High Speed Internet When You Travel -- For about $1 per Day!

When you travel, you have many options when it comes to high speed internet. Hotels for about $10.95 per day. Or Airports for $5.95 per hour. Or inconvenient hot spots around town (hopefully a few that won't charge). Like I said, many options, but none of them very cheap or convenient.



But if you have a smart phone and already pay for a data plan, you may have other options. Many smart phones can be connected to your computer via a standard USB cable and "tethered" in order to use your phone as a high speed modem. Basically, you use your phone as an Air Card connected to whatever cell service you have.

I'm going to use Verizon as an example, but many of the companies charge similar amounts. If you have a data plan with your smart phone, chances are it is the basic unlimited one, costing around $30 per month. This does not include the tethering option, which is $60 per month ($30 more than the basic). But Verizon doesn't make you sign a contract for add on features. So you can switch plans back and forth as much as you want. For the occasional traveler, it is fairly easy to call and switch to the "tethering" plan a day before your trip. The net cost is $30 per month or about $1 per day. Download the software from your cell provider before your first trip and test it out to make sure it works. Then, connect your phone and you're on. Speeds are fast and it works just about anywhere you get cell coverage. Instead of paying $10-15 per day on someone else's WiFi, pay $1 for your own cell phone to do the work. Then when you get home, make sure you don't forget to switch back to the cheaper plan!