Most backpackers choose to leave smartphones at home

London, Feb 18 (ANI): A majority of backpackers prefer to leave their smartphones behind while travelling, a new study reveals.

Despite smartphones boasting a number of features that would benefit a traveller, a majority of those globetrotting for extended periods, aged 18 to 35, favour word-of-mouth advice for the best travel recommendations, rather than suggestions from social networking sites.

73 per cent preferred speaking to people directly about what to do on their travels, versus the 14 per cent who preferred using social network, via their smartphones, to get tips, found the poll conducted by the TNT Travel show team.

The majority of backpackers (85 per cent) who own Blackberry handsets, and 68 per cent of those who own an iPhone, would prefer to totally leave their handsets at home.

In spite of all smartphones having a sat-nav function, a camera and crucially, an Internet connection, 90 per cent of the 18 to 35 year-old backpackers, said that their favourite travelling gadget was unquestionably the standalone camera.

"Our survey shows that even if the good old-fashioned holiday postcard is disappearing into youth tourism's sunset, nevertheless our audience loves human contact," the Telegraph quoted Kevin Ellis, the chief executive of the TNT Travel Show as saying.

"They believe it's simply not smart to spend your travel time gazing at a smartphone," he said.

More than 1,000 backpackers were polled for the survey. (ANI)