Tech Made Simple

Hot Topics: How to Fix Bluetooth Pairing Problems | Complete Guide to Facebook Privacy | How to Block Spam Calls | Snapchat Symbol Meaning

We may earn commissions when you buy from links on our site. Why you can trust us.

author photo

Do You Need Your Tablet or Laptop to Have a Good Vacation?

by Christina DesMarais on June 23, 2012

Laptop at the beachThe ubiquity of mobile devices has changed society in so many ways, for better and worse. Some of our biggest pet peeves are now people who have cell phone conversations in confined public spaces or people who text while walking or driving. Yet many of us have gladly done away with land lines and now enjoy turn-by-turn navigation on our phones or tablets to get us where we need to be—a vast improvement over the days of using a paper map.

Indeed, mobile devices can markedly improve travel. You can sit at an outdoor café in Athens overlooking the Parthenon and find your hotel for the night with a few taps in your Trip Advisor app on your smartphone. Or you can use Google Maps on your tablet to see exactly where you are in midtown Manhattan relative to the closest subway station.

But is our reliance on our mobile devices for travel getting out of hand?

According to a new survey conducted by Intel, U.S. vacationers will go to great lengths to bring them along and find places to charge them. And if they can’t use them, it’s cause for distress.

The "Intel Survey: Tech Norms for Travelers," specifically exposed the obsession travelers have with their Ultrabooks, laptops and tablets and found that Americans are emotionally attached to these devices to the point of being less stressed when they have them available while vacationing.

Check out these stats from the U.S. travelers surveyed:

  • Almost half (44 percent) said they feel anxious traveling without their Ultrabook, tablet or laptop and 87 percent of young adults younger than 30 are happier when traveling with their devices.
  • Losing these mobile computing devices when traveling is more stressful than losing a wedding ring, according to the majority of respondents.
  • Almost half of travelers (46 percent) and 63 percent of young travelers admit compromising their personal comfort and hygiene to find a power source to keep their device charged. This means people are choosing a restaurant or coffee house based on outlet availability, looking for outlets in public restrooms (yuck!), as well as trading comfort and hygiene to sit on the floor near an outlet.
  • Sixty-four percent said if space in their luggage was limited and they had to choose between bringing along their device or things like hair dryers or styling tools, toiletries, sunscreen, workout clothes and even shoes, they’d pick the device.
  • More women than men says it’s “very stressful” when they lose a mobile computing device compared to men (82 percent vs. 73 percent).
  • Thirty percent don’t think they need to power off their devices when they fly.
  • Thirteen percent of young travelers admit to "hogging" an available power source.
  • Forty-six percent of travelers say their biggest pet peeves about traveling with technology relate to device security, including worrying the device may be lost or stolen and someone glancing at their screen. This concern rises to 62 percent among young adult travelers.

About that last one, there’s the rub. Yes, you can use your tablet to navigate while walking the streets of some busy metropolis, but is doing so really safe? It’s worth hundreds of dollars and in any large city there are inevitably malefactors who are looking for things to steal. Therefore, it’s probably prudent to stow your expensive device when you’re not using it.

And yes, you can smash your laptop into your cramped luggage and forgo bringing running shoes that you can use on the beach, but if it’s truly a vacation, what’s the point? Do you need it so as to work while on holiday? If you’re lugging along a laptop just to surf the Web or post on Facebook, maybe you should consider making your getaway one that takes a break from digital media as well.

As for the finding that people will scour public bathrooms for an outlet to charge a device or choose a place to hang out based on the availability of power, here’s a tip: Before traveling, invest in a backup battery.

The Innergie PocketCell is one of many available at Amazon; it’s only $59.99 and powers many portable devices.

Your thoughts? How comfortable would you be traveling without a mobile computing device in tow?


Topics

Computers and Software, News, Blog


Discussion loading

gravatar

From Rosey on June 25, 2012 :: 10:01 am


I’ve seen this dependency increase for myself as well, and my last trip just a couple of weeks ago had me compromising comfort and good food to ‘snag’ an open seat along the wall at the airport during a layover…that had an electrical outlet next to it.  And right along with the premise of your article, I have to note that those seats are really hard to get because everyone else wants to sit there and power up/use their devices, as well.

I love your advice about leaving the electronic device I am (even though the thought of it made me panic a bit).  smile

Reply

gravatar

From Julie Isham 536 on June 25, 2012 :: 1:23 pm


Oh man, that article was ME! Just last month I took a trip to Arkansas, and had to have my laptop, my Kindle Fire, my 3 iPods, my iPhone, my 3 chargers and of course, all the cords for everything… and then I had to make sure the train had plug ins!!!! Holy cow - I took less clothes with me than electronics! And no, none of it was for work! At least I can say I left my Nook Color at home (but, actually, that was a mistake - I meant to take it!) And, I plan to take it all with me on my trip to Memphis next month! Still not for work… Each one has different items that I use for “relaxation” - reading, movie watching, digiscrapping…

Reply

gravatar

From Suzanne Kantra on June 26, 2012 :: 1:24 pm


Wow! And I thought I was a tech junkie! What do you do with three iPods plus an iPhone? For your kids?

Reply

gravatar

From Julie Isham 536 on June 26, 2012 :: 9:32 pm


Well, no, the only kid is 23 and living in Canada! I have the 5th Gen iPod - holds all my movies. Then got an iTouch - holds mostly my books and music (a couple of movies). And my iPhone is mostly for games and photo and phone purposes - and some internet! I collect things (movies, music - you know!!!!)!

Reply

gravatar

From Mary Withrow on June 25, 2012 :: 10:37 pm


Im in a related field and I can tell you that I always carry on my laptop over anything else.  Lol

Reply

gravatar

From Robert Cherny on June 26, 2012 :: 10:48 am


Part of every trip has to do with photography. Photography plays an important role in our choice of vacation destinations. I carry enough cameras and assorted support equipment for two of us. Since we generally review our pictures after a day of beach or boating or hiking or whatever, a laptop is an important part of our trip. We also carry a Kindle and a Fire, but we use those as substitutes for the pile of paperbacks we would otherwise have packed. I do check my email occasionally, but for us, the electronics are an integral part of what we expect from a trip.

Reply

gravatar

From Julie Isham 536 on June 26, 2012 :: 9:37 pm


Oh yah, I don’t know HOW I forgot to not list all the camera and camera equipment along with everything else - I do photography and scrapbooking - usually have my Canon 3D, 6 lenses, Tripod, Unipod, my little Nikon, a bunch of memory cards, and of course, I also grab my iPhone for quickies!!!! And the hubby uses his Sony and his iPhone also… Guess I don’t normally put those in with “electronics”! But, the laptop is essential for that every evening also!

Reply

gravatar

From Cindy Coughlin on June 26, 2012 :: 12:37 pm


I would feel lost without my ipad.. connect with local hotspots, not the the tourist stuff. ( especially restaurants and off the path boutique shops.  Also I was hoping with my new ipad app: helloalbums, users would create their own ” little memory books” before they leave, on the plane, train, car..
Easy, fast and it might get there before you get home. This is not the coffee table book, it fast, easy solution to remember your trip/day on actual paper. A

Reply

gravatar

From Sue on June 29, 2012 :: 10:30 am


Although I would be able to do it, it would be very hard to go a week without my computer and internet connection.  It would be a week of withdraws!

Reply

Home | About | Meet the Team | Contact Us
Media Kit | Newsletter Sponsorships | Licensing & Permissions
Accessibility Statement
Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookie Policy

Techlicious participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which provide a small commission from some, but not all, of the "click-thru to buy" links contained in our articles. These click-thru links are determined after the article has been written, based on price and product availability — the commissions do not impact our choice of recommended product, nor the price you pay. When you use these links, you help support our ongoing editorial mission to provide you with the best product recommendations.

© Techlicious LLC.