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I have a link on my contact page to reach me using Skype but I just wanted to make sure people were aware of the benefits of skype, especially while traveling out of your home country. To keep in touch with people from home you may invest in calling cards, international cell phones or things of that nature but if you are going to have access to internet where you are going via laptop or desktop where you can download skype you must invest in use skype. It is CHEAP and, you can talk to people from home almost free (or charged at their regular call rates from home or cell phones).
You can talk to anyone anywhere from computer to computer for free where you can also use video conferencing if you have a webcam. You can also set up a phone number and voicemail and enable what Skype calls Skype in and Skype out.
Skype In allows you to RECEIVE calls from land lines or cell phones to your computer. The catch is that you can buy phone numbers in whatever area code you choose that skype offers. For example, I have Skype in enabled with one number right now on (651) area code so whatever it would normally cost a person to dial a 651 area code number on their phone that is how much it will cost them to call me on my computer (my brother can me and we could talk for hours at no cost because he has a 573 area code with free long distance on his cellso it actually doesn’t matter these days). Skype in also comes with voicemail so if someone calls you and you aren’t online, they can leave you a voicemail. This is good especially with a big time zone difference so people can reach you when it is convenient for them (and it is nice to hear friends and family voices). This is charged at a flat fee of $38 for one year (no charge to those who call you as mentioned above) or $12 for 3 months- this is the plan I am on because I am traveling abroad right now for just a month. I am going to invest in the year plan when I move to Minnesota because I will most likely be living in a smaller apartment and talking through my computer will be so easy and saves on a your cell phone bill! Skype in will also come in really handy for my boyfriend when he wants to talk to his family in Finland. Get a skype in number with the Finland area code and they can call from Finland to U.S. through skype for whatever their normal cell phone rates are, pretty cool!
Skype out is another service through Skype that allows you to call phone numbers FROM your skype software on your computer. This works great with skype in because I will call my mom of friends back home for just a short phone call to let them know I am online and then they call me back for free. The cost is about 10cents/minute. You can also send text messages through skype to cell phones- local and international- this was the best feature while being in Finland because I didn’t have to make a phone call when a short text message to let people know where I was or what I was doing was perfect. Really, really handy feature. Highly advise skype.
For the icing on the cake- do you hate talking through your computer or don’t want to feel like you have to stay in front of your computer- you can talk through skype on a bluetooth enabled wireless headset (if your computer also has bluetooth) or through a skype phone. I have been using a bluetooth headset that works great most of the time. I haven’t had the opportunity to use a skype phone yet but when I do I’ll write a review! For more information check on the links below. A review can only do so much, if you have used an instant messenger client like Yahoo or MSN before Skype should be a walk in the park so just try it out!!
Technorati Tags: Technology, skype, Travel, Travel Tips
I read this magazine religiously and they recently wrote an article about traveling that I wanted to share because it fit in with the topic of conversation. Enjoy!
Source: Women’s Health Online
Q: How can I fly to Europe — or anywhere international — without going broke?
A: Take a U.S. airline out of the country and transfer to a low-fare, bare-bones carrier that flies shorter routes. Say you’re heading to Venice from New York City. Fly to London, then pick up a budget flight from Ryanair. Total cost at press time: $1,096 versus $1,480 for a direct flight. Just leave enough layover time to change planes — and, in some cases, airports. Pack only what you can carry or roll while sprinting to your connection. Once aboard, order a Bloody Mary and enjoy the rush of beating the system. For a directory of cheap flights within foreign countries, visit Flybudget.com or Which Budget.
Q: How much should I tip hotel staff?
A: Give bellhops $2 a bag — more if the place offers high-end service or your suitcases weigh a ton. Valets get $2 every time they fetch your car. Housekeeping gets around $5 a night, depending on the quality and size of the room and whether you’ve spilled nail polish on the bathroom floor. Spot a concierge $5 for small stuff like dinner reservations or up to $20 for custom requests like tracking down a store that carries your favorite running shoes.
Q: Do ratings matter?
A: It depends on the place, Greenberg says. Stars and diamonds are often granted for minor extras like cable TV and secure door locks…
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Technorati Tags: Travel, Travel Tips
So, I tried packing light this time because I was just coming to Finland work on my thesis and visit friends and family. That worked fine on the way here but heading back to the U.S. has created a small problem. I have quite a few items I’m stocking up on from pastries to cider and candy….and running out of space in my suitcases quickly! Word to the wise- even if you pack light on a trip, if you are allowed two suitcases, TAKE TWO LARGE SUITCASES. Weight becomes an issue. Those who aren’t aware, weight limits have decreased and they hold you to it on those flights in the U.S. and heading out. You get 50lbs per bag which seems like a ton BUT, candy and cider are heavy it turns out!! So, even if you don’t need them, it hurts no one, TAKE THE EXTRA BAGS!
Here are some helpful links for traveling abroad:
Technorati Tags: Travel, Travel Tips
I should have started these from the beginning because I have traveled so much and there are a tons of dos and don’t and recommendations/suggestions I have for future travelers. I’ll start off today with medication and pharmacies because I had to get pain medicine and a tooth cream for a sore gum (you can’t get them in the grocery store or walmart like you can in the US. Any of those products are at the pharmacy.) Anyways…no English on any of the packaging all Swedish and Finnish. So, if you are traveling to Finland, make sure you have everything you need (or a good translator of the native language like I do). I was able to get eye solution (I left it for its size and knew I could just buy it here) but in an eye place or pharmacy, there is similarities in some packaging like saline solution so you know what you’re buying. Also, pharmacies in Finland treat you like you just walked into Best Buy or a similar large shopping store, immediately “can I help you” “what do you need?” If you catch one who speaks English, get over the aggressive nature of waiting on customers and ask questions about what you’re looking for, they’ll find it. Also, in Finland you can’t return anything unless you don’t leave the premises. I needed to get some tooth cream as I mentioned above, bought what I thought was the right stuff, got to the car, it wasn’t it so we went back in, got the right stuff and the cashier had to check to make sure I could return it- still in box, we never left but because I had already bought it they weren’t sure if they would take it back (America has spoiled me in that sense…you can make returns months after you purchase something- but that is also because of chain stores…Finland doesn’t really have that). It was okay but…you are for warned. Same thing goes with clothes, you buy it they are yours. And electronics. I think you have maybe one day to take it back…Pack all of what you need medically. Ladies, get all your makeup, hair shampoos and conditioners, don’t wait to buy them especially if you think you use something of high quality and maybe not that common (I always hit the Mac Makeup counter before I leave to come here!). I’m going to follow up this post with a tip on traveling overseas with electronics! Then one on travel gear and airports. Enjoy!
Hei Hei
Technorati Tags: Finland, Pharmacy, Travel, Travel Tips
