Traveling Around the World with Your Mac [Updated]

by , 7:30 AM EDT, October 27th, 2008

Traveling can be an exciting adventure, especially if that adventure takes you to a different country. Sure, there will be surprises along the way, but you can help ensure they are all good with a little extra planning ahead, especially if you plan on taking any of your tech gear with you.

If you are planning a trip that takes you over seas -- or like everyone that's packing for the upcoming MacMania cruise, on the seas -- you'll need to account for safely transporting your Mac, iPod and iPhone, and you'll also need to plan for your electrical needs in the air, on the ground, and on the sea.

Pre-trip Planning
Doing a little research before packing can save you headaches at the airport. Start by checking with the Transportation Security Administration in the United States, or the equivalent agency in your country if you aren't in the United States, and double-check the flight guidelines to see what you can and can't take in your luggage or as carry-on.

If you plan on using your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook air during your flight, be sure to shut off Bluetooth and AirPort on your laptop before flying. That will help save battery life, and airlines prohibit the use of wireless features in the air. Of course, if the airline you are flying offers in-air Wi-Fi, you'll be able to leave your AirPort card turned on.

Pack an extra battery for your MacBook or MacBook Pro. You never know when you'll be able to connect to an outlet and recharge, so tossing a spare battery in your carry-on luggage means you'll be able to keep working (or watching movies) longer.

If your flight offers in-seat power ports, pack Apple's MagSafe Airline Adapter in your carry-on, too. You can't charge your battery with it, but it does let you use your laptop without draining its charge. MacBook Air users can't easily swap out drained batteries, but they can use Apple's airline adapter just like the MacBook and MacBook Pro.

If you are traveling with an iPhone or iPhone 3G, consider taking along a second iPod. If you end up waiting for delayed flights or other transportation, you can listen to some music without draining your phone battery.

Privacy and Laptop Security
Privacy is a term that airlines and governments take very loosely when you fly. It doesn't matter if it's your laptop or suitcase, so don't load up your hard drive with files and photos you don't want other people to see.

Most governments consider the contents of your laptop fair game and may dig through your files without provocation. They may also want to see the contents of external hard drives, USB flash memory sticks, cell phones, and portable media players, too.

Your luggage may be searched, too, and checked suitcases might be searched when you aren't with them. While it isn't likely that items will be stolen from your bags, that doesn't mean something won't get broken accidentally, or left out in the haste to repack your suitcase before sending it on its way to you. That means it's a good idea to keep items you can't afford to lose with you.

There are stories about travelers missing flights because of delays while security personnel sift through their laptop files, incidents like that are the exception instead of the rule. Odds are you'll make it through security and customs without too much hassle, and your computer and suitcase probably won't draw much attention. Preparing for the possibility ahead of time, however, can speed up the process and hopefully keep you on schedule if your travel gear or computer get singled out.

Charging Up
If you plan on spending any time exploring foreign countries, you need to remember that the language and local customs won't be the only things that are different. Electrical outlets aren't the same around the world, and not every country pushes the same voltage to their outlets.

On the Ground The power charger that shipped with your Mac laptop or iPod can handle the voltages in the United States and Europe, but it includes only the plug type for the country it was sold in. Outlet adapters bridge that gap between the plug and your gear, and they are readily available at many stores. Apple also offers its own World Travel Adapter Kit with six adapters for use in countries all over the globe. The kit is compatible with Mac laptop, iPod and iPhone chargers.

On the Sea Cruise ships like the one MacMania attendees will be on include U.S.-style 110 voltage and European 220 voltage outlets. Your cabin will likely offer only a single 110 three-prong outlet along with a three-prong 220 outlet, so a power strip that lets you plug in your Mac, iPod and digital camera charger will come in handy.

Outlet strips are fairly inexpensive, and smaller models that are easy to pack often include four outlets. Belkin's Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger, for example, includes three outlets, but also sports two USB charger ports so you can power up your iPod or iPhone without having to pack an extra power brick.

The current coming through the on-ship outlets, however, tends to fluctuate, so don't expect to have a nice, clean, even electrical flow coming to your devices. If you are traveling with external hard drives, try to pick ones that are bus powered so they can draw electricity from your more even keeled laptop instead of from the choppy juice the ship provides. If that isn't an option, products like Belkin's Mini Surge Protector can offer at least a little protection should the electricity surge dangerously high.

If you aren't sure what the different outlet types look like, check out the World Electric Power Guide Web site. It includes information about electrical services around the world along with pictures of the different outlet types you are likely to encounter during your travels.

Staying Connected
Traveling outside of the United States with your iPhone can get really expensive really fast. AT&T does offer international roaming and data plans that, while somewhat expensive, are cheaper than standard roaming rates.

iPhone: Data and Voice Data packages are available in 20MB, 50MB, 100MB and 200MB a month plans, and cap out at US$199.99 a month for the top of the line package. AT&T also offers cruise ship deals that cost $2.49 per minute, but are available only to subscribers with legacy customers -- meaning customers that have contracts that started before AT&T's wireless service was Cingular.

Traveling with a cell phone, and especially a device as connected as the iPhone, isn't cheap. Be sure to take time before your trip to decide if it's worth the extra expense. You can learn more about AT&T's international packages at the company's Web site.

Making phone calls with your iPhone overseas will incur per minute roaming charges, but you can take some of the sting out of that with AT&T's International Traveling packages. The AT&T World Traveler package, for example, costs $5.99 a month, and drops per minute charges by $0.30 in several countries -- like the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany -- from $1.29 to $0.99 a minute.

Before you sign up for a roaming plan, however, make sure that the countries you are traveling to are included. Some countries, like Greece, Luxembourg and Nepal, don't offer discounts.

Wireless for Your Laptop Wireless broadband cards are also a popular option for MacBook Pro owners on the go, and they can make the trip overseas, too. Verizon's V740 and XU870 Global ExpressCards are popular options, and both work outside the United States. The XU870, however, may work in more places that the V740 because it supports Tri-band HSDPA/UMTS and Quad-band EDGE/GPRS networks. The V740 only supports CDMA EVDO networks.

Verizon's GlobalAccess plan does give you data coverage in many countries around the world, but it will cost you. For $129.99 a month, you get 100MB of data access, and every KB after that costs you an extra $0.005, which can add up quickly.

That coverage plan does include 5GB of data usage in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, but requires a one-year contract, a $35 activation fee, and comes with a $175 early termination fee. If you plan on traveling outside the U.S. regularly to countries that are included in the plan, it may be worth the expense. If you don't expect to travel to other countries over the 12 month contract period, you might want to think about whether or not you need your wireless data card on your trip.

Your Mac, iPod and other tech gear can enhance your travel experience by letting you take digital pictures, stay in contact with family and friends, and share your photos online before your trip is over. If your travels also include work or training, ensuring your gear stays charged can also help make sure your trip is successful.

Whether your travels take you to a foreign country or on the deck of a cruise ship, there's no reason why your Mac and other electronics can't tag along. As long as you take care of their electrical requirements, your devices can fill your communication, digital photo, and entertainment needs almost anywhere you go.

[This article has been updated with additional information about wireless data services.]

Jeff Gamet is TMO's Managing Editor and Reviews Editor. He lectures, teaches and speaks on Mac OS X and design-related topics, and is the author of The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X from Peachpit Press.