Comments on: Travel Tip: Put Away Your Damn Phone!

By: Pam Shaeffer

Pam Shaeffer — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 03:33:42 +0000

Hi Matt,
I agree with your observations. Technology is awesome and it does become addictive, even for Baby Boomers. Humans are social animals. Having a conversation where parties are both present, not distracted, is the best.

My brother told me that the University of Iowa teaches a class on how to talk to others. So many millennials, having grown up with technology, don’t know how to carry on a face-to-face conversation. Amazing.

Happy 4th of July to you!

A fan!

By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 21:32:39 +0000

I like this post.
My phone is my travel computer, notebook, planner, blogging device. Its also a camera, sometimes one of three! But each has its time and place. I can’t say I’ve ever had a problem putting phone or camera away and just enjoying the moment.
But then I’m an old computer geek, not a millennial. ?

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 18:29:08 +0000

I live down in Guatemala – we’ve got volcanoes, Mayan ruins, beaches, mountains, jungles…tons of great sights to be excited about! But what’s the first thing travelers want to see when they arrive? Their phones. I’ve seen buses dropping off travelers in this historic colonial city and the first words out of their mouth are: “Where can I get WiFi”? You’d think they’d say “Woah, this is beautiful” or “Hey, let’s check out those ruins!” – but nope, it’s all about getting on their phones ASAP. You go to cafes and you’ll see groups of young tourists on their phones, staring straight down into their laps. It’s really a terrible addiction…worse yet, people don’t realize it’s a problem. Very sad and kinda frustrating to watch even the traveling nomads devolve into screen junkies.

By: Bert

Bert — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 09:29:31 +0000

OK, so I’m one of those old farts(60s) that started traveling in the late 80s. Waaaaaaay back then, we didn’t have smart phones. We actually talked to fellow travelers to share information. We also shared meals, great conversations and expenses. Not to mention fantastic experiences with new friends.

Having seen how the tone of travel has changed from then to now saddens me. Everyone is so independent now. Nobody has to talk to anyone now. I have Trip advisor, booking.com., and Google Maps,etc. Don’t get me wrong, I use them too. But social interaction has taken a backseat. I don’t long for the good old days. Technology has it’s advantages. But sometimes if you take your nose out of your phone, you might be the better for it.

By: Los Arina

Los Arina — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 07:16:11 +0000

Great post! I started traveling in 2005 and remember the internet cafes fondly, you’d definitely limit your online time! Just used email, I didn’t even have my bebo account set up yet… Ah memories! In 2015 I recreated this experience by not having a phone for 3 months in South America and loved it! Being bored and staring into space waiting for buses etc is good for your soul. Plus you notice the funny little interactions and magic around you! I’d also subject the unsuspecting but always patient locals to my amateur Spanish skills.

Love that Simon Sinek video! He nails it. Need to remember more of this now that I’m back home..

By: Sukran S

Sukran S — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 14:44:12 +0000

I do a variation of this every year where I detox from every digital gadget (my phone, my notebook) that I own and take that time to travel and get some worldly experience. I have been doing this for quite some time now that the people who I work with and my family respect this idea. When I am done with the detoxing month, it’s just pure heaven. You get this reinforced energy to tackle all your problems in life and live more stress-free. It works, it definitely does. Thanks for writing about it.

By: Ken Walsh

Ken Walsh — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 21:49:29 +0000

it really never ends does it..now the virtue signaling is..I am better than other people because I use my phone less, I am not a sheep like they are..and then people try to outdo each other with escalating tales of how they REALLY never use a phone & horror tales of the godawful horror of seeing others do so…. it is the new, I never watch TV thing, the new humblebrag..60 competing entries..I bet I use my phone even less than you do..damn I do not even have one, etc.

By: Arnold

Arnold — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 20:43:02 +0000

Roaming is quite costly and for some reason, my mobile phone data doesn’t work with roaming. So here you have it – I can’t use my phone while abroad, no matter how much I would want it. I use it for taking pictures and video though.

By: Mia

Mia — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 15:59:05 +0000

This is a great post, Matt, and something that I think is so important to remember in our increasingly digital world – to put the phone down and live in the present moment.

I recently visited my longtime best friend in San Diego. Laying in the sand on a beautiful, warm day without work or school to worry about. I had no reason to be checking my email or text messages or be on my phone whatsoever. However, checking my phone has become so habitual that I had to intentionally set it aside and keep myself from looking at it.

I think that in our society right now we feel like we have to constantly be doing something, documenting something or posting something about our lives that it can feel weird to just sit and take in our surroundings.

I’ve crazy how little interaction we can have sitting next to someone on the bus, waiting outside a classroom, or waiting in line at the post office because everyone is glued to their phone.

After routinely practicing mindfulness I have learned how amazing it is to be free from devices, even just for part of the day. It allows me to fully take in a moment and my surroundings with all of my senses, and be completely in that moment. I think that it’s amazing what we can experience free from technology and living in the moment.

By: Kendra

Kendra — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 20:27:36 +0000

Couldn’t agree more. I’m just on the shallow end of Gen-X so I remember life before cell phones. I remember life before the internet. When I think back to my teenage years, there was this brief period of time when I had money and a vehicle – and no cell phone, minimal 24/7 style responsibilities… And I think back to the downright fun I had then. Today, if my cell phone goes dead it’s a potential emergency. I have to answer that karned starned thing any hour of the day, night or in between. Sooooooo missing the days when being “off the grid” was EXPECTED.