Internet cafes/computers for 20 day trip
 

I am traveling to Italy and Greece for 20 days before studying abroad. I will be with friends in Italy (Milan, Cinque Terre, and Florence), but will be by myself in Greece (Santorini, Athens, Delphi, Metora, and Thessaloniki). I am considering shipping my laptop to my study abroad site, but am worried about communication and researching things (sights, maps, etc) while im in Greece.

Will there be internet cafes with computers available for me to use?

You've asked this question before on a posting a few months back. Most of the people who responded to that last post suggested that you go to your study abroad site first and drop off your stuff at the school before heading off to travel with your friends.

If having access to internet everyday is important, then just bring your laptop and make sure your accommodation has wifi access. I wouldn't ship my laptop in the mail.

I have found internet access in Italy to be very sub-par with that in other European countries (and even India). BUT I was i Umbria and Tuscany for the most part, in rural towns, and it might be very different in big cities.

If you google wifi hotspots Italy (and Greece), you should ge some idea of what to expect. When I DID find wifi spots, they were really inexpensive. Be prepared to give them your passport so they can log you in before you use a computer.

I don't think I'm asking the same question. I've already determined that I'm going to ship most of my things (because of time restrictions). Now I'm just trying to decide what to do with my laptop. I'm asking about access to computers there.

I don't need access to internet every day, just every few days so my family knows where I am and that I'm ok.

> I don't need access to internet every day, just every few days so my family knows where I am and that I'm ok.

In that case, I would suggest that you not bring your laptop.
Try to FedEx it if you can.

A quick search on google as StCirq has suggested returned this:

http://www.made-in-italy.com/travel/...afes/index.htm

http://cafe.ecs.net/index_en.html

http://www.venetiannavigator.com/

I'm sure you can google for info yourself.

Not specifically Greece but I found internet shops at or near train stations in my travel through about 20 countries several years ago. Also, many public libraries have computers with free internet access. Hostels are also usually equipped and at a low price.

For travel with a laptop I recommend an Asus EEE. It is tiny and it has a built-in wifi device, and is amazingly cheap.

stcirq is right that internet access is not great in Italy, but your best bet will be to use the tourist offices and pro loco offices. An hour's worth of time will cost you about a euro. Don't haul your laptop around. It would really be a drag.

How big is your laptop? I always bring a laptop, often two, as does the wife. If it is relatively small and light, I would just bring it, rather than relying on internet cafes.

There is not a lot of wi-fi in Italy, and to get hardwire connections you usually have to go to cafes or tourist offices anyway, unless you are staying in business hotels -- which have computers in the lobby you can use. I really don't see much point in having a laptop (or two!) to worry about in places like Cinque Terre, where you certainly won't want to be leaving it on the beach, or hiking with it, and if you stay in budget accommodations, you will worry about whether it is safe when you leave it behind (it will be, probably, but you'll still probably worry).

On my last trip to Italy it seemed quite a few internet cafes have closed. With so many people traveling with their own laptops and blackberries I guess there isn't as much money in it as there used to be.

My laptop weighs about 5 lbs. With the laptop and my camera gear, I reach the weight limit on hand baggage, and I don't want to check any electronic gear. This leaves me with no room/weight for a book, medicine, change of clothes, etc.

There are internet cafes EVERYWHERE in Greece unless you are going to really out of the way islands, and your itinerary says not. Ask around... you can find ones that are no more than 4€ per hour, especiallly in student areas. Also, increasingly, budget hotels (30-40 per double before July) are offering free internet in the lobby in Naxos, Chania Crete ... but probably not in Santorini. I have been using internet cafes on my annual trips since 2003, and have never gone more than 2-3 days without checking e-mail & communicating.

An interesting Santorini note: there's a very large Internet room (30 computers) right above the travel agency & bank on Fira town square, but when I went to use it at 2:30 pm one May day, the sign said closed until 3. But I could see thru the window that all computers were in use. A man came out and explained -- the school system could not afford so many modern computers, so they close each day til 3 and the students use them to learn ... THIS is why one of Europe's poorest nations until the 70s has produced so many outstanding scholars and scientists!

ab10,

You should be able to stow your book and medicine in jacket pockets. Live dangerously and skip the change of clothes.

Are you sure your airline won't allow you the laptop PLUS handbaggage?

travelerjan- thank you so much for that helpful bit of information. I will definitely check that out.

zeppole- this is cut and paste from the Aerlingus website "Cabin baggage is restricted to 1 piece per passenger, weighing less than 6 kgs/13 lbs in total, and must fit in the overhead bin or under your seat. Cabin baggage limits are strictly enforced." I couldn't believe that they only allow 1 bag for an internatoinal flight, but I can't find anywhere on the website that it says otherwise.

I would call aerlingus. That would just be me, but like you I find that info rather hard to believe. No purses? No laptops?

We never had any problem finding internet cafes/sites in Greece.