Remember when going on vacation meant people couldn't get hold of us? We might call home from the hotel or send a postcard that arrived three days after we got back home. Nobody expected an immediate response because nobody knew exactly where we were.

Now, we can answer work emails from the beach, check messages from a mountain cabin, and spend half our vacation looking at what everybody else is doing.

But, some Americans are getting tired of being available all the time. In fact, disconnecting is becoming part of the vacation itself. And, for some travelers, a destination without reliable cell service is starting to sound rather appealing.

We're Getting Serious About Unplugging

Priceline's 2026 travel trends report found that 59% of Americans are setting stronger boundaries with work during vacations. Some are deliberately choosing destinations where it's easier to disconnect. Priceline even has a name for it: dead zoning.

The idea is to visit places where poor cell reception or limited Internet access makes it difficult to stay connected to work. That might mean a remote cabin, a quiet campground, or somewhere far enough from the usual distractions that checking email is more trouble than it's worth.

For once, having no bars on our phones might be good news.

Putting the Phone Down Isn't So Easy

Of course, wanting to disconnect and doing it are two different things. A September 2026 Pew Research Center survey found that 45% of U.S. adults had tried to reduce their smartphone use during the previous year.

But, among those who tried, only 25% said they'd been very or extremely successful. Another 52% described themselves as somewhat successful, while 23% admitted they hadn't made much progress at all.

And it’s easy to understand why. Our phones have our boarding passes, hotel reservations, maps, and restaurant recommendations. They also happen to contain every work email, social media notification, and group chat we're supposedly taking a break from.

The same device that’s helping us enjoy the vacation is also making it difficult to leave everyday life behind.

Sometimes the Destination Does the Work

That's part of the appeal of an off-grid getaway. When there's no reliable Wi-Fi, we don't have to spend the entire vacation exercising heroic levels of self-restraint. We might spend an afternoon reading, take a long walk, or sit outside without feeling obligated to photograph everything.

And, unlike a typical vacation filled with reservations and activities, an unplugged trip doesn't need much of an itinerary.

Of course, disappearing completely isn't practical for everyone. Parents may need to be reachable, and plenty of travelers rely on their phones for safety and directions. But, there's room between answering every notification and abandoning technology altogether.

Being Unavailable Is the Whole Point

We've spent years making it easier for people to reach us wherever we go. Now, some travelers are looking for places where that isn't quite so easy. We don't necessarily need a remote wilderness cabin to enjoy a little peace. 

Turning off work notifications or leaving the phone in the hotel room for an afternoon might be enough. And, if you do happen to book somewhere without cell service, there's no need to apologize. You’re on vacation. The email can wait.

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