Nearly half of ‘Generation i’ Brits can’t ‘switch off’ on holiday

47% of 18 to 34 year olds will take their laptop on holiday this year but nearly 1 in 5 won’t have travel insurance

New research from comparison site Gocompare.com has revealed that nearly half of younger Brits aged 18 to 34 can’t bear being out of contact with work and friends when they go on holiday. The age group has been dubbed ‘Generation i’ for their addiction to the latest technology and gadgets and desire to be constantly connected.

46 per cent of 18-34 year olds who took part in the survey said that they can’t relax on holiday unless they can check their emails and messages, and 27 per cent will only go on holiday to places where they can still communicate with their workplace. And although some idyllic destinations describe the holiday experience they offer as ‘no news, no shoes’, it seems that for many younger travellers it’s a case of ‘no news, no thanks’. 45 per cent of 18-34 year olds check what broadband or phone connection they will have at their destination when they book their trip.

Highlights of the research include:

46% of 18 to 35 year olds can’t relax on holiday unless they can check their emails
92% will take their mobile/smartphone on holiday with them
45% will take their iPad or other tablet device
47% will take their laptop
36% said their partners get annoyed if they check Facebook, Twitter or emails when they’re on holiday
51% have been shocked by the size of their mobile phone/data bill after their holiday
47% said that a holiday cut off from communication with the outside world would be holiday hell

The findings of the research, carried out amongst over 1,300 British holidaymakers, suggest that for a large number of younger adults a holiday is no longer an opportunity to get away from it all. In fact nearly half (47%) indicated that a holiday where they were cut off from all communication with the outside world would be their idea of holiday hell.

92 per cent of 18-34 year old holidaymakers will take their mobile/smartphone with them on holiday, whilst 45 per cent will take their iPad or other tablet device, and 47 per cent will take a laptop.

However, the need to stay in touch with work and friends can lead to holiday arguments and big phone bills on their return. 36 per cent of 18 to 34 year olds said that their partner gets annoyed when they check their emails or Facebook and Twitter whilst on holiday, and 51 per cent have been shocked at the size of the mobile and data bills they’ve run up during their trip abroad.

Unfortunately, younger holidaymakers are also the least likely to protect themselves and their belongings on holiday with nearly 1 in 5 (18%) of 18 to 34 year olds saying that they don’t buy travel insurance.

Jeremy Cryer, head of travel at Gocompare.com, said: “Improvements in global communications make it harder to go anywhere where you can truly get away from it all. But it appears that, for a large percentage of ‘Generation i’ travellers, that’s just the way they like it. However, expensive phones, tablets and laptops can be attractive to opportunistic thieves so holidaymakers do need to take care with their gadgets and ensure they have adequate insurance cover if they get lost or stolen.

“The other expense which can often catch tourists out is the higher cost of call, text and data charges when using foreign mobile networks. 37 per cent of British holidays of all ages have been shocked by large phone and data bills once they’ve got home. Customers should always get advice from their network provider on how to use their phone and data services most efficiently whilst on holiday or they could face a big bill on their return.”