Every first Tuesday of the month, Dave Dean, our go-to guy for travel tech and gear, shares his insights. This time, he’s talking about how technology has changed the way we travel.
Some people argue that gadgets take away from the travel experience. They say it’s just a way to stay connected to our regular lives, instead of embracing the adventure of travel. You’ve probably seen this yourself – travelers glued to their phones or laptops, not interacting with each other. It raises the question: does technology prevent us from making genuine connections when we’re on the road? Are we missing out on spontaneous moments because we’re too busy staring at our screens?
As a tech writer, Dave loves technology, but he thinks it’s worth discussing this issue. He remembers when hostels were filled with backpackers playing cards, reading books, and sharing stories. Now, it’s all about updating Facebook statuses and photo albums. It’s become harder to make new friends unless the Wi-Fi goes down.
Smartphones and tablets, despite their many apps, seem to make us less social when we travel. They keep us distracted. And it’s even worse when we’re outside. If we have cellular data, we’re constantly checking notifications instead of enjoying the moment. If we don’t, we’re looking for Wi-Fi. Long journeys become about battery life and downloaded TV shows, not about the people and places around us.
With a world map in our pockets and a blue dot showing our location, we’ve lost some of our spontaneity. Getting lost can be scary, but it can also be fascinating and eye-opening. By using technology to prevent getting lost, we miss out on these experiences.
So, does this mean we should leave our gadgets at home and travel with just a guidebook and an open mind? Not necessarily. Dave traveled without technology in the late ’90s, and while he sometimes misses those simpler times, he wouldn’t go back. Technology has its benefits. It can save us time, like when Dave got separated from his girlfriend on an Italian train and wasted eight hours looking for her. A quick call or Facebook message would have solved the problem.
Technology also makes things less daunting. With apps like Hostelworld and Google Maps, finding accommodations in a new city late at night is much easier. And there’s nothing glamorous about walking in the rain to find a working public phone or paying more for flights because you had to book them through a travel agent.
Dave loves how his phone has replaced everything from his alarm clock to his flashlight. He doesn’t need to carry a Walkman and mixtapes to listen to his favorite songs on the road. He can check his bank balance without making an international phone call. And instead of waiting an hour to cash a traveler’s check, he can get money from an ATM in under a minute, almost anywhere in the world.
When Dave moved to London 15 years ago, he only had a paper map. Now, with a phone, he can explore more of the city on foot. He knows how long the trip will take and which routes to take. Technology has made it easier to get lost and find your way.
While Dave sometimes misses the technology-free travel days, he wouldn’t go back. He can still have adventures with a smartphone in his pocket, just by turning it off. Like everything else in life, balance is key. It’s okay to check your email or chat with your mom for half an hour, but then put your phone away and talk to the people around you.
Take a few photos of the Taj Mahal, but don’t spend 20 minutes composing the perfect selfie. Keep yourself safe in unfamiliar cities, but also let yourself experience the unexpected.
Technology hasn’t ruined travel. It’s made it easier, more accessible, and safer. But it can lessen the experience if you let it. So don’t let it. Gadgets are just tools to help you travel. They’re not a necessity, and they won’t always improve your trip. In fact, they can make it less interesting if you become too attached to them.
There are always incredible moments waiting to be discovered on the road, and you won’t find them on Facebook. They’re hidden among the people, places, food, and culture of wherever you’re visiting. No matter how much technology you have, that hasn’t changed.
Use your laptop, smartphone, tablet, and camera when they’ll make your time on the road easier, then turn them all off to immerse yourself in the moment. What do you think? Does technology make our travels better or rob us of a deeper experience?
