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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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