Internet Access While Traveling Outside U.S.?

awgy writes "I will be traveling to Germany and France soon, and have been looking for a way to dial-up with my laptop while overseas so as to update a journal, post pictures, etc. Is it best to find a regional ISP, or go with a big, international provider? Any catch-alls about European ISPs versus American ISPs? Who would you recommend, and what advice would you give?"

Comments

Internet cafe

[poincaraux]

Do you really need your laptop? If not, don't bring it.

I spent three months hitchhiking and backpacking around Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Spain and Germany. Unless you're in really small towns, it should be very easy to find an internet cafe. I kept an online journal, kept up with my email, etc. And I never had to deal with the hassle of a laptop (do you really trust your hotel room/tent to be safe? If not, do you really want to lug the laptop everywhere you go?).

On the other hand, I also brought a Handspring Visor along. Smaller than a laptop, but useful for typing up journal entries anywhere and uploading them to the online journal later.

Another side note: if you'll be going to a few different countries, make sure you have power adapters for each.

Trust me, you want to avoid the hassle of a laptop if you can.

-Henri