From misplaced items to muggings, it seems a lot of Aussies are running into trouble while they’re on holiday.
In a recent survey of over 1,000 adult Australians, 23 per cent (nearly one in four) of respondents admitted to experiencing mishaps during their travels in the past 12 months.
The survey, conducted by comparison site Finder, revealed that the most common woes were travel delays, experienced by 10 per cent, followed by misplaced items (8 per cent) and lost luggage (5 per cent).
One in 25 travellers, a considerably high number, ended up in hospital (4 per cent).
Meanwhile, a surprisingly high number (3 per cent) said they had been scammed in the last year, while the same percentage missed their flight.
“No one goes on holiday expecting to be met by misfortune. Being injured or robbed is a nightmare that can derail the best-laid holiday plans,” said Angus Kidman, a travel expert at Finder.
With this in mind, Kidman also flagged the importance of travel insurance.
“Many Australians assume nothing will go wrong, but the reality is that mishaps are more common than you might think,” he said.
“My golden rule? If you can’t afford the insurance, you can’t afford the holiday.
“While you can take steps to stay safe – like avoiding risky areas or keeping an eye on your belongings – some situations are beyond your control.
“To claim on your insurance, you’ll typically need to complete a form and provide supporting documentation such as a police report, receipts, proof of ownership for stolen items, and details of any medical treatment.”
In addition, Kidman urged Aussies to take care from the moment they begin booking their trip.
“Scammers often create fake websites or listings that mimic legitimate services. Before making any payments, verify the authenticity of the website and look for secure payment options,” he said.
“Notify your bank of your intended destinations so they know to expect activity from where you’re visiting.
“Use secure wi-fi connections when accessing sensitive information and consider using a virtual private network (VPN) while away from home.”
Book safely
According to the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), the safest way to book your travel is with a reputable travel advisor.
“We encourage Australians to always book through ATIA Accredited travel businesses to guarantee expert service, transparency, and peace of mind,” ATIA CEO Dean Long said in June.
To make it easier for consumers to find a qualified travel professional, ATIA recently unveiled its TravelTick solution.
“TravelTick gives the industry and searching consumers what they’ve been asking for – a simple, trusted way to find qualified travel professionals,” Long said when the initiative was unveiled last month.
| Have you experienced any of the following travel mishaps in the last 12 months? | |
| Travel delays | 10% |
| Misplacing items | 8% |
| Losing luggage | 5% |
| Ended up in hospital | 4% |
| I was scammed | 3% |
| Missed my flight | 3% |
| Theft (pickpocketed, items stolen) | 1% |
| Got in a car/motorbike accident | 1% |
| I was mugged | 1% |
| Credit card was skimmed | 1% |
| No, I have not had any travel mishaps | 77% |
