A YouGuv survey conducted on behalf of VIP SKI has found nearly half of holidaymakers have lost a treasured possession while abroad.
Sunglasses topped the list of most commonly lost holiday items with 26% of people saying it had happened to them followed by cap/hat (25%), clothing (23%), jewellery (16%), hotel room key (15%), charger (15%), wallet/purse/money, headphones, camera (9%) and phone (5%) in that order.
“We were especially surprised to see winter sports holidays (along with spa holidays) saw the highest number of losses,” said Andy Sturt, MD for VIP SKI. “It might be the goggles abandoned at lunch or gloves left in a cable car, but it seems that the more gear you have, the more there is to lose. In the meantime, perhaps keep earrings out of the pool.”
Interestingly, only 3% of respondents said they had ever lost ski equipment itself which is a reassuring stat for anyone nervous about bringing their own skis on holiday.
Younger travellers were far more prone to losses. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of those aged 18 to 24 had misplaced something, compared to just 42% of those aged 55 and over.
If you do lose something crucial, like a passport, the advice is not to panic. Contacting the embassy can start the process of obtaining emergency travel documents.