Summer Travel Ick Report: The Top Travel Ick Factors That Make Guests Want To Leave

Summer Travel Ick Report: The Top Travel Ick Factors That Make Guests Want To Leave

That dreamy listing showed spa-white sheets, skyline views, and it featured rave reviews, but you took one step inside, and the first thing that blew you away was the smell of mildew. Our new survey of 1,000 U.S. travelers reveals just how often that very bait-and-switch happens and pinpoints the exact “ick factors” that make guests throw in the towel on their trips, demand refunds, or tough it out despite the grime.

Key Findings

• Bed bugs are the number one pest that pushes guests to bail early.
• 3 out of 5 Americans have been catfished by a vacation listing.
• 18% of Americans have been gaslit by customer service during a trip.
• 20% of Gen Zers on vacation have had personal items stolen from inside their room.
• 31% of Gen Zers admit they’d book a grosser place if it saved money.
• Over 1 in 10 Americans have found used condoms in their room on vacation.
• Nearly a third of Americans have found stains on sheets, towels, or furniture during their stay.

Instagram Dreams vs. Real-World Rooms

Couples take the lead in American travel habits — 36% of travelers hit the road with a partner, while 32% travel with children in tow. Solo journeys account for 21% of trips, and 11% travel with friends. Only 1% travel for business.

Generational differences paint a revealing picture: Over half of baby boomers (54%) and 37% of Gen Xers prefer traveling as a couple. Millennials are the most likely to vacation with kids (45%), while Gen Z stands out as the most independent, with 29% opting to travel solo.

No matter who they’re traveling with, Americans are becoming more vigilant about trip planning, yet many still get burned. Despite nearly 1 in 3 travelers (31%) carefully analyzing ratings, photos, and reviews before booking, plenty of issues still arise. Gen Z faces the most frustration, with 40% reporting bad experiences even after researching.

3 in 5 Get Catfished by Deceptive Lodging Photos

Deceptive photos are the top reason travelers feel duped by their lodging. 58% say glamorous images hide grime, broken amenities, or sketchy neighborhoods. Younger travelers fall for it fastest: 72% of Gen Z say they’ve been misled by attractive listings, compared to just 44% of baby boomers.

The top complaint? The photos don’t match reality. This is followed closely by rooms that were dirtier than expected. And when asked which type of lodging they trust most to be clean and pest-free, Americans overwhelmingly rank hotels highest and hostels lowest across all generations.

The First Whiff of Trouble

Before the bedbugs bite, it’s the hidden cues that crush traveler confidence in their accommodations, starting with scents. Odor is the biggest red flag, and pet smells are the fastest dealbreaker. Here are the top smells that send Americans running:

However, in some instances, travelers encounter more tangible problems. 41% have seen hair in the bed or shower, making this the most common (but still gross) issue American travelers run into. Even more alarming? 11% have happened upon used condoms, while 10% have run into drug paraphernalia. Each discovery sends a simple message: if this is visible, what lurks unseen?

When it comes to ick factors that are easy to overlook, pests top the list at 21%. Old or unwashed bedding is tied for first (21%), with poor maintenance trailing behind (15%).

Despite Stale Air & Sour Towels, 45% Still Stay

Many travelers are willing to endure questionable accommodations for the sake of a good trip. For instance, nearly half (45%) of travelers push through after spotting hair in the sink or shower, and 37% can deal with a bug or two.

That said, many travelers feel that hosts underestimate the severity of these kinds of issues. Nearly 1 in 5 travelers (18%) say they’ve been gaslit by hosts or staff, brushed off with claims that the mess “wasn’t that bad” or accused of making false complaints.

When stays go south and guests run into these problems, silence isn’t always the answer. While some cut their losses quietly, most take action:

In total, nearly 3 in 4 travelers speak out, from digital shaming to personal PSAs. Gen Z is the most socially vocal: 33% will share their bad stay online or in group chats, nearly double the rate of baby boomers (15%).

What Finally Sends Guests Packing

43% of Americans have cut a trip short, or at least found a new place to stay, because their original accommodations were simply too gross.

Younger guests are far more likely to cut their losses. More than half of Gen Z (59%) and millennials (53%) say they’ve walked away from a stay. Baby boomers are much more likely to endure discomfort; nearly three-quarters say they’ve never left early.

However, some icks are simply unforgivable. Here are the top trip-killers that make Americans leave without hesitation:

With pest infestations topping this list, it begs the question: which pests will send Americans packing? These are the top offenders:

These intruders don’t just cause discomfort — they push stays into non-negotiable territory. Bedbugs and cockroaches prompt immediate exits from the majority of every generation:

Bedbugs and Other Pest Encounters

If guests spot bedbugs, they’re out. 69% would leave immediately and ask for a refund. (That said, 28% of travelers will settle for a room swap instead of leaving altogether.)

The urge to flee is a smart one, as 8% of Americans have actually been bitten or stung by an insect during a stay. At 16%, Gen Z is twice as likely to have had this experience, compared to just 2% of baby boomers.

To protect guests and reputations alike, property managers must prioritize proactive inspections and professional treatments, especially in high-traffic listings. Modern pest control solutionsmake it possible to scale prevention without sacrificing guest safety.

Safety Shocks

28% of Americans have felt unsafe during a stay due to the surrounding neighborhood. 14% had something actually stolen, and nearly 1 in 3 (30%) fear it will happen. Gen Z reports the highest room theft rate (20%), as well as the highest rates of anxiety about theft (37%) of all generations.

Surprisingly, men are more likely than women to have an experience that makes them feel unsafe during their travels (52% versus 43%). That includes having their car broken into or vandalized, witnessing a violent incident, and having someone try to enter their room without permission.

Add theft fears to the mix, and Gen Z once again emerges as the most anxious and most affected. 1 in 5 have experienced theft, and over one-third say they’ve worried about it. Baby boomers, by contrast, are the least concerned: fewer than 1 in 20 report stolen items, and only 1 in 5 have even felt uneasy.

Further, a staggering 25% of business travelers have had items stolen from inside their room or rental, compared to just 11% of solo travelers, 8% of families and groups of friends, and a mere 5% of couples.

Refund Rage and Ruined Vacations

When travelers get the ick, wallets and friendships take the hit. 36% of Americans have experienced tension, if not outright arguments, with their travel companions due to the poor quality of their accommodations. Gen Z is especially susceptible to this, with 69% having travel disagreements, compared to only 29% of baby boomers.

And when tensions rise high enough, many travelers don’t just argue. They leave.

Walk Outs and Ruined Trips: 44% on Both Counts

More than 2 in 5 Americans have either cut trips short or switched lodgings mid-vacation, and the same share say a filthy room or rental ruined the entire getaway.

Younger travelers walk out the fastest: 59% of Gen Z and 53% of millennials have physically left a property mid-trip. Only 30% of baby boomers say the same, meaning nearly two-thirds have never bailed early, no matter how bad it got.

Even when travelers choose to stay, the emotional toll can be steep. Couples clash, friend groups fall apart, and solo travelers scramble to rebook at double the price. 53% of millennials and a whopping 71% of Gen Z say a bad stay has wrecked a trip. Only 25% of baby boomers report the same. Bad lodging doesn’t just inconvenience; it ruins experiences.

When Guest Relations Says No: Money Lost & Review Revenge

Among the 31% of travelers who have left early, 16% lost at least $100, and 6% took a hit of more than $250. Half of these guests wouldn’t stay silent: they’d leave blistering negative reviews, and nearly a quarter would photos on social media, a reputational nightmare for careless hosts.

Gen Z and millennials are the most likely to document disasters visually, with 33% and 28%, respectively, of each group posting photos or videos. Baby boomers, on the other hand, prefer a direct approach. Nearly 64% reached out to the host or manager first to resolve the issue.

How Long Would You Tough It Out?

When faced with ick factors, 61% of Americans would leave immediately. 19% would see if things got better after a single night, while 12% say it depends on two things: how gross things are and how long the trip is.

Only 2% of Americans would stick it out no matter what, proof that the tolerance floor is dangerously low.

Though the most tolerant overall, 57% of millennials draw the line at bugs, sewage smells, or visible filth, refusing to spend even one night in such conditions. Baby boomers are even less forgiving, with 68% saying they’d leave immediately.

The Cost of Clean: Why Budget Travelers Still Draw the Line

Even with travel costs on the rise, Americans refuse to trade cleanliness for a cheaper trip. 26% say they would never compromise on hygiene, and only 12% would knowingly book a lower-quality stay just to save money.

Summer travel saving strategies vary: 33% are cutting back on how much they travel, 17% are trimming lodging costs, and 10% are staying home entirely.

Younger travelers, in particular, are getting thrifty. Only 58% of Gen Z say their standards are unchanged. Over 1 in 4 millennials and Gen Z say they’re more selective than ever, but 31% of Gen Z admit they’ll tolerate more grossness if it means saving money.

Trading Stars for Savings

While most travelers (56%) refuse to downgrade, 12% of all Americans admit they’d book a visibly lower-quality property if the price is right. Gen Z is the most willing to gamble: 42% say “maybe” to dropping standards, compared to just 17% of baby boomers.

Ick Anxiety Takes Flight: Airports & Airlines Under the Microscope

The cleanliness audit doesn’t end at checkout. It follows travelers all the way to the gate, and as in cases like bed bugs, it even follows you all the way home.

Airport public restrooms top the list of “grossest zones,” with security bins and gate seating close behind. Once airborne, 19% of flyers skip the lavatory altogether because it looks and smells too neglected to risk.

The grossest zones in the airport experience:

Airlines have tried to clean up their image (literally) with HEPA-filter ads and fogging footage, but trust remains low. Here’s how traveler trust breaks down:

• 24% — Yes, they take it seriously now.
• 52% — Somewhat, but I’m still cautious.
• 18% — Not really. I try to limit what I touch.
• 6% — Not at all. I assume most flights are not properly cleaned.

Until that trust gap closes, expect seat-cover hacks, disinfecting wipes, and bathroom avoidance to remain in-flight rituals.

From filthy sheets to pest-infested rentals, American travelers are done settling for subpar stays — and they’re not afraid to speak up. Whether it’s Gen Z posting horror stories to social media, baby boomers demanding refunds, or millennials walking out mid-trip, one truth holds across generations: cleanliness is key to avoid getting the ick.

Methodology

In May 2025, we surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults of various ages, genders, and income levels via Pollfish. The questionnaire contained 29 multiple-choice and ranking items covering booking habits, cleanliness perceptions, pest encounters, safety incidents, and airport experiences. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number; some questions allowed multiple selections, so totals may exceed 100%.

Fair Use Policy

We encourage journalists and content creators to share the insights from this study for non-commercial use. Please credit the “Summer Travel Ick Report” and link back to this page so interested readers can review the full methodology and findings.