40% admit to holiday stress as key items forgotten

Reviewed by: Helen Rolph
Home, Travel & Pet Insurance Expert

Written by: Katie Gawley
Insurance Content Writer

Fact-checked by: Quotezone Editorial Team

This content follows our Editorial Guidelines

Last Updated: July 2026
Read time: 4 min

With around two thirds of Britons expected to head on holiday this summer,* experts have revealed the items travellers are most likely to forget to put in their suitcase.

A survey by the travel insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk asked 1000 holidaymakers about their pre-trip planning, and found 68% of sunseekers forget one or more items when travelling, with a small but surprising 1% even forgetting their passport – that’s one in every 100 passengers.

A passport is mandatory when heading abroad, international airlines will not allow people to board a flight without a valid passport, and the destination country would not allow them in. Failure to remember a passport will likely mean postponing the trip and rebooking flights.

Worryingly, 4% also claimed they forgot to pack medication when travelling which can add to the stress and disruption at the start of a trip.

In some countries, pharmacies can advise or provide a limited emergency supply without a full prescription. In most cases, it will mean contacting medical professionals at home or visiting a local doctor.

The GHIC card can help access state-funded or public medical care, but does not guarantee free prescriptions.

The one thing travelling Britons were most likely to forget was a travel adapter, with one in seven (15%) admitting to forgetting to pack one, followed by a charger (8%), sunscreen (7%), sunglasses (7%), toothpaste (7%), headphones (4%) and swimwear (3%).

Other essentials which didn’t make the trip included glasses, with 3% and purchased currency 2%. Travellers should be cautious not to drive or hire a car if they’ve forgotten prescription glasses needed for the road – doing so could invalidate insurance and lead to hefty fines.   

Unsurprisingly, 40% said they found planning and packing for a holiday stressful.

Helen Rolph, travel insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “Forgetting a plug adaptor or toothpaste are the things we can laugh about and easily replace when we reach the airport or our final destination.

“However, when it comes to forgetting a passport or medication, things become more serious. Failing to pack these can cause real disruption to travel plans, could leave you out of pocket and can even mean having to delay a holiday.

“When it comes to claiming on travel insurance, a holidaymaker will not likely be able to make a claim for having to rebook flights after leaving their passport at home. Standard travel insurance treats this as an avoidable human error, not an insured event. It won’t normally cover additional costs like missing a flight and having to pay for an extra hotel night for the rebooked flight.

“Forgetting medication is more serious, especially if it’s essential. Simply leaving the treatment at home will not usually qualify if you try to claim back costs on travel insurance.

“However, if you need a prescription due to a medical necessity or emergency while you’re away, then you should be covered, it’s important though to check the details of the policy and see what’s included.

“Remember standard policies are normally built around unforeseeable events, unfortunately if travellers are stressed and forget, they will not likely be protected.

“It’s important to allow extra time for packing, include an original prescription copy of any important medications and make a checklist of the essentials, it could just save the holiday.”

As a price comparison site, Quotezone can help travellers find savings on travel insurance, for families, for couples and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Editors:
*https://kpmg.com/uk/en/media/press-releases/2026/07/kpmg-uk-q2-2026-consumer-pulse-survey-results.html

Photo credit – iStock.com South_agency

SURVEY – Quotezone.co.uk’s findings are based on a randomised survey of 1,000 respondents across the UK during June 2026, which represents a margin of error of approximately 5% at a 95% confidence level.

This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.