Clothes, check. Devices, check, Passport, check. Sex toys? Umm… A new study by Australian luggage company July and Ground Truth Research has revealed the interesting and hilarious things Aussie travellers are packing for their next holiday – and the findings go well beyond a pair of sunnies, a good book, and your favourite pair of heels.
In July’s Travel Report: Unpacking Australia, the study revealed that almost one in three (29 per cent) 18-24 year-old Aussies will pack a sex toy, vibrator or lubricant into their suitcase, while one in eight of the rest of the population will do the same.
More than one in four (27 per cent) younger Australians will also carry a quirky costume compared with one in eight in the general population.
One in eight of those polled will also pack a jar of Vegemite – showing many holidaymakers still want to carry a taste of home when they travel – while twice as many men as women bring along their favourite chilli sauce.
Likewise, twice as many men as women pack drones. Elsewhere, 45-54 year-olds are most likely to pack crystals.
For a three-day weekend away, the study found on average Australians will pack five pairs of underwear.
Interestingly, men are far more likely to pack all their things into a carry-on suitcase than women.
What we compromise on
While the study didn’t show what Australians can’t travel without, it did reveal what Aussies would live without in order to travel as the cost of living continues to rise.
To help turn their holiday plans into a reality:
- 3 in 4 (77 per cent) will or have given up food delivery services & eating out
- 2 in 3 (68 per cent) will or have pulled the plug on going out for date night
- 2 in 3 (67 per cent) already have or will go alcohol-free. For 18-24’s, this number rises to 76%
- 1 in 2 (52 per cent) have or will give up entertainment streaming services like Netflix
Significantly, the study found that women are more likely to make sacrifices to travel than men.
It’s a matter of priorities
Overall, the report showed that most Aussies (68 per cent) say it’s important they travel for leisure within the next six months.
However, three in four respondents (73 per cent) cited cost-related factors as the biggest hurdle to realising their travel plans.
A further four in five (81 per cent) said they “need to find a way to make their next holiday more affordable”.
“These insights show that Aussies are willing to sacrifice daily life luxuries in order to make sure they see the world,” July co-founder Athan Didaskalou said. “Travel has never been more important and on the agenda for us.”
On cost of living pressures, Ground Truth Research founder Helen Osborne said, “the findings of the study acknowledge how integral travel is to the Australian lifestyle.
“Despite growing cost of living pressures, Australians remain very committed to getting away over the next six months.”
