While many of us view our picturesque international holidays through rose-tinted glasses (with perhaps a few cocktails on the side), there can still be things that can sour a holiday. According to new research from travel insurance comparison site Compare the Market, travel delays are the biggest pet peeve amongst Aussie travellers.*
In fact, around a third of Aussies surveyed (34.2%) said delays were their biggest bugbear, followed by drunk and/or disorderly tourists (26.5%) and scams targeting tourists (25.6%).
Most annoying things when travelling overseas according to Compare the Market:
- Travel delays (34.2%)
- Drunk and/or disorderly tourists (26.5%)
- Scams targeted at tourists and pickpockets (25.6%)
- Exchange rates (24.7%)
- Other people being rude (to airline staff, hospitality workers etc) (24%)
Compare the Market’s Executive General Manager for General Insurance and travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor, said that these results aren’t all that surprising, given the effort we put into organising an international trip.
“We’re an island nation, so any effort to go overseas is often a big commitment by many in terms of money and time,” Mr Taylor said. “Therefore, it isn’t exactly surprising to see that delays to that well-earned holiday are the number one thing that annoys people.
“A three-hour delay at the terminal gate can mean that people have three hours less to explore a city, hike a track or idle by the beach. And while many of these delays can’t be avoided, they can be difficult to accept when considerable time and effort has been invested in planning an overseas adventure. It’s not just about the time lost but also the experiences and memories that could’ve been made. That’s what makes these delays so frustrating.
“While most delays are just annoying, some delays could leave you out-of-pocket if you miss out on a pre-paid tour or other event, or you need to get on another flight to ensure you don’t miss out.
“However, one thing that people could do to mitigate some of the costs associated with travel delays is to purchase travel insurance. While there are some things that the airline can and should do, depending on the reason for the delay, having that insurance policy in your back pocket can be a lifeline when things don’t work out the way you hoped. It’s not just a safety net, it’s reassurance that even if things go wrong, you’re not alone.
“Depending on your level of cover, travel insurance can cover you for the cost of any pre-paid tour, sporting event or concert that you miss as a result of a travel delay. If you need to purchase another ticket to ensure you don’t miss an important event like a wedding or a funeral, or an important sporting event or concert, depending on the level of cover you purchased, these additional expenses may also be covered.
“So while your holiday may have started out on the wrong foot, it doesn’t mean that you have to pay for something that you couldn’t even attend.”
The other annoyances on the list were also not a surprise to Mr Taylor. From other travellers behaving badly to pickpockets and scams, most of us have experienced them and now relive them on social media.
“We’ve either all seen or been a drunk or disorderly tourist on a holiday, and it’s not a fun experience either way,” Mr Taylor said. “While we do have the right to let loose and enjoy our time away from our day-to-day jobs, we should still be considerate of others around us.
“As for scams targeting travellers and pickpockets, we’ve seen a rise in numbers across tourist hotspots such as Italy and France, so it’s no wonder it’s trending as a big travel pet peeve for Aussies. We as travellers are now perhaps more aware of them as well.
“There’s plenty of social media content around the scams and thieves to look out for, from the ‘Attenzione, pickpockets!’ that went viral to a tourist thinking that a local was showing her around Morocco out of hospitality only to be harassed for money.
“We would urge anyone going overseas to do their research around the common customs in the country they’re going to as well as any common scams they should keep their eyes open for,” Mr Taylor said. “In most cases, if people are vigilant, nothing bad should come about, however, if something does occur, knowing what steps to take next, including alerting their travel insurance provider, might help ease some of the financial burden and anxiety around it.”
*Compare the Market surveyed 1,006 Australian adults, in June, 2024.
-ENDS-
For interviews and more information, please contact:
Noémi Hadnagy | m: 0433 377 252 | e: [email protected]
Compare the Market is a comparison service that takes the hard work out of shopping around. We make it Simples for Australians to quickly and easily compare and buy insurance, energy, and home loans products from a range of providers. Our easy-to-use comparison tool helps you look for a range of products that may suit your needs and benefit your back pocket.
