Internet Access when Travelling in Europe

[KeithJ]

Hi. We will be travelling in Spain, Portugal and France for 3 months from April and are looking for the best way to keep in touch via internet/e-mail. We have BT Yahoo Broadband at home and understand that we can subscribe to BT Openzone, then "roam" on other providers' networks, using a lap top, in other countries. I understand roaming fees are between 5 and 12 pence per minute. If anybody has experience of this, or knows a better (cheaper) way of using the internet we would much appreciate your advice. Some sites now advertise wi-fi facitities - does anybody know the procedure / cost for using this?

Keith

 

[JimF]

Hi Keith, Many campsites now have internet available for a small charge, failing that we just use internet cafes.

have a great holiday!

 

[DavidKlyne]

Keith

I have been to a couple of sites in France that have WiFi access. You usually buy a card which lasts an hour and the cost was around 8/10 Euros. The access point is usually near the bar. Good speed on the ones I used.

David

 

[Lutz]

Still rather expensive compared with the 1 to 2 Euros per hour that you pay at an internet cafe.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Why bother with the internet whilst on holiday. I go away to chill out and forget about the problems associated with every day life. It is the same to go away and have satelite TV - what the heck for. When away let your cares and worries be free and enjoy the break.

 

[Lutz]

That, of course, is personal choice. I wouldn't want to be without satellite TV or the internet, wherever I am. Somehow, I've got so used to them that I'd feel completely out on a limb without the chance to keep in touch with what's going on around me.

 

[cris_408518]

GO TO THIS PAGE for more info on Wifi abroad

http://www.practicalcaravan.co.uk/newforums/fm_messages.asp?FO=5&FM=314046
The world will go on without me so news and holidays do not go together.

TV and radio is a complete No No for us, but being self employed I need to be available at times and we have family with health problems to keep in touch with so the internet is now a must have when traveling.

We've just had a week away and it was seamless work and comm's wise.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

The only touch my wife and I have with home is our mobile phone - and the family back home know only to call us in an emergancy - as I said we go away to relax, unwind and enjoy ourselves. To hell with the problems of day to day life when we are on holidays. I will admit it is easier to say this when one is retired, but for those still working the job is there after you have retired and the more you do the more you are put on. Would the boss like to be constantly disturbed with business problems when he is away on holidays, I don't think his wife would be very amused with him being constantly contacted from work. My line manager threatened to report me because I never took college work home. My answer was when I went out through the gates the time was for my wife and family and not the college. Also if I took work home would he pay me overtime for the work I did at home. Incidentaly I was the department union rep.

 

[cris_408518]

After my problem last year the first thought was that I would not go back to work. My brother inlaw has taken on most of the hands on stuff but I can still run the office from anywhere in the world.

A friend of mine lives in Tucany and when you call his or his wifes office numbers in the Basingstoke area the phone gets answered with no knowlege to the caller that they are often attending to their Olive trees. When they send an email its sent from BT internet at home the same as me allthough they are not there.

They are self employed like me, we do not have employers paying for our holidays so if we go away for 4 to 6 weeks in the summer we still have to be available at times.

We supplied gear that has gone to Australia again but our clients have to set it up themselves as they do not consider it cost effective for one of my guys to fly out for just one

day ;-(

The other night I got a call as despite full briefing and instructions the clients men could not work out what to do. At gone midnight I was getting mobile phone pictures of what they were doing and then transfered them onto my lap top and sketched onto them what they had done wrong and emailed them back to the clients.

We were out of the country and the job was on the other side of the world and has to be done as that is how we work. The client will pay a premium for their stupidity but they get the service and we could enjoy our break.

 

[KeithJ]

Many thanks to Jim, David, Lutz and Cris, especially to Cris for directing me to the previous thread, which I did not realise had been so recent, albeit under a different topic heading. Lots of useful info there!

Nil points to Colin - We happen to like communicating with family when we are away!! I could say why do you bother with all other modern facilities and technology.

 

[cris_408518]

No worries Keith. Glad you spotted the link.

Free wifi if you can find the hot spots is the way to go.

All the rest work out as a cost balancing act. Have a great trip.

 

[BeemerMal]

cris....Thanks for the advise from my earlier post on Wi Fi connection while abroad.

We arrived in Santa Pola, South of Alicanti, yesterday and after pitching I tried my laptop wireless connection and immediately found three open, unprotected, Wi Fi connections from the comfort of my caravan. I spoke to a few other caravanners and most of them don't have any problem getting connected.

Cheers, off to the bar now....Large beer and a Baileys only 3 euros....Mal

 

[cris_408518]

Whilst there do me a favour and remember me to my old friend Gran Duque D'Alba ;-)

Glad the net is no problem and enjoy the sun.

Paternina Banda Roja or Gran Reserva top of the wine list