|
Travel connections with home are
easier than ever. New calling
cards, cell-phones, e-mail, satelite
phones, and better phone lines
everywhere are making it a smaller
world. Here are some suggestions
on how you can stay in touch -
when you want to.
E-Mail: The Travel Connections
Champ
Most libraries in the United States
now have internet access. When
traveling the country, we often
stop in small towns to use this
free service. We check e-mail
and even check our bank accounts.
In other countries, finding internet
accesss is even easier. When computers
are too expensive for most people,
there's demand for cheap internet
access. The result is that, in
places like Quito, Ecuador, there's
an internet cafe on almost every
corner.
Hotmail and Yahoo still offer
free e-mail accounts. Sign up
now, if you haven't already. Then,
wherever you are in the world,
your friends and family have a
way to contact you and you have
a way to contact them. For some
reason, even though the internet
largely operates by way of the
same phone lines, it's more reliable
than phone service in many countries.
Snail Mail
You'll may still use the Post
Office when you travel. Pre-address
and stamp your envelopes if you'll
be writing family, friends, or
whoever. Usually, it's easy to
find a mail box, but a hassle
to find stamps and envelopes.
When you need something sent to
you while on a trip (in the U.S.)
have it addressed to your name,
then "general delivery,"
and the city and zip code where
you'll be in a few days. The package
should be waiting at the post
office when you arrive.
Phone Cards
Phone cards are a great help when
traveling in the United States.
The best are not even cards, but
accounts that you recharge on
the internet. The one we use costs
just 2.9 cents per minute to call
anywhere in the U.S., with no
connection charge. It's only 15
cents to call my wife's family
in Ecuador (It cost me over $2
per minute just 4 years ago).
The only extra charge is 50 cents
for pay phone use, which is mandated
by law for all cards now.
You use these accounts by funding
them on the internet, using any
credit card. With most, you can
open an account for $20. You get
a toll-free number to call, an
account number (usually your home
phone number), and a 4-digit PIN.
To place a call, you dial the
toll free number, then enter your
account number, PIN, and number
you're calling. Many buttons to
push, but then you can call Paris,
France for 3 cents per minute.
That's cheap! Recharge your account
from anywhere there is internet
access, and you'll never have
a phone bill, since you pay in
advance.
Other Travel Connections Tips
E-mail a list of important information
and numbers to yourself, like
the one to call if your credit
card is stolen, or the number
of the U.S. Embassy where you're
going. E-mail yourself a copy
of your passport, and other important
documents. When you need these
things, they'll be available in
any internet cafe in the world.
Staying in touch is a mixed blessing.
I find it less than comforting
to have the protection of a cell
phone when my brothers and I go
into the Canadian wilderness.
It means constant calls, and worries
that could have been forgotten
until the trip was over. My final
tip then, is to call friends and
family when they're not home,
and leave nice messages on their
machines. Then they'll know you're
okay, and if they need to contact
you, they can e-mail you.
Steve Gillman hit the road at
sixteen, and traveled the U.S.
and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40,
he travels with his wife Ana,
whom he met in Ecuador. To read
their stories, tips and travel
information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com
|
