Does Technology Belong On A Family Holiday?

Technology has now become part of our everyday lives.  Think back to the early days of computer use when computers were mainly used for work purposes and hardly featured in the everyday home.  That wasn’t that long ago.  In a surprisingly short space of time, we’ve become dependent upon computers and technology and it’s really hard now to imagine life without them.   According to the Office for National Statistics in the year 2013:

• Accessing the internet from a mobile phone or other device doubled between 2010 and 2013 (rising from 24% to 53%).
• 36 million adults (73%) in the UK accessed the internet every day (this is 20 million more than in 2006 when records of internet use began).
• 72% of all adults bought goods online
• 21 million households (a massive 83%) have access to the internet.

This means that most families in the UK are now using technology and accessing the internet on a daily basis.  But what about technology on holiday?  Should your annual holiday be an ideal opportunity to forget all about day to day life and ignore the online world or should you stay available and keep in touch at all times?  We’re taking a look at some of the reasons that technology can be a useful part of a family holiday.

Many of us nowadays actually plan and book our holidays online.  It really does make sense.  We can look at all the different options that are available to us in a way we weren’t able to even ten years ago.  There was absolutely no way we could check out all the different holiday venues available without the World Wide Web.  Booking online means that we can find the cheapest deals available at the touch of a few buttons and then secure our vacation with an instant online deposit to ensure that we’re not disappointed.

However, what about when it’s time to set off?  Do you take your laptop, your tablet, your mobile phone or should you leave them at home and go commando (technologically speaking) to make sure you really do get away from it all?

If you’re driving to your holiday location, chances are that you’ll be using a SatNav of some kind.  SatNavs have become a valuable tool for motorists and this is never truer than when we’re travelling to somewhere new.  Paper maps just don’t stay up to date in the way in which SatNavs do and they certainly can’t warn you of any speed cameras, road works, new roads or other obstacles you may come across.

When you reach your holiday destination you’re sure to want to make the most of it.  Okay, for some of us staying poolside at the hotel or relaxing on the beach all day may be what the holiday is all about.  However, if you really want to explore the area and get a feel for your environment, you’ll want to go out and about.  This means that you need to know what’s going on in and around the place you’ve chosen to stay.  The easiest way of doing this is by researching online.

Sure, you can do the research at home before you go, but that would involve printing out loads of pages to take with you (or, horror of horrors, making the effort to write down all the information you find).  Having access to the internet while you’re on holiday is a great way of making sure that you get the best out of your holiday.  It will give you more flexibility and choice and you can make sure that you’re not missing out on any of the wonderful sights and events.  Access to the internet can make your holiday so much more these days.