Why A VPN is a Traveler’s Secret Weapon

Product Reviews /

This post is brought to you by Hotspot Shield. All opinions are my own.

No matter how you travel, certain equipment is just essential. Stuff like a good suitcase (or sturdy backpack), comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen. Since we live in the twenty-first century I would add a decent camera, my kindle and of course, my laptop.

And, If you are also carrying a laptop (and who isn’t these days), and especially if you are a digital nomad, you will probably want to add a VPN to that list. This downloadable computer program has a ton of uses that make life on the road way easier.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, and it is a small program that runs in the background on your computer and allows your computer to send and receive data from a remote destination, essentially shielding your actual location (that is a very basic explanation, but it’s all I’m capable of).

Here are a few ways that a VPN can enhance your travel experience:

Security

The world is full of sketchy internet connections, at hostels, cafes and airports. Skilled data thieves can hack these internet connections, take control of your computer and learn your important passwords and information. A VPN adds an extra layer of security by encrypting your data.

 Skirting Firewalls

A VPN can be super handy when you are traveling in countries with restrictive internet rules. In China and Vietnam for example, Facebook is entirely blocked for the average internet user. Trying to access it will bring you to a blank page. In Turkey, Twitter is now off limits. Even here in Mexico certain sites are inexplicably blocked.

With a VPN, you can cleverly skirt these firewalls. Because the VPN program disguises your connection, it is as if you were actually on a computer back in the United States.

Misdirection

Long-term travelers already know how annoying it is that Hulu doesn’t work outside of the United States. Netflix works in some countries but has a different selection than you would find at home. With a VPN you can again cloak your identity and use these, and other US-only websites.

You can also turn on your vpn when you visit paypal or your bank websites to keep them from locking you out for “unnatural activity.” I’ve even heard you can use your vpn to get better flight deals (link).

 Hotspot Shield: A Review

When Hotspot Shield commissioned me to write an article, I was more than happy to do it. For the past year I have been using Hotspot Shield as my VPN, after it was recommended to me by another blogger, Jeremy from Living the Dream.

I come from a decidedly un-techy background, so my main requirements for a VPN are that it works reliably, easily and well. What I like about Hotspot Shield is that it’s geared for personal use, not towards companies. It’s user-friendly and simple to turn on and off. It’s very easy to use and I like the fact that I can tweak the settings based on whether I want the service to connect automatically when I open my computer.

Their is a free version with ads and a premium version that is $4.99 a month or $29.95 a year. The premium version can be used on up to 5 devices, so Mike and I share the connection. I have the premium version.

How to get Hotspot Shield:

Do you have a VPN? What do you use it for?

This post is brought to you by Hotspot Shield. All opinions are my own.

Scroll to Top