Using internet abroad

[exile]

Can someone tell me if it is possible to take your laptop abroad and still connect on the internet?

I am going away in France soonish and will need to get to the internet. I would prefer not to have to go to an internet cafe if possible. We won't be staying in a hotel and no free wi-fi connection available as far as I know.

Is there any system that would allow me to use my british internet connexion there?

Your best bet is to pop into a French mobile telephone shop and get a 3G USB dongle on pay as you go.

You could take one from UK and pay the roaming charges but frankly you'd have to be crazy as the roaming charges will probably cost you more than your holiday!

OK. Does it mean that it would go throught the mobile network then?

Yes, and it would be using some French mobile network (because data charges if it was a UK network would be high/higher).

There may be some rules on where you can use wireless internet in France which don't apply here in the UK - I vaguely recall some ban on outside use, but that might be for 802.11 (like a wireless link in a hotel or your own home to a router). Sorry to be vague - just read about it over a year ago and was a little puzzled as to the reasoning, but clearly something to ask when in a French mobile store.

Probably worth taking a bit of time to check while you are still in the UK - compare the UK situation where one place may charge 20 quid for a mobile dongle and another might charge 70 quid for the same dongle (both for the Three network). You just don't want to be stung an extra 50 quid for walking into the wrong shop in France, IYSWIM!