Contacting the family while abroad

[JessNewbs]

HI all, I know weve all talked about mobile connectivity while in the US but I am here to ask what are your thoughts on our best plan to have internet only contact while we are away? We have decided it seems like a lot of time wasting/ mucking around trying to have a phone so have decided to attempt the facebook only option while we are away. I have a Sony Vaio that we can take to connect to the hotel wifis but was wondering if I should invest in an ipad or something?? Thoughts ??

 

[JessNewbs]

We also have two iphones but was thinking this probably wouldn't be the best option.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Depends how much moving around you are doing Last trip I just took my laptop as one I needed to be accessible for work and I could just upload photos to it. We had three relatively long term bases. Our Europe trip for a month I used iPad with much success and also got the accessory to upload photos. There is only one work program that I need to take the laptop for and they are designing an app for it at the moment. Can't wait then iPad for me it will be all the way.

 

[Caroline NZ]

We are intending to Skype using the hotel WIFI to family back home using our Laptop.

 

[Toy Story]

We took the iPhone, then used it as a hot spot for the iPad and laptop. It worked well.

 

[patriciaofoz]

My cousins (from Australia) joined us on our Christmas DW trip. We researched it a bit beforehand and found that getting a T-Mobile SIM card was the best option. For $60 they got unlimited talk, text and data to anywhere in the US (in 4G speeds). All she needed to bring was an unlocked phone that T-Mobile used to insert the SIM card in. Texting to Australia was free, calling a mobile was 14c per minute while landline was about 5c per minute (if I recall correctly). And since data was unlimited, you could email or FB to your heart's desire. And Skype all you want too since that uses data.

 

[Andona]

Jess, we bought sims for our phones but that was mainly to call each other while out and about. To call home we only used Skype and also communicated via Facebook messages.

I used my iPad for all my Internet access, using the hotel wifi where available but I also appreciated having a sim in the ipad so I could use it whileon the road etc. for the ipad sim I bought the AT &T data sim from travelgear.com.Au.

Andona

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[PrincessInOz]

HI all, I know weve all talked about mobile connectivity while in the US but I am here to ask what are your thoughts on our best plan to have internet only contact while we are away? We have decided it seems like a lot of time wasting/ mucking around trying to have a phone so have decided to attempt the facebook only option while we are away. I have a Sony Vaio that we can take to connect to the hotel wifis but was wondering if I should invest in an ipad or something?? Thoughts ??

Why?


You're on holiday. Why would you want to contact the family for?????



Besides....it's probably cheaper to buy a data plan for your phone than to purchase an ipad. Cheaper....but not as much fun as the ipad would be.

 

[GrazingGoat1966]

$379 for an I-Pad mini. Light as a feather, huge capabilities, quality camera for photos and videos, and take advantage of Wi-Fi areas to your hearts content. Starbucks and McDonalds get a hiding from me in the States....and I dont even drink coffee!!

 

[Minniemum]

Last trip DH took all the important things like laptop, phone, camera etc. All I took was my iPhone. I just switched the Airplane Mode to "on" and then my Wi-Fi to "on". No global roaming charges when i got home! You can test this at home if you have Wi-Fi. I utilised the free Wi-Fi at WDW which was great at the hotel. I found the connectivity at some of the parks just ok but overall I was happy with my decision.