Pulse poll reveals a summer of travel mishaps, illness and injury; provides tips for healthy Thanksgiving, winter travel.
Photo © Getty Images / Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd
Key Findings of Survey
- More than a third said getting sick or injured was the worst thing that happened on vacation
- 45% said a delayed or canceled flight was the worst thing that happened while traveling this summer
- 15% said a delayed or lost bag affected their trip
Media Release: New York, NY – This summer was one of the busiest travel seasons on record with post-pandemic demand at all time highs. World Nomads, a travel insurance provider offering simple and flexible travel insurance and safety advice to help consumers travel more confidently, surveyed more than 200 global travelers on vacation hiccups in a 24-hour snap poll.
Forty-five percent of respondents said a delayed or cancelled flight was the worst thing that happened to them while traveling this summer. More than a third (33%) said their vacation was derailed by getting sick or injured. Only 15% said the worst thing that happened was their bag being delayed or lost by their airline, and 7% said the worst thing was being robbed on vacation.
“Flight delays and cancellations continue to be a major pain point for travelers, but we were surprised that a full 33% of travelers reported illness or injury affecting their trip,” said Christina Tunnah, General Manager of Marketing and Brands, World Nomads. “We were pleased to learn that 54% of poll respondents protected their trip with travel insurance, but it shows we still have work to do to educate the traveling public on the value of insurance.”
World Nomads offers advice for staying safe and healthy while traveling
“Thanksgiving and Winter holidays will be here before you know it,” Ms Tunnah said. “We can still have accidents and get sick despite our best efforts, but we hope sharing these tips will help travelers stay safe and healthy so they can enjoy their vacations or time with family to the fullest.”
- Foodborne and waterborne illnesses can ruin a trip. If you’re not sure about food and water safety where you’re traveling, remember the ‘boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it’ rule. This goes for tooth brushing too.
- For personal safety, never leave your food or drink unattended, especially if traveling alone.
- Make sure your travel vaccinations like Typhoid, Hepatitis A/B and Yellow Fever, along with routine vaccinations like Flu, Covid and Tetanus, are up to date.
- To keep safe in extremely hot places: stay hydrated and in the shade; wear clothing that keeps you cool and reflects UVs; and avoid sightseeing in the hottest part of the day.
- With heavy rains, seek higher ground in case of flash flooding, and be careful with water that may not be safe to drink. Follow the advice of local authorities for evacuations and boil water notices.
- For women and solo travelers, dial up the same precautions you would use at home, like locking doors, being aware of your surroundings, making sure no one follows you home, etc.
- If you’re going on excursions, go with an accredited activity operator and check all equipment before you use it, from rental bicycles to scuba equipment and everything in between.
- Know your limits and allow time for rest and snack breaks. If you’re planning a more adventurous trip with hiking, biking and more, start training early so you’ll be in great shape by the time you go.
- Leave an itinerary with someone at home and plan regular check-ins via text. Part of the joy of traveling is meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. Be open to those experiences and invitations, but always trust your gut. If something doesn’t seem right or you’re just not sure something would be safe, politely decline.
- Wear a neck wallet or money belt to keep your passport, credit cards and cash safe. Opportunistic thieves tend to target tourist areas. If you’re in a café, wrap your backpack strap around the chair or table or your leg, and never leave belongings unattended. The less you carry with you, the less you need to worry about protecting. Leave valuables at home or in the locked hotel safe.
For more information on World Nomads travel insurance, including trip cancellation, delay or interruption; emergency medical, evacuation and repatriation; and baggage and gear coverage, visit www.worldnomads.com.
###
Editor’s Note: photos are available to download here: https://www.worldnomads.com/media-center.
About World Nomads
World Nomads is a fast-growing, global travel insurance company. We provide inspirational stories, safety tips and specialized travel insurance for adventurous and independent travelers. Our online travel insurance offers cover to travelers from more than 100 countries and allows you to buy and claim online, 24/7, even while already traveling.
Our travel insurance focuses on what we believe is important to travelers: emergency medical and evacuation costs, baggage, trip cancellation, trip delay and trip interruption costs. We also offer cover for more than 150 adventure sports and activities, plus tech and gear. Our policies are underwritten by a suite of specialist travel insurers that provide 24/7 emergency assistance, customer service and claims support, making us a top choice for many of the world's leading adventure, independent and youth travel brands.
World Nomads is a part of the nib Group which provides health and medical insurance to more than 1.5 million Australian and New Zealand residents. We also provide health insurance to more than 170,000 international students and workers in Australia and are Australia’s third-largest travel insurer and global distributor of travel insurance through our business nib Travel.