Millennials waste one day of holiday on their phones – despite 76% wanting to unplug

Overloaded Brits are squandering hours of holiday time on their phones – even though nearly all intend to disconnect during their precious time off. 

New data from adventure travel company Flash Pack underscores the extent to which most of us compulsively message and scroll, even against our better instincts. In a study of 2,000 Brits*, the average adult spends 75 minutes a day of holiday on their phone – rising to 106 minutes for millennials aged in their late 30s and early 40s. 

That is the equivalent of nearly two hours per day wasted on phones; or just over a full day of a typical two-week holiday. It comes despite the fact that over 76% of us are travelling with the specific purpose of switching off and escaping the pressures of everyday life. In addition, just under half of millennials (45%) say that relaxing holidays leave them only “briefly relaxed – the feeling fades quickly”.

Holidays are supposed to be about showing up and seeing the world

Although most people want to unwind on holiday, the majority aren’t interested in formal wellness retreats or digital detoxes. In Flash Pack’s study, 58% of millennials say phone-free holidays feel extreme, and just 17% of Brits think that traditional wellness retreats genuinely help them reset. More than a third say they’ve never even considered the option.

“These new stats are pretty revealing – most of us, especially millennials, want to step away from our phones on holiday,” says Lee Thompson, co-founder and CMO of Flash Pack. “However, somehow, we end up as hooked as ever, wasting hours or even days scrolling when we could be filling our cup. Holidays are supposed to be about showing up and being present. That can’t happen if you’re looking down, rather than up and out at the world. 

The trips focus on moments of stillness and reconnection

“There’s a second contradiction, which is – despite wanting to rest on holidays – most Brits aren’t interested in the traditional notion of wellness,” continues Lee. “Our research indicates that structured retreats and digital detoxes don’t cut it. Rather, travellers want something a little less extreme to help them unwind and reset.”

With this in mind, Flash Pack has launched a new Pause collection of wellbeing trips, designed to help millennials and Gen X take a step back from life’s noise. Curated for solo travellers aged 30-49 and 45-59, the adventures provide quiet moments of stillness and reconnection in nature settings worldwide. Wellness takes centre stage, but the trips are also intended to be fun and immersive. Phones are discouraged rather than banned, and a touch of luxe is very much part of the experience (this isn’t about going without). 

Instead, the gentle, intentional portfolio of journeys creates an invitation for anyone craving peace and balance in the great outdoors. Experiences range from a sunset sound bath with live instruments off the Caribbean coast of Colombia to a sensory nine-course feast in rural Spain and an opportunity to stay the night with the Achuar community of Sharamentsa in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Join guests of a similar age, with a shared desire to be present

As with all Flash Pack trips, the focus is very much on meaningful connection and friendship, too. The wellness adventures carve out space to slow down and find fresh perspective, outside the premise of rigid routines. They do so by drawing together small groups of people of a similar age and life stage; all of whom share a desire to rest and be present.

This community element is key. Flash Pack’s data shows that, when it comes to restorative breaks, more than half of Brits (51%) prefer small-group holidays with like-minded people to going it alone (14%). And 42% agree that making new friends or connecting with others is an important part of feeling recharged.

“You might assume that when someone is feeling overwhelmed, they just need time alone – but our data suggests something different,” says Lee. “People need other people. That sense of community and belonging is really important – it helps to escape the pressures of everyday life. 

People need other people. That sense of community is key

“Our new Flash Pack Pause trips are carefully curated to bring together small groups of solo travellers of a similar age and mindset. The focus is on wanting to step back and reconnect in slow-nature landscapes and moments of joy. That might look like sunrise yoga by the sea, a quiet safari picnic or night-time stargazing – all shared with others who get it, whether that’s your fellow travellers or experienced local guides and facilitators.”

With nearly two-thirds of Brits (56%) choosing “time in nature” as the best way to relax, Flash Pack Pause prioritises wild outdoor settings. These vary from a luxury safari retreat on the banks of South Africa’s Olifants River to a beautifully restored mountain farmhouse in Spain, an Ecuadorian ecolodge only accessible by river or light aircraft, and a remote island paradise off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia. Each Pause trip is centred around a single hotel, to enhance the feeling of space and calm.

For many Brits, the hardest adventure isn’t physical – it’s psychological. The challenge is to find a holiday where people can fully untether from their phones; and to have others to connect with when they do. And if this form of wellness brings fun and adventure, too – well, that can only be a bonus.

Find out more about Flash Pack’s Pause collection of worldwide wellbeing trips.

*Flash Pack survey of 2,000 UK adults was conducted by OnePoll, Feb 2026