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STAY IN TOUCH

Technology Tips for Communication While Away

It's that time of the year again to start planning for summer travel. The kids are getting out of school for a few months, and now is the perfect chance for a family vacation. Before the advent of e-mail and instant messaging, travelers had to contend with expensive long-distance phone calls or the one-way communication of sending "wish you were here" postcards to friends and loved ones. But today, just about anyone can be reached electronically from any net-connected computer anywhere in the world -- even in small towns and developing countries.

Why should your readers know about and use these online tools? E-mail and instant messaging are used more and more to get word to loved ones at home that a traveler is doing well on the road, and also to keep in touch with new friends met on the road, enabling get-togethers further down the line. Best of all, e-mail and instant messaging are instantaneous and cheaper than a long-distance or international phone call.  And, there are no time zones to consider.

Did you know that in 1999, 22% of the nation's 39.8 million business travelers, as well as 10% of pleasure travelers, used the Internet or e-mail while traveling, according to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIAA). Even the most hard-core travelers still appreciate and rely on occasional contact with those at home or in the office.

• Got stamps? Don't panic if you don't! Sending e-mail greetings from the road is as easy as pie, and they'll get to your recipients in a fraction of the time. And, if you have a digital camera, you can upload pictures from your vacation to Yahoo! Photos ( http://photos.yahoo.com ) and share them with anyone or even have them printed and sent to you!

• Traveling without the kids, but want to check up on them from the road? Internet cafes or public libraries are a great place to log on and check in on the family while you're away. Just set a time for your e-meeting, and then log into Yahoo! Messenger for a real-time chat to talk about your adventures on the road and tell your family you wish they were there!

• Keep your friends and family informed of your adventures via an e-mail travelogue newsletter. This is especially great for travelers who are on the road for extended periods of time, or who are seeing lots of different sights on their journey. With Yahoo! Mail you can set up your own e-mail address book, and then, from time to time, send out a description of the sights and sounds of your travels as well as digital photos to prove you were there.

Edited by Kerry Cohen

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