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We’re all traveling much more these days and that’s a great thing, but if you’re the sort of person who likes to stay connected while you’re away, then it’s not always as cheap and easy as you’d think.

While mobile phones are plentiful and smartphones offer a full-on computing experience on the go, the cost of using these gadgets overseas can often be high. Although the EU has introduced legislation to cap some charges on mobile use abroad, there are still many hidden charges and technical reasons that can put people off going mobile while they’re away.

Mobile broadband convenience

The same can often be said for computing while you’re abroad. Although netbook and laptop deals are cheaper than ever, as well as being a lot more portable, they can also be affected by high charges for accessing the internet overseas. When it comes to choosing the best mobile broadband service for your needs while abroad then the best route to take is often a free comparison website.

Using one of these allows you to quickly assess what is on offer, the pricing details and also, more importantly, the terms and conditions pertaining to overseas use. Of course, one option is to buy a cheap pay-as-you-go dongle when you get to your destination. This should plug into an available USB port on your computer and allow you to get connected.

Which is best?

Pay-as-you-go is a good angle in this respect because there’s no contract and you only pay for the time you’re connected. Different mobile networks do have options for overseas use, however, and some allow you to buy credits or special vouchers that enable connectivity when abroad. You’ll often get a specified data allowance in this, but they’re all different. So, again, you can soon see the benefit of genning up via a comparison website first.

Any other options?

If you’d rather not bother with any of the faffing around then there has always been the option of a trip to the local internet café when you’re abroad. However, these often have computers that are less than ideal and if you have any need to stay online for longer periods then they’re often impractical too.

Unfortunately, mobile broadband is also not ideal for downloading large files, so if you need online access that is fast and allows for things like movie clips and music files to be accessed then you could be stuck. Unless, of course, you employ the cheapest and best tactic for getting online while you’re overseas.

Simply take a trip to a bar, fast food outlet, restaurant or any one of a multitude of other outlets at your destination and tap into their Wi-Fi broadband service. This is often free in many locations, while other places might expect you to buy some light refreshments to keep them sweet. Nevertheless, this can be a great way of enjoying fast internet access overseas, and it’ll certainly work much more efficiently than a mobile broadband network signal. It’s also ideal for downloading larger files too.

Just make sure that you take a device with you that is capable of being Wi-Fi enabled, and also switch off the mobile data option so that your laptop or smartphone doesn’t inadvertently tap into the mobile network for its data fix instead.

About the author: Rob Clymo writes on behalf of broadbandgenie.co.uk and mobilephonegenie.co.uk, the independent comparison sites for broadband, mobile broadband and mobile phones.

Photo from Flickr by: ahhyeah