On The Fly: Travel Lighter Knowing You Can Control Your Space Anytime, Anywhere

Good news: the warmer weather signals the official countdown to summer vacation. And although most sun-filled holidays can’t come soon enough, sometimes it’s hard to be away from home. Do you ever feel a sense of nervousness or unease knowing you’re leaving your living space unattended for a period of time? Turns out you’re not alone.

With seaside getaways and long walks on the trails just around the corner, we asked ecobee customers to share how they’ll be controlling their connected homes while they’re up, up and away.

Name: Torrey

Where are you going? We’ll be flying to Yukon then driving to Skagway, Alaska. From there, we’ll be going by boat to Hoonah and Elfin Cove.

How long will you be away? 8 days

A journey worth taking? We went there last summer and saw the Northern Lights; this year, the plan is to go fishing for halibut and salmon. The Alaskan water views are surreal. It’s a great to catch up with friends in a beautiful, remote part of the world.

How will you monitor your home on the go? From the App; I love that ecobee is saving me money while I’m away. I’ve had an ecobee smart thermostat in my home for three years, as well as ecobee Switch+ and Room Sensor. Whenever my friends are over, they always inquire about “the computer” on the wall.

Name Chris

Where are you going? Portugal and Ireland

How long will you be away? 10 days

A journey worth taking? I can’t wait to kayak through the clear waters of the Algarve, and hike along Ireland’s Wicklow Way mountains.

How will you monitor your home on the go? I’ll be setting up my vacation schedule through the ecobee mobile app.

Name: Ken

Where are you going? My wife and I are taking our kids to Hawaii.

How long will you be away? 7 days.

A journey worth taking? We live in the urban jungle of NYC, so we like to see and experience "real" nature whenever we can! We plan on going to the Haleakala National Park Maui to hike the trails and take in the scenery and wildlife.

How will you monitor your home on-the-go? I’ll be using my iPhone and iPad. I feel in control knowing that I don't have to worry about a friend or relative going to check on things—between the smart thermostat, lights and more, I can be the "eye in the sky" thousands of miles away.

Name: Emily

Where are you going? West Coast.

How long will you be away? We will be there for about a week.

A journey worth taking? Everything! Even the drive there will be pretty :)

How will you monitor your home on-the-go? I'll probably use the ecobee app to check the temperature, plus we'll have someone house-sitting.

Name: Darrin

Where are you going? Florida Coast.

How long will you be away? A week.

A journey worth taking? I just want to enjoy time with my daughter and maybe teach her how to fly a kite.

How will you monitor your home on-the-go? Through the ecobee app on my phone, and with the new Alexa Guard feature. I’ll also probably use the Room Sensors as motion alerts via IFTTT. It’s a relief to have all of these home monitoring features at my fingertips. It gives me an extra sense of security.

Name: Michael

Where are you going? Paris

How long will you be away? 10 days.

A journey worth taking? The Catacombs. The idea of walking underground surrounded by perfectly arranged skeletons in decorative patterns is an experience I'll never have anywhere else. I’m not spooked by the tunnels; I’m probably more scared of the expected wait times and lines to get in them.

How will you monitor your home on the go? SmartThings.

Name: Philip

Where are you going? Tri-Cities, Washington.

How long will you be away? Weekend trip with my wife, two girls and our dog.

A journey worth taking? We’ve never been there before, but we’re excited to kayak on the Columbia River.

How will you monitor your home on-the-go? Apple HomeKit. It’s definitely handy to check up on my home while I’m away. I appreciate knowing that everything is turned off when I left without having to tell everything to go into vacation mode. It’s also nice having notifications ready to be sent to me if any sensors tripped.