Internet access, traveling and a notebook

[gr8fl4porsche]

Anyone know of a cheap way to get internet access on a notebook while traveling?

Other than parking out front of a hotel or coffee shop to borrow the wifi - or - paying the outrageous fees for a service like Sprint Wireless, are there any other options?

I am taking the family to the beach for a couple of weeks and the condo I rented doesn't have access.

Sprint wants a 2 yr agreement and $60/month.

I am looking for something temporary - I don't need it at home or work.

[Halm]

Assuming you are staying here in the US, by far your best option will be a cup of coffee at Starbucks and use their WiFi. Or check out NetZero. They used to have a free dial-up access. Slow but free.

[rcecale]

Pick up one of those America Online CDs from a local Staples, Office Depot, etc., and use their complimentary hours.

One thing to beware of is when you return from your vacation, cancel the account (You'll have to give them a credit card number when you first sign up). their reps are trained/required/forced to keep you as a subscribing customer. You just have to be firm from the start of your conversation with them...don't listen to the BS line of questions and challenges they'll give you.



Randy

[Shadetree930]

You are on vacation with the family. Leave the computer at home ... interface with the family.

[stevepaa]

Originally Posted by prials

You are on vacation with the family. Leave the computer at home ... interface with the family.

yep, one of the best decisions you could make.

[MRM]

Does your PDA work with your laptop? My Treo is supposed to give wireless access to a laptop, albeit at Treo dial up style speeds. Once I got my Treo I stopped needing to lug my laptop around for the most part.

[gr8fl4porsche]

With a 4yr old and a barely 1yr old - the day goes from 5:30am to 9pm with children. Plenty of time for family time and relaxing with some net surfing while having a cocktail and some quiet time out on the veranda.

I can get slow access thru dial-up and cell phone modem but I was interested in some speed.

[LakeCleElum]

I've stayed in a condo with no Wi-Fi.....Can usually just sit out on the deck and find a signal....If not, you won't have to go far to get on.....I just download my email to Outlook and go over it later when I'm back at the condo w/o a signal...

[RWebb]

IF you cannot do without (see important posts above re FAMILY!!) then have the laptop search for Wifi networks - almost always some free ones all over the place.

Or you can connect via a cellular net - might cost tho.

[slakjaw]

Sprint has a 29.99 plan with a bandwidth cap as well.

Otherwise you could just use your cell phone.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I saw the $40 / month plan - its also a 2yr contract to get the hardware at a decent price. It is capped at 40mb/month. What does that translate into? 40 mb of downloads? How does that affect time spent browsing?

[djmcmath]

Seems like most hotels that I've stayed in recently advertise free wireless. In your situation, it seems like that would be the convenient way to do it -- just get connected right there in the hotel.