One in four travellers admits to peeing in the sea
The holiday travel season is underway, and as families hit the road, a new survey reveals that a surprising 90% of British travellers are committing holiday sins that drive everyone else crazy.
“We wanted to take an honest look at travel habits,” says Vykintas Maknickas, CEO of a travel eSIM company Saily, which commissioned the survey. “The holiday season is one of the busiest times to travel, and with so many people in motion at once, it’s the perfect moment to see what really annoys us on the road, and how often we’re the ones doing it.”
What annoys travellers the most
Respondents of the survey were asked to identify the behaviours that disrupt their holidays the most. At the very top of the list two offenses tie for first place: coughing or sneezing without covering up and leaving litter on the beach, both hated by 48% of travellers across the country.
Noise dominates the rest of the list: music or videos without headphones (46%), calls on speakerphone (46%) and talking at full volume on trains, buses and planes (44%). The top 10 of the most annoying behaviours finishes with loud arguments (44%), over‑reclined seats (44%), smelly snacks (40%), playing loud music in public spaces (38%) and seat‑hogging (37%).
The results suggest that Brits experience most of their frustration on the journey itself rather than in their destination. Classic holiday irritations — like guests reserving sunbeds for hours or showing up late for excursions — didn’t manage to place in the top ten. It seems the stress peaks in transit when travellers’ patience is tested before the real holiday begins.
One in four confesses to peeing in the ocean
While travellers complain, they also admit guilt. Nearly one‑third (32%) confessed to taking off their shoes on planes or trains, and 29% admitted to scrolling through their phones instead of enjoying the view.
A bold 23% confessed to standing the moment the plane lands, but the stand‑out revelation was that one in four (24%) confessed to peeing in the sea, lake or ocean. Other common habits included stopping crowds to take pictures (20%), hogging armrests (18%) and overeating at all-you-can-eat buffets (18%).
However, 59% of travellers say they’ve asked someone to stop doing something irritating, suggesting that even though many admit to their own bad habits, they’re still willing to speak up when others cross the line.
How the UK compares with other countries
The survey also revealed that these irritations aren’t unique to Brits. Australians and Americans share identical top annoyances: sneezing without covering and beach littering. German travellers are most irritated by litterers and calls on speakerphone. Spaniards also listed beach litter first but cited over‑reclined seats as runner‑up.
The similarities suggest that inconsiderate travel is a global issue rather than a national quirk.
Consideration goes a long way
Maknickas notes that there are ways that can help smooth out travelling experience. “Nobody wants to start their trip by becoming somebody else’s travel horror story. Being mindful, putting in a little preparation and packing some technology items can help.”
He shares a few simple tips to become a more considerate traveller:
Pack smart — keep headphones, tissues and snacks that don’t overwhelm the cabin.
Respect space — store bags promptly and keep aisles clear.
Plan connections in advance — set up your eSIM or download maps before you go.
Mind volume and timing — lower voices, avoid speakerphone and save applause for the destination.
Methodology
The survey was commissioned by Saily and conducted by independent research companies Cint and Norstat on 17 November–2 December 2025. The survey’s target group were residents of the US, the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Japan aged 18-74 (nationally representative).
The sample was drawn from national internet users. Quotas were placed on age, gender, and place of residence. In total, 6,800 people were surveyed — 800 people from Spain and 1,000 people from each of the remaining countries.
