Have you ever gone a whole weekend without the Internet? Can you see yourself traveling without a cellphone?

Many people would cringe at the notion but it’s something that I feel is vital to physical and mental health. There is so much digital noise competing for our attentions that it can get overwhelming. The constant buzz of ‘news’, the glow of a screen, the pervasiveness nonsense of social media – it’s enough to drive me batty. When I am home, I try to have a tech-free weekend once every 3 months. That means no mobile, no iPad, no streaming video. Nothing but analog fun (books, conversation, long dinners) from Friday evening to Monday morning. It is a perfect way to decompress  and reenergize, especially when it’s after a lot of business travel.

When I travel for pleasure, I try to be eFree from the moment the plane takes off to the moment I unpack my bag when I get back home. I like the idea of soaking up a destination the old fashioned way, not through the filter of a website or cellphone camera. It’s easy to do. I just make sure that I have a printed copy of my flight details and hotel information; kind of like we used to do it before iPhones.  I do take my iPad when I travel but try not to even turn it on, unless it is to email the folks back home to let them know I am still in one piece. 🙂

It may not be for everyone, but I love it. I love reading a map to find my way, asking locals for directions (when my map reading goes south), and having that sense of adventure of exploring a new place without any preconceived notions. It is kind of thrilling.  Getting a sense of place through afternoon walks along residential lanes and people watching is so much better than racing from attraction to attraction, snapping selfies to post on Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat.

This past weekend was eFree and it was pure bliss. Quiet, relaxing, and just what the doctor ordered. Lots of good meals, conversations, and low tech living. Now, I have to catch up on Game of Thrones before I stumble on a spoiler!

What do you think? Could you travel without access to the Internet? Sound off in the comments, I’d love to read your opinions!