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Tips for Keeping in Touch While Traveling
Going on vacation can be a great way to “get away from it all” but, sometimes, you do indeed want to keep in touch with people back home! Whether it be your parents, your friends, or your significant other, below are some great ways to keep in touch:
MOBILE: These days, more and more wireless devices are working abroad which is great because you can simply bring your phone with you and continue using service on a local provider that is partnered with your home network. The only issue: your bundled package of minutes or your unlimited data plan won’t usually apply. What to do? Call your provider before you leave so you can get instructions on how to use the phone (sometimes, you will need to adjust the signal) and what the rates are for that country. Being conscious of the $3.00/minute rate ahead of time will help alleviate the surprise when the bill comes later! Also ask for how data (email, text, etc.) will work so you know what to expect in terms of cost and coverage.
Another idea, if you’re planning to spend an extended time in one place, is to rent a phone locally. By having a local number, you can make calls to other local numbers much easier but you will incur fees if you make long distance calls back home. If you do this method, consider using Skype or Instant Messenger to keep in touch with friends back home.
SKYPE: Speaking of Skype, if you haven’t tried it, you’re definitely missing out! The program makes computer-to-computer calls using the Internet which frees you of roaming and long distance charges. Another great thing, Skype is free to download on your home computer and is usually pre-installed at most Internet café computers abroad. Just create a username, have your friends and family do the same, and get talking! Also, consider getting a headset so you don’t find yourself screaming into your keyboard trying to figure out how your laptop is picking up the sound from your voice. Abroad, they are usually provided at places with Internet but feel free to bring your own if you don’t want to share earphones with the rest of the planet (or at least bring Lysol wipes to sanitize them before use!)
INSTANT MESSENGER/FACEBOOK: Tools like GoogleTalk, Facebook Chat, and Yahoo! Messenger make it easy to quickly chat with friends at home. Like Skype, I typically find these program pre-installed on the computers or within the browser after log-in. After use, I usually go to “Internet Options” and clear the browsing history so all usernames and passwords are erased. If you’re really savvy, you’ll memorize the placement of this menu on the browser so you can do it even when everything is in a foreign language (think languages like Russian or Chinese where the words are not as obvious as say Spanish or French).
SNAIL MAIL: Don’t forget about good old-fashioned snail mail. In this age where digital is everywhere, it can be refreshing to get a letter or postcard from a friend. To expedite this process, create labels on the computer with your friend’s addresses and make sure you add their country to the address to ensure delivery. Just write a quick note, attach the address label, and head to the post office for stamps.
Do you have ideas for other ways to keep in touch while you’re traveling? Post your comment here or email kristina@diwyy.com. Be sure to also check out our newly launched travel forums—simply register and begin posting your travel questions as well as answering other people’s posts! If you register and post something before December 15, 2009, you’ll be entered to win a $25 Amazon.com gift card.
