Travel
Screen Break: 10 Digital Detox Destinations
These tranquil hotels and retreats across the globe invite you to disconnect from your devices and truly reconnect – both with yourself and with the world around you
Picture this: you wake up to the sound of your phone’s alarm. With one eye barely open, you tap on your messaging app and encounter an onslaught of notifications. You then open your email and immediately get a knot in your stomach, courtesy of work emergencies, news updates, credit card bills and discounts you simply cannot miss – all within the first five minutes of consciousness.
If this stressful beginning sounds like a familiar preview of what the rest of your day will look like (with a dash of mindless scrolling thrown in), it might be time for a digital detox. From an eco-lodge in a Colombian jungle to an adorable cabin in the Irish countryside, these retreats across the globe invite you to disconnect and truly reconnect.
Samsú
Wicklow & Westmeath, Ireland
Analogue is the way to go at these peaceful cabins immersed in the serenity of Ireland’s wild nature. Founded by self-described “workaholic and technology addict” Rosanna Irwin, who fell in love with the simple life she found on a small Danish island, Samsú welcomes digitally overwhelmed travellers to two lovely cabins located close enough to Dublin to make the trip easy, yet far enough to provide a sense of release. Equipped with board games, fire pits and film cameras, the WiFi-free cabins are ideal if you’re looking to forgo the online world and focus on recharging your mental battery instead.
[Images courtesy of Samsú]
The Offline Club
Several European Locations
Remember when we used to meet new friends or work on projects without relying on our screens as tools? The Offline Club brings back the magic of human connection through a series of events in eight European locations, including Barcelona and London, hosting activities like guided walks, picnics and cooking classes for members. To go all-in on the offline life, check out their retreats, currently offered in the Netherlands and France, and replace your online calendar with nourishing, schedule-free days and the freedom to interact with other travellers – or perhaps take some time to enjoy your very own company.
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Morromico Lodge
Nuquí, Colombia
Hiding among lush vegetation, volcanic sand beaches, mangroves and azure waters, this family-owned eco-lodge welcomes no more than 10 guests at a time, granting them the ultimate gift: the feeling that this awe-inspiring natural paradise was waiting just for them. Morromico’s position in western Colombia places it in one of the most biodiverse corners of the world, populated by exotic fish, more than 600 species of birds and even humpback whales between July and September. WiFi- and TV-free, the lodge is an invitation to make long-lasting connections with nature and its many wonders.
[Images courtesy of Morromico Lodge]
Miraval Resorts
Several Locations
Designed for wellness and rejuvenation, you can escape to Miraval Resorts in places like the Texas Hill Country and Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, where inspiring surroundings set the mood for a revitalising stay. All four properties encourage you to function in Miraval Mode: to be present, experience each moment… and significantly reduce your digital activities. While you are allowed to use your phone in your room and certain designated areas, the programme is designed to steer you toward a healthier relationship with your devices that extends well beyond your stay – a welcome long-term benefit of such a luxurious once-in-a-lifetime experience.
[Images courtesy of Miraval Resorts & Spas]
Rancho La Puerta
Tecate, Mexico
Another legendary wellness refuge worth saving up for, this 4,000-acre ranch in northern Mexico makes nature the star of the show. Guided hikes, salsa dancing classes, aerial yoga lessons and strength training are among the endless ways to stay active, while the stunning spa beckons for a bit of pampering. Using your phone in the ranch’s public areas is forbidden, not only out of respect for other guests’ tranquillity, but also to give yourself a break from the constant stimuli that hide within your device. It’s safe to say you won’t miss it.
[Images courtesy of Rancho La Puerta]
Unyoked
Australia, New Zealand, UK
Sprinkled across Australia, New Zealand and the UK, Unyoked’s cosy cabins are designed to replace your daily chimes and pings with the rustle of leaves and the melody of birdsong. Based on the scientific evidence of the many benefits nature has on our physical and mental wellbeing, as well as our creativity, Unyoked’s stylishly designed cabins offer amenities like board games, yoga mats and cassette tapes – yes, cassettes! – but above all, incomparably breathtaking surroundings that are brighter and sharper than any digital image. The accommodation options are many, but the website’s fun Cabin Quiz will lead you to your ideal refuge.
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The Global Retreat Company
Several Locations
With more than 50 years of collective experience, the team at The Global Retreat Company curates a wide array of escapes all over the world, including a selection of Digital Detoxes that promise to reinvigorate body and spirit – and perhaps inspire you to rethink your device dependency once and for all. Head to Morocco for an emotional freedom experience featuring surfing and EMDR therapy; rest in a former monastery in the heart of Umbria; immerse yourself in the wisdom of Ayurveda in India, or release your creativity during a writing expedition in Kenya.
[Images courtesy of The Global Retreat Company]
Grand Velas
Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
The Mexican Pacific, with its deep blue ocean and slow, easy pace, is a perfect setting for a digital cleanse – especially at a place like Grand Velas. This splurge-worthy all-inclusive resort proposes a Digital Detox programme that invites you to focus on yourself and those around you by placing your electronic devices in a safe and swapping your suite’s TV for old-school board games, making the detox a family affair. A relaxing spa, on-site tennis and pickleball courts, plus miles of gorgeous beaches, are reminders that life is much more vivid when enjoyed off-screen.
[Images courtesy of Grand Velas]
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