A new survey found 97% of travelers regret at least one trip, often because of poor planning, stress or bad timing.Show Caption
A recent survey found that 97% of U.S. travelers have regretted at least one trip.Common travel regrets stem from preventable issues like poor planning, budget problems, and choosing the wrong companions.Many travelers learn from their mistakes, which influences how they plan future vacations.About halfway through my trip to Tokyo last November, I started having regrets.It was my first time in the Japanese capital, and knowing how massive the city was, I felt overwhelmed even planning the visit. I enlisted help from a friend familiar with Tokyo for lodging, and he recommended Shibuya, the Tokyo equivalent of New York's Times Square and home to the iconic Shibuya Crossing. His reasoning: It was convenient and centrally located near tourist attractions.However, once there, I felt stressed by the sheer number of people. While I knew the heart of Tokyo was going to be bustling, nothing prepared me for the confusing train stations and streets so hectic that walking down them was like being stuck in the middle of a crowd. I quickly realized I would have preferred to stay in a quieter neighborhood, especially as a solo traveler.While I wouldn't call the entire trip a flop, I would redo it if the opportunity came. For the record, I don't blame my friend; I just wish I had done better research.On the whole, travel is transformative and joyful, but it can also be disappointing. After investing time and money on a vacation, it can be disheartening when it fails to meet expectations, and some travelers head home with remorse as their souvenir.In a March 2026 survey by Travel Guard, 97% of 1,022 U.S. travelers said they regretted at least one trip. About two-thirds of survey respondents said they would take a "mulligan" and redo their trip, while one-third would scrap it for a different one."People tend to regret trips when preventable issues derail the experience," Travel Guard's CMO Rhonda Sloan told USA TODAY. "Our research shows that unexpected disruptions like delays, illness or cancellations are a major trigger, but many regrets actually stem from decisions travelers make themselves … from not planning properly or setting a realistic budget, to traveling with the wrong companions or letting stress take over."What makes travelers regret their trips?The biggest source of disappointment for travelers is "something went wrong during the trip," as reported by 17%. More specifically, travelers said the most common issues are accommodation problems, arguments with travel companions, bad weather and crowded destinations.Other frequently cited reasons were not planning the trip properly, being too stressed or overwhelmed to enjoy the vacation, and choosing the wrong travel companions.Not all trips are equal, with certain types of travel leading to more regret than others. Family holidays are the most likely to end with mixed feelings, according to 27% of respondents, especially when with parents or extended family, which can add pressure and mismatched travel styles. Adventure travel, quick city visits, romantic getaways and solo trips are other commonly regretted trips.Experience also plays a role in how your trip goes.Most travelers surveyed said their biggest regrets occurred as young adults. "We also see that many of the trips Americans regret most happened in their 20s, when travelers may have less experience and tighter budgets," Sloan said. "The good news is that with better planning, thoughtful choices and the right travel insurance plan in place, many of those regrets can be avoided."Lessons learnedThankfully, not all is lost when a trip doesn't go perfectly. Nearly three-quarters of travelers said they've learned from their mistakes, and those experiences influence how they plan trips.Meredith and Colby Thomas's recent trip to Cusco, Peru, did just that. In early May, the full-time travel bloggers were flying from Mexico and had a 1½-hour layover in Lima before arriving in Cusco. The connection seemed tight, but since the flight was booked on a single ticket with the same airline, they figured it would work out.They nearly missed their flight.They faced minor delays landing and deplaning in Lima before hitting a long customs line. The couple had been waiting 45 minutes when their flight to Cusco started boarding. At the final boarding call, they begged a customs officer to let them cut to the front – and they made their flight just as the doors were closing."We ended up stressed out of our minds and sprinting to our gate at the very last minute – certainly not the way you want to start a trip," said Meredith Thomas, who co-runs the travel blog Two Packs and a Pup.The couple regretted booking that flight, and now ensure that their layovers have ample time.The panicked travel day didn't derail the Thomas' trip in Peru, although they did have to get over the rough start. "You have to expect an element of uncertainty with travel and be willing to go with the flow, but when things go that far off the rails, it's natural to have some carryover stress and exhaustion the next day," Meredith Thomas said.I took the same approach for that visit to Tokyo, doing my best to embrace the bright lights and high energy of Shibuya while I was there, even if it wasn't ideal. When I return, I'll know what to do.
