Hello,

we are giong to be in Canada on a road trip from August 10 to September 3. We will have internet in most hotel rooms where we will be staying, but the friends who will be travelling with us might need to access their email even while we are out for the day, or while we are driving.

We will be in Toronto for the first 4 nights, then Kingston for one, then Ottawa for 4, then Montreal for one, Québec City for 2, somewhere in between QC and PEI for one, PEI for 5 nights and then Nova Scotia for 5 nights before heading back to Ottawa.

Is there some sort of card or plan that you can recommend to get on the internet wireless with our laptop while we are travelling? Some sort of wireless plan that does not require for us to sign a contract?

Here in Italy we have pay-as-you-go connectivity cards. I am not even sure whether we can have just one provider in all these areas.

Any ideas? Thank you in advance!

Gloria

Lots of hotels will have in-room free Wi-Fi for guests, some will have the Wi-Fi access in their lobby and LOTS of cafés will have free Wi-Fi, at least in Montréal (the food area of Eaton Centre in Montréal has free access BTW). So I guess most large cities in Canada will have similar facilities.

I was more wondering whether there are some plans to connect to the internet through our cellphone when we are not at the hotel or in the cities.

Hi Gloria -- I'm afraid I don't know as much as I should about technology, but I suspect it isn't possible (or at least, not very easy) to set up a pay-as-you-go plan for Internet access while you're in Canada.

I believe you pretty much have to have a monthly plan through one of the Internet providers here(which also tend to be the main cell phone providers) or find free wireless access as suggested earlier.

BUT you might want to re-post your question on the technology forum. Some of the regulars there would know far, far more about this than me.

I hope you have a wonderful visit here with your family!

Cheers,
Sandra

Check with your current Internet provider. I know for sure Rogers here in Canada has this USB-type gizmo that works like an antenna and provides service on the Rogers network wherever the signal goes. I saw it also in Paris, actually in the Métro, when a man was getting the signal after plugging in this gizmo.
Since lots of telecom providers have arrangements with each other you may pretty well be able to hop on Rogers network.

Gloria - I suspect that you'll find wireless internet coverage is spotty here in Canada - there is great coverage in the cities but it gets sparse in between (and you know Canada has a great deal of 'in between'!

I have an iTouch that will allow me to surf the net from whereever I am (If I can get a wireless signal) - most of the wireless signals it picks up are private (can't join without a password).

Canada has set up a series of internet points throughout the country - mostly in public libraries but some in schools called the Community Access Point (CAP). You can access this link here which provides locations. I have found that this is my best bet when in small towns and rural areas without access to a wireless network.

Thank you all very much! I think we will be ok. I think I will be happy without my email for a few hours anyway!

Gloria, I answered this question for you in the Technology section.

Bell HotSpot linkage is there too.