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I have had good luck using AOL dial-up when overseas, if broadband is not available.
Posted by: Tom at June 21, 2006 1:29 PMFor years I've been using attglobal.net. Two reasons: it's cheap (or at least it was when I signed up), and it has great roaming world-wide which is ALSO cheap.
While your current ISP probably has some kind of roaming agreement, you might find you're going to pay per minute while you're online overseas.
With the ATT service, you pay a flat $4.80 per hour. And they have a plan which costs just %$5.95 per month -- with a 30 day free trial up front.
Of course, we're talking dial-up connections, which are always a great backup, even if they're irritatingly slow!
One other thing: phone connectors around the are even more diverse than power sockets. If you'll be staying in 4-5-star hotels, you shouldn't have any problem plugging in the standard US phone connector -- which seems to be the world-wide standard for fax machines.
But if you're travelling on a budget you'll probably need a different phone adaptor for each different country you visit. While I think about three different kinds of electrical power socket adaptors will cover the whole European continent, it seems that each European country has its own way of plugging phones into the network.
The other way, which is pretty universal world-wide, is Internet Cafes. I've had no trouble connecting with my laptop into one of these when I've been staying in a cheap hotel and the only way you can connect to the phone in the room is to pull it apart first!
Of course, on a cruise you probably won't need any of this info, but you never know....
Posted by: Mark Tier at June 24, 2006 6:55 PMLuxury hotels throughout Europe have Internet access - either from the business office or from hotel rooms (if you have your own laptop). This service is usually fee based. Most of the time access (currently) is broadband - so bring the appropriate cable with you. The hotel may have adapters so that you can plug in your laptop - otherwise- pick up an adapter set at the airport or Staples - type store in your locale. You will be able to access HotMail, Yahoo, etc. If you are using a cable connection at home - make sure you have your login code for out-of-residence retrievals.
At the airports (at least domestically) - you may want to check t-mobile hotspots. For $6 per hour (payable with credit cards) - you can access the Internet.
You may have a problem collecting voice mail messages from your cell phone when you are out of the USA. You may also have trouble placing Internet calls. Check with your provider to determine roaming charges and voice mail access when out of the USA. I use t-mobile - and it is terrible!
am taking my laptop to oz and am worried about the rj11 lead which is bt unique in the uk and i will need for dialup, is there a converter so my modem cable can fit into the oz wall socket/phone point, regards alan
Posted by: alan barnett at July 5, 2006 2:25 PMLeo
Next year my husband and I are setting off on adventure travelling the waterways in France which we expect to last about 2 years. We are an older couple nearing retirement and rely greatly on the internet to keep in touch with friends and family and conduct our personal financial affairs. What do we need to do, and what equipment do we need to access the internet at all times while being on board our boat in France?
Bearing in mind that we are not great with understanding the technicalities could you explain this in as simple terms as possible.
I look forward to your early reply.
Kind regards
Marianne Glen
I will travel to africa soon, and I wants to know if I can use my laptop in Ghana-Africa
Posted by: Felix Ofori-Frempong at December 17, 2006 2:34 AMcan i try the 30days trial
Posted by: Felix Ofori-Frempong at December 17, 2006 2:39 AMhi
I will be travelling to paris next week...what do i need to connect through internet to keep in touch with my family..can you pls guide me how can use internet on my laptop when i am travelling...what kinds of socket will i need when i travel & also i need the cheapest option to use net...pls guide me
thanx
banky
Iam going to stay on a caravan site for about 6 months and want to take my laptop with me cani use it over there.Iam an older person so i am not up to full speed with computing. Please help. Thank you.
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You can certainly use your laptop, the question is can you connect to the
internet. That depends on many things, most notably the services provided by
the campground you'll be at. Will you have a phone? Then perhaps you can dial
up. Will the campground provide wireless (and does your laptop have wireless?)
then perhaps you can use that. Do you have a cell phone, and does your cellular
provider have data access? Then perhaps you can use that as a way to connect.
I'm afraid there's no simple answer based on what you've said. There are many
possibilities, but I can't say which one will work for you.
Leo
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