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Gone are the days of outrageous roaming charges being the only way to stay connected and online while traveling.
We’ve put everything you need to know about using your phone while traveling abroad into one handy article so you never have to worry about being disconnected while traveling again.
Plus, learn about eSIMS – a much easier and more affordable way to get data and connection while traveling.
Benefits of Using a Phone Overseas
While there is something to be said for disconnecting and staying offline to fully appreciate your travels, we all know that a phone comes with a multitude of benefits that make traveling so much easier.
Stay connected
Staying connected while traveling abroad is essential, especially if you are a solo female traveler. For your own safety while traveling, your friends and family back home should know your whereabouts and general itinerary and be able to get in touch with you easily.
Apart from the safety aspect, being connected makes the logistics of your travels easier.
- Running late for a reservation? Call the restaurant.
- Not sure what time an attraction closes? Look it up online.
- Want to make the most of your time in a city? Research the top attractions.
Communicate with ease
One of the greatest things about traveling abroad is immersing yourself in a new culture. A new culture often comes with a language you don’t know. While you can learn key phrases and words before you go, you are most likely not going to be fluent.
There are so many language apps you can download to make communicating easier and less frustrating while traveling
Find your way
This one is so important! Finding your way easily around a new city is guaranteed to make your travels better. Say goodbye to trying to memorize directions, struggling with a huge map, and asking people on the street if you’re going the right way.
Google Maps is just one of the many options available.
Get around effortlessly
If you’ve found yourself in a dodgy part of town, are absolutely exhausted from a day of exploring, or are running late for a reservation you absolutely do not want to miss, you want to be able to call a taxi or Uber at a moment’s notice.
Save your memories
This one is obvious! Any seasoned traveler will know that as the years pass, you forget some of the amazing details of your trips. By taking photos, you’re able to look back and remember those experiences. These days your smartphone takes photos that are just as good as a camera.
Beat the boredom
One inevitable part of traveling is the time spent waiting. Whether that’s a layover at the airport, a long train ride, or queuing for an attraction, your phone can keep you entertained with books, movies, music, or games.
And so much more…
There are so many apps that make traveling easier and more fun! Take a look at our Essential Apps You Need When Traveling blog post to find out more.
International Roaming
International roaming is just one of the ways you can stay connected while traveling abroad.
What is international roaming?
International roaming is a service that allows individuals to continue to use their phone to make and receive calls and text messages and browse the internet while visiting another country. . .at a cost.
How do you turn on international roaming?
This may vary between phones but most likely it will be in your settings options under mobile networks.
While international roaming is useful and allows you to stay connected, it does have its downsides:
- Some networks may limit the amount of data you can use while roaming.
- The network coverage may be unreliable.
- The network quality may be poorer than you are used to.
- There may be unexpected costs for incoming calls.
- You may end up spending a lot more money than you expected.
- Your phone may be vulnerable to security breaches.
While many people avoid international roaming because of the high charges, you can save money by using apps to make calls when you are connected to a local wifi network and save the roaming for any emergency situations. Apps like WhatsApp, Skype, or Messenger allow you to stay in touch with your friends and family easily and cheaply while abroad.
Certain network carriers will also have international roaming packages that you can purchase before you leave.
Do I need a SIM card to use my phone internationally?
While you don’t need to buy a SIM card to use your phone internationally (see international roaming above), it is an affordable way to stay connected when abroad that won’t require you to pay for roaming (which adds up quickly).
With a prepaid SIM card, you can make calls, send texts, and browse the internet all without worrying about unexpected charges. Plus you don’t need to be connected to wifi to use your phone.
Many phones these days are dual SIM which means you can keep your original SIM card in the phone and simply add the international one. However, you will not be able to use both SIM cards at the same time. You can easily switch between the SIM cards in your settings menu.
When using an international SIM card, your mobile number will change. Make sure you inform your friends and family back home about this.
You can usually purchase a SIM card at the airport when you land or in local convenience stores.
NOTE: Certain phones may be locked which means they are only compatible with one carrier or network provider and won’t work with a different SIM card. However, most phones can be unlocked. This process is different for different carriers but most of them will have an unlock request form on their website. This can take up to 30 days so plan ahead! You can also buy a cheap unlocked phone on Amazon if you don’t want to unlock your phone.
Alternatively, you can purchase an eSIM – which is definitely our new favorite method of getting data and connection while traveling internationally.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a rewritable digital SIM card that is embedded in your phone’s hardware and activated through your phone’s settings. It serves the same purpose and function as a physical SIM card but there is no physical component that needs to be inserted into the phone.
An eSIM provides travelers with convenience and flexibility because it makes switching between SIM cards easy. No more worrying about losing or damaging your physical SIM card!
You can purchase, install, and activate an eSIM and eSIM plan all from your smartphone (or tablet) through Airhub. Alternatively, members of the HPL community recommend eSIMs from Holafly and Airalo.
What can you do if you don’t have connection abroad?
If you don’t want to use international roaming, and you know you’re not going to be buying a new SIM card, there are a couple of things you can do to prepare before you pack your backpack and leave for your travels.
Download offline maps
Even if you are going to use roaming or be getting a new SIM card, it’s still a good idea to download offline maps for all the destinations you are planning on visiting. Downloading offline maps allows you to use Google Maps even when you are not connected to the internet. Simply download the maps you need in the Google Maps app in the settings. You can then use Google Maps like usual.
Note: Transit, bicycling, or walking directions are unavailable offline. In your offline driving directions, you can’t get traffic info, alternate routes, or lane guidance. However, you will still be able to plan the best route by looking at the map manually.
If you are planning on walking somewhere, a handy tip is to connect to your hotel or hostel wifi and start the walking trip before you leave. That way you will have the best walking route.
Download shows, music, and books before you go
Download any shows, music, or books you plan on using before you leave. Most apps make this easy.
Here are some examples:
- You can download shows and movies on the Netflix app to watch offline.
- You can download music on Spotify to listen to offline.
- You can download books to your Kindle or the Kindle app on your phone to read offline.
That way you never have to worry about running out of things to do on your long flight.
Download languages from Google Translate
You never have to worry about being able to communicate with a local when you have the languages you need downloaded on Google Translate. Simply download the language you want in the app before you leave and then use the app as normal while you travel.
Connect to wifi hotspots
Almost every hotel, hostel, guesthouse, or B&B has free wifi that you can connect to so you’ll most likey never be truly disconnected. There are also often public wifi hotspots that you can connect to in airports, restaurants, and even certain retail stores.
However, there are some risks when it comes to connecting to a public wifi hotspot and the security methods used to protect your data can vary widely. It is recommended to not do anything over a public wifi hotspot that could compromise your personal data. For example, using your banking app or online shopping (providing payment information). Other activities like using social media or checking your email tend to be safe.
How can I use my phone for free internationally (or at least avoid large charges)?
No one wants to end their travels with a large phone bill, luckily there are some ways to avoid this!
Here are some tips to avoid large phone charges while traveling:
- Use wifi wherever possible instead of cellular data.
- Avoid traditional phone calls and instead make calls over WhatsApp or Skype while connected to your hotel wifi.
- Check if your network carrier offers an international plan that may include discounted rates for calls, texts, and data usage while abroad. Your carrier may also offer add-on packages for international travel.
- Turn off your data roaming if you are not purchasing a local SIM and want to avoid charges from international roaming.
- Do all your downloads BEFORE you leave. This includes offline maps, languages on Google Translate, and any entertainment you might want.
- Turn your phone on to airplane mode when you’re not actively using it to make calls, send messages, or browse the internet, that way you can avoid any accidental charges.
- Restrict the background data usage for apps that you won’t need while traveling. Some apps may use data in the background even when you’re not using them.
- Disable automatic updates while you’re traveling to save data and minimize roaming charges.
Do you have any other tips for using your phone while traveling abroad? Let us know in the comments below.
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