How to Use Your Laptop in Switzerland

Many escape to Switzerland for world-class skiing or sightseeing in the Alps. But being out of touch with home can stress you out. Take your laptop when you visit Switzerland, and you'll have peace of mind knowing that you're just a click away from the world you left behind. Using your laptop in Switzerland is easy when you follow the right procedures. Here's how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• USB cable for digital camera
• Plug adapter
• Surge protector
• Ethernet network cable
• Phone cord
• Phone adapter
• Transformer

1. Purchase a short-term insurance policy for your laptop before you travel to Switzerland. If your laptop is stolen, this plan will recover your costs. See Resources below for more information.
2. Prepare for differences in electricity. You will need an adapter plug to accommodate plug type "J" in Switzerland. Check the transformer block on your laptop to see what voltage capacity it handles. If it cannot handle 230 to 240V, then you'll also need a transformer.
3. Pack an Internet connection kit that contains a spare phone cord, an extra Ethernet network cable, a phone adapter and a surge protector.
4. Choose a hotel that provides a dataport for laptop modems and free high-speed Internet access. You'll be able to connect to the Internet right from your hotel room. This will save you time and money.
5. Locate Wi-Fi hotspots to use your wireless Internet on the go. See Resources below for a global directory of Wi-Fi hotspots. Find locations in Switzerland close to where you'll be vacationing.
6. Use an encryption program to back up sensitive data in case your laptop falls into the wrong hands. Truecrypt, a free program, is easy to use because the encryption is real-time and automatic. The correct password will decrypt the data for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Download your photos to your laptop each night so you don't run out of camera memory.
• Charge your laptop battery pack each night.
• Digital phone lines are not safe for your modem. Check that the phone line in your hotel room is analog before connecting to the Internet.
• Back up all important data before you use your laptop in Switzerland in case your computer is lost or stolen.

Who Can Help:

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