| For many of us, it is time to start thinking | | | | using dial up in this way is very convenient, |
| about packing our suitcases and jetting off | | | | it can be expensive (hotels are notorious for |
| on our summer holidays/vacation. When I had | | | | making huge profit on phone calls) and it is |
| a 'normal' job, this was a time to get out of | | | | likely the connection will be very slow.4. |
| the office and completely forget about work | | | | Take your laptop and find a wireless |
| for a couple of weeks. Things are somewhat | | | | 'hotspot'. Wireless networks are becoming |
| different now though as an Internet business | | | | more and more popular and you will find them |
| never sleeps or takes time off so how do you | | | | in many airports, hotels and resorts. As |
| handle your online business when you are | | | | long as you have a wireless network card or a |
| supposed to be soaking up the sun on a far | | | | wireless-ready laptop, you can simply turn |
| away beach?Obviously if your business is | | | | your laptop on and access the network at |
| large enough to have employees, you shouldn't | | | | super-fast Broadband speeds. You will |
| have too many problems and can, hopefully, | | | | normally have to pay for access but you can |
| leave things in the capable hands of your | | | | usually buy unlimited access for the period |
| staff for a week or two. But in the event | | | | of your visit. If you really don't want to |
| that you run a 'one man band' and don't have | | | | pay and have time on your hands, try turning |
| anyone to reply to emails and deal with | | | | on your laptop close to offices, an Internet |
| orders while you are away then I am afraid it | | | | cafe or some coffee shops - you never know, |
| is down to you to look after things.So with | | | | they may have a wireless network set up with |
| this in mind, here are a few ideas that may | | | | no security meaning you can logon for free! |
| help to ensure that your vacation remains | | | | This is my favourite way of accessing the |
| exactly that :-)1. Close your website down | | | | Internet abroad - it is fast, affordable and |
| for the duration of your holiday. For me | | | | I can use my own computer with all of my own |
| this goes completely against the grain - one | | | | software which makes it very convenient.5. |
| of the advantages of an online business is | | | | Use your laptop with a mobile/cell phone. |
| the fact that it can earn you money whilst | | | | Not an ideal option but if you are somewhere |
| you sleep (and whilst you sunbathe). However | | | | really remote it might be your only option! |
| some business owners do simply decide to shut | | | | Remember that different countries use |
| up shop when they go away and write off a | | | | different cell phone frequencies so you need |
| couple of weeks income against a stress-free | | | | to make sure that your phone will work in the |
| break.2. Find a local Internet cafe. For | | | | country that you are visiting. In order to |
| many people this is probably the easiest and | | | | keep costs down, sign up with a local phone |
| most affordable option. Most tourist | | | | service provider and a local ISP - this means |
| destinations have some level of public | | | | that you will pay the lowest call charges |
| Internet access available at a reasonable | | | | possible (though they will probably still be |
| price. Last year I even managed to get a | | | | pretty expensive). Connection speed is |
| half decent Internet connection on a tiny | | | | likely to be appalling but this might work |
| island in the middle of the Indian Ocean! | | | | for you if you are only expecting a few |
| The main downside in using Internet cafes is | | | | emails..... Personally, this option became |
| security. I have never been completely | | | | unworkable for me several years ago - too |
| comfortable entering important passwords into | | | | slow and far too expensive.6. Use a laptop |
| public computers and have often ended up | | | | PDA/Blackberry or similar with a GPRS |
| using two or three Internet cafes in the same | | | | connection. GPRS is a wireless technology |
| resort and changing passwords on a daily | | | | which allows PDAs and similar to have an |
| basis! Slightly paranoid perhaps but it only | | | | 'always on' connection in a similar way to |
| takes one dishonest cafe owner to really put | | | | Broadband. GPRS is provided via the local |
| the spanner in the works.....3. Take your | | | | mobile/cell phone network. With GPRS, you |
| laptop and connect via the hotel landline. | | | | pay not for the time that you are online but |
| Most hotels have an IDD (International Direct | | | | for the amount of data that you transfer. |
| Dial) telephone in their rooms. This means | | | | This means that if you set things up |
| you can dial straight out of the hotel | | | | correctly you can just download your email |
| without having to go via the switchboard. | | | | headers, delete the ones that you don't need |
| This being the case, you can hook your laptop | | | | to read and then only download and reply to |
| up and dial up just as you would at home. | | | | the important ones. Therefore costs will be |
| The cheapest way of doing this is to do some | | | | kept to a minimum and it doesn't matter if |
| research first and find a local Internet | | | | the connection is slow (from a cost point of |
| company that can offer 'pay as you go' dial | | | | view at least) since you are only paying for |
| up - don't dial into your home ISP as this | | | | the amount of data you transfer. Speeds |
| will cost you dearly in international call | | | | should be quicker than a normal mobile/cell |
| charges. Be aware that not all countries use | | | | phone connection. Ensure you check that GPRS |
| the common RJ11 phone socket and you may need | | | | is available in the country that you are |
| to purchase an adapter socket. These are | | | | visiting - most common destinations can offer |
| readily available on the Internet - just | | | | the service but you may find that some more |
| search Google for 'modem adaptor socket for | | | | remote countries are not yet GPRS |
| (your destination)'. You should also check | | | | enabled.Most important of all - enjoy |
| that the phone line you are about to plug | | | | yourself! :-)Copyright 2005 Richard |
| into isn't digital - if it is, you could fry | | | | GradyRichard Grady has been helping ordinary |
| your modem. Ask the hotel reception or | | | | people earn online since 1998. He writes a |
| better still, get a tester unit that plugs in | | | | free newsletter which is published every two |
| and checks the line for you - these are cheap | | | | weeks. |
| and could save you a lot of problems. Whilst | | | | |