Holiday / Vacation Time But What About Your Online Business?

For many of us, it is time to start thinking aboutup in this way is very convenient, it can be
packing our suitcases and jetting off on our summerexpensive (hotels are notorious for making huge
holidays/vacation. When I had a 'normal' job, this wasprofit on phone calls) and it is likely the connection will
a time to get out of the office and completelybe very slow.4. Take your laptop and find a wireless
forget about work for a couple of weeks. Things are'hotspot'. Wireless networks are becoming more and
somewhat different now though as an Internetmore popular and you will find them in many airports,
business never sleeps or takes time off so how dohotels and resorts. As long as you have a wireless
you handle your online business when you arenetwork card or a wireless-ready laptop, you can
supposed to be soaking up the sun on a far awaysimply turn your laptop on and access the network
beach?Obviously if your business is large enough toat super-fast Broadband speeds. You will normally
have employees, you shouldn't have too manyhave to pay for access but you can usually buy
problems and can, hopefully, leave things in theunlimited access for the period of your visit. If you
capable hands of your staff for a week or two. Butreally don't want to pay and have time on your
in the event that you run a 'one man band' and don'thands, try turning on your laptop close to offices, an
have anyone to reply to emails and deal with ordersInternet cafe or some coffee shops - you never
while you are away then I am afraid it is down toknow, they may have a wireless network set up
you to look after things.So with this in mind, here arewith no security meaning you can logon for free! This
a few ideas that may help to ensure that youris my favourite way of accessing the Internet
vacation remains exactly that :-)1. Close your websiteabroad - it is fast, affordable and I can use my own
down for the duration of your holiday. For me thiscomputer with all of my own software which makes
goes completely against the grain - one of theit very convenient.5. Use your laptop with a mobile
advantages of an online business is the fact that itcell phone. Not an ideal option but if you are
can earn you money whilst you sleep (and whilst yousomewhere really remote it might be your only
sunbathe). However some business owners do simplyoption! Remember that different countries use
decide to shut up shop when they go away anddifferent cell phone frequencies so you need to
write off a couple of weeks income against amake sure that your phone will work in the country
stress-free break.2. Find a local Internet cafe. Forthat you are visiting. In order to keep costs down,
many people this is probably the easiest and mostsign up with a local phone service provider and a local
affordable option. Most tourist destinations haveISP - this means that you will pay the lowest call
some level of public Internet access available at acharges possible (though they will probably still be
reasonable price. Last year I even managed to get apretty expensive). Connection speed is likely to be
half decent Internet connection on a tiny island in theappalling but this might work for you if you are only
middle of the Indian Ocean! The main downside inexpecting a few emails..... Personally, this option
using Internet cafes is security. I have never beenbecame unworkable for me several years ago - too
completely comfortable entering important passwordsslow and far too expensive.6. Use a laptop/PDA
into public computers and have often ended up usingBlackberry or similar with a GPRS connection. GPRS is
two or three Internet cafes in the same resort anda wireless technology which allows PDAs and similar
changing passwords on a daily basis! Slightly paranoidto have an 'always on' connection in a similar way to
perhaps but it only takes one dishonest cafe ownerBroadband. GPRS is provided via the local mobile/cell
to really put the spanner in the works.....3. Take yourphone network. With GPRS, you pay not for the
laptop and connect via the hotel landline. Most hotelstime that you are online but for the amount of data
have an IDD (International Direct Dial) telephone inthat you transfer. This means that if you set things
their rooms. This means you can dial straight out ofup correctly you can just download your email
the hotel without having to go via the switchboard.headers, delete the ones that you don't need to read
This being the case, you can hook your laptop upand then only download and reply to the important
and dial up just as you would at home. The cheapestones. Therefore costs will be kept to a minimum and
way of doing this is to do some research first andit doesn't matter if the connection is slow (from a
find a local Internet company that can offer 'pay ascost point of view at least) since you are only paying
you go' dial up - don't dial into your home ISP as thisfor the amount of data you transfer. Speeds should
will cost you dearly in international call charges. Bebe quicker than a normal mobile/cell phone
aware that not all countries use the common RJ11connection. Ensure you check that GPRS is available in
phone socket and you may need to purchase anthe country that you are visiting - most common
adapter socket. These are readily available on thedestinations can offer the service but you may find
Internet - just search Google for 'modem adaptorthat some more remote countries are not yet GPRS
socket for (your destination)'. You should also checkenabled.Most important of all - enjoy yourself!
that the phone line you are about to plug into isn't:-)Copyright 2005 Richard GradyRichard Grady has
digital - if it is, you could fry your modem. Ask thebeen helping ordinary people earn online since 1998.
hotel reception or better still, get a tester unit thatHe writes a free newsletter which is published every
plugs in and checks the line for you - these are cheaptwo weeks.
and could save you a lot of problems. Whilst using dial