If you don't have your own computer you can use Internet cafes. They are extremely common in developing countries, where many people can't afford their own computer. They can be extremely cheap, also; sometimes less than a dollar an hour.

Another method, dialing in to an Internet provider through a telephone line, is also possible. You can also use your cell phone instead of your hotel's phone if you need dial-up access. Some newer cell phones have built-in Internet capability which you can connect to your laptop via the USB port, though it will be a slow connection. Using your hotel's phone line is also slow and, to sat the least, difficult.

The preferred method, by far, is through a Wi-Fi or wireless Internet connection. Wi-Fi "hotspots" are often free and common throughout most of the world. They are found in hotels, airports, bars, restaurants and Internet cafes. If the broadcast is free, all you have to do is take out your laptop or PDA and sign on. The performance of Wi-Fi, while not as fast as a direct cable connection, is far superior to dial-up.

Internet Connections in Hotel Rooms

In most civilized parts of the world it is not difficult to find a hotel or even a small guesthouse that offers in-room Internet either free or at low cost. Many use wireless, so you'll need a Wi-Fi equipped laptop. In the unlikely event you can't find a place with in-room Internet, using a dial-up modem should be a last resort.

Prices for in-room Internet vary even more than international cell phone roaming. Fancy big hotels can charge up to $30 per day…ouch. Normal, cheap to moderate hotels and guesthouses are likely to charge only one or two dollars per day. Some provide the service for free. That's why I advise computer nomad's to do their research on hotels before they leave. Most hotels, even tiny mom and pop guesthouses, have web sites nowadays. Also, if you know the area you want to stay and have not found a suitable place yet, try walking around the area after you arrive with a Wi-Fi detector (see below) and seek a hotel with a signal.

While the resources on the Internet for finding a suitable place are limitless, it is also time-consuming and difficult to find low to medium priced accommodation with in-room Internet. Forget about the big sites like Expedia and Travelocity. They specialize in expensive hotels. If you can afford those hotels, you don't need to visit this site. There is no comprehensive directory of medium and low priced hotels on the Internet. If you search you may find a local listing or directory of hotels for the city you want to visit. They often will not indicate if the hotel offers in-room Internet. In fact, even if you ask the hotel directly via telephone or email if they have Internet, they will often say yes but it'll turn out to be one or two computers in the lobby for rent. Make sure you specify that you need Internet in your room.

Hostelworld is a fairly big directory of cheap hotels, guesthouses and hostels, but it is nowhere near comprehensive. For example, it lists 25 places in Chiang Mai, Thailand but there are over one hundred. Also, it is oriented towards really cheap places (under $15) while places with in-room Internet tend to be priced a little higher.

Free Wi-Fi Internet

If you are really on a tight budget, free Internet is available somewhere in every major city in the world. Unlike Starbucks, many coffee shops, bars and restaurants have free Wi-Fi. A Wi-Fi detector, available for as little as $20, can check the area for a Wi-Fi connection. It is even possible to "steal" the signal from someone who chose not to secure their wireless network.

JiWire is supposed to be the largest directory of Wi-Fi locations around the world. Even that, however, contains only a small percentage of the actual number available. I know of at least five or six Wi-Fi locations that are not even listed here in my current location, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Other directories include Hotspot Locations and Wi-Fi411. The best way is to just walk around an area with a Wi-Fi signal detector until you find something. A Wi-Fi equipped PDA will also do the trick.

Internet Cafes

The expense and hassle of connecting your laptop to the Internet from some hotel rooms often isn’t worth the trouble. In poor countries where few people can afford computers, like Cambodia and Honduras, Internet cafes offer good quality access at low prices. Usually you can make long distance calls and send faxes for much less than in a hotel. Internet cafes typically offer on-line computer time ranging from under a dollar per hour. Internet cafes typically charge additional fees for printer output.

A few cafes will provide space to plug your own laptop computer into a telephone and work on their Internet provider for a slightly lower fee. Others will even let your use their Wi-Fi for free as long as you buy a coffee. The competence of the people staffing these services will vary, and the on-line speed and access will vary depending on the level of quality of the country's telecommunications infrastructure. If you plan on staying in one place for a while, and want to use a café’s service frequently, try negotiating a discount in exchange for paying for many hours in advance.

For an online international directory of Internet cafes try cybercafes.

Find dial-up around the world

Only use dial-up if you have no other choice. Most laptops are shipped with built-in modems. Having to dial in to an Internet provider from a hotel room in a developing country can be a nightmare, unless you fantasize about Mission Impossible. Many cheap hotels don't even have a telephone in the room. It is far better to stay in a hotel with in-room Internet capability via Wi-Fi or cable. Most hotels and Internet cafes offer service for those times when you need to fax an original paper document.

Frequent international travelers have a significant challenge ahead. There is a bewildering array of telephone systems in use around the world. The good news is that the price can be low in developing countries. The problem is that not all of them are compatible and some only function part of the time.

To begin with, your most basic resource for staying connected, the familiar RJ-11 phone connector used in the U.S., is not an international standard. There are dozens of different telephone connectors, and nearly as many electrical connectors. In Hong Kong alone there are at least six different types of electrical connectors. While most of the world uses RJ-11 telephone connectors, there are many that don't. Two company's, Magellans and Teleadapt, specialize in providing gadgets that let you connect.

Something called metering impulse - a series of background beeps that can cause havoc with your modem - are in use by several European countries. You can buy filters that overcome the problem. These are the kind of things that you need to research about the countries you plan to visit before you arrive. Even then, unpleasant surprises are inevitable.

Recognizing Dial Tones in Foreign Countries

Like RJ-11 jacks, the dial tones used around the world vary considerably, causing further confusion for your modem. Some modems have different country configurations so it can recognize the particular dial tone in that country. It’s a good idea to do some research on whether your modem is likely to work in the particular countries you plan to visit. The best source for this information is through your modem vendor’s web site. If your modem has trouble recognizing the dial tone in the country you’re in, you should be able to instruct your modem to dial anyway. Windows users can go into their control panel and select modem, then properties, and disable the “wait for dial tone before dialing” feature.

If everything else fails, get friendly with the hotel manager. Explain your situation and ask about using the hotel’s fax line after normal business hours. These lines are usually analog, and offer the best chances for getting your modem connected.

International Internet Service Providers for Travelers

Dialer.net
They offer dial-up in over 150 countries. It costs 15 cents per minute in Germany, 24 cents in Laos and Zimbabwe.

MyTravelAccess
They are cheap. All calls are less than 5 cents per minute, but fewer than 70 countries are covered. Forget about Laos and Zimbabwe.

AOL
For AOL subscribers, dial-up access in Germany costs $4 per hour. No coverage for Laos. Zimbabwe was $6. These are "surcharges" beyond AOL's regular fees.

Go2Roam
They charge 6 cents in the U.S. and Canada, 15 cents in Europe and 24 cents everywhere else. Covers over 150 countries. Sounds like the same outfit as Dialer.net.

Your current Internet service provider may also offer global roaming. This is done through an international network, usually through GRIC or IPass. Contact your current provider to see if they offer this service.