With analog travel, people are craving genuine, unfiltered interactions where a moment is savored rather than captured for social media.
In a world dominated by screens, instant notifications, and algorithms, a growing number of consumers are seeking out more analog experiences, and that includes travel. While this development isn’t about rejecting technology altogether, there is a movement towards intentionally creating spaces where presence, sensory engagement, and authentic experiences take priority.
The Global Wellness Institute has reported on both analog wellness and analog travel as 2025 wellness trends, stating “More hotels and resorts are channeling the zeitgeist and offering retro, pre-digital (even pre-industrial!) tech, hobbies, arts and crafts that restore what our screen-based lives have stolen from us: the social, our radical attention, the tactile and real. Think vinyl record “deep listening” sauna sessions and sophisticated arts and crafts programming … more blacksmithing than biohacking.”
The GWI includes examples in which tour companies and resorts are creating analog adventures where guests are given printed maps, pocket dictionaries, old-school alarm clocks, Polaroid cameras, books, games, and simple “dumbphones” for emergencies.
Paradoxically, while the front-facing experience is simple, delivering these immersive stays usually relies heavily on technology working invisibly behind the scenes.
The growing appeal of analog travel
This desire for tech-free travel experiences indicates a widespread digital fatigue. People are craving genuine, unfiltered interactions where a moment is savored rather than captured for social media. Luxury travelers, in particular, are redefining exclusivity as time, silence, and an escape from the hyper-connected world. This shift is reflected in several key trends:
Digital detox retreats – High-end resorts and wellness retreats are implementing ‘phone-free zones’ or offering ‘device-free stays’ where guests are encouraged to surrender their electronics upon check-in. At Miraval Berkshires, for example, “[A] digital device-free resort lets guests participate in the Miraval Berkshires experience free of distraction—and gives you permission to fully unplug.”
Sensory-driven experiences – Travelers are seeking experiences that engage touch, taste, sound, and scent, such as hand-written journaling, film photography, and traditional wellness rituals.
Slow travel and immersion – Rather than high-speed, itinerary-packed trips, there is a movement toward walking pilgrimages, train journeys, and extended stays in nature that emphasize depth over speed.
Low-tech luxury – From candlelit lodges and handwritten welcome notes to calligraphy workshops and artisanal bath rituals, hospitality brands are curating experiences that embrace craftsmanship over automation.
The essential role of behind the scenes technology
While an experience can feel refreshingly low-tech, behind the scenes, technology plays a key role in ensuring analog travel is effortless, curated, and luxurious. Here’s how:
Personalization without digital intrusion
Luxury hospitality brands require tech-driven guest profiling to anticipate preferences without requiring constant guest input. Even if a traveler is opting for an off-grid retreat, data analytics can still provide information on dietary needs and preferred spa treatments, so these can be readied in advance without intrusive digital interfaces.
Booking and operations without friction
The ability to smoothly book an exclusive, tech-free wellness experience still depends on cloud-based reservation systems that optimize scheduling, guest preferences, and inventory management. Resorts offering silent meditation retreats or bespoke spa treatments rely on advanced software to maintain availability without overbooking.
Tech-free, but not inconvenient
Guests may want to disconnect, but they don’t want inconvenience. Many luxury resorts integrate discreet tech-enabled service models, where staff communicate via internal systems to meet guest needs without requiring guests to interact with technology themselves.
AI and automation behind the curtain
Software systems assist in managing staffing levels, guest flows, and wellness treatment availability to maintain a smooth guest experience. While guests feel like they are in a remote, analog world, their stay is optimized without unnecessary wait times or service gaps.
Security, safety, and sustainability
Even in a ‘tech-free’ setting, guests expect high levels of security and emergency responsiveness. Software must ensure data security and compliance with local data laws and regulations, while AI-powered emergency response systems help avoid disaster in areas prone to wildfires, or extreme weather.
The future of analog travel and wellness
As luxury travelers seek more intentional, restorative experiences, the hospitality industry is striking a delicate balance, curating tech-free experiences on the surface while leveraging sophisticated technology behind the scenes. The true hallmark of luxury will be discretionary technology, where digital tools serve guest without demanding their attention.
Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Learn more at book4time.com.