While many upscale hotels, resorts, and Airbnbs offer media services, you might also want to bring your own favorite media choices along with you.
Being able to hit the road and take a long vacation or head overseas to an exotic locale is always a welcomed experience. And even with today’s rising cost in travel expenses fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, people are more ready for a vacation than ever.
Believe it or not, even though many people want to take a vacation and get away from the normalcy of daily life, many vacationers also like to access their favorite media abroad as well. But doing this requires a bit of know-how along with access to media.
While many upscale hotels, resorts, and Airbnbs offer media services, you might also want to bring your own favorite media choices along with you. But sometimes these might be restricted in certain areas, especially in overseas locations where governments have laws regarding content.
Regardless if you’re traveling abroad or just driving a few hundred miles from home, being able to access your favorite shows and entertainment can actually be a simple process if you know a few tips.
Accessing streaming apps
Most people don’t realize it, but when you travel you can take your favorite streaming devices with you. And this is a great option because you won’t have to rely on whatever entertainment choices that your resort or hotel provides.
For example, if you have an Amazon Firestick, you can bring this with you and access the WiFi network and play all of your favorite content. But if you really want to enjoy a customized streaming experience and bring along all of your favorite content, you’ll need to sideload your Firestick so you can access your favorite apps.
Sideloading is basically uploading apps that aren’t readily available on your device. As such, this gives you the power to watch whatever entertainment you want as long as you have the proper apps installed. And when you’re on vacation, this can be a great way to pass the time especially if the weather isn’t cooperative.
Virtual Private Networks
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to access a public network privately, over a secure server. And not only are these networks popular for browsing with safety and anonymity while at home, but they are also great for traveling around the country or abroad when you want to access the Internet via a wireless connection.
A wireless connection opens the door to others who may be able to see your content or steal your sensitive information. And when you’re traveling abroad, the last thing you want is to have your identity (or your banking information) stolen before you even unpack your suitcase and hit the beach.
Additionally, with a VPN, you can access content such as Amazon Prime Video, HBO MAX, and others when traveling abroad which may be otherwise restricted. However, you should always be aware of and comply with the laws of whichever country you visit because sometimes the penalties can be quite harsh.
A few other benefits for using a VPN are:
- Hides your private info
- Secure and anonymous connectivity
- Escape bandwidth throttling
- Avoids data throttling
- Avoids censorship abroad
- You can access regionally blocked services
- Ability to access blocked or unavailable sports coverage
All in all, having a VPN is the way to go whenever you travel and want to ensure that you can watch your favorite media or surf the web over a secure connection.
Social media
While you’re likely to be able to access your preferred social media platforms no matter where you travel, you may not be aware that social media can actually enhance your travel experience as well.
For example, with sites like Facebook and Instagram enabling geotargeting, you can click on links or hashtags within the areas that you’ll be traveling to find out what’s going on, deals that restaurants and businesses are running, as well as local activities that may not be listed in your trusty guidebook.
In addition, with sites like Twitter, you can reach out to others within a specific area (specifically on travel-oriented profiles) and ask questions about the area that you're going to be visiting. And believe it or not, but many people have made new friends and connections while on vacation by utilizing this approach.
While many people want to ditch media altogether and simply experience a vacation free from being “plugged in,” the fact is that utilizing media tools can actually benefit you by enhancing your vacation experience and make it much more enjoyable. But the choice is up to you.
