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Plugged-in vacation
Survey says: Tourists can't get away from all that communication technology
June 23, 2005: 6:11 PM EDT
By Les Christie, CNN/Money staff writer

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Leisure travelers are finding it harder and harder to turn their backs on their personal tech devices while vacationing a survey conducted by web-based travel service Travelocity in connection with syndicated travel columnist Eileen Ogintz, revealed.

Travelocity yesterday released results of the survey, which was conducted in late April. The findings include: For a full one/third of travelers being out of electronic touch with their home or office via cell phone, laptop, or PDA was actually more stressful for them than not being plugged in at all.

Travelocity spokeswoman Amy Ziff was quoted in a press release saying, "Technology has become such an integral part of travelers' lives that many of us find it impossible to completely unplug."

Nearly two out of every five travelers in what Travelocity dubbed its "Plugged In Poll" admitted that during their trips they sometimes "sneaked away" from family or friends to check or respond to email, voicemail, or instant messages. Only 25 percent say they never plug in while on vacation.

Younger travelers, males, the affluent, and frequent travelers are more likely to want to stay in touch. Their main instrument of choice is the cell phone, which 80 percent of travelers carry with them.

In one way, though, staying plugged in is not an overriding concern; 84 percent of travelers report they do not select their destinations based on what kind of access it offers to technology.

Huge numbers of laptops are lost or stolen every year. For more on that story, click here.

Cingular doesn't want you using that cell phone on airplanes. Click here for more.  Top of page

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