Missing out on holiday flings came out as the most popular regret, although others confessed that they regretted having too much romance while they were away – with someone other than their partner.
The team at Jetcost undertook the research as part of an ongoing study into the travel habits of holidaymakers. 2,182 Britons were quizzed about their travelling habits, all of whom were aged 18 and over and had been away on holiday in the last 12 months.
All respondents were first asked to identify all of the holiday regrets they had from a list provided, revealing the following top ten:
- Missing out on having a holiday romance – 57 per cent
- Sustaining minor injuries or ailments – 49 per cent
- Gaining weight – 47 per cent
- Spending too much money – 42 per cent
- Rowing with my partner – 40 per cent
- Drinking too much alcohol – 36 per cent
- Not saving up/taking enough spending money – 31 per cent
- Being too strict with my children – 28 per cent
- Having an affair – 21 per cent
- Falling out with a friend – 16 per cent
Just 13 per cent stated that they had never had any holiday regrets.
When all respondents were then asked, “Has a holiday ever led you to make life changing decisions?” two thirds (66 per cent) stated that it had. The top life changing decisions made due to holidays included ‘getting divorced’ (17 per cent), ‘quitting a job’ (14 per cent) and ‘moving abroad’ (9 per cent).
More than three quarters of respondents stated that going on holiday made them feel ‘more reflective’ on life (76 per cent), with 48 per cent stating that they felt more ‘content’ after a holiday.
