Travel trouble: 4.9 million Australians recently experienced a holiday drama
From medical emergencies to lost luggage, millions of Aussies suffered a touring mishap in the past year, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,010 respondents revealed 1 in 4 Australians (23%) – equivalent to 4.9 million people – ran into trouble while gallivanting in the last 12 months.
One in ten (10%) endured delays, while 8% lost their belongings.
The Finder research shows 4% of Aussie voyagers ended up in hospital.
A disturbing 3% say they were scammed, while the same percentage (3%) missed their flight.
Angus Kidman, travel expert at Finder, said holidaymakers were experiencing disruptions ranging from inconvenient to extreme.
"No one goes on holiday expecting to be met by misfortune.
"Being injured or robbed is a nightmare that can derail the best-laid holiday plans."
Kidman urged Australians to book their trip through reputable platforms or directly with airlines and hotels.
"Scammers often create fake websites or listings that mimic legitimate services. Before making any payments, verify the authenticity of the website and look for secure payment options.
"Notify your bank of your intended destinations so they know to expect activity from where you're visiting.
"Use secure Wi-Fi connections when accessing sensitive information and consider using a virtual private network (VPN) while away from home."
Kidman said travel insurance is a critical part of planning a journey.
"Many Australians assume nothing will go wrong, but the reality is that mishaps are more common than you might think.
"My golden rule? If you can't afford the insurance, you can't afford the holiday.
"While you can take steps to stay safe – like avoiding risky areas or keeping an eye on your belongings – some situations are beyond your control.
"To claim on your insurance, you'll typically need to complete a form and provide supporting documentation such as a police report, receipts, proof of ownership for stolen items, and details of any medical treatment," Kidman said.
Have you experienced any of the following travel mishaps in the last 12 months?
| Travel delays | 10% |
| Misplacing items | 8% |
| Losing luggage | 5% |
| Ended up in hospital | 4% |
| I was scammed | 3% |
| Missed my flight | 3% |
| Theft (pickpocketed, items stolen) | 1% |
| Got in a car/motorbike accident | 1% |
| I was mugged | 1% |
| Credit card was skimmed | 1% |
| No, I have not had any travel mishaps | 77% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,010 respondents, May 2025 |  |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,010 respondents from May 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Sources
Get travel insurance quotes from 16 brands in under 30 seconds here.
Ask a question