Top 20 embarrassing things dads do while abroad - check full 'toe-curling' list

14 August 2023 , 23:30

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Over half of teenagers (54%) claim their dad embarrasses them on holiday, by telling bad jokes, complaining loudly – and even dad-dancing, a study has found.

Other cringeworthy faux-pas dads make while abroad include having loud conversations with strangers, trying to make friends with the locals, and comparing prices to everything back home.

And during a week-long family holiday, dads cause an average of 22 moments of embarrassment for their offspring – including the age-old no-no of wearing socks with sandals.

However, a third of dads (34%) admit to deliberately trying to humiliate their kids, as 49% see it as their duty to do so whilst on holiday.

The poll of 1,000 teenagers found that a quarter (24%) have even tried to wriggle out of a family holiday, just to avoid being left red-faced by their old man.

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However, easyJet Holidays, which commissioned the research, might just have come up with the perfect solution – by launching an in-hotel “Dad's Club”, in the Spanish hotspot of Benalmádena.

Taking place on August 24th and 25th, at Holiday World Polynesia on the Costa del Sol, the club hopes to provide some cringe-free respite for teens – as well as a safe space for gaffe-prone dads to connect with their kind, without being judged.

Top 20 embarrassing things dads do while abroad - check full 'toe-curling' list

Dad-dancing is one of the top ways fathers embarrass their teens while on holiday (PinPep)

Omid Djalili, comedian and self-confessed embarrassing parent, who stars in the Dad’s Club promo video, said: “It’s a rite of passage for us Dads to embarrass our kids – it comes with the job.

“So, I’m very proud to have teamed up with easyJet Holidays to unveil a new club JUST for Dads – a safe space to learn how to throw a frisbee, dance without pulling a muscle, and crafting brilliant jokes for the 21st century.”

The study also found that 43% of teens say they can’t remember a holiday without a humiliating moment caused by their father.

But when polling the dads themselves, 53% claimed they think they are “cool” on holiday – with only 8% of those polled, via OnePoll, considering themselves to be “very embarrassing”.

Sarah Ockwell-Smith, a parenting expert who is working with the brand, said: “Holidays are a perfect time to reconnect with teens – but sometimes, all the extra time spent together can cause friction.

“Not to mention the excitement and freedom of holiday-mode causing some pretty cringey (according to the kids) behaviour, which can lead to embarrassment. Disco dancing, air guitar, and socks and sandals? Definite trigger points.”

The research also found foreign beach holidays (51%) top the list of vacation types where “dadbarrassment” is most likely to occur – followed by staycations (29%) and city breaks (22%). But 44% of dads say they would like to attend a “dads' club”.

Matt Callaghan, customer director at easyJet Holidays, which has released a video showcasing the activities on offer at the “school of cool” – including complimentary dad dancing lessons, frisbee and air guitar tuition, and a joke workshop – said: “Evidently, embarrassment is a part of the holiday package when Dad's around.

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“At Dad’s Club, our customers will get a unique opportunity to hone their cool skills, while making new friends and memories to last a lifetime. But remember, cringe-worthy or not, we love our Dads to bits.”

THE TOP 20 DAD CRINGE LIST: