Today's technology is an answer to workaholic's prayers for travel; you no longer have to leave your email unchecked while travel across the globe. You can literally find a DSL provider anywhere. Here's how to check for internet access wherever you go or stay.
Hotels
If you'll be staying in a hotel and need internet access in your room, you should check with the hotel first to make sure that is an amenity the hotel offers. The hotel's website will usually tell you if and where you can connect to the internet. Also, you may want to check ahead of time with your hotel because some hotels have additional DSL provider charges.
Some hotels, primarily business-oriented ones, will let you just plug your laptop into an Ethernet port. Hotels geared towards pleasure and tourism may require you to go to their business center, dial-up from your room, or their DSL provider may only allow access via a wireless card.
Hotels may either charge by the minute, the hour, or a flat rate for a day's access. Typical prices range from to per day.
Libraries
The good news is that public libraries usually give you free internet access. The bad news is that you may be limited to short amounts of time, like 15 minutes, or you may be required to reserve a computer in advance. Their DSL provider may also block certain websites. You will also have to use the library's computers to browse the internet rather than your laptop.
Cafes
Search engines and directories can give you a list of internet cafes that will be nearby stops on your itinerary. The caf websites should spell out how much access will cost and who the DSL provider is. The price may be cheaper than the hotel's option, and you won't be limited to small chunks of time like you would in a library.
Before You Go
The amount you'll pay for accessing the internet while traveling will vary greatly depending on the DSL provider. Some countries, like Indonesia, place very low limits on the amount of data you can upload or download for free, charging up to 0 a month for unlimited transfers.
So do your homework before getting on the airplane (which, by the way, will likely have a DSL provider onboard within the next year) to save yourself a painful surprise bill. And make sure to pack a wireless card and plug adaptors for your laptop to guarantee that no matter how far you go, work will come along with you.
