Going abroad is great fun! Whether you are going on a cruise, a city break or a beach break, there is nothing better than being able to forget about the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Just picture yourself sitting on a beach with a glass of wine in one hand and a book in the other – sounds perfect, doesn’t it?
When going away, there are plenty of things that you will need to think about before heading off to the airport. You should have your insurance sorted (never go away without it), you will need to tick off your packing list, ensure you have booked all your excursions and prepare your mobile phone – you don’t want to rack up an expensive bill when abroad.
Below we have put together our guide on preparing your mobile phone for trips abroad.
CHECK YOUR ROAMING CHARGES
The first thing that you should do is check your roaming charges. Each mobile phone provider will have different roaming charges that will vary from country to country.
Often you will find European countries cheaper (sometimes included in your contract), whereas outside of the EU (like San Francisco), it can be a lot more expensive.
Some providers will make you pay per MB, whereas others will charge you a daily fee, such as £5 a day to use your normal allowance abroad. By checking your provider, you will be able to confirm this.
RESTRICT YOUR PHONE TO WI-FI ONLY
If you want to be extra secure and safe, you should turn your phone on aeroplane mode and then turn your wi-fi on. This way you are only connecting through the internet and not through your mobile data.
This will stop any unexpected charges from cropping up, which can occur, should you accidentally use your mobile network in a country that charges a lot to do so.
When using Wi-Fi in different countries, it’s always worth downloading a security app, to ensure your phone is safe. It’s also worth knowing the signs you are being monitored, so you can be extra careful.
SET A CAP ON YOUR SPEND
Every mobile provider will let you set a spend cap on your mobile phone contract, to stop you from spending accidentally.
Before going, it’s worth giving your provider a call and setting your cap to something low, like $6, this way, you can feel rest assured you won’t be charged more than this, in case of an error.
Many people have flown to countries, thought their phone contract was included, to find out it’s not and have a big bill at the end.
STAY CONNECTED WHILE TRAVELING
We hope our guide has given you some useful insights into ways to prepare your mobile phone for trips abroad. Preparing your mobile phone for a trip is just one part of the planning process. Check out our comprehensive guide to planning a trip abroad for your family.Â
