You May Also Like
A Booking.com survey of more than 29,000 travelers found that bad trips have led some people to reconsider relationships and friendships.
WASHINGTON — A trip might be the fastest way to find out if you’re actually compatible with someone.
A new Booking.com survey of more than 29,000 travelers across 33 countries found that more than a third have discovered they weren’t compatible with a travel companion after taking a trip together, and 28% have considered ending the relationship or friendship entirely because of it.
Twenty-one percent said they have bailed on a trip midway through because of a bad travel partner.
Money was the biggest source of tension. Nearly 58% of travelers said they would hesitate to travel again with someone who expects everyone else to pay, and 42% said surprise expenses or upgrades added without asking are a major annoyance.
Rude behavior toward hotel and airport staff also ranked high, bothering 53% of respondents, while 39% said leaving a shared room or bathroom a mess crosses a line.
Constant negativity was the single biggest overall travel red flag, cited by 23% of respondents. For Gen Z specifically, doing things purely for social media was the top dealbreaker.
But not every travel disagreement has to end in a falling-out. When disagreements over plans arose, 53% of respondents said they try to compromise, while 11% said they settle it with a coin flip or rock-paper-scissors.
The survey was commissioned by Booking.com and fielded in July 2026 among 29,000-plus respondents across 33 countries.
