Despite frustration about overseas roaming charges for mobiles, 45% of travellers are still using their devices to plan and research trips when in-resort.
Research among 1,200 Brits by TripAdvisor found 47% consider the often eye-watering roaming fees as a barrier for using a mobile in a foreign country.
One in five cited reliability with connections as another frustration for using a mobile when travelling. Just 7% noted the small screens associated mobiles as a cause for concern.
So what are those willing to risk a hefty bill on their return home actually doing with their mobiles around trip planning?
- 29% - researched restaurants.
- 28% - checked flight status.
- 21% - researched attractions.
- 18% - researched accommodation.
- 16% - researched tours.
It seems that fewer Brits are embracing the world of travel apps so far, or at least are lagging behind their counterparts across the Atlantic Ocean.
A similar study by TripAdvisor in May 2011 found that around 60% had downloaded and used a travel-related smartphone application. The UK version of the research came in at 39%.
The UK research also found that 14% of Brits had reviewed a hotel, restaurant or attraction when on-the-road, while 15% had used a check-in service such as FourSquare, Facebook Places, etc.
Curiously (in that some consider the UK to be fairly mobile-savvy) it is not just compared to the Americans where travellers in the UK are lagging behind.
One in five Brits have booked accommodation on a mobile compared to 28% of Europeans overall, while 53% of Europeans are using their mobiles in a destination to research information and other travel details (versus the 45% of those in the UK).