8 hot tips for blogging while traveling

1) The right lap-top
Depending on where you are traveling too, you either need a light weight lap-top or you need a bomb proof lap-top.

Personally, I choose the light weight option as I have no plans to go gorilla trekking in Africa or a weekend away in Iraq, just yet.

I wanted something extremely light, fast, better than average security, good reviews from current owners, had a decent amount of memory storage and had long battery life. The Sony SZ35S provided all these things and after 6 months with my new baby, I have been more than happy with her.

Other worth while considerations include: Panasonic’s Tough Book, GD Itronix

2) The right lap-top case
If you have invested money into your lap-top, make sure you invest in a steardy bag that will keep it safe and intact.

The bags the computer companies provide you free with the lap-top are normally not very good, good enough to carry from home to the office 5 days a week but not good enough for round the world style traveling.

There are only 2 computer bag producers I highly recommend: Tom Bihn’s and Samsonite

When you are traveling around in new surroundings your not familiar with, you don’t want to start showing off your lap-top. You need a bag that will hold your lap-top safe and firmly while the bag looks like a normally backpack/bag. Personally, I choose Tom Bihns as there bags are casual, comfortable, extremely well made and the most important factor… They don’t look like the average lap-top bag.

Both suppliers make their bags with excellent materials that will provide protection for 10 years, yes, both companies offer a 10 year guarantee! This does come at a price, so if you have spent all your money on the lap-top, try searching Ebay to buy a second hand one!

3) Get insurance that covers your lap-top
Some insurance providers do not cover lap-top’s in the terms and conditions. Make sure you check before signing!

4) Back up files, including your pictures
As you are carrying around your lap-top, you’ll probably just add your recent holiday images to your lap-top. Make sure you back them up using either on a server or use programs such as: Flickr or Google’s Picasa 

5) Money handler
If you are a long-term traveler like myself, you may need to assign a money handler at home to handle receiving cheque payments. For example, I promote affiliate programs and adsense so I need someone who can cash the cheques for me and send me my beer money when needed. Thankfully my little sister does this for me, I would be lost without her! (Thanks Nick!)

6) Connecting to the Internet
Sometimes connecting to the internet can be more difficult than others, and this will depend on where you go. So far I haven’t been without internet for more than a week… thankfully! Some worth while remembering options include:

1. Having a coffee in a 5 star hotel where they offer wireless internet (most do now)
2. Visiting an Internet Café and plugging in your lap-top
3. Using GPRS via a SIM card (I used this option for a year in Thailand)
4. Book a hotel with internet in room or in their lobby

7) Managing Time
This could be the most tricky part, managing your time effectively! It’s so easy to just go out and have fun in a new country with so many new things to see and do. Assigning yourself a block of time each day to work and sticking to it will make sure you don’t neglect your work.

Making use of the Time Stamp button (In wordpress)
If you are running a Blog, I highly recommend making use of the Time Stamp Feature. You will find that some days you’ll be unable to work or find an internet connection, therefore you can use WordPress time stamp feature to post your blog posts on your selected dates.

Can anyone else recommend a hot tip for working while traveling? In perticualr blogging while traveling?