Tips on traveling with technology.

I had never seen these before so I had to try one. It’s the Monster Outlets To Go mini-power strip with a very short extension cord. It’s got 3-prong outlets on the the front and back (spaced far enough apart for power adaptors) with a resettable circuit breaker. Very nice and compact!

They also make 3, 4 and 6 outlet versions. Colors vary by white, silver and black. I’ve spotted prices from $11-23 on the various sizes on-line (I think retail is $15-$30). The power cord wraps perfectly around it and plus into itself, not messy at all. Seemed very well built and durable.I had to decide between the 3 or the 4 outlets and decided on the 3 outlet version, I’m sure the 4 outlets wouldn’t have been much bigger. That’s the 3 outlet version in the photo, the third outlet is on the back!

My only concern is forgetting it behind a desk in a hotel room.

Technorati Tags: monster, outlets to go, power outlets, power strip

If you can read this, then you probably have access to the Internet. Before you travel you might consider getting on-line and reading the local newspaper of your destination to find out more about the area. This may also let you find out about any local events that you might miss out on once you get there.

Some newspapers may require a subscription fee to view on-line, some may let you download a PDF of the newspaper and some may actually let you subscribe to a paper edition mailed to your home.

Many non-English speaking countries have newspapers in a non-native language. These may only be weekly papers and may cover news / events or may be just focused on entertainment.

If you don’t have have access to the Internet check out your local bookstore, many carry newspapers from around the country and around the world and you can read what’s happening there the old fashioned way…

When you travel to foreign countries you almost always have to have cash converted to local. I’ve always had great results with using ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines). My experience with ATMs anywhere world wide (England, Costa Rica and Prague) has always been that the ATM has been perfect for a good exchange rate. and payed minimal fees (on the exchange rate and the regular ATM fee).

The only fee I used to get for using an ATM card was $-1.00 (this is at my Credit Union) but recently I’ve been getting an additional fee about 0.8% (but the bank told me it’d be more). Either way, it’s cheaper than any of the exchange places.
Make sure you know what networks your ATM card uses, many times the networks they used when you got the card have changed, they should be able to tell you on the phone on on their web site.

Recommendation: Tell the bank before you go that you’ll be traveling internationally! This way they don’t freak out on all the above average withdrawals from a foreign country and cut it off. My bank lets me input it on a special form on-line but previously I just called them or sent an on-line message.

Here was my mission: I was looking for something so I could go hiking or walking along the beach. But I want to have my camera with me, but when I go swimming (or something where I need to put my back down) I don’t want to leave my stuff unattended.

So what I had in mind was a smaller version of a military duffle bag (that really thick/tough canvas material) that you could somehow clasp at the top and lock it to a tree. Yeah, someone could cut through it, but they couldn’t just grab it and run (and they’d have to work at it).

What I found was the PacSafe DaySafe 100 Security Backpack, it’s way better than what I was looking for, it’s two (2) things in one.
[Read more →]

When you’re traveling you never know where there might or might not be enough power outlets. Things to have with you:

So I’ve always liked Skype it’s a great backup for my cell phone and it’s great for calling home when I’m on vacation but you’ve got to have a computer of some sort to use it. At 2.1 cents per minute, it’s hard to beat the price to call the US (as long as you’ve got a semi-decent internet connection). Although, some internet cafes have it all set up already, one internet cafe in Egypt had it installed with a microphone, I just stopped to check my mail but I got on Skype, made a call or two (for 2.1 cents a minute) and I was done!

Not that I always talk a lot when I travel (I do when I travel alone) but I always feel like I’m being initiated when trying to figure out long distance calling when in a foreign country. They only charge 2.1 cents to US phones, other countries have different rates. Note that the charges are just to phones, if you call someone else’s computer who us using Skype it’s free!

Now if you’re paying for the internet it’s costing you a little more, but it’s still probably cheaper than using a phone. If you’ve got free internet in your room or somewhere, you’re all set. If you’ve got to haul your laptop down to a cafe or something it gets inconvenient, you’ll probably want a headset with microphone for some privacy. Keep in mind some places might not like you using up their bandwidth for a phone call, so be discrete.The goofy^* thing is that it’s 2.1 cents to call the US wherever I am, from next door, Egypt or Costa Rica it’s all 2.1 cents! But with the same reasoning it’s 6.4 cents to call Costa Rica, that’s if I’m here in Michigan or down there. Of course if I’m calling someone else’s Skype computer it’s free from anywhere to anywhere.It’s always confusing to use the pay phones, and they really get you when you use a hotel room for long distance (sometimes even if you use a calling card).
[Read more →]

Where can you find electrical outlets to power your gadgets? First of all, make sure they are fully charged before you leave and if you have spare battery, make sure it’s charged too.

Trains: Many train cars have electrical outlets by all of the seats, but many do not. While they may try to get you to sit in a particular car, sometimes if you just ask (nicely and politely) they’ll put you in a different car with better power. If not, look around the car they must plug in the vacuum somewhere. My experience is that near the center of the car under the seat (you just need to look, it’s relatively in the open) is an outlet with two plugs. You just need to get there fast since there might not be any more in the car (or have a splitter so you can share). In a pinch there is sometimes an outlet in the bathroom if you need a quick charge or want to have your laptop plugged in (so you don’t lose everything that is open) while you change the battery.

Planes: I’ve never seen an any kind outlet in the open on an airplane, even while walking through first class. I think I’ve seen some for shavers in the bathroom, but you can’t stay very long in there.

Airports: They’re all over the place but not always in convenient spots. Sometimes on the wall but not always by seats. Lots of times by the building support pillars but seats aren’t always near there. Many times where the staff and/or agents work but there might not be a good place to sit nearby. Look hard enough and you’ll find one in a good spot (in my experience), there is almost always one if you’re willing to sit on the floor.

My experience is the more expensive the hotel then the more expensive the Internet which also generally means the cheaper the hotel the more likely the internet is free. And generally the hotels that charge you will charge you a fortune!

You also need to consider what a hotel means when they say Internet Access:

Access at airports can vary. It seems to me that in the US they want to charge you but many airports offer ways to connect if you are already a customer of A&T, T-mobile or some other similar service. When out of the US I’ve found free access, at least it was when I was in Costa Rica and Egypt (both in the last 18 months).

My Thought:
Give me free Internet access at the airport and I’ll be early for my flight! I just hate being too early and having nothing productive to do.

Some of the airport privileged frequent flyers may get free access so if you can find a location near one of those areas you might me able to get leech some access from there for free. I’ve seen this in some hotels too, if there is free access in area, it leaks out to the other areas too.

I know from recent experience Detroit and Atlanta do require a charge (or membership with one of the WiFi companies) for the Internet, but one of the Las Vegas airports (McCarran Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) do not. But remember, airports are big and access may vary depending on where you are (McCarran only has it in certain terminals). And finding power isn’t always very easy…

I travel with so much junk in my carry on luggage I’m always surprised that I don’t get stopped more. I’ve got wires, cables, cameras, chargers, batteries, cell phones, a laptop, wires and who knows what else but the fact that they don’t freak out when I go through security always surprises (and worries) me.

Generally, security still wants you to put your laptop in the x-ray machine separate from the rest of your carry on luggage but they don’t ask me to turn it on for them anymore, they used to. So be prepared for this, since you’re probably removing your belt, shoes, change and cell phone from your pockets at the same time some times it’s tricky to handle it all at the same time.

They may ask you to turn items on so make sure they are all charged (or that you can plug them in if needed).

Technorati Tags: Airport Security

When you’re waiting at customs or immigration, do not talk on the phone! They’ll warn you of this over and over and yet people still get yelled at for this.

You shouldn’t take pictures in the secure areas either. This may or may not be announced but even if not against the rules, why draw attention to yourself.

I’ve been yelled at for using my computer in the baggage claim area before (in the US). No one could explain to me why not, but they’ve told me not to. Once again, why cause trouble for yourself when you might be in a foreign country. The last thing you want is to be detained when you need to be somewhere else.

Everyone has access to the Internet while they travel, it just not might be as convenient as it is where they are used to.

These days Internet cafes are everywhere you just don’t know what they might be offering. You’re not really sure how fast they’ll be (either the computers or the internet speed). They might have wireless, they might not. Never assume…

Costa Rica: I just got back from Costa Rica (December 2007) and in one of the (very) small towns the Internet cafes were just a phone line (or two) for a cafe with a 1/2 dozen computers (or more). The Internet crawled so much I thought something in my brain was going to burst. Other towns in Costa Rica were fine, some kind of cable or satellite wherever you go. I think just about every in Costa Rica was a little less than $2.50 a hour.

Egypt: High speed everywhere I went, most places didn’t have wireless but were willing to let you plug in your laptop. If you went where the locals went I think it was pretty cheap, but in a hotel or a tourist area they’d usually charge you quite a bit.

England: It seems to me it’s always expensive at most places that I looked. I rarely saw free places to access the internet (other than open access points).

United States: These days I couldn’t tell you the last time I went to a place that has internet, but doesn’t have wireless. Many coffee shops are free, some are not, you just have to ask.

Technorati Tags: internet cafe, WiFi, wireless

Welcome! We’ll be talking about traveling with technology. The pros and cons plus what not to forget when you travel around the world with technology.

We’ll probably have some non-tech tips too…