Mobile computing ruins holidays for workaholics

Quarter of people on holiday take a laptop and one in tem logs into the office and gets work done while on the beach

New figures released by the Travel Industry Association of America have revealed that nearly a quarter of laptop owners take their machines with them on holiday.

Mobile phones were the most popular piece of technology to take abroad, with 86 per cent of the 1,500 people questioned, but 24 per cent took along a laptop as well, more than double the number who took and MP3 player. One in ten admitted to bringing the laptop because they want to be able to keep in contact with the office and six per cent actually work while on holiday.

"Unfortunately, some vacationers never really get to leave "work" at home. Yet surprisingly, one in ten enjoy staying touch with the office while on vacation, making for some very lucky employers," says Sheri Lambert, senior vice president of research house Synovate's Travel & Leisure practice.

Disturbingly nearly one in ten laptop carriers said they took their computer because they couldn't bear to be offline while on holiday. In addition 15 per cent of people are now choosing hotel accommodation based on its facility for high speed or wireless internet access.

"In this day and age of PDAs, digital cameras, wireless and high-speed Internet access, travellers can share their experiences and photos as they happen instead of waiting until they return from vacation," remarked Dr. Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for the Travel Industry Association.

"The down side is that we can, or have to, also stay in touch with the office."

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