No texting? No Twitter? No Facebook? Not even a phone call?? Sound like a dream come true or a living nightmare? Digital Detox vacations are increasing in popularity, allowing folks to go off the grid when they travel. As our lives become ever-more inundated with ways to stay in-touch, more vacationers are looking for destinations that won’t ALLOW them to use electronics during their stay. I see this type of vacation as a welcome relief from the never-ending stream of information, but many people couldn’t or wouldn’t give up these modern means of communication for a day, much less an entire week. According to a recent survey by American Express:
79% of travelers expect to remain connected to their mobile devices on their next vacation. Among those planning to check email, 68% say they will do so for work.
If you’re part of the aforementioned 79%, this new trend probably won’t appeal to you, but some destinations are making peace and quiet a seldom-found commodity. While most hotels and resorts are expected to offer flat-screen TVs, telephones and wi-fi as amenities, some consumers are beginning to look for vacations where they can completely unplug. And hotels are helping them detach. “Digital Detox” destinations typically ask travelers to surrender their electronic devices when they check in – Blackberries, iPhones, iPads and cell phones are returned upon check out. And when you get to your room? Don’t expect to catch the score of the basketball game, or upload your pics to Facebook – phones, TVs and internet connections are usually removed from the rooms.
In an environment where there are hundreds of ways to digitally connect to destinations and the information they provide, some in the industry are staking a claim in helping families and friends reconnect…with each other…in person. Cool, huh?
This article sites one such destination, St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, that touts a tech-free vacation. It’s their advertising hook – even providing a how-to list that will help you break the habit before you start applying sunscreen.
