The travel season is approaching, and a new survey reveals a surprising 89% of U.S. travelers are committing vacation sins that drive everyone else crazy.
“We wanted to take an honest look at travel habits,” says Vykintas Maknickas, CEO of Saily, a travel eSIM company that 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 travelers the most
Survey respondents were asked to identify the behaviors that disrupt their vacations the most. Two offenses tie for first place: coughing or sneezing without covering up and leaving trash on the beach, both hated by 52% of travelers across the country.
Noise dominates the rest of the list: loud arguments (47%), music or videos without headphones (44%), and speakerphone calls (44%). The top 10 of the most annoying behaviors finishes with talking too loudly (43%), idle chatter in quiet spaces (42%), over-reclined seats (41%), smelly snacks (40%), and seat-hogging (36%).
The results suggest that Americans experience most
One in four admits to peeing in the ocean
While travelers complain, they also admit guilt. Nearly one-third (34%) admit to scrolling through their phones instead of enjoying the view, and 28% admit to overeating at all-you-can-eat buffets.
A bold 27% admit to taking off their shoes on planes or trains, but the standout finding was that 24% admit to peeing in the sea, lake, or ocean. Other common habits included standing the moment the plane lands (22%), taking speakerphone calls mid-trip (18%), and clapping on landing (18%).
However, 57% of travelers 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 Americans compare to other countries
The survey also revealed that these irritations aren’t unique to Americans. Australians and the British share identical top annoyances: sneezing without covering and beach littering. German travelers are most irritated by littering and people on speakerphone. Spaniards also listed beach trash first but cited over-reclined seats as the runner-up.
The similarities suggest that inconsiderate travel is a global issue rather than a national quirk.
Consideration goes a long way
Maknickas notes there are ways to smooth out the travel experience. “Nobody wants to start a trip by becoming someone else’s travel horror story. Being mindful, putting in a little preparation, and packing a few tech essentials can help.”
He shares a few simple tips to become a more considerate traveler:
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Pack smart – keep headphones, tissues, and snacks that don’t overwhelm the cabin.
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Respect space – stow bags quickly and keep aisles clear.
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Plan connections in advance – set up your eSIM or download maps before you go.
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Mind volume and timing – lower voices, avoid speakerphone, and save applause for the destination.
Methodology
The survey was commissioned by Saily and conducted by the external companies Cint and Norstat on November 17–December 2, 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 taken 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.
