Where and how to take a phone-free vacation

A growing number of hotels, resorts and even islands are positioning themselves as phone-free getaways for travelers seeking to disconnect. Properties cited include Ulko-Tammio in the Gulf of Finland and a range of retreat-style hotels and cruises that encourage or enforce reduced device use.

Examples range from the oceanfront Hotel Sylvia in Newport, Ore., where phones are discouraged in public spaces but Wi-Fi is available for e-readers, to Kabn on Loch Fyne in Scotland, an off-grid pair of cabins powered by solar panels where guests can text a WhatsApp concierge yet many choose to turn their phones off.

Domu Retreat in New Zealand promotes a gadget-free “slow stay” with yoga, communal meals and prompt cards at the table, while Delfin Amazon Cruises operates vessels through Peru’s Pacaya Samiria reserve with little or no Wi‑Fi or cell service. Some resorts, such as Miraval, offer tools like phone “sleeping bags,” and the piece lists packing alternatives—from wristwatches and travel alarm clocks to standalone cameras and games—plus apps such as Opal and ScreenZen to curb screen time.

Catherine Price, author of How to Break Up With Your Phone, recommends a pre-trip “trial separation” to ease withdrawal and says people often report that time feels slower and they feel calmer and more tuned in.

Key Topics

Culture, Digital Detox, Ulko-tammio, Kabn, Hotel Sylvia, Domu Retreat