Staying Completely Connected While Traveling

As a flight attendant it is no surprise to me or anyone else that I travel alot; however, I used to get stressed when it was time to leave home. Besides simply suffering from homesickness, I sometimes felt like I was leaving so many loose ends; like bills not being mailed out or my email not being caught up. Well, I decided to change all that. I would love to share some of my secrets with you for keeping yourself together when criss-crossing the country.

The Right Laptop

Traveling with my laptop is an absolute necessity. I have a Dell M1210 which has a 12.1 inch screen and a long-life battery. I went to the smaller screen after using one with a 15.4 inch screen for a couple of years before. The older computer was much too big for use in the economy section of the airplane for when I was traveling as a passenger. My laptop has built in AT&T/Cingular Wireless Broadband Service that makes me completley self sufficient when it comes to internet access. Now I do not have to depend on or pay for access from hotels and coffee shops on the road.

Remember, if you prefer Apple, they have incredibly portable units available as well and I know many Apple owners that are very happy with them.

The Right Cellular Phone

Many times, it is just not convenient to take out the laptop so having a cell phone solution that keeps you connected via voice and email makes life much, much easier and keeps you productive. I use the Blackberry Pearl from AT&T/Cingular which keeps me constantly connected to my email so that I can respond to many within minutes. Besides that, it has very good internet access (included in plan, but seperate from the wireless broadband on my laptop). Another great thing about this phone is the long battery life. It normally holds a charge for 3 to 4 days. Although the IPhone sounds exciting, I am waiting to see what Blackberry creates as a challenge!

Portable Entertainment Device

Taking your music and video entertainment with you is something that can make a boring trip much more enjoyable and comfortable. Why not watch an episode of Judge Judy when all there is to watch in the airport is CNN Headline News? I have a Creative M to watch videos and listen to music, plus I have a smaller, less expensive MP3 player for the gym. You can buy your music from many different places. I get my music from the Yahoo Music Subscription Service because I can get so many songs and keep changing them on a regular basis.

Watch Your Den TV While at DFW Airport

If you want to try something really cool, you should check out the SlingBox. I have one and it makes it possible for me to watch my den TV and TIVO through the internet on my laptop from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. This is the best invention and takes about an hour to set up.

About The Author-- Gailen David is a Motivational Speaker, Customer Service Expert, and the Ambassador of Travel Civility. He has also been a Purser for a major airline for over 20 years.Take Off Now

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