7 Best Ways to Use Your Phone When Traveling Abroad

Traveling abroad is exciting—until you realize your phone is not working, or worse, you've racked up a massive roaming bill. Staying connected while exploring new places is essential, but international phone usage can quickly become expensive and frustrating if you don't plan.

Thankfully, you can avoid common disadvantages with smart strategies. Whether it's navigating new cities, keeping in touch with loved ones, or keeping up with work, there are ways to stay connected on your travels without blowing your budget. Here are the seven best ways to use your phone when traveling abroad.

1. Use a Local SIM Card

The cheapest option to stay connected when traveling abroad is often a local SIM card. This way, you avoid very costly roaming charges, and your cell phone gets all the good from your local carrier's network.

There are, however, disadvantages to using a local SIM card. The first significant disadvantage is that your phone needs to be unlocked for you to use the foreign SIM. This is not the case for all devices. In some countries, you're required to produce personal documentation such as a passport before you can buy the SIM. This is painful especially when you are in the country just for a few days.

2. Use eSIM Technology

This technology, eSIM, has emerged as a real game-changer for international frequent travelers. Japan is a technology-friendly country where the major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka are adopting eSIM at an impressive pace. Several Japanese mobile carriers, including NTT Docomo, SoftBank, and Rakuten, provide eSIM plans.

Holafly covers Japan thoroughly so that tourists will be able to communicate without the problem of changing physical SIM cards or experiencing enormous roaming charges. For those who can use Japan eSIM with Holafly, one doesn't need to remove his physical SIM card to switch over to a local network. Therefore, you will not have to forego your home number and have a local number for data and calls.

Why Go for an eSIM?

• Do not need to swap your SIM card.
• Switch between your home carrier and a local provider easily.
• Buy and activate an eSIM before traveling, which means you won't waste any time finding a SIM card upon arrival.

3. Activate an International Roaming Plan

If you can't or don't wish to change your number, you may use an international roaming plan. Global plans are offered by all major U.S. phone carriers, allowing you to use talk, text, and data for a daily or monthly fee.

Some of the Best International Plans From U.S. Carriers:

• AT&T International Day Pass ($10/day) - Gives you unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data in 100+ countries.
• Verizon TravelPass ($10/day) – Like AT&T, but available in over 185 countries.
• T-Mobile Magenta Plan – Free unlimited data and texting in more than 200 countries; data speed throttled after 5GB.

These are excellent for short stays because they don't make things complicated. However, for longer stays, it can get expensive. Check your destination to see if they cover it and what additional charges might apply.

4. Make Use of Wi-Fi for Calls and Messaging

If you need to save some data and hence the cost of communication, your best friend would be Wi-Fi. Most of the places that you visit on travel, from hotels to cafes and airports, offer free Wi-Fi. Make calls and send messages over the internet instead of using cellular data by taking advantage of these hotspots.

Recommended Apps for Wi-Fi Calling & Messaging:

• WhatsApp – Send messages and make calls that do not take up your cellular/phone plan.
• iMessage (for iPhone users) – Free texts and video calls over Wi-Fi
• Skype – An app which can be used to make international calls.
• Telegram is another popular application, which supports secure messaging and file sharing.

5. Download Offline Maps and Travel Apps

It's so stressful to get lost in another country, especially when the internet is nowhere near. The good news, though, is that one can still navigate with relative ease even without an internet connection through offline maps. Downloading such maps before the trip gives access without a need for any data.

How to download Google Maps for use offline:

• Launch Google Maps, and then put in the place you intend to go.
• Tapping the location name on a screen, tap download offline map.
• Select the location you want to save and click OK.

6. Use a Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot

If you need to use more extensive internet, you can go for a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. These are small devices that connect to local cellular networks and form a private Wi-Fi signal, which you can then use on multiple devices with your phone, tablet, or laptop.

Advantages of a Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot:

• Works with multiple devices at once, so everyone in your travel group can stay connected.
• Offers much more reliable and secure internet access than public Wi-Fi.
• Could save you the hassle of needing to buy several SIM cards or dealing with a limited data plan.

7. Manage Data Usage Efficiently

Even with a reliable plan, monitoring your data usage is essential to avoid unexpected charges. You can reduce data consumption by being mindful of your phone’s settings and usage patterns.

Tips to Save Data

• Disable background app refresh and automatic updates to prevent apps from using data when you're not actively using them.
• Download music, movies, and documents before your trip so you can access them offline.
• Use data-saving features in apps like YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook, which can lower the amount of data used when browsing.

Most phones have the facility to set limits on data and send alerts that can help in tracking and regulating data usage. You can then avoid going beyond your plan limits and be charged extra for using more data.

Conclusion

You do not need to spend or complicate traveling to stay connected. Local SIMs, international roaming plans, or using eSIM technology all rely on careful planning for a trouble-free experience. With Wi-Fi hotspots and offline apps to guide you around, communicate with loved ones, and enjoy the rest of your trip without piling up charges, you're all set to travel.

Explore these options before your next adventure and determine which best addresses your travel requirements. With these strategies, you can travel fearlessly around the world without compromising on connectivity and the bank in your pocket. Safe travels!

FAQs

How do I limit international roaming on my phone?

To save on costs, one can opt for a local SIM card or an international roaming plan. These two options guarantee good service with no hefty roaming charges.

Which of the following would be better, eSIM technology or a physical SIM card for traveling to many countries?

eSIM is convenient for frequent travelers because it easily switches between providers. Physical SIM cards are inconvenient because they often require swapping and buying additional SIM cards.

Can I depend on public Wi-Fi for calls and messaging, or is that a risk?

Public Wi-Fi can work for calls and messaging, but a VPN is essential for protection. Without a VPN, your data may be open to security threats.