The growing problem of “suitcase haste” has been blamed for 41 per cent of Brits forgetting to pack at least one holiday essential before they set off on their travels.
Nearly 15 million holiday essentials fail to make it into holidaymakers’ luggage, leaving Britons with a staggering replacement bill of £118 million.
The findings from a Viking River Cruises study highlighted that Brits’ stress levels peak just before their holiday, resulting in packing becoming an absent-minded affair.
Shoes topped the list of top 10 forgotten items, followed by phone chargers and sun cream. A holiday read took fourth place in the poll, followed by other holiday basics including sunglasses, toothpaste and a tooth brush.
A recent survey by Post Office Travel Money found that replacing these items could vary greatly depending on the destination you choose.
Spain topped the ranking for the cheapest cost of 20 household items for a one-week holiday for a family of four. In Mallorca this would cost £56.67, while this figure was nearly doubled (£104.29) in Cyprus.
“We were surprised to discover that so many British holidaymakers are forgetting their holiday essentials,” said Wendy Atkin-Smith, of Viking River Cruises UK.
“With the hectic lives we live, some might find it refreshing to forget mobile phones or mobile phone chargers. It’s interesting to see that while people forget holiday essentials such as sun cream or shoes they still remember to pack slightly more unusual items such as fancy dress or a pair of binoculars.”
Further findings from the research revealed that while some essential holiday items failed to find their way into suitcases, most Brits never fail to pack good old British favourites including brown sauce, pork pies and marmalade.
A recent study from Tesco also revealed that women insist on 28 different outfit changes on holiday, with the average holiday wardrobe consisting of 23 individual items.
(Images: martijndevalk.nl)
