering lobster red sunburn, purchasing something they couldn’t bring home and missing their flight, according to a poll. The survey of 2,000 holidaymakers revealed that a whopping 86% have experienced some sort of mishap while on holiday. With 11% admitting to making at least one blunder during most or all their trips abroad.
Getting utterly lost while exploring (24%) or spilling a drink all over themselves (or an unsuspecting stranger) (14%) also made the list of cringe-worthy incidents. The study was commissioned by ibis to promote the launch of its new social media mini series, the Go Getters.
Jean-Yves Minet, global brand president of ibis, said: “Everyone travels differently. Some people prepare for every possibility, and others prefer to go with the flow – but no matter your style, the odd mishap is part of the experience and the story you tell when you get home.”
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“We focus on making travel feel simple and stress-free, whether you’re the spontaneous type, or somewhere in the middle,” he added.
“What matters most is feeling confident on the move and being able to enjoy the journey, even when it does not quite go to plan. Sometimes the magic is in the mayhem – it certainly makes for the best story.”
When a holiday blunder strikes, 44% try to fix it, while 22% said they would laugh it off straight away. But although 56% think a few travel dramas are all part of the adventure, 77% believe they are pretty good at planning to avoid them in the first place.
Purchasing travel insurance, triple checking their passport is there, and continually slapping on sun cream were amongst the key tricks to avoid disaster. This was followed by double checking the locks and keys, packing a first aid kit and keeping a watchful eye on the weather forecast.
The research, carried out via OnePoll, also revealed 31% want to travel more in 2026 than they did this year, with 35% claiming the experience is more important than just ticking somewhere off their list.
When it comes to planning these trips, they prioritise location (61%), as well as price (59%) and reviews (44%). Whilst 64% think the key to affordable travel means getting the best value for money and smart planning and budgeting (40%).
Jean-Yves added: “Everyone has had a moment on holiday that didn’t quite go to plan. These findings show just how common they are, and how quickly most people turn them into moments of connection, laughter and shared stories.”
THE TOP 30 BIGGEST HOLIDAY MISHAPS:
- Got badly sunburnt
- Got lost
- Spilled a drink all over myself or someone else
- Misread a menu and ordered something unexpected
- Couldn’t connect to Wi-Fi when I needed it most
- Got hit with unexpected roaming charges
- Mistakenly boarded the wrong train or bus
- Lost my luggage
- Missed a flight
- Going over the luggage allowance and having to repack at the check-in desk
- Missed a scheduled tour or activity
- Said Muddling up phrases in the local language, leading to a mix-up
- Requesting a stranger to snap a photo of you, only to find later that your head’s been chopped off or they’ve taken a single blurry shot
- Alighting at the wrong stop because you misinterpreted “next station” as the current one
- Purchasing an item that I couldn’t bring back home
- Accidentally entering the wrong hotel room
- Jet-lag blunders – Waking up raring for breakfast… only to realise it’s still pitch dark outside
- Getting stuck in a loo
- Dropping my towel/swimwear from the balcony
- Stashing my valuables in the hotel safe and promptly forgetting the combination
- Luggage confusion, picking up someone else’s suitcase at the airport
- Experiencing a suitcase malfunction and having all my clothes spill out
- Engaging in a row with a stranger over reserving a sun lounger
- Tripping or slipping while capturing a selfie
- Arriving at the airport on the incorrect day
- Taking an unplanned dip in the pool fully dressed
- Misplacing or dropping my mobile in the sea or pool
- Swimwear going missing (losing them) on a waterslide
- Locking myself out of my room clad only in swimwear
- Ending up at a completely different destination than planned