For many, a holiday is a chance to escape daily stresses, but the actions of fellow travellers can quickly turn a dream getaway into a frustrating ordeal. A major new study has pinpointed the rude behaviours that irritate globetrotters the most, revealing a stark gap between the etiquette we expect and the habits we admit to ourselves.
The Global List of Travel Grievances
Mobile data company Saily conducted the research, polling nearly 7,000 adult travellers aged 18 to 74 from seven nations, including the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, and Japan. The survey asked participants about intolerable behaviours from others, their own annoying habits, and their likelihood of confronting another passenger.
The results were clear: over half (54%) of all respondents agreed that leaving rubbish on the beach is the most awful tourist habit. This was closely followed by tourists who argue loudly in public, which irked 47% of those surveyed.
Other top irritants included:
- Taking phone or video calls on speakerphone (46%).
- Coughing and sneezing without covering the mouth.
- Talking at full volume in quiet spaces.
- Reclining seats too far on transport.
- Taking up extra seats with personal belongings.
- Eating strong-smelling food in confined areas like planes.
The Habits We Admit To
In a revealing twist, the study also catalogued the annoying behaviours people confess to doing themselves. Topping this list was talking to strangers on flights, admitted to by almost half (46%) of respondents.
Brits, despite the nation's reputation for manners, emerged as world leaders in one particular faux pas: 32% of UK travellers admitted to removing their shoes on planes, higher than the global average of 29%.
Other common self-confessed travel sins include:
- Only speaking one's own language abroad (28%).
- Spending more time on phones than enjoying surroundings (27%).
- Overeating at all-you-can-eat buffets (26%).
- Urinating in the sea, lake, or ocean (22%).
- Standing up immediately after a plane lands.
- Clapping when the aircraft touches down.
- Hogging both armrests when in an aisle or window seat.
A Call for Consideration
Vykintas Maknickas, CEO of Saily, which conducted the survey, offered a stark warning to travellers. "Nobody wants to start a trip by becoming someone else's travel horror story," he said. The findings echo recent advice from seasoned travellers, like US teacher Pollyann (@travelwithpalma), who highlighted common passenger habits that cabin crew find rude, urging that "a little consideration goes a long way."
The study ultimately paints a picture of a travelling public deeply annoyed by littering and anti-social noise, yet frequently guilty of imposing their own habits—from chatty flights to shoeless journeys—on others. As holiday season approaches, it serves as a timely reminder to reflect on our own travel etiquette.
