Ten Ways to Stay in Contact with Family and Friends While Traveling

Summer time is here. We travel more during the summer than any other season. Thanksgiving is still only a holiday. Could it be that some people are trying to escape to the heat, while others are trying to escape from it?

Sometimes we travel as a family, other times we travel alone. Going out on that solo adventure or a girls only vacation cross country. Or a brothers bonding trip to... somewhere fun and meaningful. Ways to keep in touch are much easier than twenty years, ten years, or even five years ago.

Ways of remaining in touch with friends and family number 1)

Do you have a cell phone? In today's society that has become the easiest way to remain in touch while traveling. Do not forget to bring along a phone charger and please do not leave the charger behind at a hotel during the first leg of the journey. You do not have a cell phone? Try any of these other ways.

Ways of remaining in touch with friends and family number 2)

Use a pay phone when you arrive at your destination. Each destination. I promise- pay phones are still around. Call from the hotel phone if you are staying in a hotel/ motel.

Ways of remaining in touch with friends and family number 3)

Get a calling card and use those minutes. Not only does it make using the pay phone easier but also if you use a room phone, a calling card will save you bundles.

Ways of remaining in touch with friends and family number 4)

Send postcards. Short on time with all that you have planned? If you are flying, use some of that air time not to sleep but to preaddress postcards. They do not have to be purchased from where you are staying.

Ways of remaining in touch with friends and family number 5)

Email- another HUGE way to stay in touch. You did not bring a laptop or you do not own one-no problem. Most hotels offer free Internet access lately and if you are staying where that is not available, go to the local library. Guess what it is free!!! Use an Internet café should you be in the mood for a latte while writing home.

Ways of remaining in touch with friends and family number 6)

Take pictures. Never enough time to tell the whole story? A picture is worth a thousand words, as is the five seconds writing the caption beneath. Drop in the mail with note of more to come. Your family and friends will begin to look forward to receiving mail again as it will not contain only bills.

Ways of remaining in touch with friends and family number 7)

Invest in stamps and post it notes. Remember they are now 41 cents not 39 cents! Again, use that plane time to preaddress envelopes. Family members do not require long prose; just enough to let them know you are safe. Save the best for your return.

Ways of remaining in touch with friends and family number 8)

Start a blog. Post when you can and you can be assured that not only will your family be reading - but everyone they know as well.

Ways of remaining in touch with friends and family number 9)

Start a journal with a small spiral notebook. Mail it off when it is full and begin a new one. Do not even worry about whether you write correctly or not. A few notes will be all you require to launch into your traveling escapades in full detail upon your return.

Ways of remaining in touch with friends and family number 10)

Find out if friends and family have other friends and family with whom you can stay en route and , again, rest assured, once you are back on your way the phone lines will be getting a buzz with all the catching up being done in your name.

Enjoy yourself.