• While on a 10-day international vacation, I dropped my phone into the ocean.
• Losing access to my device was inconvenient and stressful. Ideally, unplugging would be planned.
• I'll take steps to plan better for future trips in case I lose my phone again.

"I haven't heard from Brittany in a couple of days." My best friend, Jasmine, frantically reached out to my sister, Ashlie, after trying and failing to get a response from me every way she knew how, from Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and even email after my location hadn't updated from the Atlantic Ocean for days while I was on vacation.

Here's how the nightmare started: After days of ritzy beach clubs and soaking up the vibrant warmth and wealth of culture in Cannes, the perfect boat day on my 10-day South of France itinerary had finally arrived.

Our group of five settled onto the bow of our chartered yacht, seated with Champagne and snacks off to explore the fabulous French Riviera. Yet, we were met with choppy waters minutes after leaving the dock. Immediate unease seized us all as waves crashed onto the boat, followed seconds later by the captain pounding on the glass, urging us to return to the back of the boat. We scrambled to the back one by one, the walkway slippery as the boat rocked.

As the waves became more fervent, I reached out to hold the railing and watched as my phone hit the water in the sudden upheaval and immediately disappeared into the depths.

I had to figure out what to do while far from home without my phone

For a moment, I stood frozen, eyes glued to the spot where the phone had vanished, thinking, "This did not just happen!" Then, I quickly snapped to reality as the intense waves continued to thrash our boat.

Recounting the details of the now-long-gone phone initially dampened the mood, but as the storm passed, so did the worry. Surrounded by massive yachts, crystal blue waters, and bright sunshine, the energy returned to the boat, and our crew continued on.

For many, that moment would have been the perfect excuse to free themselves from the chains of the device that traps most of us from the moment we rise to the second we close our eyes in a never-ending cycle.

But losing my phone in the middle of a 10-day trip plunged my dream vacation into chaos. It made me rethink phone safety and the steps I wish I had taken before boarding the flight to Nice to minimize travel disruption.

Two-factor authentication made things tricky

I was able to use my friend's phones to contact my family, but I still lost access to a number of essential contact points. I organized the trip, so it was especially inconvenient, as I was now unable to use my phone to connect with Airbnb hosts for check-in; I had no access to WhatsApp or to my Gmail account to confirm reservations.

In the age of two-factor authentication, logging into your account from a new device, even a friend's phone, is nearly impossible without having a way to verify your identity through a second trusted device. Multiple times, I received messages like, "A code will be sent to your phone to verify your identity," which immediately shut me out of various apps. Traveling with a trusted second device, ranging from an iPad, smartwatch, or laptop, would have ensured I was able to regain access to those critical applications.

Additionally, as the content creator of the group, I lost the ability to capture key moments to later repackage for social media and a growing travel blog. I can't tell you how many times I had to ask a friend, "Can I use your phone for a photo?" While everyone was very gracious, I couldn't help but feel like a burden.

It wasn't relaxing to 'unplug' because I didn't plan for it

Returning home and recounting the story, the immediate reaction was always, "Well, wasn't it nice not to be glued to your phone and unplug during the trip?"

Honestly? No.

We've romanticized the idea of unplugging, but when it happens unexpectedly, you lose access to many of the conveniences a phone provides, including the ability to make calls, take photos, or use a search engine, maps, and so much more.

Unplugging is a choice that, ideally, you want to plan for so that if anything goes awry, you still have access to your device. For me, losing my phone meant losing access and autonomy and the loss of income through content creation. While it wasn't the end of the world, it was a wake-up call to always be prepared for the unthinkable.

• While fantasizing about a trip to the South of France, I realized it would be more fun with friends.
• I dropped my dream itinerary in a group chat with three friends I'd known for just a few months.
• To my surprise, they all wanted to go, and we had the trip of a lifetime.

I found myself crafting the perfect itinerary to the South of France, envisioning pristine beaches and dazzling scenery from Provence to the glamorous St. Tropez and Monaco, The dilemma? Though I was planning a solo trip, I realized it was actually the perfect destination for a glitzy girls' trip. The kind you make memories you'll still laugh about years down the line. Yet, as I'm nearing 40, the number of friends I have who can take time to travel as their lives move in the direction of marriage and growing families is dwindling.

So, I took the plunge and tossed my itinerary in a group chat a friend created after we all had a blast together at my birthday brunch, where they initially all met. I was nervous about the possible chorus of, "Love this but can't… maybe next year?" replies. But seconds later, responses like "I'm down!" and "I'd be interested" came rolling in.

Following the enthusiastic replies, we started seriously planning our trip to the French Riviera in another dedicated group chat.

Planning a trip with women I didn't know well had some challenges

That's when the frustrations kicked off. We were four women with vastly different vacation styles who were now planning a seven-day trip to the Côte d'Azur.

The first issue was the budget. The pings from the group chat were never-ending as we attempted to merge various travel practices and budgets to fit the group.

Initially, it was suggested to fly into a cheaper city and completely rearrange the original itinerary. It became overwhelming, and to avoid headaches before takeoff, we ultimately settled to move forward with what I initially proposed to the group. Once we all agreed on expectations, the next step was to finalize bookings.

From there, we leaned into each other's strengths to round out the finishing touches of the planning. I assumed the heavy lifting in finding the perfect places to stay. Because we didn't know each other well, we all agreed to look for accommodations that would allow everyone to have their own room — and if that didn't work, at least their own bed. We were excited to go on the trip, but also wanted to give each other space to unwind and recharge.

My method was simple: I looked around for spaces that fit the bill, selected my two favorite, and created a poll in the group chat for everyone to vote. It eliminated unnecessary back-and-forth and decision fatigue.

Chelsea, whom I had met in a group for girls who love fine dining, was the group's resident foodie. In a location as splashy as the South of France, it's easy to get lost in the ritzy beach clubs and restaurants and rack up unnecessarily expensive tabs for every meal. To help us avoid this, she did some digging on both the hot spots and local affordable gems. We didn't go a day wondering, "Where should we eat?"

Then, Jen and Michaela — who I had met individually, at a late-night museum event and art gallery, respectively — took on the responsibility of organizing travel during the trip, which included renting a fabulous convertible, perfect for navigating the beautiful coasts and charming towns.

We wanted the freedom that comes with renting a car but also needed someone who could maneuver the endless winding roads, which Jen agreed to tackle for the entire trip. And with Michaela coordinating plans for flights, trains and yachts when needed, the group trip made it out of the chat in less than a month.

We all pitched in and planned an amazing trip

Everyone pitched in, which ensured no one was burdened by an unfair amount of responsibility. I occasionally chimed in with restaurant suggestions, and we designated a second captain to assist Jen while navigating unfamiliar roads.

Additionally, we all gave each other freedom to explore while still relishing each other's company, whether it was sharing a bottle of wine with the freshest fish as the sea stretched ahead, partying at a beach club, or having a siesta on our sun-drenched balcony before a night out.

A key to a successful group trip is also accepting everyone does not have to be attached at the hip. While in Monaco, two of us spontaneously decided to splurge on a helicopter tour while the other two settled into a fabulous lunch with glasses of rosé. That kind of flexibility ensured everyone walked away satisfied at the end of the trip.

You often hear the true test of friendship is if you can travel together. For us, our stay in the South of France was just the beginning of our friendship. We all took pieces of each other home. Thanks to Chelsea, I'll always remember to look for hidden gems away from tourist traps, and I've expanded my wine lists thanks to Jen, who often said, "Why not just order a bottle?" I also came home with an appreciation for jumping off yachts with Michaela. While still laughing from memories we just made, we departed already throwing out potential ideas for our next getaway.