The rules explicitly state that your hands need to be visible at all times, so if you
slip your hands into your pockets even once, you’ll be briskly escorted out. This
is one experience that is best taken in without technology, especially since it’s
over in a few minutes.
CHINA
When you’re traveling to China, certain precautions need to be taken with the
tech you bring. First, the country’s infamous Great Firewall is no joke—you
won’t be able to access most of the sites you’re used to visiting. YouTube,
Google, Facebook, and Twitter, as well as virtually all non-Chinese sites, are
blocked unless you have access to a VPN. For messaging services, it’s much
easier just to use Chinese apps such as WeChat, since they’re what everyone in
China uses anyway.
As for your devices, if you bring a laptop or smartphone, don’t leave them
unattended, even in a hotel room. Someone could easily install spyware on
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travelers to be aware that they could be under surveillance at any time and that
personal possessions such as laptops and smartphones can be searched without
your consent or knowledge. It might be better to play it safe and buy a local
device and sim card—they’re ubiquitous and cheap.
DIGITAL DETOX RESORTS
There are a lot of places you can’t bring your tech, despite the temptation to do
so—but what if you don’t want to? Sometimes the point of taking a vacation is
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kinds of unplugged traveling out there, but Digital Detox is probably one of the
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from all things digital, forcing you to reconnect with nature; focus on analog
activities such as woodworking, crafting, and cooking; and participate in
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agree that disconnecting for three days to a week is most practical and
impactful. (Check out our story “You Don’t Have to Disconnect to De-Stress
While Traveling” in this issue for more on untethered travel.)