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.
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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.
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One in ten (10%) endured delays, while 8% lost their belongings.
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The Finder research shows 4% of Aussie voyagers ended up in hospital.
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A disturbing 3% say they were scammed, while the same percentage (3%) missed their flight.
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Angus Kidman, travel expert at Finder, said holidaymakers were experiencing disruptions ranging from inconvenient to extreme.
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"No one goes on holiday expecting to be met by misfortune.
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"Being injured or robbed is a nightmare that can derail the best-laid holiday plans."
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Kidman urged Australians to book their trip through reputable platforms or directly with airlines and hotels.
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"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.
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"Notify your bank of your intended destinations so they know to expect activity from where you're visiting.
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"Use secure Wi-Fi connections when accessing sensitive information and consider using a virtual private network (VPN) while away from home."
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Kidman said travel insurance is a critical part of planning a journey.
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"Many Australians assume nothing will go wrong, but the reality is that mishaps are more common than you might think.
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"My golden rule? If you can't afford the insurance, you can't afford the holiday.
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"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.
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"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.
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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
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