How to Stay Connected When Traveling Overseas
The nature of traveling and communication has changed incredibly over the past twenty years or so. It’s hard to imagine that there was a time when travelers didn’t have cell phones to rely on, and didn’t have the ability to stay in constant contact with friends and family back at home. But now we have all manner of ways to stay in touch, and it’s almost impossible to argue that having some sort of phone and data connection is almost essential for travel in today’s world, whether it be to access maps, or airline apps, or to get in touch with people back home to let them know that you’re safe.
Figuring out how to stay connected while traveling overseas can be tricky. There are numerous options, which I’ll highlight below, but often the best approach is to do a bit of research before you leave on your trip, and figure out what method will be best for you based on where you’re traveling, how long you’ll be away, and how you plan to use your phone. Your choice will be unique to you, and in some cases, you may want to use a combination of the methods mentioned below.
CONNECT AT PUBLIC WIFI ZONES
Whether it’s your hotel or a local cafe, free public wifi zones offer one of the most affordable ways to stay connected. The downside? You’ll have to figure out where the public wifi zones are and get yourself there and once you’re away from them, you’ll no longer have internet access. Public wifi also leaves your phone open to hacking, so I would recommend using a VPN to protect yourself. I personally use Proton VPN and have been very happy with it. I’ve also heard good things about NordVPN. However, there are a ton of choices in this field, so find one that works best for you.
RENT A POCKET WIFI DEVICE
These are widespread in Asia and super affordable, but tend to be more expensive in Europe and elsewhere, so check what prices are like where you’re traveling. Portable pocket devices are great, and allow you to have wifi with you on the go, wherever you are. I had one while I was in Japan and was extremely thankful for being able to look up information and maps while wandering the complex streets of Tokyo.
GET A LOCAL SIM CARD
Your phone will need to be unlocked to do this, but buying a local SIM card wherever you’re traveling is often a simple solution for staying connected while on the road. Even better, you can often find a mobile shop at the airport or train station in your destination, so you can take care of your needs right when you arrive.
USE WHATSAPP
I use Whatsapp constantly both here and when traveling to keep in touch with friends and family. The benefit of Whatsapp is that you can make phone calls to and from numbers all over the world over wifi, bypassing the need for an international calling plan or paying high rates for international calling. However, keep in mind that you’ll need some sort of data connection for WhatsApp to work.
ADD AN INTERNATIONAL DATA PLAN OR ROAM WITH YOUR CURRENT PROVIDER
This tends to be the most expensive option, but if you’re going on a shorter trip or you don’t want to try to figure out other options and just want to use your phone like you use it at home, this might be the solution for you! Just be sure to call your cell phone plan provider prior to your trip to make sure that you’ll have coverage in your destination, and to find out what prices you can expect to pay for data and phone calls. Ask about data speeds as well, since slower speeds will make it a challenge to access the internet on the go.
T-MOBILE
I promise this isn’t a promo for T-Mobile, but I have to say that for US-based customers they offer the best international data and phone plans of any carrier. I love that when I land in a new country, I immediately receive a text notifying me that my international plan has kicked in, telling me what coverage I have, and how much phone calls will cost.
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hi there, I’m angi the founder of roam & gather. My mission is to curate joy-centered, small group journeys that are relaxed, intimate, and rooted in culture, community and slowness.
Roam & Gather is a small travel company offering soul-nourishing, curated travel experiences that help connect people with global communities, like-minded travelers and themselves.
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