How to prevent the dreaded roaming charges when traveling abroad
When traveling abroad, you’ll inevitably have to rely on your phone for different purposes, such as booking a taxi or searching for a place to eat, and so on. But connecting to a foreign cellular network can lead to some exorbitant bills. Roaming charges tend to add up really quickly, and that’s because your mobile provider pays a rate that includes currency conversion, international tariffs, and so on to ensure you’ll be able to use the service abroad. This rate is then passed on to you in the form of a roaming charge. The good news is that it is possible to keep roaming costs down, and this article will give you some useful tips on how to do so.
Confirm your current provider’s roaming rates
Since it’s best to be prepared when traveling, consider checking with your mobile provider. You will likely find information on their website regarding international roaming and what the service plan includes. However, it’s probably best to call customer service instead of spending a lot of time trying to understand the information on the website – it will save you a lot of headaches!
Tell the provider where you want to travel and ask them to give you details about the roaming plan. Also, request information about any addition that can be useful for the duration of the trip. Checking the rates before your trip is essential in avoiding a steep bill, giving you a good hint.
Connect to a Wi-Fi network whenever possible
One of the easiest ways to prevent roaming charges is taking advantage of Wi-Fi. Many hotels provide Wi-Fi service to guests, so you can use it to send messages, make video calls, stream music or play games without worrying about significant roaming charges.
You can also connect to a Wi-Fi network in places like shopping malls or a café, but if you do so, make sure to use a VPN service, which will allow you to protect your identity and avoid becoming a target for cybercriminals.
Use an eSIM
Here’s a great, affordable option for staying connected during your travels while avoiding roaming fees: an esim. Simply put, this is an embedded SIM incorporated into your device during manufacturing. While it has the same functions as a physical SIM– it allows you to send SMS messages, browse the Internet and make and receive calls – an eSIM works 100% digitally.
Activating google fi esim has excellent benefits, eliminating surprise roaming fees and ensuring instant connectivity the moment you arrive at the destination. Many network providers offer eSIMs that can be used globally, meaning that regardless of where you are, you can surf the Internet as much as you want without worrying about any significant expenses.
Limit your Internet time
Browsing on the Internet can be truly expensive when traveling, so consider reducing the time you spend online. This will help ensure you won’t receive massive roaming charges, which will end up hurting your wallet.
Consider using a data monitoring app that will help prevent exceeding your data usage limits. Unless you can use Wi-Fi, it isn’t a good idea to upload social media pictures, download music or watch videos when you’re abroad, as these are all data-heavy activities, which will lead to significant roaming charges. Now, there may be times when you’ll need to keep yourself entertained, so consider preparing ahead of the trip by downloading all the media you need while you’re still in your home country. And, of course, don’t forget to download all the critical documents for your trip, including boarding passes.
Communicate via text
Texting can be annoying – we know it! However, it can reduce huge roaming bills while you’re abroad, as it is less expensive than calling. There’s a lot you can communicate through text, and the fee for messaging someone from another country is around $0.25 and $0.50, although it can differ depending on the plan and carrier.
But if you want to avoid these fees altogether, you can use an app like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp. Not only do these apps allow you to send messages, but they can also be utilized for free international calls – as long as you are connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Turn off background activity on your device
Some mobile apps utilize your device’s data even if they are closed, such as email, which runs regular checks and alerts you of new emails. The same is true for social media platforms, which run in the background to send you notifications. Although background activity is generally useful, it consumes significant data, so it is best to turn it off when traveling abroad, as this will reduce roaming charges considerably.
You can do this on your device by going to settings and clicking on cellular data (on iPhone) or data usage (on Android). A list of all the apps on your phone will appear on the screen, allowing you to switch them off, thus ensuring they no longer access cellular data.
Don’t let roaming charges ruin your travel experience
Imagine this scenario: you come home from an amazing trip only to find an exorbitant phone bill. It can be such a nightmare! Instead of feeling the joy of all the memories you’ve made during your trip, you are now frustrated because you have to pay a huge amount of money. Fortunately, this scenario doesn’t have to come true. If you take the time to plan data roaming when traveling, you can prevent those terrifying charges and be at peace during – and after- your vacation. The good news is that it is possible to keep roaming costs down such as dollar to Philippine peso, and this article will give you some useful tips on how to do so
It’s impossible not to use the Internet when traveling, so you’ll need to find solutions to cut down on roaming charges as much as possible. As highlighted in the article, there are several ways to do so, such as connecting to Wi-Fi, spending less time scrolling apps while abroad, using texting instead of calling, etc. So, forget your worries about massive roaming charges and enjoy a stress-free vacation!