A new survey finds that nine in 10 Americans have had a “Home Alone”-like moment when they realized they’d forgotten something important en route to their destination.
While respondents haven’t forgotten their children at home, they have forgotten chargers (34%), toiletries or beauty products (32%), sunscreen (27%) and even medications (18%).
This comes from a survey of 2,000 US adults, with respondents citing items they found most inconveniently forgotten as including socks (17%), water bottles (14%) and even wallets (8%).
The survey results also revealed that 37% of respondents admitted to forgetting things while traveling, with the average person forgetting three items per trip.
Unfortunately, 42% of people said forgetting essentials negatively impacted their trip, including increased expenses (27%), having to purchase substitute items (25%) and feeling unwell (10%).
But there’s good news: 89% of respondents are more prepared than ever for travel this summer and are learning from their mistakes.
The study, conducted by Toker Research on behalf of Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water, also found that good habits tend to fall by the wayside when traveling.
Survey results show that healthy eating (51%), budgeting (44%) and staying regularly hydrated (31%) are often neglected when Americans are away from home.
Not only that, less than half (46%) admit to drinking a lot of water while traveling, and almost two-thirds (65%) eat a lot of snacks.
Two in five Americans (40%) also find it difficult to stay hydrated while traveling.
For 32% of respondents, the main reason is that they are out of their usual routine or simply forget to drink (31%). However, others are more focused on having fun (31%) or are too busy with other activities (31%).
Thankfully, 23% of respondents have a “mom friend” when they travel – someone who keeps the group together and keeps them happy and healthy, with a further 26% admitting that they’re often the “mom” of the group.
According to the survey results, “mom friends” play a key role in keeping necessities like napkins and bandages on hand (40%), reminding everyone to eat and drink (35%), and offering good advice (34%).
“We all know that summer means lots of travel and fun, but it also means warmer temperatures and a higher chance of dehydration,” says Anne-Charlotte de la Porte, vice president of marketing at CG Roxanne.
“More than seven in 10 Americans rely on bottled water while traveling, and 35% purchase bottled water as soon as they arrive at their destination, helping to stay hydrated this season.”
Nearly three-quarters (72%) still rely on bottled water when traveling, and 35% are likely to buy bottled water as soon as they arrive at their destination to stay hydrated.
This could be because almost two-thirds (65%) of people are concerned about the quality of tap water and water in sinks where they travel.
Nearly one in three Americans (29%) brush their teeth with bottled water instead of tap water when traveling.
“Americans have concerns about drinking tap water or forgetting to drink water in general, so it’s no surprise that staying hydrated while traveling can be a challenge for many,” continued Anne-Charlotte de la Porte, vice president of marketing at CG Roxanne.
“Still, it’s important for consumers to monitor how much water they’re drinking each day (surveys show only 22% of Americans do so), plan ahead for how much water they’ll need based on their itinerary, set reminders to track their water intake, and educate themselves about the quality of their water sources.”
