Digital Detox Needed: Two thirds of Brits check work emails while on holiday

One in 10 complete work tasks on holiday · Nearly one in five take a call from a colleague · 93% say switching off matters

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New Holiday Extras research finds many of us aren't switching off: two thirds of Brits check work emails on holiday, 31% reply, 18% take calls and 8% attend meetings — even though 93% say disconnecting is a priority. Younger travellers are most likely to check in, and 28% spend 3+ hours a day on their phones while away. Holiday Extras recommends simple steps to reduce hassle and make it easier to switch off, from arranging parking and transfers in advance to using lounges.

22 September 2025: Holidays should be about switching off, relaxing and spending time with loved ones — yet new data¹ shows many holidaymakers spend their breaks checking work emails, completing work tasks and even attending meetings.

Despite 93% of holidaymakers saying that being able to switch off from work and other daily concerns is a priority, a survey of 1,000 UK travellers commissioned by Holiday Extras — the UK market leader in airport parking, hotels and lounges — reveals few are using their holidays to power down and disconnect from their jobs.

One in five (21%) admit to checking emails daily, with one in seven (14%) logging in multiple times a day. Nearly a third (31%) respond to emails too, with only a third (34%) staying logged out altogether.

Some feel pressured to do even more: one in five (18%) take calls from colleagues while on holiday, and one in ten (8%) even attend meetings.

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 most career-conscious: two in five (42%) aged 25–34 check their inboxes on holiday, compared to over a third (35%) of those aged 35–44, and 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 mobiles while travelling are taking photos (74%), keeping in touch with friends and family (57%) and using social media (53%).

Seamus McCauley – Head of Public Affairs at Holiday Extras, says:

"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, 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 steps you can take to make your trip run more smoothly and give yourself the best chance to shut down from work. Ensuring your airport parking is sorted once you book your holiday, using airport lounges to get into holiday mode sooner, and arranging transfers in advance all mean less time on your phone and more time relaxing."