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So you've decide to leave the nerd lair and head out to explore the larger world. Perhaps a conference in Bangkok beckons, maybe a Linux gathering in Europe or possible a trip with the family to some deserted isle.
Whatever the case, no self respecting nerd goes traveling without researching all the angles. To save your from having to scour the net, here's Wired's guide to mastering the art of high tech travel.
==Inspector Gadget==
No nerd would leave home without the proper assortment of technological devices. But then the question arises, what should I bring, how do I make sure it survives and what's the proper gadget etiquette on the road?
The most pressing question for most of us is one of power. For full details on what you need to make sure all your gadgets have plenty (and the right kind) of electricity, [link-to-electric-how-to see our guide to electricity].
Once you have the power supply taken care of, it's worth asking which devices you should bring.
===Laptops===
The laptop is tempting and in many cases a must have (especially if your destination is a conference or the like). But in some cases, if you're just traveling for pleasure the internet cafe is more than enough and spares you the added weight and headache of lugging a laptop.
The availability of internet cafes abroad varies too much to offer any pronouncement. Your best bet is to do some searching and see what those who have already been to where you are going have found. Generally speaking though, internet cafes aren't hard to come by unless you get well off the beaten tourist path.
Mac users take note: in internet cafes you will almost always find Windows PCs. Also worth mentioning is that, I've noticed on recent trips that a number of Internet cafes have started banning USB sticks, which ruins the [how-to-portable-apps-link portable Firefox idea]. One the plus side nearly every one I visited had Firefox installed. The practice isn't widespread enough to worry about yet, but you may encounter a few spots where your USB stick is frowned upon.
The other consideration is the availability of wifi networks. In major cities you shouldn't have to much trouble finding hotspots, though you may have to pay for them. Sites like [http://www.wififreespot.com/ Wififreespot] and other attempt to travel free wifi networks around the world. However, you're probably better off searching for just your particular destination since smaller sites often have more active updates.
If you venture off the beaten path at all (looking for the nerd nirvana in central Laos are you?) don't expect wireless networks to be waiting.
===Digital Cameras===
Naturally you want to document the fact that you've made it abroad and let you friends and family back home keep up with what you're doing. If you don't have on already, get a Flickr account and you can easily upload your photos from most internet cafes or your own laptop via Wifi.
Even if you've got your laptop with you it may be worth stopping by an internet cafe to pick up some CD/DVDs for backing up your images. Not only do CD/DVD backups let you clear out your memory card, they also aren't affected by x-rays at the airport, which are often much stronger than the one's common in U.S. terminals. We've never had a memory card scrambled, but it does happen so optical media has definite advantage.
Also worth bringing are a spare battery, particularly if your camera uses an expensive and hard to find lithium variety. Spare memory cards are never a bad idea either.
===Phones===
The laptop and camera are obvious and not too difficult to deal with, but what about a phone?
Generally speaking most modern tri-band GSM phones will work just about anywhere in the world. In fact you may find that the service and technologies abroad are light years ahead of what you're used to in the States (the same goes for internet speed, particularly in Asia).
However, you home service provider will likely charge pretty outrageous rates while you're abroad. A much cheaper way to go about it is unlock your phone and buy local SIM cards in your destination country. The availability of SIM cards varies greatly by country, but generally speaking disposable SIM cards are the norm outside the U.S. SIM cards are often available at kiosks in the airport.
And even calling home may be cheaper on a local SIM card than paying the roaming rates your home carrier will charge. For more info on how to use and navigate the cell phone networks of the world, have a look at [http://www.kropla.com/mobilephones.htm this informative guide].
Keep in mind though that if you store your contacts and other data on your SIM card's memory, you'll lose that information when you pop in the new SIM. Read through your phone's manual before you leave and figure out how to store your contact data on the phone memory, rather than the SIM card.
Obviously iPhone users are out of luck here since the iPhone is tied down to AT&T and you can't just pop in another SIM card without some hacking. If you don't want to hack on your phone you have two choices: buy a different phone for travel, or pay AT&T's roaming rates while you're abroad. If neither of those appeal to you, take heart in the fact that you can still bring your iPhone and leave it in airplane mode, but use the features like the calculator for currency converter and other useful apps.
If AT&T's prices don't bother you Apple has a list of [http://www.apple.com/webapps/travel/ travel oriented web apps] and we expect a number of native apps to pop up once the iPhone 2.0 update arrives.
==Gadget Etiquette==
Just because you have $4000 worth of fancy electronic gear on you doesn't mean you should whip it out on a chicken bus careening through the Indian countryside. In general your gear is probably safer abroad than it is at your local Starbucks, but that doesn't mean you need to go flaunting it.
I've traveled a good bit in Asia and never worried about my laptop or other gear. I've even forgotten it on trains, buses and once at the Taj Mahal and every time it was returned to me intact (try not to be as forgetful as I am). Europe and the U.S. are a bit different and it generally pays to be more careful whenever you're in larger cities.
If you're going to be gone for a considerable length of time consider investing in travel insurance to cover your expensive gear. It generally isn't too expensive and you may even be able to get a replacement before you get home (depending on the policy you choose). [http://www.travelinsurancereview.net/ Travel Insurance Review] has some tips on selecting a policy.
Also worth investing in is a [http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php Pacsafe] or similar bag lock. When possible store your valuable in a hotel or guesthouse safe. When there isn't one available, just lock them up in the Pacsafe. It isn't foolproof, but it will deter the casual criminal.
Also be mindful of religious institutions and people in public when you're taking pictures. Ask before you start snapping away inside a Buddhist temple or if you want photograph people on the street. Not only are you showing some respect, it's an easy way to meet locals who can often tell you far more about their town than any guidebook.
==Travel Etiquette -- RTFM==
You know how annoying it is when newbies show up in WoW and behave like complete jerks? That's how the native inhabitants of your destination are going to look at you if you don't respect their culture, habits and beliefs.
And as you know from WoW, it really isn't that hard to learn the rules of the game -- just RTFM.
Most guidebooks include a culture section at the beginning. Don't skip over that in your hurried quest to find cheap lodging. Other resources include travel forums, the CIA's [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ World Factbook] and Wikipedia. Spend some time figuring out whether it's okay to go topless on Thai beaches (no) or if you should wear long pants when visiting a Hindu temple (yes). Not only does it spare you some embarrassment (or worse), it helps you fit in with the local sensibilities.
Also try to avoid doing downright stupid things like shouting your anarchist beliefs at soldiers on patrol (witnessed in Nicaragua) or crowding in to photograph politicians when they stop for coffee (which resulted in a two-man security tackling a tourist in Budapest, and yes, I was sorely tempted to photograph that, but thought better of it).
In general nerds are the least likely people to turn into brash, annoying tourists, but that means we also bear a certain burden to make up for those people that do. Make an effort to learn the local language (a little goes a long way) and think of yourself not just as a tourist, but an ambassador of your country.
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