A new survey from the travel agency Ticket shows that many Swedes are still guided by persistent myths – which can cost both time and money. Common misconceptions range from the price of direct flights to whether one always has to drink bottled water abroad. We'll clarify what's actually true!
Direct flights are always more expensive a flight with stopovers.
27 percent of Swedes believe that direct flights are always more expensive than flights with layovers. In reality, however, prices vary greatly depending on the season, demand, and promotions. Sometimes, direct flights can be both the cheaper and significantly more convenient option.
Booking flights and hotels separately is always cheaper.
19 per cent believe it is always cheaper to book flights and hotels separately. Package holidays are often competitive in price thanks to tour operators' favourable agreements. In addition, they offer an important advantage: the Package Travel Act. It gives you as a traveller strong rights, such as the right to a refund if the Foreign Office issues a travel advisory for the destination, the possibility of a refund from Kammarkollegiet (the Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency) if the travel company goes bankrupt, and also a refund for the hotel if the flight is cancelled.
– Many underestimate the value of the Package Travel Regulations. Package holidays are often good value for money while also providing an extra layer of security that you don't get when booking flights and hotels separately, especially if something unexpected happens, says Tiyoneh Jah, PR and Communications Manager at the travel agency Ticket.
One must always drink bottled water abroad.
When it comes to water quality, 18 per cent believe that bottled water must be drunk at all destinations outside Scandinavia. However, tap water is of high quality in many parts of the world, for example in large parts of Western Europe, Australia, Japan and large parts of North America.
Forest fires affect the same destinations every year.
A piece of positive news is that most Swedes seem to be aware that it is not the same destinations that are affected by wildfires every year. Only 6 per cent in Ticket's survey believed that wildfires recur in the same places annually. The occurrence of fires varies depending on weather and natural conditions and therefore differs from year to year.
Source: The survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of Swedes aged 18 and over by the opinion and market research company YouGov on behalf of Ticket.
