Just because you are traveling throughout Europe, does not mean you need to be cut off from communication to your friends and family back home. Staying in touch is much easier than ever before because of the Internet, cell phones, and cheaper land lines all throughout the entire continent of Europe. Communicating in Europe is easy to do and there are many choices that visitors have for staying in touch with the ones they love back home.
Travel and the Internet
Using the Internet away from home has never been easier than it is today. When you head to Europe, you will find that you have many options for Internet access. Most hotels and even hostels will have a computer, or multiple computers, that you can use to surf the net. Sometimes hotels will charge for access, in which case you will pay either at the front desk or will have an option to use your credit card right at the computer. You can often surf for a very affordable rate; however some of the fancier hotels will charge high fees for the use of their computers.
Many cafes and restaurants in cities and towns throughout Europe also have computers that you can access. Most of the time, these places will charge you a small rate per minute to use their computer, which is a great option if you want to be able to email your friends and family.
If you want to use a device that has Wi-Fi, like your laptop, you may have access for free at your hotel. Simply discuss with the front desk agent whether or not they have Wi-Fi and if it is free to use. You may have to pay, but usually this is not a ridiculous amount. The cafes and restaurants that offer computer terminal use may also have Wi-Fi for a fee. Talk with an employee to find out your options.
Using the Phone during Europe Travel
If you want to be able to call home when traveling through Europe, you can either use your cell phone or you can call home from your hotel phone. Check with your mobile service provider to determine if your phone will work and to see if the rates are reasonable. You can also look into renting a phone or buying a European pay as you go phone. If you want to use a landline for access to communication while in Europe, your hotel phone can be a decent option. Check with the front desk to find out how much this will cost you. If the prices are outlandish, consider purchasing a calling card from a convenience store in Europe and using that to make calls from nearby pay phones. Unlike in the U.S., pay phones are still prevalent throughout Europe and are an affordable option for many travelers. Calling cards will get you a certain amount of minutes and will let you know when you are about to run out of time.
You are not cut off from communication while you are traveling throughout Europe, as you still have easy and affordable access to phones and the Internet. Check out all of your options and you will be able to find one that fits your travel budget nicely.
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Internet access in Europe while traveling