lowcostholidays.com survey | Switching ;on' whilst on holiday

A survey released this week by cheap holidays specialist, lowcostholidays.com and Dixons Travel, reveals the growing role that electronic gadgets play in everyday life, even when we are away and ‘switching off’ on holiday.
The online travel company which provides Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Spain holidays, found that whilst on holiday, 73% of those questioned consider a mobile phone essential, 46% cannot travel without an MP3 player and 40% won’t leave home without their straighteners or other hair appliances. Internet access is also of importance to holidaymakers with over 59% of respondents claiming they will access the internet whilst away either at an internet cafe or via computers at the hotel.
Keeping up to date with what’s happening back at home is also important for holidaymakers with 87% using their mobile on holiday and over 46% relying on text messages for this purpose. Mobiles are also handy for capturing holiday photos and videos with 40% using their phones to record their best holiday moments.
Facebook and other social networking sights have also become a holiday essential with 43% of respondents uploading their holiday photos on to Facebook to share them with their friends and family.
However in spite of all the technology packed in our suitcases, a good book and relaxation lead the way in what holidaymakers enjoy the most and how they want to unwind on holiday. With the fact that a holiday is never long enough being cited by 22% of respondents as the most annoying part of a holiday.
Commenting on the survey findings, Paul Evans, CEO of lowcostholidays.com said, "In today’s fast moving online world, gadgets not only help holidaymakers choose and book their holidays, they also feature highly on their holiday essentials list but it’s reassuring to see a good book is how holidaymakers really want to unwind whilst away."
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
Eshe Brown
01273 760 959

lowcostholidays.com
• lowcostholidays.com is the consumer facing travel business of the lowcostravelgroup.com selling directly through its advanced website and call centre
• The website was launched in 2009 and is listed in the top 15 travel agency websites in the UK by Hitwise, attracting over 9m visitors in the last 12 months
• Using the latest technology it creates millions of holidays everyday, combining the best priced airline seats from over 40 airlines with over 2,500 hotels
• The fastest website for dynamically packaging consumer holidays – faster than 95% of all other web sites in the UK
• lowcostholidays.com holds an Air Transport Organisers License from the UK Civil Aviation Authority and is a member of the Association of British Travel Agents
• Winners of the Travolution Best Travel Agent- Tour Operator Website – 2009 and Number 20 in the latest Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track League Table