Want a Better Vacation? Consider a Digital Detox

In the digital age, many of us feel like we couldn’t possibly go anywhere without our devices. And if we can’t leave home without our electronics, we might not even consider going on a vacation sans smartphone. But if you can embrace the idea of a getaway without texting and social media scrolling, it might do you a world of good.

You might get vacation envy every time you look at your Instagram feed. Around 23% of Millennials say that social media significantly influences their choice of travel destination, after all. And now, there are even vacation packages that cater to those who really want to impress with their posts. Cheap Caribbean recently launched a three-night trip to Bermuda that offers personal photo shoots and social media tutorials to travelers who specifically want to make all of their followers jealous of their lavish lifestyles. And at $999 and up per person, you’d have to be willing to sacrifice a lot for the sake of your account. Personally I would prefer to use that money on things like riding atv trails, snorkeling or food. Spending that much money just for a social media account just doesn’t sit right for me.

Not only is that price a bit steep for many of us, but it’s also not the best reason to take a vacation. In fact, the perceived need to impress with social media vacation photos can feel like a lot of work — which defeats the whole point of taking time off.

Plus, a recent study found that taking photos and video on vacation for social media purposes might actually have a negative effect on how much we remember of the trip. In a fitting twist, researchers said that recording an experience “may prevent people from remembering the very events they are attempting to preserve… Ironically, our results suggest that using media to preserve these moments may prevent people from fully experiencing them in the first place.”

That seems to confirm what some people have suspected for a while: that the incessant pressure to capture photos and videos to show your followers what a great time you’re having might actually keep you from experiencing it yourself. It seems right, then, that there’s been an anti-phone vacation backlash — and it’s become really popular.

Several travel companies, resorts, and retreats have prohibited cell phone use during trips, much to the delight of many adventurers. While no-cell-phone rules may have once been a deterrent to travelers, they’re now a huge selling point. In fact, “no cell” now often equals “sell-out” for many of these companies; they’re being forced to add more packages to accommodate the demand. Some hotels are even incentivizing guests to unplug by turning in their mobile phones at the front desk. Although approximately half of all U.S. mobile users have a smartphone, it seems like some are eager to be a little less connected.

But that’s not true for everyone. According to a recent study released by Alamo Rent A Car, only 37% of travelers unplug completely when they take time off. That’s a huge drop from the 53% who unplugged in 2017. If you can’t completely survive a getaway without your phone, you should remember that posting too much on social media about your whereabouts could actually be dangerous.

Local police departments urge residents to refrain from posting too much about their vacations on social media, as this often makes your home an easy target for a burglary. The last thing you’d want to find upon your return from a relaxing vacation is that you’ve been robbed. It’s usually best to delay your posting until after you’re back home. But if you can’t resist, make sure your accounts are private and that only your closest friends and family can access your updates. You should also disable any geotagging options that might betray your location; not only could this signal to criminals that you’re away, but it could also compromise your safety while you’re actually vacationing. And in general, don’t notify anyone on social media that you’ll be away during a certain period. Although we’re all prone to oversharing, aim to be a bit more private here. That way, your vacation will be just for you — and you won’t have to worry too much about someone breaking in while you’re gone.

While social media can be a great tool for connecting with others, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the insatiable need to impress your followers when you’re on a well-deserved trip. It’s fine to snap some photos here and there, but don’t let your desire to be a shutterbug keep you from experiencing these events in real time — or put your privacy at risk.