Americans Peeing in the Pool and Other Travel Transgressions

Have you ever wondered just how many travelers pee in resort pools or make off with hotel towels? TravelZoo recently released the results of a 9,500-person survey of people from five different countries and got the lowdown on which nation’s residents are the worst offenders.

When it comes to urinating in the ocean or pool, 64 percent of Americans say they’ve done it. Canadians are right behind us with 58 percent admitting to the deed.

What about permanently “borrowing” toiletries, robes, slippers or other amenities from hotel rooms? Again, Americans take the cake (and the linens … and drapes … and bathroom sink, for lack of a kitchen one) with 69 percent fessing up. (However, since toiletries are provided for guests to use as part of the room rate, we’re maintaining that taking them home with you isn’t actually stealing.)

Twenty-four percent — the highest number — of Americans also said they’ve called in sick after a vacation to extend their time off.

Meanwhile, Germans are the worst when it comes to visiting tanning salons after their travels to make people back home think they spent lots of time in the sun. Ten percent of Germans also claim to have been unfaithful to a significant other while on vacation. Yikes!

Does all of this icky behavior make you want to plan your next trip? A whopping 70 percent of folks from China said they’ve used work time to plan a vacation; frankly, we see nothing wrong with that at all.

Do you commit any of these common travel infractions? Leave your comments below.

— written by Ashley Kosciolek