Laptop? or Phone?

LittleMonkey1

Sorry you guys probably don't know me, I am a Lurker for the most part.

I have been thinking about what to do for the honeymoon to still communicate with family and all back home. We will probably be getting a new laptop a couple weeks before we leave and then will be down in St.Lucia for 2 weeks. 

I'm just wondering what other people are planning on doing? Is it okay to bring a brand new laptop down south? I just don't know if its safe or if I should worry about it being stolen. I'm also not sure if laptops are allowed in your carry-on luggage and wouldn't want it in the main luggage. 

Is it better for me just to pay the extra for phone calls back home or would it be better to bring the laptop?  

J&K10910

How much communication are you planning to do with family back home during your HM?

arrestclementine

You can bring a laptop in your carry on.  You just have to take it out when you go through security.  Your hotel should have a safe that you can lock your laptop up in...

LittleMonkey1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_laptop-or-phone?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:11Discussion:0147f97d-a9ed-4be1-bee3-3aabf6c13a32Post:9fa18637-6667-4675-a588-c05fd4c61978">Re: Laptop? or Phone?</a>:
[QUOTE]How much communication are you planning to do with family back home during your HM?
Posted by J&K10910[/QUOTE]

<div>Well at the resort it is $14.99 a day or $45 for the week I believe. So I would want to check in once we are down there. But then probably not much until the second week. </div>

[Deleted User]

On our trips we always have our iPhones and dh's laptop. With the laptop we can upload our pics to our website everynight. On our recent trip to SL Sandals Grande we paid 43 dollars for the week for wifi access. That allowed us to surf the web on our down time, upload pics and most importantly for me to email back and forth with my mom to check on my cat :

Maggie0829

For our HM, H and I brought his laptop and our phones.  Honestly, if H and I got in early on the evenings we acted like we always did at home.  He would browse his car forums and I would watch tv.  It was also nice being able to see all the pics of our wedding our family and friends had uploaded onto Facebook while we were away.  I also called my Mom at least once a day if not twice a day like I normally do when I am home.  A HM is just a vacation like any other vacation you and your FI may go on, so treat it as such.

Also, laptops can definitely be a part of your carry on luggage.  Like PP said, you just have to take it out of its case and place it in a separate bin at security.

alithebride

does the resort have a computer that you can use? most do. if you onyl want to check in once or 2 times during 2 weeks i'd skip hauling a laptop. also if you have a smart phone and the hotel has wifi you can just use that.

MrsGandthebeag

No need to call home.  You're on your hm, just relax and enjoy the time away with your dh.  

arrestclementine

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_laptop-or-phone?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:11Discussion:0147f97d-a9ed-4be1-bee3-3aabf6c13a32Post:85400640-7a0c-4a80-b43c-43a76c72cbfa">Re: Laptop? or Phone?</a>:
[QUOTE]No need to call home.  You're on your hm, just relax and enjoy the time away with your dh.  
Posted by MrsGandthebeag[/QUOTE]

Just because you wouldn't feel the need to call/email home doesn't mean that others don't.  We called to check in our cat and dog... Maybe she has animals or children that someone will be watching.  In any event it doesn't matter what her reason is.  She is just looking for some information and your help - well it just wasn't helpful.

LittleMonkey1

Thanks so much for everyone's posts:) I will have to look in to whether they have computers there. Neither one of us has smartphones yet so we won't be able to check on those. 

lyndausvi

We took our laptop to watch movies on the plane and to down load pictures so we clear the memory card.  We went on a safari so there was a lot of photos. 

 We also had to setup our fantasy football line-ups (we were gone for a few weeks).  I think we both checked our emails once or twice to just make sure everything was okay.  We never called anyone though.  

Santorini2011

I don't like traveling with a laptop personally. I am there to vacation and relax...not to be online.   It is one more thing to deal with (1 more carryon to deal with, 1 more thing at checkout, doesn't fit in the safe, etc).  I have always given my contact info to my mom for emergencies and then bought an internet card and/or phone card to check in once in awhile.  This would be my rec for you based on what you stated. 

gymbugmj2k

i'd bring the laptop for you both to share.  FI and I are techies, so we're constantly on our iphones and laptops and would bring 2 haha.... but even for the emergency/convenience, i'd think it would be smart (contact home, look up a map, find restaurant reviews, watch movies or shows on the plane, transfer photos, etc).  I agree with PP that you want to concentrate on where you are and the two of you.... but it is nice to have the option of being connected if you need it.

like PP have said, put the laptop in your carryon. you'll have to take it out to go through security, but otherwise they're fine.
also. when would your laptop be considered 'old'? doesn't matter if it's brand new or 3 years old - the opportunity for it to be stolen is the same.  FWIW i've traveled around the globe with my laptop, left it out or in a bag in my room, and have been ok so far. just dont leave it unnattended by the pool or breakfast or in the lobby.

to lower the cost, be careful with what time you sign up for the 24 hrs of access. i usually check email in the morning and at night... so the first night i went without access and activated it in the morning instead. that way i didnt waste $15 while sleeping

annmarie714

For the hassle of it all, I would think it'd be worth the $45 to use their phone to call back home.   I know the hotels I've stayed at have had computers for situations where you need them, but (personally) I wouldn't want to be browsing the web more than necessary while on vaca.