ON HOLIDAY WITH A DUMBPHONE: EVOLUTION OR DEVOLUTION?

We always have our phone in our pocket. When we sit down for dinner, we have the bad habit of placing it on the table. The more polite ones put it face down and on silent mode — but this normalized behavior, according to psychologists, is actually a clear sign of rudeness: “I’m interested in your conversation, but if I get a call, I have to take it.” In other words, we’re prioritizing a piece of technology over the person in front of us.

Of course, the problem isn’t the device itself — it’s how we use it. The phone is no longer just a phone. It’s become a portable office: we answer emails, read articles, chat, and create content all at once.

So the phone has stopped fulfilling its original purpose — making and receiving calls — and has become a powerful content hub. Hence the name: smartphone.

Not so long ago, we used to save space in our luggage for a camera. Sometimes we even wore it around our neck to capture the perfect moment — or simply to protect it while traveling. Now, thanks to our ultra-digital smartphone cameras, we photograph everything: from the QR code on the restaurant menu to every bite of food we’re about to eat.

But what’s the point of filling our phone’s memory — and the cloud — with endless photos and videos, if we don’t even have time to relive those memories?

For many people, that’s totally fine. Still, there’s a new school of thought shouting something very different: on holiday, leave your smartphone at home — or better yet, pack a vintage camera and carry a DUMBPHONE in your pocket.

If you’ve never heard of a DUMBPHONE, here’s what it is: small screens, no Instagram or WhatsApp, and in some cases, no internet or camera at all. A nightmare for Gen X, Y, Z — and even for millennials and boomers alike.

This “new” device (not very techy and not smart at all) is actually just the old-school mobile phone from the ’90s. But don’t worry, no need to dig through dusty boxes — Nokia has already re-released its iconic 8210 and 5310 models, and other major brands are following suit.

Swapping your smartphone for a dumbphone won’t just reduce digital distractions — it could completely shift your lifestyle. Maybe in the first few days, when you see a sunset, your hand will instinctively reach for your phone... but eventually, you’ll start enjoying those sunsets live — unfiltered and undistracted.

We’re convinced that this detox from hyperconnectivity will do wonders for your holidays. And finally, the first question you’ll ask the hotel receptionist won’t be “What’s the Wi-Fi password?” — but (hopefully) “Where’s the beach?”

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