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When planning the perfect family getaway, most of us think about the big stuff — the destination, the hotel, the excursions, maybe even the matching T-shirts. But according to some families, the secret ingredient to a truly great vacation might actually be skimping on something we all think we can’t live without: Wi-Fi.

Take Jessica Perez, for example. She boarded Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas with her husband and two kids in early October, ready for a three-day cruise to the Bahamas. What she wasn’t ready for was losing cell and internet service the moment they left Miami’s port.

Perez, a 37-year-old mom from Massachusetts, admits she and her husband almost gave in and bought the Wi-Fi package. After all, their 17-year-old daughter is the studious type — “always working on something academic” — and their 11-year-old son is “your average gamer who needs Wi-Fi at all times.” But she decided to skip it.

“I thought, you know what? No,” she said. “This will be good for the kids to have meals without screens, to actually talk to us, and to just enjoy what’s around them.”

Over those few Wi-Fi-free days, something amazing happened. The family danced at a silent disco, laughed under a balloon drop, and joined in ship activities instead of scrolling through screens. “It was nice to see that the kids were really enjoying the moment,” Perez said. “They got to be kids again — and that’s not something you always see anymore.”

Sure, there were a few hiccups — her husband briefly panicked when he thought he’d lost his credit card and couldn’t freeze it without internet access. But aside from that, Perez says they “loved no Wi-Fi.”

A Connection That Doesn’t Require a Signal

For Anna Rietz and her family, disconnecting wasn’t just a happy accident — it was part of the plan. The Bay Area mom of two spent a week this summer at a cabin near California’s Pinecrest Lake, where there’s no Wi-Fi or cell service.

“The lack of internet is part of what makes it special,” Rietz explained. She prepped ahead by downloading podcasts for herself and a few episodes of Bluey for her 4-year-old — but to her surprise, they barely needed them.

Her daughter was too busy splashing in the lake and playing with her cousins, and Rietz found herself slowly breaking free from the habit of checking her phone. “At first, I kept reaching for it, but nothing was refreshing — no emails, no notifications,” she laughed. “Eventually my brain realized, there’s nothing here. And it was kind of amazing.”

By the end of the week, the family was spending their evenings around the campfire, singing songs and playing cards. “It felt like a ‘90s vacation,” Rietz said. “We were all just present, talking, laughing — it reminded me of how things used to be.”

How to Plan Your Own Screen-Free Getaway?

If you’re tempted to try a vacation without Wi-Fi, it helps to plan ahead. Travel expert Karen Aguiar from AAA Northeast recommends choosing destinations that keep everyone engaged — especially kids.

“For my twin boys, it’s all about the beach, pool, or water sports,” she said. “If you keep them active and doing things they enjoy, they’ll put the phone down long enough to really have fun.”

Cruises are a great choice since Wi-Fi usually costs extra (making it easier to skip). National parks and outdoor destinations — like the Grand Canyon or New Hampshire’s lakes region — also naturally limit cell service, encouraging families to explore and connect in real life.

If going cold turkey sounds too extreme, Aguiar suggests easing into it. “Maybe give kids a little screen time between activities, then stretch those breaks longer,” she said. “The goal isn’t to make it miserable — it’s to help them enjoy other things, too.”

A Different Kind of Connection

In a world where being online feels as essential as breathing, disconnecting might seem impossible. But families like Perez’s and Rietz’s are finding that the best memories often happen when we’re off the grid.

“When you remove the distraction of your phone, you’re more present,” Rietz said. “You start engaging in real conversations, playing games, laughing together. It’s not about losing connection — it’s about finding a better one.”

So the next time you’re planning a family trip, consider saving money on the Wi-Fi package. Because sometimes, the best way to reconnect is to simply disconnect.