Online Gaming For Your Future Travels – The Do’s and Don’ts
Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, you’ll want to make sure to pack something to keep you entertained when there’s downtime. Luckily, our smartphones have become a source for all kinds of entertainment, whether it’s watching the latest releases from Netflix or listening to your favourite podcasts and music. One of the most popular ways many travellers stay entertained during their travels is through gaming.
There are so many online games available from multiplayer online battle arena video games to fun casino-style games. There is of course also the good old vintage classics like Mario and Donkey Kong.
Playing online games while travelling couldn’t be easier. As long as you have your mobile device and an internet connection, you’re ready to go. Most cities around the world also now offer free Wi-Fi connection zones. So, if you’re looking for something to keep you entertained during your travels, then online gaming might be the best choice for you.
However, there are a few things to consider when gaming while travelling, which is why we’ve gathered up our top do’s and don’ts for travelling gamers. These tips will help keep you out of trouble while gaming on your next holiday.
Stay Safe While Gaming Online
Using the internet while travelling can leave you vulnerable to cyber security threats. While free public Wi-Fi is great, you could end up gifting your passwords and sensitive personal information to hackers if you’re not careful.
Many of us don’t realise that public WIFI spots are open networks, which often make them unsafe to use. Cybercriminals use these networks to access information like our usernames, passwords, and payment details. Some cybercriminals even set up their own Wi-Fi networks in order to do this, so never join a network that isn’t secure or you don’t trust.
Don’t let this put you off though. There is a way you can make your online gaming experience more secure. A VPN (virtual private network) is a program that you can run on your device to stop cybercriminals accessing your data. A VPN will make your data and information more secure by encrypting it before it gets to the Internet Service Provider. This will allow you to perform different tasks such as needing to use your credit card to pay by phone slots at www.casino.com in the UK securely.
Be Courteous to Others
Most people play online games during their travels as a way to pass the time, especially while sitting in an airport terminal or during a long-haul flight. But it’s important to remember to think about the people around you.
There’s nothing worse than sitting next to a passenger on a plane who has their music playing at full blast. Equally, no one wants to hear that you just won big on the slots via an online casino. Unless you’re willing to put your phone or other gaming device on silent, bring along a pair of noise cancelling headphones which will allow others some peace and quiet.
You should also be respectful of people in adjacent rooms while staying in hotels. Just because you paid for a room doesn’t mean you can live like you’re in your own home. Once again, keep the volume down or use your headphones.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
As well as being aware of other people during your travels, it’s also a good idea to be aware of your surroundings while playing online games. While it may seem obvious, make sure that you only play online games when it’s safe to do so. Many a traveller has fallen victim to stupidity and gotten themselves hurt and even killed while gaming online with their smartphones in public.
Games easily distract us from what’s going on around us, which can leave us vulnerable to all kinds of danger. Playing an online game in your hotel room after a long day is a great idea, but playing a game like Pokemon Go while walking down the street could see you getting hit by a car.
Most of us aren’t familiar with our surroundings while travelling abroad. While drivers may strictly follow road rules in your home country, they may simply be treated as mere suggestions in other nations. Don’t expect that vehicles will always stop for pedestrians.
Being distracted by online games can also leave you open to thieves who may want to steal your belongings. Make sure you keep your bags, wallet, or purse close to you so you don’t make yourself vulnerable to theft. You may also want to make sure to take a pause from your game from time to time to check on any alerts you may have missed such as airport gate changes. Many people have also missed their tram and train stops due to being consumed by the game they are playing.
Keep Costs Down
When we’re travelling, we’re less likely to worry about how much money we’re spending. However, it’s a good idea to set yourself a budget of how much money you want to spend on online games. Pay-by-phone online games allow you to keep track of what you’ve spent, so you can make sure you stick to your budget.
You also need to be aware of how much money you’re spending on your internet connection. Wi-Fi connections without a VPN can be unsecure, but this doesn’t mean that you should use your mobile data to connect to the internet when travelling abroad. Mobile data can cost a lot of money when roaming, so it’s a good idea to turn off your data roaming when you’re travelling internationally
Alternatively, you could opt for packing a gaming console that offers games which don’t require an internet connection. There are also plenty of gaming apps for your phone that don’t require a network connection, and many are free to download.
And while airlines do often offer a selection of free games via their in-flight entertainment screens, it’s always wise to bring your own in case your screen is out of order, which actually happens rather frequently to many travellers.
Stay in Power
Playing online games not only chews through data quickly, it can also drain the life out of your battery just when you’re really getting into your game. It goes without saying that you will need to pack a charger, but maybe pack a spare just in case you lose your original. Be aware that you may need to bring adapters when travelling internationally or you’ll find yourself not being able to plug in your device to charge – your option then for gaming is visiting land based establishments, though granted, there are casinos who offer gaming in almost every country, even those where it’s previously been illegal, like India.
Bringing along a portable power bank will give you that extra much-needed energy when pluging in your device is not an option. It is also handy when all your gaming has drained your battery and you actually need to use your phone to make a call during an emergency or simply when needing to book a reservation or Uber.
Don’t Let Gaming Distract You from Your Travels
While online gaming can be a lifesaver for all that boring downtime that often comes with travelling, you shouldn’t let it consume your travels. Don’t forget the reason you are travelling in the first place. There’s a lot of beauty and many exciting adventures to be experienced beyond your screen.
Try and select games that are easy to pick up and put down easily. Choosing games that are really involved will force you to use up too much precious time during your travels. When you factor in how much you’re most likely paying for flights and accommodation, your gaming can end up costing you a small fortune if that’s all you’re doing.
The Gaming Traveller
While you don’t want online gaming to distract you from your travels, there are travellers out there that actually travel specifically for gaming. A lot of younger travellers are now travelling for eSports, attending various popular video game competitions that are regularly held around the world.
Games like League of Legends and Call of Duty have now become public arena events where millions of people pack arenas to compete and watch world-renowned gamers in action. Travelling is also a great way for gamers to connect in real life and possibly make long-lasting friendships.
We hope our travelling online gaming tips will help keep you entertained on your next holiday, while at the same time keeping you safe and secure.
