One of the charms of many bed and breakfasts is the quaint, rustic ambience. Unfortunately, that can come in direct conflict to your need to stay connected to the office when you travel. These tips can help you bridge that great divide.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 1 weekend
Here's How:
- Plan ahead. Since every bed and breakfast is different, you should talk to the innkeeper about your needs before making reservations. This is by far the most important step.
- Bring a list of any toll-free phone numbers you might need to contact for support (ISP, cell phone provider, etc.), just in case.
- Check your cell phone provider's coverage maps. Particularly if you're heading to a rural destination, cell phone coverage might be spotty -- or worse.
- Be sure your room is equipped with a phone line if you need one. Some inns pride themselves on being an escape from the real world, so they don't provide in-room phones.
- Ask the innkeeper whether they have a fax machine available for guest use. Get the number before you leave, so you can give it to key business associates in advance.
- Ask about cable television access. Many inns don't have in-room cable, and quite a few don't have any in-room televisions at all. So if CNBC is must-see TV in your life...
- Although many B&Bs now offer free high-speed wireless Internet access, be prepared for dial-up modem connections. If you're visiting a rural destination, your connection to the Internet might not be as fast as you're used to.
- Bring extra cords, batteries and adapters. Bring everything you think you'll need, plus a few more.
- Expect disruptions. Things might not work as smoothly on the road as they do at home or in the office.
Tips:
- If you're traveling abroad, don't forget that Europe and the U.S. use different electric systems -- find out what converters you'll need and bring them with you.
What You Need:
- Laptop Computer
- Cell Phone
- PDA
- Cords
- Batteries
- Battery chargers
