Travelers who don't know how to go off the grid bring 7 suitcases and a microwave to stay in a yurt, according to owners of rustic Airbnbs
More travelers addicted to their phones are seeking out the greatest escape of all: a complete "digital detox." As a result — and fueled further by the demand for socially distanced stays during the pandemic — many short-term-rental owners have built off-the-grid accommodations. In Missouri, Michael Loftis built an off-the-grid cabin for his family, but eventually moved them to a town nearby. He began renting it out to travelers last year. Kernohan and Loftis said that while their properties are popular with guests, they have also observed accidents and mishaps that can occur when city slickers head out into the woods. They shared a few of their favorite anecdotes with Insider. Loftis said he encourages guests at his Missouri cabin to "turn off your cell phone, walk through the woods, sit by the water, have a cup of coffee in the mornings." Guests have shown up with as many as seven suitcases for a one-night stay, he added, or with appliances they can't live without — like coffee makers, toasters and microwaves — for just one weekend. "Folks just don't know what it's like to be out in the woods," he told Insider. "A lot of people just always use electric products. They haven't used a flammable propane product before," Loftis said. "There's a learning curve."