A smartphone is the one thing Irish men can’t live without on holidays, but for women, it’s sun lotion, according to a national Red C survey conducted on behalf of leading independent travel specialists, Travel Counsellors.

One in three (34%) men could not bear to be parted from their handheld digital gadget when holidaying. Next on the list of priorities was sun lotion (27%), followed by tea (13%), while a book was last on the list, picked by just 12%.

Age is also a factor when it comes to being parted with technology, as half of men under 44 could not live without their smartphone on holiday, while just one in four of those aged over 44 said the same.

For women, the number one priority was placed on sun lotion, chosen by 35%. This was followed by smartphone (28%), a good book (18%) and a cup of tea (12%).

General Manager at Travel Counsellors Ireland, Cathy Burke said: “Holidays have long been associated with being a time to ‘switch off’ and ‘unplug’. However, times have changed and it’s no surprise that our smartphones, used for a plethora of things like keeping in touch, taking photographs, booking holidays, hiring cars, and getting directions, have become such a necessary object on holidays.

“While a high number of women also picked smartphones, it was definitely sun lotion that rose to the top. This shows a great attitude towards sun safety, and it’s evident that this focus on being sun smart is something that women under 25 are definitely embracing, with 42% of this age bracket choosing sun cream.”

The nationally representative survey of over 1,000 adults also found that one in four women over 45 would choose a novel as their top pick for holidays, while just 10% of those aged under 25 said the same.

Demographically, one in three living in Dublin would choose their smartphone, compared to one in four in Connaught and Ulster.

Travel Counsellors is an independent travel company whose global network of 1,600 travel professionals deliver bespoke travel experiences to both the leisure and corporate markets. There are 70 Travel Counsellors operating throughout Ireland, offering unparalleled industry expertise and first-hand destination knowledge coupled with a work ethic which revolves around genuine care for the customer.

For more information see http://www.travelcounsellors.ie/