New research shows that 97% of travelers regret at least one trip, often due to poor planning, stress, or bad timing.
About halfway through my trip to Tokyo last November, I started to regret it.
It was my first time in Japan’s capital, and I was overwhelmed just by the sheer size of the city and planning my visit. When I asked a friend who knows Tokyo for advice on where to stay, he recommended Shibuya, Tokyo’s equivalent to New York’s Times Square and home to the iconic Shibuya Crossing. His reasons are: It was convenient and centrally located close to tourist attractions.
However, when I actually went there, I felt stressed by the amount of people there. I knew that central Tokyo would be busy, but the chaotic stations and streets were so crowded that walking felt like I was stuck in the middle of a crowd. I quickly realized that I would have been better off staying in a quieter area, especially if I was traveling alone.
I wouldn’t say the whole trip was a failure, but I would do it again if I had the chance. For the record, I’m not blaming my friend. I wish I had researched it better.
Overall, traveling can be varied and fun, but it can also be disappointing. After spending time and money on a vacation, some travelers feel disappointed when their vacation doesn’t live up to their expectations and return home with regrets as souvenirs.
In a March 2026 study by TravelGuard, 97% of 1,022 U.S. travelers said they regretted their trip at least once. About two-thirds of survey respondents said they would “mulligan” and start the trip again, while one-third said they would scrap the trip and go for another one.
Rhonda Sloan, Travel Guard’s chief marketing officer, told USA TODAY: “People tend to regret their trip when their experience is ruined by avoidable issues.” “While our research shows that unforeseen disruptions such as delays, illnesses and flight cancellations are the main triggers, many regrets actually stem from decisions travelers make themselves, such as not planning properly, not setting a realistic budget, traveling with the wrong companion, or succumbing to stress.”
What causes travelers to regret their trip?
The biggest source of disappointment for travelers is having something go wrong during their trip, as reported by 17%. Specifically, travelers say the most common problems are accommodation problems, arguments with fellow travellers, bad weather and crowds at the destination.
Other common reasons include not planning the trip properly, feeling too stressed or overwhelmed to enjoy the vacation, and choosing the wrong travel companion.
Not all trips are the same, and certain types of trips lead to more regrets than others. According to 27% of respondents, family vacations are most likely to end with mixed emotions, especially when traveling with parents or extended family, which can add pressure and lead to mismatched travel styles. Adventure trips, short city visits, romantic getaways, and solo trips are all trips that are often regretted.
Experience also influences how your trip goes.
Most travelers surveyed said their biggest regret was as a young adult. “We also know that many of the trips Americans most regret take place in their 20s, when travelers are inexperienced and on a tight budget,” Sloan said. “The good news is that with better planning, thoughtful choices, and the right travel insurance plan, many of those regrets can be avoided.”
lessons learned
Thankfully, all is not lost if your trip doesn’t go perfectly. Almost three-quarters of travelers say they’ve learned from their mistakes, and their experiences influence their travel plans.
Meredith and Colby Thomas’ recent trip to Cusco, Peru did just that. In early May, the full-time travel bloggers flew from Mexico and had a 1.5-hour layover in Lima before arriving in Cusco. The layover looked tough, but since the flight was booked on a single ticket on the same airline, they thought it would work out.
They almost missed their flight.
There was a slight landing and disembarkation delay in Lima, followed by a long customs line. The couple had been waiting 45 minutes when their flight to Cusco began boarding. At the final boarding call, they begged customs officials to let them go ahead and boarded the plane just before the doors closed.
Meredith Thomas, co-owner of the travel blog Two Packs and a Pup, said: “We ended up sprinting to the gate at the last minute, stress-free. That’s certainly not how a trip should start.”
The couple regrets booking that flight and now makes sure to allow enough time for their layover.
A panicked travel day didn’t derail Thomas’ trip to Peru, but he did have to overcome a rough start. Meredith Thomas said: “You should expect there to be an element of uncertainty when traveling and go with the flow, but when things go too far off the rails, it’s natural for stress and fatigue to carry over into the next day.”
I took the same approach with my visit to Tokyo and did my best to embrace Shibuya’s bright lights and high energy during my stay, even if it wasn’t ideal. When you get back, you’ll know what to do.
This article has been updated to update the headline.
