How to Use Your Cell Phone When Traveling Abroad
You should never assume your cell phone will work the same when you are outside of the United States (including at sea on a cruise ship!). Here are some tips to making sure you won’t rack up sky-high roaming charges while you travel.
Add an International Plan to Your Existing Cellular Plan
The first thing you can do is contact your mobile provider directly. Let them know where and when you will be traveling and see if mobile service is available. They will have international plans for calling, texting, and data that you can add for a period of time, but some of these may be fairly expensive.
Messaging and Calling Apps
If you know you will have consistent access to wi-fi during your trip, another option is to keep your phone in airplane mode and rely on wi-fi only. You can use an app, such as WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom, or Facebook Messenger, to text and call over wi-fi.
Foreign SIM card or eSIM
If your phone is unlocked, you may be able to purchase a foreign SIM card (if your phone uses a physical SIM card) or an eSIM card that you download onto your phone for use while traveling abroad. Orange Travel, Airalo, and Google Fi are popular providers of eSIMs. Verify that the SIM or eSIM you are using allows calls, or if it is just for data.
Portable Global Hotspot
To stay connected to Wi-Fi when you travel, consider using a portable global hotspot, such as Solis. It works by connecting to cellular towers in over 135 countries and gives you a private and secure Wi-Fi connection whether you’re camping in the wilderness, or sipping a cappuccino in Italy. Use my coupon code SUITANDSUN for 15% off!