Cheap Flight Holidays

Holiday Email access within the UK

When on holiday in the UK, we have the widest range of options and best opportunity to prepare for what we may find when away.

With your own laptop - you have various options:

3G Mobile Broadband.

This is now no longer the luxury option it was only a year or two ago.  For areas with 3G coverage, a simple and cheap 3G "dongle" plugged into a laptop or netbook computer will give fast and reliable 3G Internet access in most parts of the country.

If you would benefit from mobile Intenrat access all year round, 3G Mobile broadband deals are a cheap and economic solution.  Starting at as little as £10 per month, with free modems and at least 1GB included data transfer they are usually cheaper than using an Internet Cafe for an hour or two a month.

Do be aware that some providers charge massively for "Out of bundle" usage - i.e. exceeding your data allowance.  For a wealth of information, click: Best 3G broadband deals

Wired Internet Access

Where a hotel provides a wired Internet connection to your room, by plugging in a network cable you can be connected to the Internet quickly and easily.  This is the most simple method - if a free service is provided AND if you have a cable with you. Many hotels still charge for this access and have even been known to charge a lot for a network cable - or the loan of one.

A direct connection should give you Internet and the ability to receive email with Outlook or Outlook express.  To Send email you may have to use web mail - or change your SMTP server name.  Send a test email first to try and see if you get an error.  If you do - then you either need to ask for the "mail server settings" - they may have some information prepared - or use your ISPs webmail.

Check what is provided before you travel and check costs involved to avoid surprises.

Wireless or Wi-Fi Internet Access

This is now common in many hotels and 'hot spots' in Airports and Cafes.

Many hotels provide wireless internet access to a reception area and/or to the rooms.  This usually requires some configuration of the wireless adaptor in the laptop, details of which the hotel should provide.  Take care not to delete any existing configuration, or you may not be able to connect to your own wireless connection when you return.  Once connected the notes regarding email with a network cable above apply. Also, be aware that company provided laptops may have configuration options disabled or the wireless adaptor disabled.  In this case, try wired cable options, as above

As before, check what you can expect to be able to use and any associated costs.  Familiarise yourself with your laptops wireless configuration and make sure you have your own settings documented in case they are accidentally deleted.