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Time of India
13-05-2025
- Time of India
Travellers have started paying thousands to escape their phones on vacations; here's the surprising reason behind
In the world of today, no chai break ever goes unentwined from the grip of digital notifications. It might be a WhatsApp check or Instagram Reels scrolling—that pressure to constantly be online follows us everywhere. But one subtle travel trend on the rise right now goes entirely against that technological addiction. Men and women alike are now splurging huge amounts to become totally disconnected from their devices. As contradictory as it sounds, digital detox getaways are quickly becoming the in-thing, particularly for Indian tourists. Explore this emerging phenomenon and the reasons why increasingly more people are opting to bring their phones along. Vacations without Wi-Fi are becoming the new luxury Based on the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, almost 27% of international travellers want to leave behind doom-scrolling and stay more present on their vacations. Even stronger, 17% of travellers are intentionally looking for getaways that compel them to go completely dark. Picture checking into a high-end resort, then being requested to turn in your phone at check-in. No Instagram posts. No work emails. No food delivery notifications. Just you, the moment, and a stunning natural environment. This trend has not escaped the notice of the travel industry. According to the New York Post, UK travel website Cool Places has modified its marketing tactics to promote properties that lack Wi-Fi. Company founder Martin Dunford comments, "We used to promote Wi-Fi availability as a bonus. Now, we label the places with no Wi-Fi—and those are the ones being booked." It appears that the promise of disconnecting is increasingly appealing to travellers looking for refuge from the digital realm. Luxury vacations that help you disconnect to reconnect Consider Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico. Their digital detox package treats visitors to a high-end stay—without technology. Rooms are supplied not with televisions, but with books and board games. Visitors' cellphones are locked away by the concierge in an impenetrable safe. Rather than binge-watching on television, visitors can participate in activities such as biking, yoga, or snorkelling. These in-depth experiences are crafted to get visitors to connect with themselves and with nature. These retreats are not inexpensive. They cost thousands of dollars a night, but even with the high price tag, there is a demand, especially among high-stress city professionals. For many, especially those in high-pressure fields like tech and finance, this type of escape might seem like a fantasy—a fantasy that is increasingly within reach for those who want to escape the stresses of contemporary life. A digital detox that forces you to unplug completely In America, one highlight is Urban Cowboy Lodge, set in the New York Catskills. This facility presents an extreme digital detox model. Upon entering, visitors have to lock up their phones in a safe box for the time they are on the premises. Many guests do initially go through withdrawal symptoms. As Dunford, who worked with British universities to research digital detox habits, said, "Guests go stir crazy in the first 24 hours. But by the third day, they're either relaxed or even dreading turning the phone back on." This kind of detox holiday is aimed at provoking those who are habitually "online," making them connect again with the world around them, their friends, and themselves without the omnipresent distractions of technology. Psychological impact of 'digital detox' The ones who have experienced digital detox vacations often describe the transition as both unsettling and profoundly healing. The initial silence can feel jarring, but many come to embrace it. One writer recounted the feeling of dread when finally turning their phone back on, after deliberately delaying the moment. They described the sense of peace and solitude they had found without their phone as something they wished to prolong. This feeling is strongly shared by many people in India, especially those who have been affected by the burnout that came from the pandemic-era work-from-home lifestyle. The lines between work and play became more and more blurred during this period, and many professionals felt bogged down by the constant digital din. For these people, a digital detox is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity for their mental health. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Time of India
Digital detox tourism trend: Why travelers are now paying to have their phones taken away?
In a world where even a chai break isn't complete without checking WhatsApp or scrolling through Instagram Reels, a curious travel trend is quietly gaining ground—one where people are not only unplugging but paying thousands to have their phones taken away. And while it may sound absurd at first, digital detox holidays are fast becoming the next big thing, even among Indian travelers . #Operation Sindoor The damage done at Pak bases as India strikes to avenge Pahalgam Why Pakistan pleaded to end hostilities Kashmir's Pahalgam sparks Karachi's nightmare No Wi-Fi, No Worries: The Luxe Life Without Notifications According to the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, nearly 27% of global travelers say they want to stop doom-scrolling and be more present on vacation. That's not all—17% are searching for retreats that force them to unplug completely. Think about it: you check into a luxury resort, and the first thing you're asked to do is hand over your phone. No Instagram. No work emails. No Swiggy alerts. Just you, the moment, and a stunning view. Travel companies have taken note. UK-based site Cool Places has flipped the script on how they market their properties. 'We used to advertise Wi-Fi access like a perk. Now, we tag the places with no Wi-Fi —and those are the ones getting booked,' says Martin Dunford, the company's founder. Board Games Instead of Binge-Watching: A Mexican Escape Take Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico, for instance. Guests signing up for their digital detox package are welcomed into plush rooms—minus any tech. TVs are replaced with books and board games, and mobile devices are locked away by the concierge in a secure safe. Activities like biking, yoga, and snorkeling take center stage. Prices? A few thousand dollars a night. And still, people—especially high-stress urbanites—are lining up for this escape from the digital rat race. For Indian professionals glued to work calls and LinkedIn even on weekends, this kind of luxury detox may feel like a dream. But it's one that more and more Indians, especially those working in tech and finance, need to consider. You Might Also Like: UK tourist speechless after he visits Indian city: 'Looks like Singapore' iStock Writers who've experienced this kind of detox say the silence is both jarring and healing. A Retreat for the Chronically Online According to the New York Post , Urban Cowboy Lodge in New York's Catskills offers one such model. Guests here physically lock their phones away in a box upon check-in. At first, the withdrawal symptoms are real. 'Guests go stir crazy in the first 24 hours,' says Dunford, who worked with UK universities to study digital detox behavior. 'But by the third day, they're either relaxed or even dreading turning the phone back on.' 'Vacation from Society': What Detoxing Really Feels Like Writers who've experienced this kind of detox say the silence is both jarring and healing. One described the moment of reuniting with their phone as 'dreaded,' stretching the phone-free peace as long as they could before finally turning on Google Maps to find their way home. This sentiment resonates with many Indians who've experienced burnout, especially after the pandemic-induced work-from-home culture blurred all boundaries. For them, a digital detox isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. As our screens continue to dominate both our work and leisure time, one thing is clear: the future of luxury travel may not be about how many stars a hotel has, but how little signal it offers. So next time you book a holiday—ask yourself not where you're going, but what you're leaving behind . Would you dare to vacation without your phone? You Might Also Like: Mumbai man reveals why his family is not able to afford foreign trips even after having high-paying jobs
New York Post
11-05-2025
- New York Post
Digital detox retreats rise in popularity
In a time when people can't even go to the bathroom without bringing their phones — surprisingly, the interest around digital detox retreats is rising, and people are willing to pay thousands to go on them. While on vacation, 27% of adults want to be present and spend less time doom-scrolling, according to a 2025 Hilton Trends Report, which was originally reported on by the BBC. And 17% of vacationers are taking things a step further by searching for trips that will force them to unplug and possibly ditch their technology altogether, according to global luxury home-rental platform Plum Guide. Advertisement 'We used to have a tag to show which properties had wi-fi. Now we're adding a 'no wi-fi' tag,' Martin Dunford, the founder and CEO of Cool Places, a UK travel accommodation booking site, told the BBC. Guests at the Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico can book a stay here and sign up for their Digital Detox program. Once travelers arrive at their designated hotel room — they'll notice that the room is free of any tech. TVs are replaced with board games, and guests' devices are kept in a safe by the concierge, according to the resort's site. On a digital detox trip — guests are forced to lock up their devices for the duration of their stay. Aaron Weiss – Advertisement This forces guests to partake in complimentary activities such as biking and snorkeling tours. The average rate for a room is a couple of thousand dollars a night. And if people aren't looking to spend so much money to travel outside the country for this kind of retreat — stressed-out travelers can stay at the Urban Cowboy Lodge in the Catskills, which is only a few hours north of NYC. At this Catskills cabin-style boutique hotel, guests lock their devices in a box for the duration of their stay. Something that might sound terrifying but is ultimately rewarding. Dunford worked with the University of Greenwich and the University of East Anglia to study people's patterns and behaviors when they completely disconnect on a trip. Advertisement As expected, they found that at first, it's quite the adjustment for people to not have access to technology while away. Disconnecting from the outside world allows travelers to partake in outdoor activities. EFStock – 'Guests go stir crazy in the first 24 hours,' Dunford said. 'But after 48 hours, they are well adjusted and start getting into other activities. At the end of a three-day stay – or longer – we find guests may be happy to have their phones back or can be a bit take it or leave it about it.' Advertisement 'By the end of the three days, I was far from excited to open the lockbox and turn my phone back on – in fact, I was dreading it,' said a writer for The Week in a story about their experience taking part in a digital detox trip. 'I prolonged my vacation from society for as long as I could, but was eventually forced to bite the bullet when I got into the car and remembered I was reliant on Google Maps if I had any hope of getting home,' the writer pointed out.
