Tablets are a much better vacation-computer than a laptop. They provide the ability to look up directions, itineraries, and information about your travel destination without being bulky to take along with you. The few-moving-parts design makes them somewhat more robust to being taken places like the beach than a laptop would be (though do be careful even so). Plus they can double as a GPS navigation system.
I do all this with my HTC Incredible, and it fits in my pocket.![]()
True, phones can serve those purposes as well, but there is something to be said for the larger screen. Especially when a given website doesn't happen to have a mobile version.