Branded a nation of people who mind their Ps and Qs, Brits are renowned for their love of queuing and politeness – but according to a new report, 90% think that Brits have bad holiday habits. The research by Virgin Media O2 and Duolingo comes as millions of Brits are expected to flock abroad this summer for a well-deserved break.
Despite holidays usually being the perfect time to unwind and let your hair down, almost two thirds of those polled (63%) believe that there are plenty of typical “fails” Brits make when on holiday, including drinking beer at breakfast, which nearly a third (32%) think is a no go.
The study revealed the biggest holiday faux pas Brits make, including leaving the hotel room in a mess for staff to clean (45%), playing loud music or talking loudly at the beach or pool (41%) and ordering British food for dinner, like fish and chips, instead of sampling local delicacies (38%) all featuring on the list.
The most common holiday faux pas Brits often make:
1. Expecting everyone to speak English – 74%
2. Getting burnt – 55%
3. Not trying to learn the local language at all – 49%
4. Leaving your hotel room in a mess for staff to clean – 45%
5. Playing loud music or talking loudly at the beach or pool – 41%
6. Ordering British food instead of the local specialities – 38%
7. Bagging sun loungers or spots on the beach with towels – 33%
8. Drinking beer at breakfast – 32%
9. Accidentally insulting a local by saying something rude in their language – 31%
10. Ordering British drinks, instead of alcohol made in the country they are visiting – 26%
Other cringeworthy signs of a Brit abroad include ordering UK made beer or alcohol instead of something made in the country they’re visiting (26%), not tipping at a restaurant or bar (25%) and ordering a full English for breakfast (18%). Despite Brits’ bad holiday habits, it appears we have good intentions, with 41% suggesting they always make an effort to learn some of the language of their holiday destination before they go away and a further 48% stating they do try to learn a few phrases on occasion.
Of those inclined to learn the language, the most popular phrases learnt include “hello” (88%), “thank you” (86%) and “please” (78%), with a fifth of Britons (19%) also attempting to learn directions to somewhere and 16% making a note of how to order their favourite drinks and how to say “cheers”. And, it seems convenience is key, with four in five (78%) Brits using their phone abroad as a language guide instead of a book.
Of those who don’t try to learn any phrases before they go abroad, more than a quarter (27%) admit they often resort to hand signals to try to communicate on holiday, such as gesturing for the bill or saying thank you by putting their hands together.
Gareth Turpin, chief commercial officer for mobile at Virgin Media O2, said: "Holiday season is upon us, with millions of Brits set to travel this summer for some well-deserved down time. But with life being busier than ever these days, it can be hard to find the time to learn a language and really get into the holiday spirit.
"So, we have joined forces with Duolingo to offer our customers a quick and convenient way to brush up on some basics before they go away this year. And as O2 is the only major network to offer EU roaming at no extra cost, our customers can keep on top of their Duolingo streaks while they’re away, without having to worry about data roaming charges.”
George Audi, director of partnerships at Duolingo, said: "Travel is once again the top motivation for learners on Duolingo in the UK, with 24% of people choosing it as their primary motivation to learn. We’re proud to partner with O2 Priority and help Priority customers make their roaming this summer even better by giving them the chance to learn the language of their destination before they travel."
Duolingo said it had seen an increase of more than 60% in people learning for travel this June compared to last June here in the UK. Almost one in four learners on Duolingo are now learning for travel.
The most popular languages on Duolingo in the UK in June 2022 are:
1. Spanish (24% of learners)
2. French (19%)
3. German (8%)
4. Italian (8%)
5. English (6%)
6. Japanese (5%)
7. Welsh (3%)
8. Russian (2%)
9. Portuguese (2%)
10. Korean (2%)
Virgin Media O2 has teamed up with Duolingo to offer Priority members a free three-month trial of Duolingo Plus on the mobile app, offering Virgin Media and O2 customers a saving of £29.97 so they can brush up on their holiday lingo. Priority members can choose from a range of languages, including Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian, Irish Turkish and many more.
Virgin Media and O2 customers can download the free Priority app on iOS and Android, or O2 customers can text PRIORITY to 2020 to access exclusive perks, rewards and experiences.
