Teabags, biscuits and INSTANT MASH: The top 10 things Brits can't do without while on holiday (and 50% miss sleeping in own bed)

  • 42% miss their own bed more than they miss friends and family
  • One in five can't wait to get home to have a cup of tea
  • 54% say they take teabags on a break and 48% take biscuits

By Travelmail Reporter

Published: 05:01 EST, 25 July 2014 | Updated: 06:19 EST, 25 July 2014


Despite spending most of our working days longing for some blissful days on a sun lounger, almost half of Britons spend their holidays pining for their home comforts.

A new study has revealed that a comfortable bed and a good cup of tea are amongst the things that we miss most when abroad.

The research, carried out by ebookers, found that almost half (42 per cent) of the nation identified that they will miss their own bed more than they will their friends, family or partner this summer, however for one in five of us, it’ll be a good cup of tea that we long for whilst on holiday.

A good cuppa! Teabags is the top item Brits sneak into their luggage when going on holiday

A good cuppa! Teabags is the top item Brits sneak into their luggage when going on holiday

Home comforts: A comfortable bed and a good cup of tea are the things we miss most when we're abroad

Home comforts: A comfortable bed and a good cup of tea are the things we miss most when we're abroad

A quarter (23 per cent) will pine for pets whilst sunning themselves on the beach and one in 10 of us will miss our favourite TV series.

One in 10 Scots say it's a good toilet that they miss most from home, whilst in North West England it is all about technology with their laptop topping the list of items they will miss from home whilst away.

A nice cuppa: Fifty-four per cent of Britons take teabags on holiday

A nice cuppa: Fifty-four per cent of Britons take teabags on holiday

Meanwhile, a poll by The Co-operative Food, found that nearly two thirds of us admit to loading up our suitcases with our favourite foods when travelling, with many admitting we struggle to find the brands we're used to when in a foreign country.

A further 48 per cent claim it’s to avoid the extortionate prices found in foreign supermarkets for British brands.

The survey found that over half of holidaymakers can’t resist a proper 'brew’ and pack their own teabags - with women being more likely to pack them.

Men are nearly 10 per cent more likely to opt to pack Brown Sauce in the suitcase than women, favouring the spicy fruit sauce over Tomato Ketchup.

 

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And bizarrely, three per cent of holidaymakers even take along their own instant mash potato.

Londoners are the most prepared travellers with 9 per cent admitting the items they’re most likely to pack is powdered milk, whereas the Scottish are most likely to take their own alcohol abroad (12 per cent).


WHAT WE MISS ON HOLIDAY

1.    Our own bed

2.    Our pet

3.    Our own toilet

4.    Tea bags

5.    Wifi

6.    Laptop

7.    Television

8.    Relatives

9.    Our friends

10.  Our fridge of food

TOP TEN FOODS TAKEN ON HOLIDAY

1)    Teabags – 54%

2)    Biscuits – 48%

3)    Instant Coffee – 31%

4)    Crisps – 17%

5)    Brown Sauce – 15%

6)    Noodles – 11%

7)    Tomato Ketchup – 9%

8)    Powdered Milk – 6%

9)    Sugar – 6%

10)  Instant Mashed Potato – 3%

However, once on holiday, it’s evident that many holidaymakers do embrace different flavours with 72 per cent of those surveyed packing their foreign food favourites to bring back home. 

Alcohol topped the list of holiday items that weigh the returning suitcase down, as well as foreign sweets and chocolate – no doubt to take back for friends and colleagues in office.

Proving it’s not just familiar flavours that are a hit with the British, chilli sauces and spices are amongst the most popular items that holidaymakers return with.

Customer Director, Andrew Mann, from The Co-operative Food said: 'It’s clear from the research that the British do like their familiar food favourites whilst on holiday, but it’s interesting to see what they bring back with them too.

'We’re increasingly becoming a nation of spice lovers.

'Whilst British favourites will always remain on consumers shopping lists, we are seeing a growth in demand for international flavours, particularly Indian, Thai, Spanish and Mexican, as people want to replicate the flavours they’ve experienced abroad.'




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