Average traveler wastes nearly $2,500 thanks to bad weather, missing flights and bad hotels

From missing flights to booking hotel rooms that didn’t actually exist, the average traveler says their travel misadventures have cost them nearly $2,500, according to new research.The poll of 2,000 American travelers and 2,000 travelers from the UK and Australia found 73% have experienced some sort of major travel mishap.Their most common troubles: bad weather disrupting a trip (26%), getting sick or injured (16%), and arriving at a hotel to find a specific amenity was not available (14%).Others have experienced fails like having their phone die or losing internet at a critical moment (14%) and getting lost while traveling (14%) – as well as booking accommodation that was falsely advertised or did not meet the travel group’s needs (13%).Commissioned by Aven Hospitality and conducted by Talker Research, the study asked respondents to share their absolute worst travel letdowns and unexpected experiences that ruined their trip – and caused them to change their booking behaviors going forward.One particular traveler recalled: “[I] booked a hotel in Surfers Paradise; it looked wonderful in the images.

Said it was close to main areas.It was not close.

The room had vomit on the bathroom floor, water-damaged walls, and biscuits behind tables.”“[My] flight home from a major city got canceled two minutes prior to the final boarding call, due to runway repairs at the airport of my destination,” said another respondent.“[I] had to call my spouse to drive six hours in the middle of the night to come and pick me up.”And according to another: “I broke my leg on the second day of a 14-day trip.”Travelers believe their travel issues have wound up costing them nearly $2,500 on average.

And 85% said they permanently changed their trip planning and booking behaviors afterwards, too.The average traveler also estimated they’ve lost $1,891 purely due to inaccurate or outdated information while booking a hotel or not having their expectations met when arriving...