The holiday season often brings a mix of excitement and chaos, and for some travelers, that means ending up in the wrong destination entirely! Much like the hilarious travel mix-ups in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, travelers have shared their own funny (and sometimes confusing) stories of unexpected detours. As we approach the holidays, these tales serve as a lighthearted reminder to double-check those travel details—because, as we all know, even Santa makes sure he’s on the right path!

According to a recent YouGov* survey conducted by Visit Sweden, 8% of the respondents admitted to ending up in the wrong destination while travelling. Out of 80 million travellers identified as dreaming of visiting Sweden, nearly 8 million might accidentally find themselves in a different Sweden—not the original one. Oops!

Here are some examples of the merry misadventures from the survey, when travel plans take a detour:

• Kiruna… with a Twist! One traveller dreaming of Lapland’s snowy northern lights ended up in tropical Kiruna, Uganda, trading reindeer for savannahs.
• Venice Dreams, Vännäs Reality: Hoping for gondolas in Venice, a couple from Asia went by train to Vännäs, near Umeå, Sweden. Instead of canals, they luckily found a helpful local to steer them right. On their return, they said: “We loved every minute of it. We have never seen so much snow before. Umeå was better than Venice. We received an incredible welcome.”
• Uppsala or Hoopsala? A mix-up almost sent a friend to Upsala, USA, instead of Sweden’s historic university city. Luckily, the Viking-less detour was avoided just in time.
• Kil, Not Kiel: A rail passenger bound for Kiel, Germany, ended up in Kil, Sweden—charming but with fewer maritime vibes.

Because sometimes, travel surprises make the best stories. And although these stories may not involve festive airport dashes or forgotten family members, they’re a gentle reminder this Christmas: even Santa checks his route twice!

To help avoid future travel mix-ups, Sweden has, as the first country in the world, applied to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to trademark Sweden as a destination.

The mix-ups highlight the need to distinguish the original Sweden. Travellers who already signed an online petition to support the trademark application were asked if they felt any other original Swedish treasures should be trademarked. Their suggestions were delightful: fika (the cherished coffee break), cinnamon buns (arguably Sweden’s sweetest treat), friluftsliv (embracing nature like a true Swede), and midsommar (flower crowns are a must).

To ensure travellers reach their desired destination, checking how many namesakes a country or city might have before setting off is recommended. Find out if there’s a place somewhere in the world that shares your name: visitsweden.com/visit-the-original-sweden

Enjoyed this? Let your friends know!