How to Watch March Madness While Traveling

Contributor

By Zach Chouteau
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(19 Ratings)

Don't let your travels keep you from missing the games.

Keeping track of the NCAA basketball tournament can be a mission to begin with, but trying to watch it while on the road is nearly a mission impossible. Here are some tips for staying sane while watching March Madness during your travels.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Laptop with Internet access
Portable TV or Radio

Step 1

Take a serious look at the tourney slate before making your plans, and avoid any serious conflicts. Missing the "opt-in" game might not be devastating, but being stuck on an airplane during, say, a final four contest, could leave emotional scars that will never go away.
Step 2

If you’ve ever considered purchasing a mini, handheld TV, now is the time! Sure the good ones are a bit pricey, but do you really want to miss the tourney-winning shot while you’re taking a cab to your hotel?
Step 3

In a similar vein, a number of services make it possible to watch live television via your laptop. Neither this nor the handheld TV are quite as good as a big screen TV, but sure beat just reading about all the excitement the next day.
Step 4

If you’re not too techie and have a limited budget, at the very least bring a portable radio device with you; they are inexpensive, lightweight and beat daydreaming about all the action you’re missing.
Step 5

Make sure your lodging has a decent-sized TV, and a top-notch sports bar on the premises can truly be a godsend during the tourney as well.
Step 6

Carry a printed-out schedule of the game on your person, and also bookmark the official tournament schedule online in your laptop or PDA. Highlighting the "must-see" games is a good way to avoid missing the real gems.
Step 7

If you absolutely must be in transit during a key game, see if your hotel offers any kind of in-room digital recording capabilities, and if not, don’t be shy about asking the concierge to tape a game for you. The worst they can do is tell you it’s not possible, but a good hotel will go the extra mile to make you happy. Along similar lines, if you’re in transit on the way home, call ahead and get a friend or family member to record it for you.
Step 8

If you’re visiting relatives—or traveling with people who aren’t sports fans, try to forewarn them of your basketball fever in advance. Then it won’t seem quite so shocking when you take your dinner plate to the couch and turn the set on, or break through a police barricade at 90 mph to get to the sports bar by game time. OK, don't actually try that last one!