Six out of ten Brits arrive at their holiday destination – only to realise they’ve forgotten something, research revealed yesterday (Wed).
A study found stress-induced last minute panic and a general shortage of time to think clearly about what to pack are the most common reasons for the blunders.
The figures show as many as one in five forget to pack toothbrush, while one in ten fail to take underpants.
Almost one in four don’t pack enough clothes for the duration of their trip, while others leave behind beach towels, sun cream and travel adaptors.
One in ten travellers even went as far as to admit they had forgotten to organise foreign currency before their trip, which could be a costly oversight.
The packing mishaps were revealed in a study of 2,000 adults by Travelex, the foreign exchange specialist.
Elvin Eldic, of Travelex, said: “Today’s busy lifestyles and the stresses of work mean we’re leaving it to the very last minute to get organised for our holidays.
“Forgetting to pack a crucial item is annoying and it could also prove costly.
“Although there’s no need to be caught short on cash when you arrive at your holiday destination when you can order your currency online in advance and collect at the airport.”
The study also found the majority of those questioned said they spent under four hours packing, while 23 per cent take at least a day.
A very well-organised one in ten British travellers starts packing several weeks in advance of their holidays.
It also emerged women are more likely to take charge of packing for a trip abroad, with two thirds of the fairer sex responsible for filling holiday bags for their families.
However, men are more likely to be in charge of the travel money, with 70 per cent of men saying that organising foreign currency was up to them..
The research also shows hotels are amongst the worst places to change money with unfavourable rates and hefty commissions charges meaning holidaymakers could lose out by up to 70 Euros on a #500 exchange.
* To help travellers Travelex has launched a Trip Planner app, available through the App Store, which provides weather alerts, local event information and packing lists.
