Top 10 travel blunders Brits have made, like turning up at airport on wrong date

15 August 2023 , 12:36

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This quirky new B&B in Somerset is designed to resemble a wombat's burrow (Image: Compare The Market)

Brits have been sharing their silliest holiday mishaps, with 6% even confessing to turning up at the airport for a flight – on the wrong date, a survey has found.

Other top blunders include one in three having boarded public transport which is travelling in the wrong direction, while 23% have gone the wrong way after not paying attention to directions.

And one in five have missed a train after going to the wrong platform, while 16% have missed a connecting journey due to not leaving themselves enough time.

In fact, almost half (46%), of the 2,000 holidaymakers polled, admit they have made a travel mistake – with 47% of those being left out of pocket as a result.

But now, Brits could be rewarded for their blunders, thanks to a competition where you could win a stay at a quirky new B&B – designed to resemble a wombat's burrow.

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For a chance to win this special getaway, all you need to do is share details of when you have made an “innocent travel mistake”.

It comes as nearly half of holidaymakers admit they have made a silly mistake while travelling (Compare The Market)

The unique, subterranean hideaway is nestled among the dramatic Somerset landscape and ancient woodlands of the Mendip Hills, one of the UK’s areas of outstanding natural beauty.

It is characterised by snug, tunnel-style living chambers, with design imagery showing a crawl-through kid’s entrance, and bathroom with plush fluffy dressing gowns.

It was created by Compare the Market to celebrate its characters – including mishap-prone Carl the Wombat.

Ursula Gibbs, director at the price comparison website, said: “If you've had what we've affectionately coined a “wombat moment”, our B&Burrow is a unique retreat to soothe hapless holidaymakers, who’ve accidentally made a mishap while travelling.

“Despite his best intentions, our character Carl the Wombat sometimes doesn’t get it quite right. Our research shows a lot of us can relate on some level – from accidentally getting on the wrong bus, to forgetting our passports for an international flight.

“At the end of the day, life is about learning from our mishaps, and making great decisions for ourselves.”

It also emerged that, of those who have had to cough up the cash to fix their travel blunders, this costs consumers £143 each time – although some unlucky travellers had to stump up £1,000 or more.

The burrow also features a distinctive cube-shaped loo – as a nod to wombats being the only species in the world which produce square-shaped poo – while a luxury hot tub can be found near the entrance, with plenty of places to bask in the sun.

Illustrations, created from CGI concept artwork of what the property will look like, also show a characterful home-decorating mishap – a clock that’s been restored by drawing the missing numbers on paper, and sticking it to the wall.

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Visitors will also be greeted with a welcome drink upon arrival, and a grazing tasting board with treats.

For a chance to secure a three-night stay for up to six in the signature “B&Burrow” – complete with tunnel entrance – participants should visit here and submit details of their “innocent travel mishap” before midnight on August 27th.

TOP 10 TRAVEL MISHAPS:

1. Got on public transport going in the wrong direction (33%)
2. Missed the turning and had to drive for longer, which meant you were late (26%)
3. Not paying attention to the directions, and going the wrong way (23%)
4. Went to the wrong train platform and missed the train (20%)
5. Not checking the weather forecast and packing the wrong items e.g. summery items for a cold trip (17%)
6. Not leaving enough time, and missing the connecting journey (16%)
7. Boarded a train or bus and realised it was going to a different destination with a similar name (15%)
8. Drove to the wrong location after entering wrong address into the SatNav (12%)
9. Believed you knew better than your phone’s directions, but then went completely the wrong way (12%)
10. Didn't check the traffic alerts before leaving, and missed a connection as a result of traffic jams (10%)

Andrew Young