No Wi-Fi, no cell service, no problem. The chance to unplug from digital distractions has become a new luxury in today’s hyper-connected world, and travelers are seeking out such experiences now more than ever. Luckily, an increasing number of destinations are championing escapes from technology—from a German spa hotel with an in-room digital detox switch, which immediately flips off all Wi-Fi and devices, to a completely (intentionally) off-the-grid safari lodge in Botswana.
To inspire a little disconnection on your next trip, here are several places that will help you ditch your phone (and laptops and tablets, of course) to reconnect with yourself and the world around you.
Sheldon Chalet in Alaska
A stay in Alaska’s Sheldon Chalet is a chance to get away from it all in every sense: the lodge is only accessible by plane and helicopter, the nearest town of Talkeetna is more than 50 miles away, and there’s no Wi-Fi or cell phone coverage available. Perched atop a lone glacier some 6,000 feet above Denali National Park, the five-bedroom hideaway is an extreme yet luxurious base from which to explore the mountainous peaks and plunges of the amphitheater-style landscape, without the tempting distractions of technology. Activities include aurora borealis-watching, skiing, gourmet glacier picnics, and unforgettable mountain hikes.
Chiva Som in Thailand
Thailand’s Chiva Som is one of the world’s foremost temples of wellness, rejuvenating minds and bodies for more than 25 years among lush beachside surrounds on Hua Hin’s coast. To maintain the resort’s serene ambience, use of electronic devices outside of one’s room is discouraged. Instead, Chiva Som hopes guests disconnect and reconnect with themselves via a menu of more than 200 expert-led treatments and programs, from detox regimens and crystal massages to physiotherapy sessions and aqua aerobics.
Villa Stéphanie in Germany
Set within Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa’s palatial grounds in Baden-Baden, the historic Villa Stéphanie is one of Europe’s grand dame spa enclaves. Here, digital detoxing comes at the push of a button: in each of the 15 elegantly appointed rooms and suites is a bedside switch that shuts off all Wi-Fi and electronics, thanks to a smart copper-plated wall installation. Without the digital noise, the spa experience comes front and center, with an enormous indoor swimming pool and sauna complex, to transformative sessions with in-house integrated medical specialists. We’d argue, though, that the views of the Oos River from the private terraces alone are restorative.
Jack’s Camp in Botswana
Plopped in the middle of the stark Kalahari is one of Africa’s most legendary safari lodges, newly reimagined in 2021 with updated 1940s-style interiors and expanded tents that boast personal plunge pools. What hasn’t changed about Jack’s Camp though is its low-tech profile, where televisions are absent and internet access is nonexistent. The remote vastness of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and surrounding wildlife provide a more natural distraction for guests—here, you might encounter meerkats, partake in bushwalks with local tribespeople, search for Kalahari lions on game drives, or simply unwind in Twitter-free peace at the camp’s lavish swimming pool pavilion.
Lovango Resort and Beach Club in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Lovango Resort and Beach Club is the U.S. Virgin Islands’ splashy new private island getaway—and the territory’s first new resort in over 30 years. Sustainability is at the forefront of Lovango—the property is 100 percent solar- and wind-powered and runs a desalination process producing potable water for island guests. While the resort doesn’t have official digital detox features, the lively beach club, boat charter offerings, and arresting seaside views from every vantage point—especially from one’s villa or luxury treehouse—will make you want to put the laptop down and stay in the present.
Bahia Bustamante Lodge in Argentina
Bahia Bustamante is Patagonia as you might not know it: coastal Galapagos-style wilderness amidst a private sheep farm in Argentina’s eastern peninsula. Set within 200,000-plus biodiverse acres is a rustic seaside eco-lodge perfect for unplugging and being one with South American nature. There is no cell phone service, and the satellite Wi-Fi, only available in the restaurant, is delightfully unreliable. Electricity is limited too, only supplied from sunset hour to midnight (packing a flashlight is recommended). The precious time off of electronics can be used for excursions such as petrified forest walks, encounters with sea lions and penguins, and becoming a ranch hand for a day.
