Do you bring your laptop when you travel?

@mimico (3617)
Philippines
June 9, 2008 5:57am CST
When I'm at home, I make it a point to go online at least once a day even if it's just for an hour. I want to be updated on the latest news as well as check my email for new messages. However, when I travel to a different country, I never get to use the internet. I don't like paying for internet at a cafe or at the hotel, so I tend to miss out on my regular bonding session with the computer. On a recent trip, I was forced to use the hotel's computer station to check my email because something important came up. Although the internet usage fee wasn't that big, I had to pay for something which would've been free had I packed my own laptop along for the trip. Most places in the world have free wi-fi, which got me thinking. Is it wise to bring my laptop when I travel? Is the additional weight worth it? Please share your thoughts on this as I'd love to hear about what you guys do.
5 people like this
24 responses
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
9 Jun 08
Oh yes, I always take along my laptop every time I travel. I travel quite often to different countries around the world. I need the laptop to keep in touch with my office back home, and for preparing any documenattions I need to do on my trip. Most of the hotels I stay at have wireless internet access right in the room, or if not in the business center downstairs. That's certainly very helpful. The service is included in the room rate. While in transit, many international airports have the wi-fi service in the waiting zones too. So, I am with my laptop almost all the time.
1 person likes this
@Omnitrix (11)
• India
9 Jun 08
Yeah, I would like to take a laptop when I am on tour. Not only for urgent works, for me computer with internet is a nice way to keep yourselves away from getting bored.
@rrdj71 (696)
• United States
9 Jun 08
OMG!! R u kidding me? I can't leave home without it. I always ask ahead of time if the hotel I will be staying at offers wi-fi. It is usually included in the hotel price. Sometimes if you are lucky and you are in a high traffic area you can even pick up someone else's signal.
1 person likes this
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I Do when I am on the road . Usually , I will just use the hookup they have in the room . For the longest time I would not take mine and just use the lab, now where ever I go it will go.
1 person likes this
@venticius (156)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I have to bring my laptop when I travel. I pretty much have to check my email everyday, and I have a need to use my computer for homework and school stuff. As far as the inconvienience of it, I think that it's not too bad. I don't know.
1 person likes this
@izzuyasha (348)
• Malaysia
9 Jun 08
I always bring my laptop.Even if there's no internet I can still watch movies or play games to kill my time.
1 person likes this
@teison2 (5921)
• Norway
10 Jun 08
For the first time ever we brought our laptop with us last month on our vacation. It was really good. Exept the last place we stayed did not have internet access. We brought it because we were househunting as well as on vacation and we wanted to make sure we got our mail. We were online for short periods of time - not at all like home. But we did get our mails and messages. I likes it a lot. Also I had my music and could do some writing for my blog if I had the time. It does not weigh much and we were allowed 10 kg cabin luggage. No problems at all to bring the laptop.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
9 Jun 08
I have a laptop that I like to use at home. It is one of the things that I enjoy using most and if I traveled with it I would be worried about having it stolen. I have a backpack for it so I could take it around with me traveling. I might carry my laptop with me in the future if I will carry less luggage than I do these days. Free wi-fi sounds fantastic and I think that I would love to travel with my laptop if it stayed safe. I really love to travel and have been lucky in finding internet cafes in countries from the Maldives to Belize. That way I have been able to email friends and family and not lose my laptop. I wish you happy traveling with your laptop.
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
10 Jun 08
Yea. I would if it's a long trip. But if it's just a short trip, then I would not. My definition of short is less than a week. Anyway, I'll also check online if the hotels I'm staying in have free wifi. If they do not, I do not see much point bringing too.
@jtr115 (722)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I've taken my laptop on my past few vacations. I used it mainly to jot down the memories from my vacation each day so I wouldn't have to struggle to remember them all when I got home. It's also good for downloading pictures from the digital camera and playing music. I might need to leave the laptop at home next time, though. With the airlines charging extra for more than one suitcase, I don't want to pack anything that's not absolutely necessary.
@2potty (40)
9 Jun 08
dont have a laptop.
1 person likes this
@ade4real (30)
• Nigeria
10 Jun 08
i take my laptop any time i travel i have a leather bag to carry it about ,i find it very convenient and i enjoy bonding with my laptop.www.achieversideas.com
@bjcyrix (6901)
• Philippines
11 Jun 08
Hi! I guess it really depends on the nature of your trip. If its for rest and relaxation I wouldnt suggest in bringing it because it will just distract you to be updated on things that you are on a break from. If you are on a vacation I think it would be better if you really got to see the place where you went to and experience everything there is to experience about it and not just to be holed up in your hotel room logged in on the internet. If you really must be logged on to check emails and other important things I guess paying the small fee in the hotel room or a cafe close by rather than going through the hassle of packing everything up and still be worried that it might get lost in the luggage, might be accidentally switched with someone or just plain get damaged. If the nature of the trip is for business then by all means. Having your own laptop at your side always is really more of a necessity during business trips/ As for me I dont really travel much and if I do its for a vacation so I dont bring all my gadgets with me. I just bring my trusty camera and Im all set.^_^
@redkey65 (221)
• China
10 Jun 08
i would bring my laptop with me when traveling. it is convenient and i love the feeling to key on my own laptop. it seems i have addicted to my computer. though it is a little heavy and sometimes there is a risk of being stolen.
11 Jun 08
I never bring Laptop when I am traveling by public transportation. It makes difficulties for me. But when I ride motor cycle or own car, I always bring my laptop.
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
10 Jun 08
Yes, of course it is worth it! At least I just couldn't leave my "baby" at home! It is really no big deal anymore, as I think many people are doing the same thing, not just business men!
@msfreeze (89)
• United States
10 Jun 08
i take my laptop on everywhere with me i hate to be out of the loop so to me its worth it.
@yanna1027 (248)
• United States
10 Jun 08
When I travel I don't bring my laptop with me because the mean reason that I travel is for vacation. So I want to maximize my time getting to know the place, enjoy the sights and sounds and spend quality time with my husband. I am sure that if I need to check my email, hotels in most big cities have free internet access or business lounge to use. Even in the very remote areas of Philippines or Thailand, internet access is not a problem because most resorts have their own internet connection that they let their guests use or there are internet cafes nearby that can be rented on a per hour basis.
@yoz_43 (46)
• Philippines
10 Jun 08
The last time I brought my computer on a trip was when I was still in college. I regret that I had brought it as it was only and additional weight. Of course in my age as a college student, the reason for bringing your computer to a trip was to study but I didn't do any of it.
• India
10 Jun 08
i have internet connection at my home & office. but when i am travelling i keep laptop with me to use internet while travelling from data card . as in india no wi-fi is available in trains . laptop is very useful.
• United States
10 Jun 08
absolutely always so worth it....