From passports to family pet: Indian travellers reveal the strangest things they forget on trips

More than 40% of Indian travellers forget their belongings during trips, and it’s not just socks or phone chargers left behind – some have even forgotten their pets, a new report has revealed.

According to Booking.com’s ‘Summer Travel Research 2025’ conducted in partnership with YouGov, nearly half (42%) of Indian travellers leave behind clothing items like socks, shirts and tops during holidays.

Electronics such as earphones, chargers and power banks are the next most forgotten items (37%), followed by toiletries (36%), glasses (30%), and jewellery or watches (22%).

While these may sound routine, the report highlighted several unexpected items left behind, including hair extensions or wigs (15%), teeth aligners (13%), important documents like passports or IDs (17%), and even pets (12%).

The survey covered over 1,000 consumers across 10 Indian cities who travelled at least once between April and May this year.

When it comes to packing, phone chargers or adapters are the most commonly forgotten items by Indian travellers (35%), followed closely by toothbrushes or toothpaste (33%), medicines (29%), and earphones (28%).

Essentials like umbrellas (26%), sunglasses (25%), and travel documents (21%) are also frequently missed.

The report found that toiletry kits, including shampoo, lotion, and brushes, are the most common items travellers ensure to bring back home (44%), followed by coffee or tea bags (41%), newspapers (28%), and slippers (25%).

When it comes to travel snacking, 54% of Indian travellers prefer carrying dry snacks like namkeen, khakhra and biscuits, and 41% pack dry fruits and nuts.

Chocolates, candies or mints (39%) are also popular treats on trips.

Meanwhile, 37% prefer carrying home-cooked foods like thepla, paratha or puri, and 33% keep coffee and tea sachets handy for quick caffeine fixes.

“It is fascinating to see how Indian travellers seamlessly blend convenience with cultural connection on their journeys. While packing quirks and forgotten essentials are common, these habits reflect a deep emotional connection to both home comforts and local experiences,” said Santosh Kumar, Regional Manager – South Asia, Booking.com.

“Our data highlights that while unexpected travel twists may disrupt the best-laid plans, it is often these moments, along with the memories of local experiences, that truly define a traveller's journey.”