The 21st-Century Traveler

Internet Access Away From Home

Without Your Own Computer -- To find cybercafes in Philadelphia, check www.cybercaptive.com, www.cybercafe.com, and www.internet-cafe-guide.com. If you're computer-less as you read this, visit the central branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia at 1901 Vine St. for free use of their computers (tel. 215/686-5322; www.library.phila.gov). The Center City branch of Ing Direct Cafe at the corner of 17th and Walnut streets offers a couple of computer kiosks (tel. 215/731-1410; www.ingdirect.com). For pay-to-play Internet access, go to the closest 24-hour FedEx Kinko's (tel. 800/254-6567; www.fedex.com).

Aside from formal cybercafes, most youth hostels and public libraries offer Internet access. Avoid hotel business centers unless you're willing to pay exorbitant rates.

Most major airports now have Internet kiosks scattered throughout their gates. These give you basic Web access for a per-minute fee that's usually higher than cybercafe prices.

With Your Own Computer

When Philadelphia mayor John Street promised citywide wireless access, many listeners scoffed. But in 2006, the city contracted with Earthlink -- and by all appearances, Philly's wide-reaching Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) went partially live at the end of 2006, and promises to cover all 135 square miles of the city by fall 2007. The proposed rate is $21.95 per month.

In the meantime, more and more hotels, cafes, and retailers are signing on as Wi-Fi "hotspots." Mac owners have their own networking technology, Apple AirPort. T-Mobile Hotspot (www.t-mobile.com/hotspot) serves up wireless connections at more than 1,000 Starbucks coffee shops nationwide. Boingo (www.boingo.com) and Wayport (www.wayport.com) have set up networks in airports and high-class hotel lobbies. IPass providers also give you access to a few hundred wireless hotel lobby setups. To locate other hotspots that provide free wireless networks in cities around the world, go to www.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/WirelessCommunities.

For dial-up access, most business-class hotels in the U.S. offer dataports for laptop modems, and a few thousand hotels in the U.S. and Europe now offer free high-speed Internet access. In addition, major Internet service providers (ISPs) have local access numbers around the world, allowing you to go online by placing a local call. The iPass network also has dial-up numbers around the world. You'll have to sign up with an iPass provider, who will then tell you how to set up your computer for your destination(s). For a list of iPass providers, go to www.ipass.com and click on "Individuals Buy Now." One solid provider is i2roam (tel. 866/811-6209 or 920/235-0475; www.i2roam.com).

Wherever you go, bring a connection kit of the right power and phone adapters, a spare phone cord, and a spare Ethernet network cable -- or find out whether your hotel supplies them to guests.

For information on electrical currency conversions, see "Electricity," in "Fast Facts".

Cellphones in the U.S.

Just because your cellphone works at home doesn't mean it'll work everywhere in the U.S. (thanks to our nation's fragmented cellphone system). It's a good bet that your phone will work in major cities, but take a look at your wireless company's coverage map on its website before heading out; T-Mobile, Sprint, and Nextel are particularly weak in rural areas. If you need to stay in touch at a destination where you know your phone won't work, rent a phone that does from InTouch USA (tel. 800/872-7626; www.intouchglobal.com) or a rental car location, but beware that you'll pay $1 a minute or more for airtime.

If you're not from the U.S., you'll be appalled at the poor reach of our GSM (Global System for Mobiles) wireless network, which is used by much of the rest of the world. Your phone will probably work in most major U.S. cities; it definitely won't work in many rural areas. (To see where GSM phones work in the U.S., check out www.t-mobile.com/coverage/national_popup.asp.) And you may or may not be able to send SMS (text messaging) home.