Traveling is one of the best things to experience, regardless of your destination. Whether you visit local or international locations, there’s always something new to learn. But traveling is also challenging because you may not have access to similar products and services at home.
Communication, for example, is scarce with the ones at home since the internet connection isn’t working everywhere and making cell phone calls is also limited. Of course, there are solutions to getting data, like getting an eSIM card, but you need to connect your phone to public Wi-Fi, which isn’t safe.
So, we’ve gathered some ideas to try when you’re away from home to connect with friends and family.
Get an international travel sim card
An international SIM card is the safest and quickest way to access the internet wherever you go, regarding the phone you use, so an international sim card goes well on Apple or Google phones, making Google Fi eSIM products available. You could usually get one for up to three months, but depending on the time you spend abroad, you can find solutions.
For example, if you’re traveling to the US from other countries, you can get a sim card to benefit from unlimited data plans and a reliable internet connection. What’s great about this card is that it doesn’t require registration and is easy to set up. In case you need help, customer service is available 24/7. However, the card doesn’t include cell phone calls or SMS messages, but it’s still a great solution for traveling abroad.
You can find tutorials on the provider’s website for using the card on each type of smartphone. For example, if you own a Google Pixel, you can scan the QR code received after purchasing the package and activating the virtual SIM on your phone. It’s also possible to do this through an activation code.
The sim card is compatible with most common smartphone brands, such as Apple, Samsung and Google Pixel, but you need to check this beforehand to ensure the card is usable on your mobile. After this step, you need to choose a suitable plan and buy the card online, providing you with a QR code through which your data roaming will work.
Search for an international add-on for your phone service
Suppose you’d rather like to use your phone number for calling and texting instead of the internet or just simply don’t want to get something too complicated to set up. In that case, you can contact your phone service provider and ask for an international add-on.
The rates for such services may depend on the provider, but it may be possible to approach a different company if you can find better rates based on your stay abroad. Most of the time, these services can get quite pricey, and you need to be careful with how much you call people or message them because the final cost of the service may exceed the upfront price you’ve discussed.
The option you’ll get also depends on the purpose of your trip. For example, if you’re traveling for work and just need to catch up with emails, search for directions and send a few messages, you can get something less expensive. However, if you’d like to make calls and communicate with family members a few times during the day, it’s best to get something unlimited for the best price and quality of service.
A great international add-on plan is best when you want the same internet and phone connection as you have back home, which means you also need to pay more for this service.
Purchase a local SIM card upon your arrival
If you want to make sure you’re getting an internet connection and are able to make calls from the country you’re visiting, you can simply buy a SIM card and charge it with a certain amount of money to get you through the period of your stay. This is the best thing to do if you’re staying for a long time and also need to communicate with local people or businesses.
Depending on the country you’re going to, getting a local SIM card can be cheap or expensive, so it’s better to research this before reaching the area because you may want to get an international plan instead or an eSim card.
These local prepaid SIM cards can be purchased in different stores and kiosks, but the closest place you can find them is the international airport of the said country (if you’re traveling by plane). However, this might mean you’ll get a rather expensive SIM card, so this should be a last resort. Therefore, it’s best to look for convenience stores, gas stations and supermarkets for SIM cards if traveling on a budget.
What to do before leaving
Of course, keeping in touch with your family will allow them to rest assured you’re fine during the trip. At the same time, you can hear from home if you’re gone for more time. Still, before you leave, it would be best to tell your friends or family where you’re going and provide a thorough plan of the places you’ll visit. It may happen that you won’t be able to take the same path because when you’re traveling for leisure, you’ll find yourself roaming around the cities.
Still, this plan should show people where you can be found in case something happens. At the same time, such a plan will help you orient better, and save time and money, especially if the country you’re visiting is much more different than the one you’ve been raised in. So, take a map, check out all the places you’ll love to see, and give it to them. It’s always better to be safe than sorry while traveling, especially if you’re alone.
So, what’s your next destination?
An exotic country sounds like the perfect location for any vacation, but you need to find a way to keep up with family and friends, even if it’s overseas. So, our recommendations include getting an eSIM or a local card or extending your telephone service plan with an additional add-on.