- 69% of Aussie millennials who travelled abroad admit to committing travel faux pas when abroad - from offending the locals or ordering the wrong dish, to mispronouncing the local language and trying to pay with card when only cash is accepted
- International payments app Wise has teamed up with Budgy Smuggler, to provide the perfect solution to tackle the most costly faux pas of them all: hidden fees
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, July 10 2024 – It’s no secret the allure of a European Summer is strong – almost a rite of passage for Aussie millennials, with each July seeing scores descend on the sands of Santorini, lakes of Italy and islands of Croatia. And yet - many of us are still committing classic travel faux pas.
New research from YouGov commissioned by Wise, found that despite the vast majority (90%) of Aussie millennials having travelled internationally, including over six in ten (62%) in the past three years, most are still committing classic faux pas that should leave thong-ensconced toes curling - seven in ten (69%) Aussie millennials who travelled abroad admit to having committed a common faux pas.
But while Aussies do their best to holiday like a local, they’re also keen to show the world that they’re Aussies through and through. Over three in four (77%) Aussie millennials who travelled abroad get annoyed by other Aussies abroad. Top frustrations include the fact that over three in four (77%) Aussie millennials believe Europeans could learn from Australians, particularly in mastering humour (33%) and making coffee (29%). Conversely, Australians could learn from Europeans how to be more cultured (41%) and how to drink responsibly (40%).
The travel faux pas costing you cash
It’s clear that travel can lead to plenty of assumptions, grievances and faux pas amongst Aussie travellers, but the biggest faux pas of them all? Spending wrong. While 18% of Aussie millennials who travelled abroad may have upset locals by getting the tipping etiquette wrong, 22% have been left stumped by trying to use a card in a cash-only place (excuse me, do you accept Apple Pay?)
Worse, eight in ten (80%) Aussie millennials say they are using their bank issued cards overseas; be it their debit card (43%), credit card (36%), or travel card (31%). As a result, they’re losing a fortune in hidden fees simply by spending wrong when they’re abroad. Aussies using domestic cards overseas unnecessarily pay for an inflated exchange rate, plus other charges like transaction fees when spending outside Australia.
The solution? Wise - the global payments app for doing things in other currencies, has teamed up with iconic Aussie brand, Budgy Smuggler to create limited edition swimwear. The Budgies, which come in men’s and women’s designs, feature a snug solution to bank card woes: a Wise-card sized pocket so Aussies never get ripped off spending overseas.
Influencer Liam Moore, who launched the swimwear, said:
“Aussies love a Euro Summer - but while they’re on their European adventures, hoards of millennials often fall victim to travel faux pas, from asking someone where the dunny is, or trying to guess someone’s accent.
“Without a doubt, the most underrated faux pas is paying for your entire European summer with your Aussie bank card and getting stung each step of the way with sneaky fees. Something I’ve definitely done before! Luckily, our favourite Aussie cozzies come with a perfect Wise-card-sized pocket, so we can all avoid getting ripped off - whether you’re swimming in Sicily or sunbaking in Santorini.”
The Wise x Budgy Smuggler bespoke cozzies will be available for purchase from July 10, at www.budgysmuggler.com.
About Wise
Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world's money. With Wise Account and Wise Business, people and businesses can hold 40 currencies, move money between countries and spend money abroad. Large companies and banks use Wise technology too; an entirely new network for the world's money.
One of the world’s fastest growing, profitable tech companies, Wise launched in 2011 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker, WISE.
In fiscal year 2024, Wise supported around 12.8 million people and businesses, processing approximately £118.5 billion in cross-border transactions, and saving customers over £1.8 billion.