Bad Weather, High Prices, Crowds: Poles Reveal Vacation Annoyances
Translated from Polish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A survey of 1,002 Polish adults in May 2026 found that 50% prefer independent travel, while 13.6% opt for all-inclusive packages.
- The most common travel preferences are sightseeing and exploring new places (30%), followed by beach relaxation (17.8%) and nature retreats (16.8%).
- Top vacation annoyances include bad weather (49.9%), high prices (45.7%), and crowds (44.6%), with trust in travel information primarily placed on friends and family (31.8%) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (29.1%).
A recent survey reveals that Poles increasingly prefer to control their own vacation plans, with 50% choosing independent travel over organized tours or all-inclusive packages. This desire for autonomy extends to how they spend their time abroad, with a strong preference for sightseeing and exploring new destinations, rather than solely focusing on beach relaxation or nature retreats.
The study, conducted by Danae on 1,002 Polish adults in May 2026, highlights key factors that detract from vacation enjoyment. Bad weather emerged as the primary concern for nearly half of respondents, closely followed by the high cost of travel and the presence of too many tourists. Issues such as misleading offers and security concerns also impacted a significant portion of travelers.
When it comes to seeking reliable information for international travel, Poles overwhelmingly trust personal recommendations from friends and family. Official government advisories from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are also a significant source of information, while travel agencies and traditional media play a lesser role. Notably, artificial intelligence was cited as a trusted source by a mere 4.5% of respondents, indicating a preference for human-centric advice.
Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.