Vacationers spend more time on their phones than soaking up the sun. According to a survey by Hotels.com, the average traveler spends three hours per day looking at a mobile device, and only two hours a day on the beach or by the pool. Time on mobile devices goes to social media bragging, food finding and navigation. According to the 9,200 travelers polled, about half upload photos to social media during their trip with the full intention of making followers jealous, while 28 percent check into desirable spots for the same reason. Every one in 20 travelers competes with fellow vacationers to post the best content from their destination, a habit particularly found in men. The most popular social media channel while on the road is Facebook, followed by Instagram and YouTube. The most searchable content is food related. Travelers search for restaurants and food markets over tourist attractions, maps, travel discounts and local beaches. When traveling, men are more willing to pay for WiFi access than women, and 31 percent require a hotel offering free WiFi. “For travelers the mobile effect begins with booking, as 43 percent of people in our study have booked a hotel on mobile. It’s therefore no surprise that today’s modern tourist is so reliant on their smartphone, and as technology is advancing it’s becoming a more indispensable travel companion,” said Dan Craig, senior director of mobile, Hotels.com.
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