Internet Access Away From Home

Travelers have any number of ways to check their e-mail and surf the Internet on the road. Of course, using your own laptop -- or a PDA or electronic organizer with a modem -- gives you the most flexibility. But even if you don't have a computer, you can still gain access to your e-mail and even your office computer from the road.

Without Your Own Computer-- It's hard nowadays to find a city that doesn't have a few cybercafes. Although there's no definitive directory, two places to start looking are at www.cybercaptive.com and www.cybercafe.com.

Boston is a wired city that, paradoxically, doesn't have many cybercafes. Your best bet if you're away from your hotel and just want to check e-mail is probably FedEx Kinko's. One business that offers access by the hour is Tech Superpowers, 252 Newbury Street, 3rd floor (tel. 617/267-9716; www.newburyopen.net). In the same neighborhood, known as "upper Newbury Street," many businesses offer free wireless access.

Aside from formal cybercafes, most public libraries across the world offer Internet access free or for a small charge. The Boston Public Library (www.bpl.org) offers free computer access at all of its branches. Hotels that cater to business travelers usually have in-room dataports and business centers, but the charges can be exorbitant. Also, most youth hostels have at least one computer with Internet access.

Most major airports have Internet kiosks scattered throughout their gates. These kiosks, which you'll also see in shopping malls, hotel lobbies, and tourist information offices around the world, give you basic Web access for a per-minute fee that's usually higher than cybercafe prices. The kiosks' clunkiness and high price mean they should be avoided whenever possible.

To retrieve your e-mail, ask your Internet Service Provider (ISP) if it has a Web-based interface tied to your existing e-mail account. If your ISP doesn't have such an interface, you can use the free Mail2web service (www.mail2web.com) to view and reply to your home e-mail. For more flexibility, you may want to open a free Web-based e-mail account with Yahoo! Mail (http://mail.yahoo.com) or Microsoft's Hotmail (www.hotmail.com). Your home ISP may be able to forward your e-mail to the Web-based account automatically.

If you need to view files on your office computer, look into a service called GoToMyPC (www.gotomypc.com). The service provides a Web-based interface for you to manipulate a distant PC from anywhere -- even a cybercafe -- provided your "target" PC is on and has an always-on Internet connection. The service offers top-quality security, but if you're worried about hackers, use your own laptop rather than a cybercafe when tapping into this system.

Online Traveler's Toolbox

Veteran travelers usually carry some essential items to make their trips easier. Before I share a few of my favorite websites, here's a crucial piece of advice: Double-check information that you find on websites. If you find a description of an intriguing establishment or event, a quick phone call to ensure that the information is up-to-date can save you a lot of trouble. Following is a selection of online tools to bookmark and use:

Airplane Seating and Food: Find out which seats to reserve and which to avoid (and more) on all major domestic airlines at www.seatguru.com. And check out the type of meal (with photos) you'll likely be served on airlines around the world at www.airlinemeals.com.

Boston.com (www.boston.com): The Boston Globe operates this site, one of the most comprehensive in the region. Besides newspaper content, it offers access to a virtual forest of listings and links. The most helpful area for out-of-towners, the arts and entertainment section (www.boston.com/ae), covers dining, movies, music, and the arts.

Boston Online (www.boston-online.com/glossary.html): This highly entertaining Boston-to-English dictionary both mocks and celebrates local accents.

Citysearch (http://boston.citysearch.com): This site has events and nightlife listings, plus traveler-friendly info on the arts, shopping, and dining, with a significant interactive component. Before you jump at the featured entertainment options, remember that Citysearch is part of Ticketmaster.

Mapquest (www.mapquest.com) and Yahoo! Maps (http://maps.yahoo.com): These mapping sites let you choose a specific address or destination, and in seconds they return a map and detailed directions. If you're driving in downtown Boston, check both sites and ask at your hotel before setting out; the changing street configuration around what's left of the Big Dig occasionally baffles even the best-maintained sites.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (www.mbta.com): Look here for schedules and route maps for T subways, trolleys, buses, ferries, and commuter trains. You can also buy visitor passes online (subject to a service charge).

National Park Service (www.nps.gov): This invaluable site, packed with information about hundreds of places, is especially useful in a history-rich area like eastern Massachusetts. Click on the state for site listings, which incorporate directions and loads of photos.

Visa ATM Locator (www.visa.com) and MasterCard ATM Locator (www.mastercard.com): These sites list locations of PLUS ATMs and Cirrus ATMs worldwide, respectively.