Sunglasses, suncream, swimsuit…and laptop? As more holidaymakers than ever before are logging on while abroad, editor Jenny Williams asks if internet access abroad is enhancing or hindering our summer holidays

A recent survey claims 94 per cent of summer holidaymakers will be logging onto the web while abroad this year – double the number of people doing so two years ago. Websites like WiFi holidays even offer the opportunity to search holiday accommodation by internet access. But as much as I’m a tech-lover, being online and on holiday doesn’t fit my concept of ‘getting away from it all’.

Rob Webber, Broadband Expert’s commercial director, says:  “The growth in popularity of smartphones has made it much easier and more convenient for more consumers to get online while abroad.  Couple this with the pull of social media networking, and it seems us Brits are keen to stay connected to the Internet even while taking a well-deserved break.”

Webber concludes, “The fact that just six per cent of people say they wouldn’t get online shows that Brits can’t bear to be away from sites like Facebook, Twitter, news sites and email; which have become part of the daily routine for so many of us.”

But going on holiday is not part of our daily routine. It’s not every day I get to lie on a beach so why should I transfer my daily routine to the beach? For a start, mobile phones and laptops are not beach-proof. All that sand and salt water and sure to clog up your qwerty keyboard and damage your iPhone touch screen before you’ve even managed to accept a call or write a text.

Aside from the impracticalities of using gadgets on the beach, it’s easy to see why some reach for their Crackberry alongside a poolside cocktail. A survey by AlphaRooms.com in the UK showed that 80 per cent of Britons worried about their work while on holiday, while three-quarters made or received a work telephone call while away. AlphaRooms.com is now calling for Blackberries to be banned from the beach and for a return to holidays being an escape from work pressures.

While logging in on holiday keeps work-stressed employees connected with work (and some of the worries at bay), for some, accessing the internet abroad is not a bad thing at all. In fact, it’s a practical resource. “On my holiday last year, I used the internet to look up sun-stroke remedies after my wife’s “little wanders” in the midday heat,” says musician and software developer, @tvcruelty. “It’s important to check to make sure it’s raining in the UK too”, he adds.

“In my line of work, if I did not have a internet connection; my day would stop. And with free internet around the world, in pubs and restaurants, it makes my life much easier,” says games journalist, Ricky Stone (@garyth3duck).

“Having internet access abroad is important because of the ability to share pictures with loved ones and family members still at home. And with Skype, and other similar services, it’s even easier for loved ones to stay in touch,” he says.

Even if you want to go gadget-free on holiday, it might be harder to remain offline in the future. A hotel is trialing using iPhones and Blackberrys as hotel keys. Yet, while I sometimes imagine I’m on a beach while sat at my desk, I don’t want to take my desk with me. Sorry little laptop, there’s no room in my suitcase or my beach bag for you this year. Too many shoes.

Is being able to access the web while on holiday important to you? Let Witch Tech know. Drop us an email.

Main image used via Flickr Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of RubyBlossom