Vacations are supposed to be all fun but if you are like me you can’t stand to be apart from your computers.

I enjoy my computers and gadgets so much that I feel out of sorts without them.  This can be a real challenge when traveling!  Here’s some things to keep in mind when preparing for your next trip.

• If you are traveling by way of a service such as plane, bus, or cruise ship make sure you obtain and read all the rules.  A sample-sized bottle of shampoo or nail-clipper may seem innocent enough but may be prohibited.  You don’t want to be ready to board and have to make the decision to stay behind or throw your property away!  Another important thing is the size of your bags.  Many services have limits on the dimension of your gear.  There are some awesome gear bags in every shape and size imaginable so do yourself a favor and shop around to find the one that meets your needs.   Very important is to find one that is the right size for your laptop.  A bag that’s the wrong size is as bad as not having one at all.
• Bring everything you need but not everything you own!  Bring 2-3 CD/DVDs for backing up your photographs but not a whole spindle of 50.  It’s not worth the room.  You should bring any communication cables you will need, power supplies, with adapters if necessary, and lots of batteries for that camera, MP3 player, etc.
• Don’t forget to double check things like whether the hotel or cruise ship has wireless networking or in-room internet when you make your reservations.
• When you unpack your gear, don’t just throw it all around the room like I do.  It is too easy to leave with less than you had when you arrived.  Make a place for everything when it is not being used and be diligent to keep it there.  That way your blanket won’t eat that patch cable and the bottom drawer you never used won’t become the home for that missing memory card.
• A trick I always forget is that it’s pretty cheap to have a shipping company send your souvenirs back to your home so don’t try to cram it all into your luggage, just let it fly home on its own. Remember, it’s fine for that snow globe to take a week to get home if it gets misplaced but you don’t want to be without your laptop’s power adaptor so keep all your gear with you on the trip home.
• Snacks are great.  Don’t rely on your transportation to provide them.
• Electronics are great, but they are not always available.  Make sure you bring along a computing magazine or other low-tech entertainment.
• If you have to pack your electronic gear in a bag that’s not made for it, use a T-shirt or other soft clothing to wrap it and protect it a bit.  It’s never a good thing but it’s better than it bouncing around like a BB in a boxcar.
• If you are traveling abroad, be sure to know the laws of the land where you are going.  Recently a pastor in the US was held in a Russian prison for bringing items the US State Department listed as permitted but the Russians didn’t agree.  If you are going to someone else’s country be prepared to play by their rules.  Also research the culture.  In some Central American places there is such fear that Americans are coming there to steal their children that they have beaten tourists for just taking pictures of kids.  We have to understand their culture and act accordingly. By placing ourselves in their shoes we will remain safe and perhaps gain a greater appreciation for those in other situations.  How terrible must it be to think someone is going to steal your child!
• In that same vein, there are a lot of places where most of the people living there are very poor and when you show up with your laptop bag, digital camera around your neck, MP3 player in your ears, and wads of “spending money” they feel like it’s a gift from above.  Do not put yourself in this dangerous situation!  It’s never wise to totally block your hearing with a portable player, especially when you are in unfamiliar surroundings.  I don’t want you to be afraid to travel, but do it safely and you’ll have a great vacation!
• Make backups of everything and leave one set at home.  There are more and more stories every day about countries passing laws allowing customs agents and border guards to search your data and keep or erase anything that appears to be possibly in violation of copyright laws.  You don’t want to lose your entire music library to an over zealous guard that may not understand the ‘allowable use’ laws in your country.

Above all, put the electronics down and go have fun!  You are on vacation, don’t spend it in a hotel room or cabin on a cruise ship!  Go enjoy the beach, or at least the ice cream bar on the ship.

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