The blogosphere doesn’t stop when you’re traveling, but finding a way to post when you’re away can be daunting. If you want to stay updated, you’ll need to enlist the help of some tools. Check out these resources that make mobile blogging a breeze.

Web-Based Services

You’re probably already familiar with a few of these, but it’s time to see these tools in a different light: as always-there services that you can access whether you’re on your laptop or in an Internet cafe on the other side of the world.

  1. Webnote: If you have an idea for a post, but just don’t have time to put something together, write yourself a note with this service, and it will be available for you from any computer.
  2. Google Docs: Write drafts in Google Docs, and they’ll be waiting for you online no matter what computer you use to access them.
  3. Backpack: Much like a physical backpack that you might take on your travels, Backpack is a trusty repository for files, notes, images and more when you’re on the go.
  4. ConceptShare: If you share blog duties with other people, collaborate with them online using this conferencing solution.
  5. Remember The Milk’s MilkSync: Do you have plans for what you want to post while on the road? Make yourself a to-do list that’s available from anywhere online as well as through Windows Mobile.
  6. openonmy: If you’re not planning on taking a laptop or other storage device along with you, this virtual storage is perfect for accessing files when you’re away from home.
  7. CalendarHub: Use CalendarHub’s web publishing capability to let your readers keep tabs on your itinerary while you’re away.
  8. Skrbl: This web app is good for both brainstorming and simple note-taking. Quickly jot down blog post ideas and save them for access while you’re on the road.
  9. LogMeIn: If you can’t bear to part with your at-home desktop setup, take it with you using LogMeIn. This service allows you to access your desktop from the Internet.
  10. Clipmarks: If you’ve found something interesting online, but don’t have the time to post about it on the road, leave yourself a clipmark to remember to come back to it later. Or, if you prefer, you can post your clip directly to your blog.
  11. Google Maps: Want your readers to know the exact location of where you are or where you’ve been? Embed a map from Google in your blog: just click the “link this page” link once you’ve found your location.
  12. Flickr: For many bloggers, Flickr is a lifesaver at home, but it’s there for you on the road, too. Flickr’s web-based existence makes it easy to update your photos from anywhere, whether you’re at home or far from it.

Mobile Tools

Perhaps the easiest and most convenient tool for travel blogging is your cell phone. Take advantage of messaging, email capabilities, and even simple voice service to blog without ever cracking open your laptop.

  1. YouTube Mobile: Post videos to YouTube from your cell phone with YouTube Mobile.
  2. Blog From Your Cell Phone: If you’re on Blogger, you can send a text or photo SMS to go@blogger.com and upload information to your blog.
  3. Pickle: With Pickle’s service, you can send your files to an email address, and they’ll be published to Blogger, your own site, or other platforms.
  4. Nokia Lifeblog: Use Nokia’s Lifeblog service that allows you to automatically upload cell phone photos to the Internet.
  5. Supcast: With Supcast’s service, you can record messages on your phone and instantly upload them to your blog.
  6. LiveJournal Voice Posting: If you’re a LiveJournal user, you’re in luck: they offer voice posting with their service.
  7. Twitter: Post quick updates to your Twitter account using text, IM, and more.
  8. Jott Links: Set up a Jott link, and you can record messages that will be automatically transcribed to a number of different blogging platforms, like TypePad, WordPress, and Blogger.
  9. FeedM8: If you want to make sure your mobile blog updates are posting correctly, you can use FeedM8 to check your blog from your cell phone.
  10. Bloxster: This blogging platform has enabled moblogging from any mobile phone with email. All you have to do is sign up for a moblogging email address.
  11. TypePad for the iPhone and iPod Touch: TypePad users with iPhones and the latest iPod can take advantage of special software made just for posting on TypePad with these devices.
  12. Flickr Moblog: If you have a blog connected with Flickr, you can email photos to it from your blog.
  13. Gabcast: Record podcasts and audio posts to your blog with Gabcast.
  14. Speedscript: If you’re using a mobile device to type out long posts, chances are you’re going to get sick of your tiny keyboard in a hurry. This system makes it easy to enter text quickly.
  15. Open the Mobile Gateway with SMS and MMS messaging: Read this guide to learn how you can open up a gateway that enables SMS blogging.
  16. SpinmyBlog: This service allows you to leave a voicemail that will convert to text and upload to your blog. It will also publish your Spinvox number, so readers can call to the voice comments, which are them converted to text and uploaded, too.
  17. TypePad Mobile: Every TypePad user gets access to free software that’s available for use on Palm, Windows Mobile 5, and S60 devices.
  18. Riya: If you’re blogging from your cell phone, it may be difficult to set tags. With Riya, you can automatically tag peoples’ faces with its face recognition technology.
  19. BlogMailr: Post from any email-enabled device using this service.
  20. Mobile Travelogue: Post to your own page by just emailing text or pictures to an email address with Mobile Travelogue.
  21. Tumblr Mobile Uploads: Users of the low-maintenance blogging platform Tumblr can get an email address that allows them to upload photo posts, and soon, text, directly from their phone.
  22. Speakage line: Check out this publishing tool that works with any voice or video message sent by a phone.

Hotels & Vacation Spots

Once you’ve arrived at your destination, your ability to blog may be dependent on the accommodations of the property you stay at. Find out how blogger-friendly these places are.

  1. Norwegian Cruise Lines: If you’re on a cruise with Norwegian, you can get access to Internet service, computers, printers, and more for reasonable prices.
  2. Extended Stay Hotels: Get online in your suite at Extended Stay hotels.
  3. Royal Caribbean: Royal Caribbean has Internet access available on all ships. All you have to do is bring your laptop, and you can connect with stateroom access.
  4. WiFi Free Spot-Hotels: Check out this list to find hotels that offer free WiFi in hotspots or rooms.
  5. Wyndham: A number of Wyndham hotels and resorts offer Internet access. This includes hotels like Baymont, Travelodge, Days Inn, and Ramada.
  6. Vacation Rental WiFi: Check out this list for a list of vacation rentals that come with free WiFi.
  7. Hilton: Wireless Internet is offered at select Hilton hotels. Use this link to find out if your desired hotel is one of them.
  8. Princess Cruises: On selected Princess cruise ships, vacationers can get online in the Business Center using computers equipped for passenger access.
  9. Best Western: Get free access in the lobby and/or guest room when you stay at many of Best Western’s hotels.
  10. Choice Hotels: Many of the hotels owned by Choice Hotels offer free WiFi. Use this advanced search to find them.
  11. Carnival Cruise Lines: Carnival Cruises offers WiFi on all ships as well as onboard Internet cafes. You can even rent a laptop.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Blogging while in transit is a fairly new development, brought on by the proliferation of WiFi and service providers who are becoming more tech-friendly. Take advantage of this opportunity by using these tools.

  1. United Airlines: If you’re flying United, you can power your laptop with in-seat power outlets on selected aircrafts.
  2. OnAir: With OnAir, you can use the Internet in-flight on select flights with carriers like Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada.
  3. Public Transit WiFi: Did you know that a number of public transit systems offer wireless Internet service? Use it to turn downtime into blogging time, and find out where you can do it with this guide.
  4. AirPower Wiki: Find power outlets and WiFi locations in a number of airports using this wiki.
  5. Qantas: Quantas Airlines’ new A380 jets will come with in-flight wireless Internet access and power sockets for each seat. If you don’t have WiFi capability on your laptop, you can use their available networking cable.
  6. Airport Wireless Internet Access Guide: Get guides to wireless Internet in airports both in the US and around the world. You’ll be able to check out clubs and providers, too.
  7. ViaSat: If you’re lucky enough to own a private jet, you can get connected with onboard Internet from ViaSat.
  8. Avis WiFi: It’s been reported that Avis may soon put WiFi transmitters in their rental cars, offering a rolling personal hotspot.
  9. American Airlines: American Airlines offers cigarette lighter style power outlets on a number of aircrafts, so if you want to use your laptop in flight, be sure to reserve a spot that allows you to plug in. AA has also reported that they will offer in-flight WiFi soon.
  10. In-Flight Laptop Services by Airline: Check out this list of airlines with current or planned services for power or Internet access on their aircraft.
  11. JetBlue: JetBlue Airways is reported to be working on free in-flight Internet access through their subsidiary LiveTV.

WiFi Hotspots & Internet Cafes

Thanks to WiFi and Internet Cafes, the world is your blogging office. Find out how and where to get online with these guides and directories.

  1. WiFi on Wikipedia: Learn about how WiFi works and just about everything you need to know about working on this type of connection here.
  2. WiFi FreeSpot: Find free WiFi hotspots all over the world using this directory.
  3. Cybercafe: Search over 4,000 internet cafes in 141 countries to find the one that’s closest to you.
  4. Municipal WiFi: A number of cities have introduced municipal wireless access. Find out if your travel destination is on the list.
  5. Open WiFi Spots: Find municipal WiFi as well as regular hotspots just about everywhere.
  6. WiFi in the Park: Find WiFi in parks located in California, Michigan, and more with this list.
  7. Personal Telco Project: Using this project’s map, you can find nodes, wireless links and OLSR tunnels just about anywhere.
  8. WiFiMarine-US: Did you know that you can get Internet access from your boat? Check out this directory that lists WiFi providers that offer service to boaters at marinas and beyond.
  9. Internet Cafes on Wikipedia: Get the lowdown on how Internet cafes work in this Wikipedia entry.
  10. ilovefreeWiFi: Search for free WiFi access points on this site, organized by city.
  11. The Cybercafe Search Engine: Find cybercafes using this daily-updated search engine.

Gadgets

Although many of the software tools we’ve covered make it easy to streamline the gear you’ll need to blog on the road, there are still a number of gadgets that are very handy for this purpose. Get the lowdown on them here.

  1. Car Power Source: Whether you’re posting with a mobile device or a laptop, you can’t do it if you don’t have any juice. Stay powered up with a device that allows you to harness the power from your car’s battery.
  2. Ultra-portable Power Source: Get power anywhere with this device that lets you plug in on the airplane, in your car, or in the hotel room.
  3. Bluetooth Car Kit: If you’re going to post to a voice service while driving, make sure you do it safely by using a hands-free car kit.
  4. Otterbox: Keep your laptop, PDA, phone, and other essential mobile blogging gadgets safe from damage and jostling with this protective gear.
  5. Apple AirPort Express: If your hotel has wireless Internet access in hotspots, but not your hotel room, plug the AirPort in, and you’ll be able to access it anyway. It taps into the wireless network that’s wired into the building.
  6. A PDA: With a PDA, you can take advantage of many mobile blogging services, whether they’re accessible by PDA or just email.
  7. Verizon Wireless Broadband Card: Bring your wireless connection with you using this card and service from Verizon.
  8. Digital Pen: If you’ve got a great blog post idea, but can’t crack open your laptop or other blogging device, just take notes with a digital pen. They’re automatically transferred to your computer, so you can create a post from them later.
  9. Roll-up Keyboard: Blogging via mobile device doesn’t have to mean you’re stuck using a tiny keyboard. Get a full size roll-up keyboard to let your fingers spread out a little.
  10. WiFi-Ready Camera: Forget about blogging from your laptop or mobile device–send photos straight from a camera that can email to your blog.
  11. Solar Power Source: If you’re traveling far from an outlet, keep your laptop or mobile device charged up and ready to post using a power source that uses the sun.
  12. Mobile Workstation: With a mobile workstation, you can set up a desk that sits in the passenger seat of your car.
  13. Laptop Security: Put your laptop in a pack that protects against both damage and would-be thieves with the ability to lock to permanent objects.
  14. Mobile Power Pack: Get a mobile power pack that dramatically boosts battery time for devices like your BlackBerry or cell phone.
  15. The Perfect In-Flight Mouse: Check out this blog post about a mouse that straps to your index finger and detects movement against any surface.
  16. A Laptop That’s Light and Portable: Get a laptop that sturdy and light enough to travel with you, so you can take it wherever the road leads.
  17. WiFi Scanner: You may know all of the hotspots in your area, but when you’re on the road, you’re probably clueless. Find a WiFi signal using this handy tool.

Blogs & Guides

Get advice and news from bloggers who know how to post away from home.

  1. How to: Use Your BlackBerry as a Modem: If your BlackBerry just isn’t cutting it as a posting tool, you can still use it to get online as a modem. Read this guide to find out how.
  2. Mobile Blogging How to Guide: Learn how to set up mobile blogging sotftware, from email to gateway.
  3. How to Find a Guest Blogger for your Blog: If you don’t want to update your blog while you’re away, you can arrange for a guest blogger to fill in for you. Learn how to find one here.
  4. Geek to Live: Use your cell phone as a modem: Check out this guide to find out how you can use your cell phone to get online even when you’re nowhere near traditional Internet access.
  5. A Traveler’s Technology: Read about the setup that this traveler created to stay connected while on the go.
  6. Busy Thumbs: On this blog, find sites, tools, industry news and more resources for mobile blogging.
  7. 7 Things to Do with your Blog when you take a Vacation: See what Problogger’s Darren Rowse does with his blogs when he goes on vacation.
  8. Blogging Tricks: How to Make Sticky Blog Posts: Read this guide to find out how to keep specific posts at the top of your blog. This is especially useful if you want to remind readers that you’re on the road and possibly not up to your regular blogging schedule.
  9. Putting WordPress on a USB Stick: You can take your entire WordPress setup on the road and in a USB stick using this tutorial.
  10. How to Schedule Blogger Posts to a Future Date: You can write posts in advance of your travel and schedule a time for them to be published, so you don’t have to worry about losing traffic if you can’t keep up while you’re on the road.
  11. InFlightHQ: InFlightHQ is full of tools, news, and more resources for productive work on the airplane and beyond.
  12. Updating Your Travelogue While on the Road: Read this PDF to learn about one person’s experience with blogging using a PDA.

Other

Get even more useful tools and resources in this section.

  1. On Business, and Blogging on the Road: Check out this article that notes current travel bloggers as well as possible advances for road blogging in the future.
  2. RSS2PDF: If you’re like most bloggers, you like to stay up to date on the latest posts in the blogosphere. But if you’ve got spotty Internet access, that can become difficult. You can use this tool to download RSS feeds into PDF when you have a connection, and then catch up on reading later even when you can’t get online.
  3. Hotspot Helper: We’ve outlined many ways to get WiFi on the road, but it’s important to protect your security when getting on one of these networks. Get this software that provides security and more.
  4. GeoURL: Link your location to your blog post using this address server tool.