Working While Traveling? Here's How To Stay Connected
Whether it's a round-the-world trip or just an afternoon jaunt to the corner store, there's no better way to explore a new place than by exploring it on foot. And while you're walking around and checking out the sights, I bet your mind is wandering to all sorts of creative ways of staying connected while traveling. Well, let me tell you: It's possible! But as with most things in life, there are trade-offs involved with working while traveling—either you'll have access to a reliable Wi-Fi connection or you won't. So before we dive into how to get online for free on your next vacation (or even manage email), let's make sure that we understand exactly what "getting online" means first...
Bring a backup.
Every traveling tech-lover knows the feeling of trepidation when you realize your battery is about to die. No need to worry though, because there are several ways to stay connected in your travels without being tied down by a cord.
Bring a backup battery charger: The first thing to remember when away from home is that you should always have at least one backup power source on hand. We recommend bringing an external charger or battery pack so that you can charge your phone in case of emergencies and make sure it stays charged throughout the day. For those who don't want to carry around another gadget, we recommend keeping an eye out for products like wireless chargers which allow for wireless charging at home (or any other place) with the ability to recharge quickly and easily.
Bring a backup SIM card: If there's ever an emergency where all electronics stop working (yes such things do happen), having multiple options for getting online can help ensure that communication gets back up as soon as possible! Even if you're traveling with friends/family who aren't going anywhere near as far off grid as yourself, having something like WhatsApp on their phones could help get important messages through even without data coverage!
Take only the tech you need.
The most important thing to remember is that you should only bring the tech you need.
If you are traveling for business, bring your laptop and tablet. If you’re going on a pleasure trip, take your smartphone and camera (or whatever else). And if you have kids in tow, get an e-reader that they can use during long flights or car rides!
Get a travel-friendly power source.
It's always a good idea to have a backup power source when traveling so you can stay connected and keep your devices charged. If you're working while traveling, it's especially important to have an easy way to charge your phone or laptop so that you can work wherever you are. There are many different types of portable chargers on the market now that are designed specifically for travel—some with multiple ports where several devices can be charged at once; others that fold up into small pouches and fit easily into bags or pockets. If space is limited, consider getting one with built-in cables so there’s no need for packing extra cables for charging various devices (although some do come with those too!).
If plugging in isn't an option, solar chargers allow users to harness the sun's rays instead! Many solar phone chargers come equipped with their own battery packs, allowing them to store extra energy even when not exposed directly to sunlight. This means they'll continue working even after dark—so even if you don't have access to electricity during nighttime hours (or while indoors) these devices will still charge up quickly enough during daylight hours when sunlight levels are highest
Make sure you have enough memory for your files and pictures.
You'll want to make sure that you have enough memory for your files and pictures. A good rule of thumb is to have at least twice as much memory capacity than you think you need, but for those who are going on long trips and taking a lot of photos or video, it's better to get the higher capacity cards. In addition, if you plan on doing a lot of uploading and downloading from your device, make sure the card has a fast transfer rate so it won't take forever when transferring files from one device to another.
Another option would be to reduce the size of your photos before taking them (so they take up less space). Don't worry - this won't affect the quality!
Take photos of important documents and IDs, in case they get lost or stolen.
It's also a good idea to take photos of your passport and other important documents, and store them in a safe place. You can do this with an app like Evernote or Google Photos. It's always a good idea to back up your photos so they're not just stored on one device. If you don't have access to the internet, having these images on your phone will help you get by until you get back online.
If you want to be extra careful, keep copies of these photos with you at all times—in case anything happens to the other ones!
Don't leave home without any way to charge your phone or computer in an emergency.
When you're traveling, you never know if your phone is going to die. And if it does, so do all the important things on it—like directions, phone numbers, and reservations. You don't want to be stuck in a foreign country without any way to charge up! So don't make the mistake of leaving home without any way of charging your phone or computer in an emergency.
Portable battery packs: These are small chargers that can fit easily into a suitcase or backpack, and they're good for at least one full recharge of your device. Bring one so you'll always have some juice on hand (or at least enough for an emergency call).
Extra phone chargers: If worst comes to worst and your portable battery pack dies too soon...well...you'll be glad you brought along another charger!
Extra computer chargers: Computers can get annoying when they run out of juice right when you need them most—especially when there's no place nearby where they can be plugged in safely (like if you're camping). Having extra cords will give you more options when using computers while traveling.
Have a backup plan for getting online and connected to your company's network.
There are a few things you can do to make sure you're getting online and staying connected when you're traveling. First, make sure that the company you work for has a backup plan for getting online and connected to your company's network. If not, now is a good time to ask about one! Also, be sure that if you're going somewhere with limited service (e.g., rural areas), that there's at least one reliable way back home.
Finally: turn off all data roaming on your device before getting on a plane if you want to avoid high roaming charges!
Always know where your nearest free Wi-Fi hotspot is when traveling.
If you want to stay connected while traveling, but don't want to pay for Wi-Fi, then it's good to know where your nearest free Wi-Fi hotspots are. Here's a list of places that offer free Wi-Fi:
McDonald's
Starbucks
Airports and train stations (sometimes limited)
If all else fails, there are always those public libraries! Just remember that when using public Wi-Fi, it can be easy for hackers to get access to your device or personal information. To stay safe online while traveling abroad:
Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN encrypts all the data coming from your computer so that hackers cannot see what you're doing online. There are lots of different VPN services out there; I recommend ExpressVPN because they have great customer service and make it easy to set up a VPN on any device in seconds
Turn off all data roaming on your device before getting on a plane if you want to avoid high roaming charges.
If you'd like to avoid data roaming charges, turn off all data roaming on your device before getting on a plane.
Roaming charges can be quite high and often aren't included in standard international calling plans.
To free yourself from these additional fees, simply turn off data roaming before getting on the plane. Your phone will still allow you to make calls and send texts as usual during your flight—you just won't have access to the internet!
We hope that this post has given you a few ideas on how to stay connected while traveling. As long as you have a little forethought and plan ahead, it shouldn't be too difficult to enjoy your trip without worrying about missing out on important emails or calls from work. We know that staying connected is important for many people, but there's also something to be said for disconnecting every once in a while! So instead of focusing only on getting online while away from home, take some time to enjoy nature or do other fun activities instead.
