Tobago Cays in the Grenadines
When I left home to travel for two years I was determined to leave behind anything that I thought was unnecessary, this included technology. Leaving a job as a programmer I wanted to get away from staring at a monitor all day, I wanted to spend some time off the grid. I ditched the computer, mobile phone and picked up a guidebook and traditional old travel journal.
I was surprised even back in 2006 how many people traveled with a laptop to developing countries, to me it seemed unnecessary for people to have the worry of keeping it safe and the weight of carrying it around. Today traveling with technology is much more common in these countries as we become attached to being constantly connected to the web. This is why I was intrigued when I came across an interesting digital detox campaign by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism authority.
Digital Detox
Their campaign (twitter hashtag #detechsvg) is encouraging people to visit the country and leave the smart phones, laptops etc at the door. For those that are tired of technology, of constantly monitoring and checking messages, this holiday seems like it could be an ideal escape. The “Digital Detox” holiday asks guests to hand over gadgets and it even comes with a life coach that will help them switch off from the technology each day.
“New research shows that nearly half of us feel so tied down by technology we can’t let an email or text pass us by, and have to respond to it. The constant need to keep checking messages and to monitor different websites, can lead you to distraction. It’s hard to just sit and focus on one thing.” –Â St. Vincent and Grenadines Tourism Authority
How would travel bloggers cope?
Personally I do find it difficult to discontent and to leave the technology behind but I try to be offline as much as possible when I have the free time.
I thought the “digital detox” concept was an interesting idea but wondered just what would happen if a group of travel bloggers found themselves in St. Vincent and the Grenadines being asked to hand over their smart phones and laptops? How would they cope with going cold turkey? No Twitter, Facebook, Google +, WordPress or Foursquare for a week or two? How would you cope as a travel blogger or have you gone off the grid before whilst traveling?
You can reach the St. Vincent and Grenadines Tourism Authority on twitter – @DiscoverSVG.
Photo by ctsnow.
I guess it comes down to WHY people are travelling/backpacking/holidaying etc but I am definitely someone who prefers to travel sans technology. On my RTW last year I went for six months without a phone or laptop (although I did have a sneaky mp3 player…) and it was bliss. I found it so strange how people were constantly on their phones back home, worrying about matters they couldn’t even deal with whilst away like friend’s tiffs etc
Obviously for an on-the-road travel blogger a netbook or laptop is necessary to keep in touch and to blog whilst away. But for short term travellers then a think a notebook and pen works a treat to record sights, feelings, impressions etc
Just a thought anyway!
Hi Francesca,
I completely agree with you… I think if you have a reason to take a laptop and gadgets then fine. But if you only need it to check your email upload a few photos etc then there are plenty of internet cafes around!
I think when the smart phones and laptops are purely for recreational purposes, then people could indeed stand to learn to be away from technology – and take a true vacation.
But for those – like myself – who make a living online and travel full-time, a “digital detox” isn’t quite as practical.
Having said that, when I was on the Trans-Siberian train from Moscow-Beijing (one week solid), I had no internet. My initial palpitations at the workload that would await me as soon as I got a connection soon gave way to a certain sense of liberty by not being tied to the net. (Then again, I still had use of my laptop and wrote articles etc….so I didn’t fall too terribly behind). And yes – without having all the distractions of the net, I found I was both productive and more relaxed.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. If you make a living from the laptop/web connection then that’s fine, but if you’re just taking technology for recreational purposes you’re kind of missing an opportunity really. Just in my opinion. 🙂
I say that if you are making a living with it AND also to keep in touch with family, or if an emergency happens.
You could always limit yourself on usage etc.
We work online, but after that, we try to set limits on how much time is spent plugged into a laptop. A few times I have caught myself getting too engaged online (when it had nothing to do with work), and the thought occurred to me that if I was going to sit in a coffee shop and be online all day, I may as well stay home. That got me out of my chair quickly.
I second Nora’s opinion!
I think it’s getting increasingly important to take some sort of a break and limiting yourself.
Some very sensible opinons here!
I think being aware of how much time you spend and your habits, what’s healthy and what’s necessary is becoming increasingly important. It’s quite easy to get sucked in and spend time online when you could be doing other things that are important in life.
I really like this idea. I always feel a bit edgy for the first few days without a laptop but it doesn’t take long to remember that life goes on without Twitter and Facebook. I spent my first year travelling without a laptop and I must admit that im pretty gutted that I didn’t have one now. I ended up losing a lot of photos and not recording my memories but if I we just going away for a couple of weeks I would definitely do a digital detox.
Hi Monica,
Yeh I traveled for nearly two years without anything other than the odd internet cafe.
They should do a blog detox trip! 😀 I bet they’d catch someone on their phone!
I enjoy my moments away from twitter and email etc when travelling. I think it keeps you in the moment, and as you mentioned there isn’t much you can do about things going on at home. I love a good paper journal for capturing moments.
If I bring my laptop or not, depends on the trip and who I am travelling with. I always have my iphone on me though for a quick catch up at the hotel over wifi.
With today’s tablets I can see it getting easier to bring tech with you on the road, it does make it easier having you books, entertainment, a way to back up/edit photos etc on you as you go very convenient.
It will be interesting to see how things evolve, as they have changed a lot the 11 years since my backpacking trip of New Zealand/Australia/Fiji I can only imagine what the next 10 years will bring.
Hi Michelle,
Good points! I wonder what it’s like now traveling in South East Asia etc.. it’s been a few years since I backpacked out there but I guess there is a lot more tech on the road these days.
I’d like to go away and leave it behind… if the site would look after itself of course! 🙂
I think all depends on will power and range of interests. If you derive pleasure from offline communication or motion activity you will forget about Facebook etc. during traveling or will reduce online presence to a minimum. Sure sometimes it’s nice to check new messages in social networks in late evening after rich offline day 🙂
I think creative thinking must be inserted in the minds of certain people or companies to achieve positive forwardness in respect to social media like Facebook etc. If we must travel, let us make it easier for more social communication without feeling the pressure of every day life..