Tips for the traveling worker.

When you travel abroad from the United States or Canada one of the first things you’ll notice is that you’re blocked from a lot of great sites like Netflix and Hulu. This is generally due to a lack of international streaming rights and other legal issues. It can be disappointing considering these boredom-curing sites come in handy when stuck in an airport or just killing time in a rented apartment. Also, in certain countries with heavy Internet censorship you can also be blocked from sites the government does not want you to see. But not to fear, there is a way around all these issues. It’s called a Virtual Private Network (VPN). The way most sites find out how to block you is based on the IP address your computer is shown as being located in. When using the Internet in a foreign country, your router typically shows an IP address from whichever country you’re in; VPNs change this. They are software products make your IP address appear as if you were sitting in the United States [...] Read more »

A lot of people decide to plan their Italian vacations during the summer months. And it makes sense. The weather is warm, the skies are clear, and you can sip an espresso outside without your hands freezing solid. But summertime in Florence also means crowds of people swallowing the Duomo, streets packed tighter than Snooki in a SmartCar, and hundreds of people standing shoulder-to-shoulder snapping photos of the faux David’s little David in Piazza delle Repubblica. It’s also hot as hell and tickets are priced higher during peak seasons. I’ve visited Florence in the summer before and while it was nice, it was nowhere near as great as getting to be in Florence this December. In my opinion, big cities are usually at their best during Christmastime, and Florence is no exception. If you love the holiday season like me, then traveling to Florence in December may be a great time for you to visit. Read more »

Even though mobile workers, like myself, like to travel light, there are still things that we need, want, or sometimes would just love to have. And this holiday season, there are some pretty cool new items that can make anyone’s trip a little more pleasant. Some of the items on this list are things I own that have helped me out on my trips and others are on my wishlist of things I would love to have. If you are a traveler hinting to loved ones about what you’d like this year or are looking to buy a gift for the mobile worker in your life, here are some excellent presents anyone that travels and works would (in my opinion) love to get. Powerbag I saw this recently and have been dying to get my hands on one ever since. This backpack is called the ‘Powerbag’ because it can charge up to four devices at once. Inside the bag are four Apple 30-pin, micro-USB, mini-USB and USB port connectors. So next time you are traveling and find an outlet, you [...] Read more »

If you’re a freelancer or mobile worker, like myself, it can sometimes be hard to find places to work productively. Coffee shops sometimes have small seats and loud conversations, shared apartments can have noisy roommates, libraries often require signing up for library cards, and offices don’t generally offer day or week long leases. That’s why I’ve found one of the most effective and cool options for getting work done while moving about the world is by using coworking spaces. Coworking spaces are great because they usually have fast wifi, you are surrounded by individuals also looking to be productive, and they’re also a great networking spot for like-minded individuals. What’s cool about them is most have options which can fit your length of stay. If you’re only in town for a day you can pay for just that day. If you will be there for a week, just pay for that. If you’ll be somewhere long-term, they also can accommodate that. In the spirit of promoting these coworking spaces, I’ve compiled a list of the six coolest coworking spaces in [...] Read more »

Driving in Europe can be nerve-wracking the first time. You book the car and they hand you the keys never having gone over street signs or rules of the road. Signs can be in different languages every couple hours and drivers speed far more than you’re used to in the States. But not to worry, I’m here to share all the knowledge I’ve learned as an American driver in Europe. If you read this before renting a car during your travels and heading out on the road you should have a pretty good understanding of what to expect and hopefully your nerves calm a bit. Get an International Driving Permit First things first: before you leave for your trip you should get yourself an International Driver’s Permit from your local AAA office. You’ll need to bring two passport photos, a filled-out application, and your driver’s license. When I got mine, it was just $15 and a quick process. You get it same day. Not all countries will require this when renting a car — some are more relaxed than others [...] Read more »

I travel a lot and as much as I’d like to learn the language in every country, it’s just not realistic. But knowing a few basic words and phrases for every country you visit is crucial and a sign of respect. I’ve found that you can get by with just five different phrases if you don’t have time to learn more of the language. Below are the words and phrases I’ve found I use the most when traveling and allow me to accomplish most of the things I need to do. Of course, learning more is always better, but if you can’t these five phrases can be learned in a matter of minutes. I’ve written the translation for you in eight common languages used throughout the world. For the languages that use different alphabets or have a different pronunciation, I have included how to say it to the right of the translation in parentheses. Read more »

Imagine this scenario. You just landed in Munich ready to begin your travels. You recently purchased a Barnes and Noble Nook because you knew the selection of books in English would be limited while traveling through foreign countries. You finish the last couple pages of your book at your hotel and go to download the next book on your wishlist. But wait, there’s one problem: you can’t download books to your reading device because you’re outside of the United States. This is a common problem, and luckily one I’ve been able to avoid thanks to some heads ups from friends abroad. This article is a quickie on how to read while in foreign countries. As I mentioned, paper books are probably not your best option when traveling unless you want to stick to bestsellers and ditch them after you’re done. This is because the most popular titles are probably all you’ll find in foreign stores, and besides, multiple books are too heavy to travel with. If you’re not up for lugging them around and paying high baggage fees, your best [...] Read more »

One thing I really can’t stand is bulky items in my pockets. After I grab my wallet, keys, and cell phone I only have one pocket left. I’m also one of those people who refuses to sit on a wallet out of fear of cracking cards and discomfort of feeling off balance. Having a wallet in my back pocket is also scary when walking through large cities. Pickpockets can easily pluck your wallet from your back pocket. They have even been known to take razor blades to the bottoms of bags and pockets so your wallet easily slips out into their hand. If you’re not walking around with a money belt, the safest strategy is generally to keep your wallet in your front pocket, but your keys and cell phone don’t always make that the most comfortable option. Not to mention, a bulky wallet in your front pocket can look pretty silly. That’s why I’ve been looking for an iPhone wallet case that can cut down on the number of items with me at once. If you’re not familiar with [...] Read more »

If the octogenarians of the world are to be trusted, there once was a time when transatlantic flights were black-tie events, and the skies were filled with beautiful people enjoying luxurious meals and amenities. Of course, these are the same people who insist that they used to get excellent customer service without having to learn Hindi, so a bit of skepticism may be in order. The in-flight experience may have lost much of its luster, but that doesn’t bother me much. I don’t need to be pampered, and if I did I would find a way to make it happen that didn’t involve arriving at an airport four to six hours before my scheduled departure. As a freelancer, I don’t mind getting intimate with TSA agents, dealing with surly flight attendants, being squeezed between two sleeping seat mates or even sitting with my knees pushed up to my chest, as long as I can connect to the Internet from my seat and get some work done. Fortunately, connecting to the Internet on a domestic flight is no longer a rare [...] Read more »

It’s hard to believe that there was a time in my life when I went on vacation and even business trips abroad without a single computing device in tow. Those days are history, though, and today I would be lost on the road without a laptop. Having my laptop along is like carrying an office, a library and a post office in my carry-on luggage. I can’t imagine trying to do my job without it. Hauling a battered MacBook everywhere I go does present some new challenges, though. What happens if my MacBook needs warranty work while I’m on deadline in Italy or trying to take care of business from a hotel in London? I’ve discovered that the answer depends on several factors, including the type of warranty I have, the repair options available in the country I’m in at the time and the nature of the problem. MacBooks come with a limited warranty that’s good for a year. It includes 90 days of free telephone support to get you through the original setup and help you get used to [...] Read more »