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The Travel Technologist · March 14, 2002

During the course of the last six months or so, this column has evolved from a feature that comments on the vagaries of travel technology to a weekly resource that helps you save money when you travel with gadgets.

I'm not surprised. People don't want to blow the budget on technology during these uncertain times, myself included.

I've found that one of the most overlooked resources for cutting technology costs is the Internet. Travelers tend to think that by tweaking usage patterns or buying the right gadgets, they can save money. And they can. If they overlook the Web, however, they'll miss a lot of other important moneysaving opportunities.

Here are a few of my favorite sites for tech travelers:

The Lycos eKit: Ever since I've been writing this column, readers have asked me if there's a service that offers e-mail, fax, and phone services for people on the go. Well, if you're a frequent traveler, then the answer is yes-for the right price. But occasional travelers were out of luck until now. Lycos eKit offers an affordable way to stay connected to friends and family while you're away. It's a kind of hybrid phone card that uses the Web as its primary interface, and prices start at about $20. Many of the eKit online services are free, which is much better than having to dial into voice-mail while you're away and racking up expensive long-distance charges.

TeleAdapt: There's nothing worse than not being able to use your laptop computer when you're traveling internationally. Fortunately, TeleAdapt's website offers some of the best online help available, if not the best. Online features include primers on telling your computer to ignore a dialtone, as well as short articles on using phone cards and international mobile phones. Granted, the TeleAdapt site is something of a chicken-and-egg proposition. If you can't log on to the Internet, what's the point of a website with tech help? I guess the folks who designed TeleAdapt figured that someone else would be able to lend you an Internet-connected PC. TeleAdapt will also try to sell you adapters, but my experience is that they're a little overpriced.

iGo: Like TeleAdapt, iGo will try to sell you a peripheral, gadget, or battery. Its prices are okay, but dig deeper and you'll find that the information on its site is better than okay. It's actually terrific. Click on its Road Warrior Resources section and you'll find a wealth of data about cheap ways to connect to the Internet while you're away. (For example, did you know there are at least five Internet Service Providers in the Bahamas? They're all listed.) Knowing that European two-pin plugs are the standard in Oman may not seem terribly useful right now, but wait until your next trip to the Middle East. If you're anything like me, you'll be scrambling to figure out which adapter to take, and which one to leave.

Wireless Advisor: One of the other common questions I get as a tech columnist is, "How do I find the best wireless phone for travel?" I like Wireless Advisor because it's extremely easy to use and isn't beholden to the cellular phone lobby. Just enter your ZIP code and the site returns a listing of wireless providers in your area. You can comparison-shop between cell phone companies, picking the wireless plan that fits your itinerary. At last count, the site featured information in 734 cellular markets including approximately 493 PCS providers. I liked the additional content, such as articles and electronic bulletin boards, all intended to make you a smarter shopper. That kind of data is hard to come by, and it will save you lots of money if you take the time to read it.

The Web is an excellent way of making your technology work without exceeding your spending limit, but this column just scratched the surface. Send me an e-mail, and let me know how else you'd like to save money when you travel with your tech-toys. I'll try to work your ideas into a future column.

Until then, here's hoping you stay connected.

Christopher Elliott is a travel commentator based in Key Largo, Fla. All e-mailed questions may be edited, condensed or republished at the site's discretion. The Travel Technologist appears weekly on this site. This story was also published on SmarterLiving.com.