One item Aussies can’t travel without revealed

There’s a very simple and obvious item Aussies can’t do without when it comes to travelling – but for the French it’s something completely different.

There is one item Aussies can’t travel without.

There’s one item Aussies can’t do without when it comes to travelling and it’s simply a pair of headphones.

Aussie travellers were among 10,000 others surveyed across 12 countries for SiteMinder’s Changing Traveller Report 2023.

The global hotel comparison website revealed the top 10 items people said they couldn’t travel without, with headphones topping the list at 25 per cent, followed by a good book (19 per cent) and face and hand cream at 14 per cent.

If there is one thing Aussies can’t travel without, it’s a pair of headphones, according to a new 12-country survey. Picture: iStock

The item was also at the top of the list for travellers in the US, India and China. Picture: iStock

For Brits that were quizzed it was a good book that dominated at 31 per cent, while for many French travellers (15 per cent) the top travel essential was hand and face cream.

For those in Australia, the US, India and China, a pair of headphones was at the top of their list at 20 per cent, 19 per cent, 39 per cent and 30 per cent respectively.

The report also looked at holiday plans, with 91 per cent of respondents revealing that over the next 12 months, they intended to travel at least the same amount as they did over the past year. Most intended to travel more at 57 per cent while only 9 per cent intended to travel less.

For those in the UK, a good book is their most essential travel item. Picture: iStock

For Aussies, 33 per cent want to travel more while 34 per cent intend to travel the same amount as the year prior.

Meanwhile, more than twice as many people (42 per cent) are planning to holiday abroad during this time compared to the past year (20 per cent).

India, which according to the United Nations became the world’s most populous country this year, leads the race as the most enthusiastic travelling nation on earth.

“The German traveller leads the ‘international only’ charge, with more than half ticking this box,” the report read.

“While the Chinese traveller has made the biggest jump, from 13 per cent to 48 per cent, year on year.”

The French can’t travel without face and hand cream, the report found. Picture: iStock

When it comes to researching a trip, 36 per cent of Aussies do it via a search engine, followed by the UK and French travellers. And the top priority at 53 per cent for all respondents across the 12 countries is a secure working and payment process, followed by videos and images of the rooms and property.

“Critically, more than one in two travellers have decided not to proceed with an accommodation booking online because of a bad experience, jumping to almost three in four among Gen Zs,” the report reads.

In fact, 72 per cent of Gen Z (aged 18-26) have abandoned an accommodation booking online due to a bad experience.

The main reasons included payment being too difficult and the website not feeling secure, or taking too long to load.

Karl Durrance, the Australia and New Zealand managing director at online payment platform Stripe, said travel and technology had become intrinsically tied in today’s society.

“Travellers are relying on their devices for recommendations to bookings and everything in between, making it more essential than ever for merchants to provide a seamless digital experience,” Mr Durrance said in the report.

“In particular, easy and secure payments have become non-negotiable for travellers and it’s important businesses ensure they are backed with the right technological infrastructure to retain customers.”