Almost half (46%) of the Dutch travelers find the passport the most stressful element of their trip, according to a survey by Skyscanner.
More than 20.000 respondents from twelve countries were asked which part of the journey is the most stressful. For 46% of the nearly 1500 Dutch respondents, the passport appears to be the greatest stress factor, followed by the search for a suitable destination (20%) and the airport (19%).
Only in Russia do travel documents also cause the most tension, a logical consequence of the fact that Russians need a visa for many destinations and the trip therefore involves a lot of arranging. In all other countries surveyed, the passport is one of the least blood pressure-increasing elements of the trip.
Children must apply for their own passport
A spokesman for Skyscanner responds: “It is striking that the Netherlands is so out of place in this study. An explanation is probably the new regulation, whereby children may no longer be added to the parents' passport. From 26 June, they must have their own passport or identity card to go abroad and to return. The Marechaussee has announced that it will not issue emergency documents for children who are still included in the parents' passport. Since an estimated 240.000 children do not yet have their own passport and arranging one with the municipality takes a long time, this can certainly be a source of stress.”
Stress for suitable destination
Stress about finding and probably especially agreeing on a suitable destination appears to be universal, as is stress at the airport itself with the endless queues for check-in and security checks. What does not make the Dutch hot or cold is the search for cheap ones flight tickets, while this is number 1 in many countries. Bargain hunting is really second nature to us.
Most stressful elements of the trip according to the Dutch:
- Passport and travel documents (46%)
- Choosing a destination (20%)
- Airports (19%)
- Holiday finance (11%)
- Find accommodation (2%)
- Choose travel date (1.5%)
- Find cheap airline tickets (0.5%)
Most stressful elements of the trip according to International travelers*:
- Choosing a destination (30%)
- Airports (25%)
- Find cheap airline tickets (24%)
- Passport and travel documents (9%)
- Holiday finance (5%)
- Choose travel date (4%)
- Find accommodation (3%)
A total of 20.000 participants from Brazil, Italy, Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, France, United Kingdom, Philippines, India and Indonesia.
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Once I had stress about the passport, when I found out that my passport was no longer valid for 6 months upon return, but about 6 weeks.
Then action had to be taken quickly. The passport arrived within 4 days, in the old passport large holes were punched in my still valid retirement visa. What to do, a thirty-day stamp or just go to the consulate in Amsterdam?
I chose the latter, because I still had no clarity about which visa was best for me. Since I go to the Netherlands for a few weeks every 6 months, I always need a re-entry visa, and after 90 days I have to go to Khon Kaen, about 2.5 hours drive one way. Now I have to go to Laos after 90 days, and we make a trip out of it by shopping in Nong Kai and Vientiane. No, I'm not stressed about the passport, but I always keep an eye out.
Hans Gillen
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What I always stress about is, "How do I get that 65 kilos of luggage in Thailand on my own". When I go to the Netherlands, it is with a completely empty suitcase.
In my hand luggage only a laptop and a pair of clean underwear, just in case.
But back it is always fitting, measuring and weighing. The suitcase was 29,5 kilos this time. A small suitcase as hand luggage weighed 21 kilos and my laptop bag (with two laptops, an old one for a niece) weighed 14.5 kilos. First on the bus to the station, a whole tour on your own. On the escalator with two suitcases and a laptop bag that won't hang neatly on your back. But after some breakneck feats, I made it to the train and to Schiphol.
Neat sir!, said the lady at the check-in and I expected it "can you also put the hand luggage on the belt?" Fortunately, this did not happen and only the visit of the security check at the gate remained. Two laptops, take off your jacket, take off your belt and empty your pockets. After the check, make sure you get your things back together while holding up your pants with one hand. After you have dressed somewhat decently again and your things are neatly back in the bag, the stress slowly disappears and I look forward to the trip and the excellent care from China Airlines.
Greetings Hans
@hans
I have experienced exactly the same several times, it gets even crazier when you arrive in the Netherlands and have to transfer a few times, up and down stairs, the sweat drops roll off your forehead, and not a lorry cart in sight at a Dutch station.
I have already experienced that the train left with half my luggage, while I was still busy collecting the rest of my luggage on the other side (15 meters) of the platform, PURE STRESS !!
Unfortunately there is only 1 remedy, and that is not to take more than you can easily carry