Massive phone overages. They probably top the list of “souvenirs nobody wants to bring back from a trip abroad.” But if you want to use your apps, take and post selfies along the way, and stay in touch with your family and friends while you’re out of the country, can you avoid them?
Absolutely — if you have a plan for using your cell phone when you travel abroad. And lucky for you, there’s a great one right here. These are the most popular options for using your cell phone for international travel. Pick the one that fits, and you’re good to go.
Getting Cell Service When You’re Abroad
International Cell Phone Option #1: Go Wi-Fi Only
Change one setting: Turn off cellular data to avoid incurring roaming or international charges. And do one thing: Get a VPN for your phone to protect your data when you’re on free Wi-Fi.
This setup will allow you take your photos and use your apps (in their offline modes) while you’re out and about and then hook up to the Wi-Fi at your hotel or in a coffee shop when you want to post and share. You can even stay connected to your family and friends for free with an app like WhatsApp, Skype, or Google Voice.
But won’t you need your map and language apps to navigate? Just download the area and language you need (easy to do with the Google apps), and you can use them anywhere.
International Cell Phone Option #2: Get an International Plan Before You Go
Most phone carriers will allow you to buy an international phone plan for a short period of time. With these plans, you’ll pay a flat rate for a specified number of minutes and connectivity. This is a great option for when you need to use an app quickly — say, to hail a car — or if you have family members or colleagues who might need to talk with you on the phone while you’re gone. Triple-check your data allowance, however — because if you go over, data can add up fast.
International Cell Phone Option #3: Transform Your Phone With a New SIM Card
This is one of the more complicated options for the non-tech-savvy, but it’s a good choice if you will be out of the country for an extended period of time: Buy a SIM card that works in the country or region where you’re traveling and replace the SIM card in your phone.
You’ll likely want to test this out first, either by changing out your phone’s SIM card before you leave or by calling your cell phone provider to make sure that your phone is unlocked (which is required for a SIM-card switch). Fair warning — depending on your carrier, getting the info you need can be easy or a real pain in the neck. So, schedule accordingly.
Once you’re abroad, your trusty phone will behave just like the phones in the country where you’re traveling, so you’ll have easy access to local cell networks. You’ll also have a new, local number, so remind people you’ll be calling from a new line while you’re gone.
International Cell Phone Option #4: Rent Your Own Wi-Fi Device
You can create your own Wi-Fi hotspot and take it with you to get all the benefits of Wi-Fi connection without waiting to arrive at a hotel, library, or café. Scout your destination for services that rent Wi-Fi hotspots, pick one up after you land, and you’ll be good to go with your own password-protected Wi-Fi network.
What to Pack so You Can Use Your Cell Phone for International Travel
There you have it! Four great ways to connect with your cell phone during international travel. When you pack, remember to bring an adapter just in case your phone can’t use the power at your destination and consider an external charger you can use to charge your phone rather than plugging your phone directly into the outlet. This is a great option if you’re headed somewhere with frequent, phone-frying, power surges.
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