Phones, data and staying connected

Data access abroad has become much easier and much cheaper, and the default arrangement is frequently still the most expensive one.

The options

Roaming on your home plan. Convenient and priced enormously differently depending on where you are from and where you are going.

Within the European Union and several associated countries, regulation has largely eliminated roaming surcharges for residents, which means a domestic plan works across a large area at no extra cost.

Outside such arrangements, roaming charges can be very high, and several operators offer daily passes that are reasonable for short trips and expensive for long ones.

Worth checking the specific rate before travelling, and worth disabling data roaming until it is confirmed.

A local physical SIM, bought at the destination.

Generally the cheapest option for a longer stay, with substantial data allowances at low prices in many countries.

Requires an unlocked phone, and in many countries requires registration with identification.

An eSIM, which is a digital profile activated without a physical card.

This has changed the picture substantially. Travel-specific eSIM providers sell data packages for individual countries or regions, activated before departure and working on arrival.

Requires a compatible phone, which most recent models are.

Prices are generally between local SIM and roaming rates, with the convenience of arranging it in advance.

Portable hotspot devices, rented or purchased, which suit groups sharing one connection.

What to do before leaving

Check whether your phone is unlocked, which determines whether a local SIM is possible.

Check whether it supports eSIM.

Check your operator's roaming rates and any pass options.

Turn off automatic data roaming until you have decided.

And note that keeping the home number active while using a travel eSIM is possible on dual-SIM phones, which allows calls and messages to the home number while using cheaper data.

The things that consume data unexpectedly

Worth managing.

Automatic photo and video backup, which can consume a package in a day.

Application updates.

Video autoplay in social applications.

Streaming.

Most phones allow these to be restricted to wireless networks, and doing so before travelling prevents the common experience of an allowance disappearing in the first afternoon.

Offline preparation

Useful regardless of connectivity plan.

Download offline maps for the destination, which most mapping applications support and which work without any connection.

Download translation packs for offline use.

Save boarding passes, booking confirmations and accommodation addresses locally rather than relying on email access.

Download entertainment for the journey.

And take a photograph of anything important, since a photograph is accessible without a connection.

Calls and messaging

Internet-based calling and messaging services work anywhere with data, which makes traditional call charges largely avoidable.

Worth noting that some countries restrict or block certain calling services, which is a specific consideration for some destinations.

Keeping a means of receiving verification codes sent to your home number matters, since many banking and account services use text messages and a swapped SIM may not receive them.

This is a common and frustrating problem, and it is worth checking whether important accounts use text-based verification and arranging an alternative.

Public networks

Widely available and worth using carefully.

Avoid financial transactions on open networks, or use a virtual private network.

Be cautious of networks with names imitating a legitimate one, which is a documented technique for intercepting traffic.

And note that some countries restrict access to particular services, which affects what works regardless of the connection.

The practical recommendation

For most trips: an eSIM package bought before departure, with home roaming disabled, offline maps downloaded, and automatic backups restricted to wireless.

Total cost is generally modest, arrangement takes fifteen minutes, and it removes the two most common problems — an enormous bill and no connectivity on arrival.

The device precautions

Practical points beyond connectivity.

Enable device location and remote wipe before travelling, which makes a lost phone recoverable or at least erasable.

Note the device identification number separately, which is required for reporting a theft.

And be aware that some countries require registration of imported devices after a period, which affects long stays.

General information about travel, not financial or technical advice. Rates and coverage vary — check with your own provider before travelling.