A Traveller's Guide to Keeping in Touch with Friends and Family

In 1906, Reginald Fessenden made the first two-wayconsider purchasing a pay-as-you-go SIM card in the
transatlantic transmission, successfully exchangingcountry you happen to be in. In doing so, you avoid all
Morse code messages between stations in Brantmobile roaming charges, incoming calls are free and
Rock, Massachusetts to Machrihanish in Scotland.you get to make outgoing calls at a local rate. Before
He went on to become the first person to send ayou do this, it's important to make sure that your phone
short radio broadcast that featured him playing O Holyis unlocked, so it can use the new SIM card.
Night on the violin, followed by a reading from the bible.Internet - Most hotels and guest-houses provide
We have come a long way since these early days ofinternet access and you will rarely find a shortage of
communication and the pioneers of this earlyinternet cafés, especially if travelling in
technology would struggle to comprehend just how farSouth-East Asia. Most internet connections you find will
things have advanced since the end of the lastbe fast enough to take advantage of internet
century.telephony (VoIP) and the majority will already have
We have come a long way since these early days oftelephony software installed.
communication and the pioneers of this earlySkype is a popular choice - simply create an account,
technology would struggle to comprehend just how farcharge it with credit and you can then make outgoing
things have advanced since the end of the lastcalls to landlines and mobiles at extremely low rates.
century.Calls are free if calling other Skype users.
Whether you've booked a last-minute cheap flight forBlogging - keeping an online diary is a simple way of
a week in the sun or maybe you've taken the leapjotting down thoughts, and uploading pictures. It's also a
and gone for a round the world ticket, the chances aregood way of keeping all your friends up to date with
you will be leaving friends and family behind whowhat you're been up to.
appreciate being kept informed on how you're gettingThere are many blog host websites to choose from,
on.but you're probably better off going with a host that
If you're away for a short holiday, a quick phone callspecializes in travel blogs. There are a number that
home and a postcard is probably all you need tooffer unlimited photo storage and most will even plot
concern yourself with, but if you're planning on stayingyour travels on a map, so everyone can see exactly
away for an extended period, keeping loved oneswhere you've been. Once you've set up your blog, it's
reassured and friends updated becomes more of ajust a simple matter of sending off one email to
priority.everyone you know, advising them of your blog
What are the easiest and most cost-effective waysaddress.
of keeping in contact with the ones you care for?Technology has provided us with the means to
Mobile Phones - Nothing beats the convenience ofcommunicate easily and cheaply with the world - Now
using a mobile phone while you travel, but internationalis the time to take advantage of it.
roaming charges can be very expensive. Instead,