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It comes after a poll of 2,000 adults, who travel abroad, found Gen Zs have never packed a “Rough Guide”, used a traveller’s cheque, or bought a phrase book ahead of a holiday.
Nearly four in 10 (39 per cent) of those, aged 18-24, haven't taken a holiday snap with a camera that needed film. And 28 per cent have never set foot into a travel agent or sent a postcard from their trip – while 17 per cent haven’t worried about using mobile data while away.
More than a quarter (27 per cent) of Gen Zs also admit they’ve poked fun at older people, like their parents, for the way they prepare for a trip abroad. And this is perhaps unsurprising, as nearly a fifth (18 per cent) of those aged 55 to 64 confess they are “not spontaneous at all” when it comes to booking travel.
Elin McLean, general manager at SMARTY, which commissioned the research, said: “Travel has changed a lot, even in the last decade or so. People of a certain generation will remember that it doesn’t feel all that long ago that the inflight entertainment was limited, while meals on board a flight were free.
“But there are lots of other subtle changes that have happened to the way we travel – many of which have come about due to the launch of the smartphone. Our phones are an all-in-one map, translation guide, wallet, weather forecast, currency calculator, guide-book, and more. It can be a real lifeline, but when we can’t use our phones, we are – sometimes quite literally – lost.”
The research also found over a third of millennials (37 per cent) have done just that, and got lost on a trip abroad – which is more than any other generation. It also emerged that 28 per cent of 18-24-year-olds have never even studied a physical map.
And 29 per cent of people admit they’d lack confidence in going on holiday if they weren’t able to access mobile data while they were there – with this rising to 38 per cent for data-dependent millennials.
Some of the nightmare anecdotes by people who couldn’t use their phone abroad include one person who was propositioned in Amsterdam after getting lost in the red-light district. Another was taken to the wrong hotel after being unable to find their booking details, and one person whose cards were declined couldn’t access online banking to fix the issue.
Omid Djalili, comedian and ambassador for SMARTY mobile, said: “I, too, have had a few embarrassing data-less moments on holiday. Those moments are the times when you really regret not having a back-up plan for your rudimentary Spanish or basic map-reading skills! Having data roaming while travelling in Europe makes life so much easier.”
Across all age groups surveyed, 22 per cent have been on holiday without giving a thought to currency exchange rates. And more than a tenth (13 per cent) of those polled, via OnePoll.com, have gone away without even thinking about sorting travel insurance.
Elin McLean at SMARTY mobile, which includes EU Roaming up to 12GB, added: “Mobile phones are a must-have in every traveller’s pocket. They have taken the place of language books, sightseeing guides, cameras, and so much more.
“But many of these things are totally reliant on mobile data – which is why it’s important to make sure you know what your roaming packages are before you head abroad.”
