Earlier this year, I took a ridiculously scenic train ride up the coast of California. As we trundled along the shoreline, passing empty beaches and rocky cliffs, the sun bouncing off the Pacific Ocean, I did what anyone would do. I reached for my phone.
I soon had a 15-second video and a dozen or so near-identical photos of the idyllic view. I even positioned my beer in shot for the ultimate ‘look how amazing this is’ picture. Then I remembered. In an attempt to scale back my digital life, I’d deactivated my Instagram and Facebook accounts. Which meant there was nowhere to post them. Which meant no one would know how amazing it was but me. It was the first holiday in a long time that wouldn’t be documented online in some format – whether in one of those entire albums of photos that we used to upload in the early days of Facebook or in carefully composed and hashtagged Instagram shots.
Even as a sporadic social-media user, I’ve always managed to share a snap of that perfect Greek sunset. And don’t pretend you haven’t too. Indeed, sharing our pictures on social media has become as much a part of our holidays as slapping on the factor 50. Research by Easyjet found that 55% of people have booked holidays based on pictures they’ve seen on social media, and for a third of us, our biggest concern when planning a trip is how nice the pictures will look. It’s no longer enough to enjoy our holiday – everyone else has to see how great it is, too. If a tree falls during a girls’ trip to the New Forest and no one uploads an Insta-story, does it even make a sound?
Even celebs aren’t immune. Just last week, model Kendall Jenner was spotted putting more effort into her Insta-game than her suntan on a group trip to Mykonos. Indeed, Instagram is now such a big influence on travel that companies specifically cater to the Millennials’ thirst for #content. Travel company Be Right Back plans surprise trips for people who pay a subscription, and says a great Instagram feed is one of their customers’ biggest motivations. ‘One of our most popular trip types is called 4thegram,’ says co-founder Gregory Geny. ‘We pick destinations based on shots that will make your account look amazing.’ And there are hotels – like Ibiza’s Wi-Ki-Woo, a favourite of Lottie Moss and ultra-grammable, with its kitsch pink and green decor – which have been especially designed to lure the social media set. Meanwhile, a company in Italy called Roma Experience offers city tours with an ‘Instagram Boyfriend’ – ie, someone who’ll follow you around and squat down to get that perfect shot – just in case you haven’t already got an unofficial photographer of your own.
For 29-year-old Yasmin Dick, who works for a tech start-up and writes lifestyle blog Generation Avocado, a holiday isn’t a holiday without good fodder for Instagram. ‘There is a pressure not just to be able to tell people that you had a really good time, but to provide evidence that it really was as amazing as you said, and that evidence is the perfect photograph,’ she says. However, a recent holiday to Cappadocia, Turkey – which plays host to a spectacular hot air balloon festival – was a wake-up call. ‘They send up 80 to 100 balloons at sunrise. It’s stunning,’ says Yasmin. She had seen the many gorgeous Instagram shots – which made her want to go. But as she got up at 5am to take her own photo from a hotel rooftop, she was shocked to find hordes of people dressed up to the nines jostling for the perfect picture. ‘One hotel put out a fake breakfast so people could pretend to eat it with the balloons in the background. It did make me wonder what on earth I was doing, standing in a queue to get a photograph instead of just enjoying the moment.’
Then there’s the person who has to take all the pictures. For Yasmin, that’s her Fiancé Tyrone. ‘I’m mostly happy to do it,’ he says. ‘But I don’t enjoy getting up at 4am to get the perfect photo or doing 23 takes of the same picture.’ Our growing obsession with getting the perfect Instagram shot has also been blamed for causing over-tourism at destinations that can’t cope with hordes of selfie seekers. Instagram accounts like Insta-Wrecked compare the perfect photo with the reality behind it – like huge crowds and piles of litter. And while we might assume taking the perfect picture will capture the moment forever, research has shown that taking photos of a situation can actually impair our memory of it.
So perhaps it’s time to put down our camera-phones for a moment and just enjoy our holidays. By all means, take pictures – but take them for you, not the several hundred strangers who follow you on Instagram. On that train journey, once I realised I wouldn’t be sharing any photos, I sat back, stared out of the window and simply enjoyed the view. It was really incredible... and you’ll just have to take my word for it
The Dreamiest AirBnB's - Grazia
1 of 19Piper House, Stamford
Quite literally a big hose in the country. It's a converted granary with enough space to sleep you and 15 of your nearest and dearest. There is also a tennis court if you and your mates are that way inclined. £380 per night
2 of 19An Cala, Cairngorms National Park
Down the river amongst the trees in the Cairngorms National Park you'll find a cottage with a hot tub and open fires. The stuff of rustic, autumn getaway dreams. Sleeps 10, but you'll probably be just as tempted to go it alone. £250 per night
3 of 19Boutique Houseboat, Cambridge
Here's a little evidence of how nice houseboats can be. We're talking hard wood flooring throughout and a private garden with decking for when you want to come up for air. Only enough room for you and a luck someone I'm afraid. But intimate is good too...£115 per night
4 of 19Thornton Castle Tower, Aberdeenshire
Because why would you not want to live in a castle for a few days? IRL Disney Princesses rejoice, because you can (voluntarily) be locked (with the key) in this cute castle tower up in Aberdeenshire. £115 per night
5 of 19Alpha, East Sussex
If you're all about the view this gem down in East Sussex might be a shout. 'Alpha' fits seven guests, is on a nameless, private road in the middle of a nature reserve and I'd pay the place a visit purely for the underfloor heating. £400 per night
6 of 19Great Long Barn, Somerset
If you and your mates have been looking for an excuse to visit West Buckland, here it is. Quite simply it's a barn conversion, but a beautiful barn conversion suitable for all fun-times. The most exciting bit is that you can ask for two of the beautiful dogs to be part of the booking too!£900 per night
7 of 19Butley Priory, Suffolk
Creepiness aside, it's be pretty damn cool to be able to say you've slept in an Abbey. Great conversation material, right here in Suffolk. Sleeps 15 with five baths to share between you all. £600
8 of 19St Pancras Clock Tower, London
Question: is there any point visiting London without sleeping inside the clock tower at St Pancras station? Answer: yes, obvs. But you and your pals could be some of the few who can say that this is what they did, though. It get's booked up really far in advance though so move quickly if you fancy it. £158 per night
9 of 19Here Be Dragons, Westhall
You could go for any old room in any old establishment, or you could stay in a room in the fairytale house with an iron dragon perched on top of it. Just saying.£295 per night
10 of 19Dairsie Castle, Fife
Another castle for the wannabe princesses out there. It's entirely self catered, so no chance of the cutlery and crockery from Beauty and the Beast popping in to serve tea. But on the plus side you're only an hour away from Edinburgh if you get bored of the medieval vibes. £550 per night
11 of 19AirShip 002, Drimnin Highlands
You read that right: AirShip 002 is yours for the sleepin'. It's an insulated aluminum pod with all the standard amenities with the addition of a huge fishbowl type view of the Scottish coastline. £150 per night
12 of 19Old Smock Windwill, Kent
Who knew windmills could be romantic? Because apparently they can be. You'd have beautiful and dramatic views of the Kent countryside inside a three-floor fully restored windmill where you'll also be left a basket of fresh eggs from the owner's chickens when you arrive. What a treat. £175 per night
13 of 19Cosy Country House, Crawley
This is a cuter version of the sort of place that I imagine relatives of the Made In Chelsea cast to own. It's where they go and frolic in the summer and play rounders and touch rugby and drink mimosas in between country walks. You could live that life for a weekend... £225 per night
14 of 19St. Benedict's Abbey, Loch Ness
Another Abbey, but this time with an indoor heated pool for you to enjoy/pose by. You'd be staying in a self catering that's part of the wider holiday home known as The Highland Club and for where you'd be staying the price is pretty reasonable. £72 per night
15 of 19Riverside Cabin, Constantine
Quaint cabin in the woods anywhere? It's very cosy and was quite literally hand built with wood from the surrounding forrest. There's also an outdoor fire pit for marshmallows and stuff. £55
16 of 19Scandinavian Lodge, Cornwall
Fancy the Scandi but can't make it out to the Nordics? Don't worry you can get a similar type of vibe in Cornwall, don't you know? Well, kind of. Six people can go stay at this beautiful hot tub boasting lodge on the side of a big hill. £200 per night
17 of 19Tree Sparrow House, Cornwall
See here: the treehouse of dreams. It's got those endearing countryside vibes but is also super lose to the sea in Cornwall's Lizard Peninsula. The shower isn't located in your cabin, but the naked trek through the greenery is probs worth it.£110 per night
18 of 19Rockaway, Temple Cloud
You'll really be immersing yourself in another world with this one. Beyond your private room and out in the Rockaway grounds you'll find a vegetable garden and a scrapyard/quarry thing a little outside the site boarders. You'd be staying in a family home but look how incredible that inside-outside conservatory.
19 of 19Blue House On The Beach
The view from the bed, you guys. THE VIEW FROM THE BED! Can you imagine waking up to anything more beautiful (and in England, for that matter)? Down in Camber you need to find a way to stay at this house that's quite literally on the beach. Enough space for eight which'll lessen the financial blow and did we mention the view from the bed?