Go cold turkey and take a digital detox
In 2013 digital detox is increasingly on the travel to-do list. As technology and social media become increasingly pervasive, so too does our need to make a conscious decision to tune out from the digital world.
Cheapflights.co.uk has picked the top destinations to kick back and relax without your devices in 2013.
Cheapflights Travel Expert Oonagh Shiel says: “Nowadays social media and the digital world are firmly entrenched in our routines. Many of us give up alcohol or rich food for a couple of weeks – so, why not do the same with our digital habits?
“In our everyday lives we’re all plugged in, socially-connected and switched-on, but from time to time it’s good to take a break and your holiday should be just that; an escape from the everyday. After two weeks away you’ll come back refreshed, digitally-cleansed – and ready to tell everyone about it with a new status update or post.
“Here at Cheapflights we’ve taken a break from Pinterest to find some inspiring destinations that will ensure you get away from it all; offering great views, sporting surrounds or immersive experiences – and a welcome distraction from digital distractions, at least for a while. So put down your smartphones, iPads and Kindles and cut yourself off from the world in new surroundings where the wonder of your environs will help you to forget that you haven’t logged on, ‘checked in’ or pinned something for a while. At first your thumbs might twitch to get back to their gadgets – but you’ll soon feel revitalised by the great outdoors and technology will become a distant memory!”
Take a great escape to Grenoble from £70 per person
Escape to the mountains of Grenoble, France and clear your mind by hiking across the three mountain ranges. Take a cable car to Bastille Hill, a series of fortifications overlooking Grenoble, go for a dip in the mountain lakes and a trip on the little train of La Mure, which has 18 tunnels and a spectacular view of the river Drac as well as the dam of Monteynard. Head to the Grande Chartreuse monastery, hidden in the Chartreuse Mountains, to discover what life was like before the technological era and perhaps take your own vow of silence.
Cheapflights.co.uk is offering return flights from London Gatwick to Grenoble from £70 per person. This offer is valid for travel between 15-29 March 2013.
Chill out in Iceland from £310 per person
Escape to Iceland and discover the remote lands filled with mud pools, geysers, glaciers and waterfalls. Put your gadgets down and treat your mind to the natural beauty of the undulating green, blue, yellow and pink lights of the aurora night sky; a good time to go since solar activity is currently close to its peak, making the view even more spectacular. Head to Westfjords, a north west peninsular connected to the rest of Iceland by a 10 kilometre-wide isthmus between Gilsfjordur and Bitrufjordur to lose all connections. The Westfjords remains a world away from the rest of Iceland and ensure that no digital activity can take place.
Cheapflights.co.uk is offering return flights from London Heathrow to Reykjavik from £310 per person. This offer is valid for travel between 20 February- 6 March 2013.
Ditch your digital habits and dive into the Maldives from £542 per person
Discover a digitally-free Maldives in 2013. The warm seas of the Maldives have high visibility which makes it the perfect diving location. In a place that is more sea than land, there is no end of outdoor activities to take part in, from water polo to surfing. Visitors should stay at Cocoa Island, a private island resort designed for those seeking wellbeing. This is definitely a place to leave technology behind and let the Asian-inspired treatments rebalance your emotions; the perfect escape from Twitter.
Cheapflights.co.uk is offering return flights from London Heathrow to Male from £542 per person. This offer is valid until 15 July 2013.
Unwind in Barbados from £726 per person
Escaping to the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean is the ultimate way to feel refreshed. Coral reefs fringe the Barbados shoreline to provide excellent snorkelling and scuba diving. What's more, Barbados boasts art, nightlife, music, history and incredible restaurants to keep your mind far from the digital realm. Head to the Raw Food & Surf Barbados Retreat to ditch your gadgets and indulge in yoga, raw food and surfing.
Cheapflights.co.uk is offering seven nights at the three-star Worthing Court Hotel, Christchurch, from £726 per person. This offer includes return flights from London Gatwick and room-only accommodation. This offer is valid for travel on 11 March 2013.
Cleanse your mind in India from £411 per person
Cochin, India, is rich in heritage and natural charm. Located on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the scenic state of Kerala, this seaside town close to the Ajodhya Hills is guaranteed to keep you cut you off from data roaming! Visitors should head to Lakshadweep, an archipelago consisting of 17 uninhabited islands, to get a real feel for the wilderness Cochin has to offer. Cochin is home to the Sree Krishna temple, the first Hindu temple to open its gates to all Hindus, irrespective of caste. This is the ultimate retreat to switch off and rejuvenate the mind.
Cheapflights.co.uk is offering return flights from London Heathrow to Cochin from £411 per person. This offer is valid for travel until 30 June 2013.