How to Stay Connected Internationally—Without Breaking the Bank

Let’s be honest: Our smartphones have become vital tools for international travel. Beyond sharing experiences with loved ones back home (which is definitely part of the fun), they are essential for communicating with your travel companions, locating hotels and eateries, navigating unfamiliar streets, and utilizing translation apps.

Sadly, most domestic cell phone plans usually don’t cover international calling, texting, and data within their monthly fees; if you’re not prepared, you might rack up hefty charges when using your phone overseas.

However, there are plenty of solutions. Travelers have numerous options at their fingertips to stay connected while journeying abroad without straining their budgets.

From budget-friendly international plans to pay-as-you-go options, handy downloads, and more, here are the top tips and tricks for using your phone on your next overseas trip.

Look for a carrier that offers a free international plan

Getting free data, calls, and texts while traveling internationally doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Many wireless carriers incorporate free international plans into their services, including Google Fi Wireless and T-Mobile, among others.

Google Fi Wireless provides its users with free calling, data, and texting by partnering with local carriers in over 200 countries. Simply turn on your phone and use it like you would at home. The only charge will be for phone calls, which are $0.20 per minute globally.

T-Mobile (which merged with Sprint in 2020) is also accommodating for international travelers. T-Mobile customers receive unlimited 2G data, unlimited texting, and calls starting at $0.25 per minute. The drawback is that 2G speeds can be quite slow, but you have the option to buy a faster data roaming package.

Purchase an international plan

Changing carriers can be a major hassle, especially for just one trip abroad. If you’re already with a provider like Verizon or AT&T, consider opting for one of their international travel plans.

Every Verizon plan includes free data, calls, and texts in Mexico and Canada. For more distant travels, the Verizon TravelPass is available for $10 a day, granting unlimited text, talk, and data in over 185 countries. If you're staying longer, Verizon offers an International Monthly Plan for $100, which is beneficial for trips exceeding 10 days.

AT&T provides a comparable option called the International Day Pass, also priced at $10 per day. They also offer a monthly plan named Passport, starting at $70, which includes 2GB of data, unlimited texts, and calls for $0.35 per minute. For $140 per month, you can enjoy 6GB of data.

Both the TravelPass and International Day Pass will only charge you for the days you use them, so if you don’t require service every day, simply switch your phone to airplane mode to prevent extra charges.

Utilize Wi-Fi communication applications

If you want to avoid any extra fees, you can keep your phone in airplane mode for your entire trip. The great news is that many communication apps now work over Wi-Fi, so you might not even notice the absence of cellular data.

For iPhone users, iMessage functions over Wi-Fi anywhere around the globe. Android users need not worry, as there are numerous Wi-Fi messaging apps available for all devices. WhatsApp stands out as one of the most widely used messaging apps worldwide, but you also have alternatives like Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, and the highly secure Signal app.

Other free options include, but are not limited to:

• TextMe
• Text+
• Telegram
• WeChat
• LINE

The downside of these apps is that they require an active connection, so if you’re traveling between Wi-Fi hotspots, you won't receive any notifications.

Download in advance

However, you won’t be completely disconnected while on the road if you choose to rely solely on Wi-Fi. Downloading necessary items while connected can help you avoid many inconveniences when Wi-Fi is not available.

You can download Google Maps onto your phone for offline navigation. Just tap your profile picture in the app, then go to Offline Maps. This lets you select the area to download and save the map to your device. The catch is that it only offers driving directions, not walking routes, and it won’t update you in case of traffic delays.

Downloading podcasts and TV shows to your phone can be a lifesaver. Facing a long train ride? Experiencing a travel delay? Wi-Fi goes out? At least you'll have entertainment at hand.

If you're traveling to a country where you don’t know the language, you can download that language pack in Google Translate. This way, you can maintain communication and navigate more easily, even without internet access.

Consider renting a hot spot

This option may be less common, but it has its benefits. A rental Wi-Fi hot spot is a compact device, roughly the size of a cellphone, that creates a mobile Wi-Fi network for you and your travel companions. You can connect multiple devices to it when needed and turn it off when not in use. This is a more affordable choice compared to each person getting their own international plan.

You can rent a mobile hot spot from most cell phone stores for as low as $7 per day. However, you'll need to return the device when your travels are over, which means either bringing it back to the original location or mailing it back.

Consider buying a local SIM card

Frequent travelers will recall the days when SIM cards were the go-to for staying connected abroad. A SIM card is a small chip that must be activated and inserted into your phone to use it overseas with a local number and rates. Nowadays, it's more common to purchase and download an eSIM instead of a physical SIM card. An eSIM is a digital chip that can be activated remotely.

There are numerous eSIM providers online offering a range of pricing options based on your destination and duration of stay. For instance, if you're traveling to Europe, Bouygues My European eSIM is a popular and affordable choice. It costs $45 and provides 30GB of data along with unlimited calls and texts within Europe, valid for 30 days, making it ideal for longer trips.

One drawback of eSIMs is that you will receive a new local number based on the service provider. For example, with Bouygues, you'll get a temporary French number.