Holidays should be about switching off, relaxing, and spending time with loved ones, yet new data[1] has highlighted how holidaymakers spend their breaks checking work emails, completing work tasks, and even attending meetings.
Despite the majority (93%) of holidaymakers saying that being able to switch off from work and other daily concerns is a priority, a survey of 1,000 holidaymakers, commissioned by Holiday Extras – the UK market leader in holiday extras like airport parking, hotels, and lounges – reveals that few are using their holidays as a digital detox to power down their devices and disconnect from their jobs.
One in five (21%) admitted to checking their emails daily, with one in seven (14%) logging in to look multiple times a day. It doesn’t end with just checking them though; nearly a third (31%) respond to them too, with only a third (34%) staying logged out.
Some of us feel the pressure to do more though – with one in five (18%) taking calls from colleagues while on holiday, and one in ten (8%) even attending meetings, making a digital detox impossible.
Work tasks completed on holiday:
- Responding to emails (31%)
- Checking my inbox to make sure everything is ok (30%)
- Taking calls from colleagues (18%)
- Managing my diary to prepare for the return to work (13%)
- Completing tasks that have a strict deadline (10%)
- Attending virtual meetings (8%)
Younger workers appear to be the most career-conscious, with two in five (42%) aged 25-34 checking their inboxes on holidays, compared to over a third (35%) of those aged 35-44, and just 18% of those aged 45-54.
Including work-related activities, 28% spend more than three hours a day on their phones while on holiday.
The most common uses of mobile phones while travelling are to take photos (74%), to keep in touch with friends and family (57%), and using social media (53%).
Seamus McCauley, Head of Public Affairs at Holiday Extras, said:
“Our data shows that too many holidaymakers are struggling to disconnect and let go of work during much-deserved annual leave.
“At Holiday Extras, we believe that holidays should be an opportunity to relax and switch off from everyday life with a digital detox, and we want our customers to be able to have more holiday with less hassle.
“Even if you need to keep an eye on your inbox, there are other steps you can take to make your trip run as smoothly as possible and give yourself the best chance to shut down from work.
“Ensuring your airport parking is sorted once you book your holiday means less time panicking on your phone trying to find a place to park right in time for your flight. Airport lounges allow you to sit back and relax, allowing you to move to holiday mode sooner, and sorting your airport transfers in advance means less time fiddling around on your phone trying to secure a ride.”
For more information on airport parking, hotels, lounges, fast track and more, visit https://www.holidayextras.com/
About Holiday Extras
Holiday Extras is the only place to go for your holiday extras, offering the best choice, value and service in the market. Its AI-powered, hyper-connected and ultra-personalised app transforms ordinary trips into extraordinary journeys by finding the right airport parking, airport hotels, lounges, transfers, insurance, car hire and other holiday extras for every trip.
Established in 1983, Holiday Extras makes bookings for over 8 million travellers each year. When booking with Holiday Extras, if plans change, no matter what the reason, Flextras ensures it will always be easy and free to cancel the booking and reschedule for another date. The company has been listed eleven times in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For.
The Holiday Extras booking app is available to download now via a link at HolidayExtras.com
(1) Research with 1,000 holidaymakers completed in September 2025.
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