accessing my Google account

Someone on these forums posted this link from the NY Times about getting codes printed out to access Google and Gmail while traveling. I used the codes recently while traveling without a smart phone and was able to access my accounts. Hope it helps.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/18/technology/personaltech/getting-gmail-verification-codes-without-a-smartphone-or-a-phone-at-all.html?emc=eta1

There's also a place in your Google account to add security information. I can never get into Outlook, my primary email, unless I have it send a special code to Google; Google lets me in after answering a security question. I can than access my (emergency) gmail account to get the code to get into my Microsoft Outlook account. It took me about 3 years (3 European visits, actually) to come up with this sequence.

Go to "Settings", then "My Account." There's a place there for security concerns; you should be able to set up a recovery account, or other means of proving who you are. Good luck.

I just returned from a two-week trip to Spain and I used my Gmail every day with absolutely no problems or extra steps, whether on the phone or the computer. On the trip before that, I was in England, Scotland, and Spain - again, not a single issue. I just signed in as normal.

During our visit to China a couple of years ago, Google was blocked or didn't work in the PFC. Friends living part time in China with Gmail accounts told be the work around was a VPN (Virtual Private Network). I had Internet access on my Google tablet by using a Foxfire browser.

Other countries (e.g. Russia) block access to certain URLs, domains, and internet addresses to protect children from extreme thought and social unrest. Were you having difficulty in specific central European countries?

Just got back from two weeks in England. First time I tried to log in after landing in Heathrow, Google (Gmaps, Gmail, Drive, etc), sent me a confirmation code to my phone via SMS. I entered that with my login and went from there. (And Drive was very helpful - ripped my pictures there every night and never ran out of space.)

Have a great trip!

As a side note, if you use Google as your "home page" and you are tired of getting sent to the local region's google server (example - google.fr in France), add "/ncr" to the end of www.google.com. Example - www.google.com/ncr . This will stop the automatic re-direction... Now, if only Amazon would do the same thing...

Thank you for this thread. It is very helpful. I just want to make sure I have this correct. If I do not have a mobile phone or if my mobile phone does not work, if I print out some codes that google generates, will I be able to use those codes to log in when I am in the UK? What happens when I use up most of the codes? How do I generate more?

I do have a UK mobile phone but it is very basic, not a smart phone. I do not have a smart phone in the USA either because I prefer to use an I-Touch or tablet if I need to go online somewhere and I am not at home or at work.

The easiest solution is to turn off the two step authorization. I don't think it is that big a deal. We have accessed goggle all over Europe with absolute no problem without the two step authorization. If you are using the two step then you need the authorization codes in advance. Goggle will send ten codes which you can take with you. Lose the codes and your are done. So just turn it off.

I want to add that I never had a problem with gmail in other countries on a desktop computer but had some issues when using a netbook (Android) and major issues using an Ipad or ITouch.

On my next trip I plan to take an Android Netbook that is 4 years old, an Android Tablet (2 years old) and I-Touch (6 years old). I have an I-pad 2 that is about 4-5 years old. I am not going to buy a new device but if anyone has any thoughts about the devices I currently have, let me know.

I have thought about buying a new Chromebook for my Mom, using it for my trip and giving it to her when I get back.

I turn off two-step authentication, and provide a recovery email address but not a recovery phone number. When I travel to a new location, Google gives me an "unknown device" message and all I have to do to regain access to my account is verify my recovery email address. I don't have to deal with codes. Maybe this could work for you too? Good luck!

What happens to Lane is the same thing that happens to me. I've had it happen on my recent trips to Europe and my recent trip to LA in May. However, I traveled to Washington DC last week and I didn't have any trouble. If I get the unknown user message, I just confirm my account with my back-up email and I'm set to go again. It's a small hassle, but no big deal.

@Kaeleku, sounds like I've been lucky that entering my recovery email has always worked. There was one time I forgot the recovery email for one of my Google accounts and had to contact Google (by phone) for assistance. Google asked a whole bunch of questions (including "in what year and month did you create this account?" - seriously???) and helped me regain access to my account.