Does anyone know if I can take my laptop to e-mail from Italy to my family as well as down loading my digital camera? If it is possible, how do I find a server to link up with? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Naomi

I'm looking for this info also. In the past most have said not to bother, but we'll be in a flat for two weeks in London, one in Paris for a week (that has high speed access) and an apartment in Garmisch for a week, so now think I'd like to.<BR>I have earthlink, which I assume will never fly there, but also have free AOL, so if I join up there, can I dial up and access free while in Europe?

Thanks Patrick, I hope you enjoy your trip. Let me know if you hear any more, and I'll do the same.

I just answered part of this question for Naomi on her other thread. There are internet cafes in virtually all cities in Europe. (Run a search using &quot;cybercafes.com&quot;, which shows 102 just for Rome.)<BR><BR>If you bring your PC (assuming it is compatible with 220 volts, 50 Hz) you will need a local access number. Ask Earthlink if they have a list of local access numbers for internet connection in Europe. If they don't not, ask AOL.<BR>

Patrick, we found Earthlink to have the most access numbers in Europe. There was much more availability than with AOL.

I've never had a problem with AOl access in Europe, BUT it is expensive! In France (and maybe England) you pay for local calls, and when you add the AOL surcharges to that, and figure the slowness of the dial-up connection, you can rack up some very hefty bills. Connecting through hotels adds further to the costs. By contrast, I've found the fees at internet caf&eacute;s to be very reasonable. I haven't lugged my laptop around Europe for the past 4 years.

I have done both at different times.<BR>I got a list of local access numbers from Earthlink for the city I was in and brought my laptop on a 2 week trip to Southern Italy last spring, but used internet cafes in Rome over Christmas, linking to the folllowing website www.mail2web.com<BR>which enables you to link to your email from anywhere. It was MUCH easier and cheaper doing this at the cybercafes!!<BR>Good luck

Can't the laptop run on batteries? I was thinking of buying one because of that. I am new at this.

Go to http://selfcare.tiscali.it:8585/servlet/SelfProvisioningServlet<BR>register for a free internet access and e-mail. Then you only have to connect your computer to Tiscali (once you're in Italy) through the phone number 7023456789. This number works all over Italy and gives you access to the internet for the cost of a normal Italian urban phone call.<BR>

In my experience, laptop batteries do not last more than 3-4 hours. They then have to be recharged, and you are back to your voltage/converter issue.

Yes, but they have to be recharged. Mine is a dual voltage and has a dual voltage recharging unit. I've always used cyber cafes before, but like the idea of sitting up at night doing my journal and also doing my emails. Since this time I'll have access for three of the weeks from two apartments (not sure about the apt. in Garmisch) I just think I might go for it.

see your other, nearly identical question as well.<BR>

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&amp;tid=34390830<BR>

In case you aren't aware, and many aren't, in Italy, as in much of Europe, you pay for ALL phone time. Even local calls are billed by the minute. And, as one posted noted, the bills can pile up quickly. This is not necessarily a problem, as long as you are aware of it before you go.

There are free internet services in Italy...though you still pay by the minute for the local phone call. One is libero.