Bragging on Social Media a Big Part of Travel for Millennials
More than a quarter of the 18-to-29-year-olds polled said they would not enjoy a vacation that did not include a smartphone.
For some travelers, the small screen can be more alluring than the beach scene.
A survey out this month claims to have discovered a new millennial trend: Travel bragging.
According to the research commissioned by Expedia brand Hotels.com, 30 percent of the millennials surveyed acknowledged spending more than four hours a day on their mobiles while traveling.
Forty-four percent of the 18-to-29-year-olds posted shots of food to brag about their trips, and two out of three said they'd rather upload a selfie than a picture with their significant other. A majority, or 60 percent, of youthful travelers acknowledged uploading photos while on the road. Another 39 percent said they'd check in at cool places while on vacation and 32 percent tracked the interaction of their posts.
Fourteen percent said they'd rather travel with their smartphones than their partners, and 15 percent of the travelers said they get more anxious when their phone runs out of battery than if they argue with their partner on a trip. Eight percent said bickering with their partner would be a bigger deal than needing a charge for their cell phone.
"We do have data that supports that not just millennials, but also 30-39 year olds and 40-49s also use their phones often while traveling," said a spokesperson.
But the unwillingness to enjoy life without a cellphone extends to other age groups as well, with 28 percent of travelers overall saying they wouldn't enjoy a holiday without their mobile.
Worse, 15 percent of travelers "admitted they would pose anywhere for that flawless selfie, often putting selfies ahead of safety," noted Daniel Craig, Vice President of Mobile at Hotels.com brand.
A third of travelers would decline to book a hotel that doesn't offer free Wi-Fi.
The research, conducted in November 2017, involved 9,000 respondents in 30 countries.
