Whats app

[sodthisforfun]

The cheeky chappy pointing his shiny black thingy at me and my ox cart says he was taking a photo of my fine animal. Photo indeed - pfft! Looked nothing like a camera.

I'm much happier touring with my rukky crammed with tour guide, map, camera, torch, diary, pen, cash, blah...blah.... Stupid phones.

"
To really get to know somewhere
Google Maps is in danger of doing what satnav did for motorists - turning them into zombies who blindly follow instructions while taking in nothing from their surroundings.."

Seems am not alone in my thoughts.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/the-science-behind-taking-your-phone-on-holiday/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucekasanoff/2014/07/31/15-reasons-not-to-take-your-phone-on-vacation/

Personally every holiday I've had I've not turned on my phone. Being self-employed I've kept my phone next to me 24/7 and am tied to it. I don't want that on holiday, it's hard-earned and I want to really relax, not think about work and actually take in my surroundings. I managed for years to go on holiday without a phone, used my head to get around and taken everything in. I don't feel like I've missed out, exactly the opposite.

 

[HawkEye244]

I agree with you Sod but I dont think you need to go cold turkey, just moderate your usage. It's also handy to have a phone if you are visiting somewhere for the first time. I was in Berlin for new years and managed to cover a sh1t ton more ground than without. I was able to quickly pick and choose places to visit, find great places to eat, join two tours which I signed up to through the phone, managed to rent two bikes using an app and ride them around the city. Didn't stop me talking to people or having a good time. Everything we did as a group on the holiday was found through the phone, even the club we went to for new years itself was advertised online and booked online.

 

[Notch7]

know. I love the Europeans

There are certainly some very fit ones