Prepare to keep in touch

You probably already have an e-mail address, but now is the time to make sure you have one through the internet. When you visit cyber caf�s around the world, you are assured only of internet access, so it is best to be able to access your messages through the world wide web. There are several free internet e-mail systems (though they may implement user fees in the near future!) such as Yahoo (www.mail.yahoo.com) and Google mail (www.gmail.com). Access the above sites and look for links on how to set up your account. Pick an email address that is easy to remember and identifies you well; you will likely also be using your address to connect with other travellers you meet along the way. Set up your account before you leave and enter in any of your friend's and families e-mail addresses in to the address book so that you don't have to carry this information on paper. You can also store other information within your account such as snail mail addresses, phone numbers, and your own personal information like traveller's cheque numbers and insurance information - but don't put critical private information such as credit card numbers as the security of your personal information is not assured. You may also want to arrange for forwarding to your internet account of messages from other e-mail addresses you maintain.

The advantages of keeping in contact with home via the internet is that it is cheap and nearly instantaneous. Remember though that in many parts of the world, the computer itself is extremely high tech and may or may not be available for your use. The further you venture from urban and tourist areas, the more per minute of internet access you should expect to pay. As well, service in more remote areas, if existent, will often be slower and it can take ages for you to pick up mail and compose a message. Guidebooks written since the year 2000 generally give ideas on what you can expect in your destinations with regards to the growing business of internet access.

Even if you decide to use e-mail as your method of communication to back home, you will want to have the option of making phone calls for emergency purposes if none other. Arrange for a personal calling card which can be used in conjunction with the 'Direct' services (Canada Direct, AT&T Direct for the U.S., BT Direct for Britain, Ireland Direct, Australia Direct, Telecom New Zealand and Telkom South Africa). These services provide you with access numbers for each country where the service is available. When you want to place a call, dialling the access number for the country you are in will connect you to an operator from your home country. Using these services will facilitate the process with an operator who speaks your own language and billing in your home currency to your home account. Note, however, that the service is not available in more remote countries and in some destinations there are specifications on what type of phone (dedicated, private, public) you can access the service on. You may need to insert coins or local prepaid cards to access the service. In some cases, you may be able to use the Direct services for country-to-country calling - check with your local service before leaving. The calling card gives you better rates and is a cheaper alternative to calling collect or direct using local prepaid cards.

Snail mail is always nice to send and receive. Or you may want to use it for sending home souvenirs or personal items you no longer need, or having required items sent to you from home. Anyone who wants to send you something on the road can use the internationally recognized 'Post Restante' system. If you know where you will be at a certain point in your trip, have them send it to you marked HOLD at: FirstName LASTNAME, Poste Restante, City, Country, Country Code.

If you have people worrying about you back home, never promise them phone calls or e-mails at specified times. If you are not able to find communication facilities at that given time, you will only induce stress on those worrying about you. Stress to your loved ones that you will do your best to be in touch when you can, and that if they don't hear from you, it is much more likely that communication facilities were not available than that some disaster has befallen you. For more information on using e-mail, phones and mail around the world, see Communication.

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