Always Buy an International Data Plan When Traveling Abroad
Last week there was a story about a couple who were traveling in Bali and had a scooter accident on their way back to their hotel. Their local SIM phone died, and their only way to ask for help was by posting a message on Facebook using a phone tied to a US SIM card – a Facebook message that helped them find help and ultimately survive.
This gentleman commented that he will travel with the hotspot in the future to stay safe at all times.
By the end of this year, I’ll be spending roughly six months of 2018 traveling in other countries, so I feel like I’ve come pretty close to perfecting the safest travel mode when it comes to phones. Here’s what I suggest.
Buy a SIM card online
American carriers are offering reasonable deals for international fares these days. T-Mobile will let you get around for free, and many offer $ 10 a day passes for access that you only pay when you use your phone. I have an outdated AT&T unlimited data plan that doesn’t allow me to take advantage of any of these cheap options, so I started buying local SIM cards.
I used to make the local phone shop my first stop whenever I landed in a new country so that I could get a local SIM. This is a great idea, but a huge problem for a number of reasons. First, you have no way of communicating with others until you get to that phone shop (although some countries have vending machines at the airport). You also need to be reasonably comfortable with the language in the country you are in. I was fine in Mexico and France, but I had hard times in Italy.
This year I am addicted to these SIM cards that you can buy on Amazon . For $ 30, you get 12 GB of mobile data in a billion countries for 30 days. I have used the same product (but not the same card) in Belize, France, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, Iceland and other countries. I’m in Italy right now and I’m using literally the same SIM and tariff (i.e. the same $ 30) that I used two weeks ago across Australia. They are versatile (but be sure to check if your country is compatible) and I can put them on the plane and connect as soon as I land.
When you do this, you are missing out on the local number, but other than that, this is a pretty solid solution.
I often have friends tell me that they only use Wi-Fi when they travel. Do not do this. Yes, you will save some money, but you will also find yourself in an insecure position if you find yourself too far from the Starbucks hotspot and need help. At least spring for the cheapest version of the international data plan for your carrier, so you can connect if you need to.
Trust me: the ability to have access to Google Maps and Google Translate when you travel is worth its weight in gold.
And if you want to be “disconnected” from the world at home, just turn off your phone.
Bring two backup batteries
What struck me in Balinese history was that this guy had two phones, but no backup battery. Buy one . Then buy another one. Always take two with you when you travel in a foreign country. You don’t need two phones, but you should have two batteries.
I try not to go out from early morning until late at night when I go to a new place, which means that my phone will die at least once. Having two backup batteries means you always have a charge for your phone, even if you managed to forget to charge one of them the night before. It also means you don’t have to restrict the use of things like Maps. And even if you don’t “need” the extra power that you carry with you, you will have a lot more peace of mind.
Tell people where you are
Posting your every move on social media isn’t a great idea, but it’s always good to keep a few friends informed about your travel plans. I always leave a copy of my planned itinerary and passport with my boyfriend at home. In theory, if I go missing, he knows where I told him that I was last, and what are my plans for the future.
When traveling alone, consider staying on Airbnb, where you rent a room rather than an entire space. Sharing with a local host has a number of significant advantages. The biggest advantage is of course the presence of a local who will recommend the best places to visit as well as places to avoid. There is also a huge bonus, at least for me, that I know there is someone who will notice if I don’t come home at night. The average hotel will not notice that you are missing until you check out, and even then it may not do anything. An Airbnb host might say, “She disappeared Tuesday night,” if something goes wrong.
Bottom line: tripping is cool, but you should always make sure to keep yourself a (literal) lifebuoy in case you need one.