We all know the horror of receiving a huge phone bill after traveling, especially internationally. Although we don’t need to spend time online for long or talk with friends and family back home, your plans before leaving will never be the same as when you’ve reached the place. That’s because we’re prone to spending a lot during trips since it comes to mind that the experience is more fulfilling than financial safety. And this might be true, but only until you’re struggling to live from hand to mouth.
However, if you want to enjoy traveling for longer and living a secure life at home, find ways of saving money and avoid breaking the bank wherever you feel like spending. Today, we’re discussing how to keep your phone bill at a minimum when traveling internationally.
Get yourself an eSIM
To save money on your phone bill, it would be best to set up a fixed amount of money you’re willing to spend on communicating with loved ones and posting on social media. Luckily, you can do that by purchasing a digital SIM card, so if you want to know what is eSIM, this solution gets you unlimited data plans for a certain number of days (depending on how long you intend to travel). You won’t have to worry about roaming charges or connecting to a public WIFI network, which is dangerous for your data safety.
You only need to purchase the plan that’s best for you and will receive the set-up details by email. Don’t worry; you won’t have to get another phone number, so you’ll benefit from a reliable internet connection anywhere with the same contact number.
eSIM is compatible with many smartphone brands, so if you’ve got an iPhone or Samsung, it’s most likely the technology will fit. Still, you have to check if your phone brand works with the eSIM, so go to https://esim.holafly.com/ to read all the details on what phones can benefit from an internet connection with eSIM cards.
Airplane mode is your friend
Sometimes, when you forget your mobile data turned on, some apps may have access to download data automatically, so you might be charged even without being on your phone. This can be easily avoided by putting your phone on airplane mode each time you’re not using it for longer so that your battery will last longer and there’s no risk of downloading unwanted files without your permission.
Moreover, you may also enter the phone’s settings and do some magic by controlling data usage for each app. This stops applications from updating as you travel and are on mobile data, so you can opt for them to do this only when you reach a reliable and safe WIFI connection (preferably at home). First, monitor your data use and see which app consumes the most internet and battery ―these can be the apps that you use frequently, but you will be surprised to see that some haven’t even been opened and are still running in the background.
When traveling, it’s best to use as few apps as possible, so only those for taking photos, messaging or calling people are necessary. Others will only eat your data and phone battery, and you’ll find they’re not even crucial to have on your phone.
Download media at home
Sometimes, traveling can get boring, especially if you fly for longer or travel by train, where there’s nothing much to do. It is tempting to activate mobile data and watch a video or listen to a song. Still, it would be best to download media when you can connect to the internet at home and then simply enjoy it without consuming the internet or battery.
You don’t have to visit suspicious websites for your favorite music or shows. For example, if you have a Spotify account, you can download music and then play it anywhere, with no internet connection required, at high quality. The same applies to Netflix, where you can download entire shows and movies to watch when you’ve nothing to do for a few hours.
Even if you want to read a book instead, you can look for genuine libraries that sell digital versions of them and buy one or two books. Most of the time, they’re provided to you by email, and you only have to download them on your phone, tablet or laptop, so you’ll read an accurate version of the book and support the writer too!
Be present in the moment
While it is necessary to call your friends and family and search for info regarding directions, your mobile data usage can be limited to only what’s important. Therefore, you may not have to post photos of your trip immediately. Not only will it consume mobile data, but you won’t enjoy the experience fully. Moreover, it isn’t safe to post your location as you’re not home because this puts your house in danger.
If you’re less on your phone, you can connect to your surroundings and appreciate nature more, as well as the new location and its people. You’ll be less distracted by social media and other people’s lives, so you will focus on the moment.
Plus, your brain will be less overloaded with information, allowing it some free space for what’s happening at the moment. You’ll feel less timid to talk to strangers on your trip, encouraging you to make friends worldwide and learn exciting facts about the destination you chose to travel to.
So, what do you think about a social media detox while traveling?
Final considerations
Traveling can be costly, with expensive tickets and accommodation. However, things like your phone bill might increase the final price of the trip, which is why it would be best to keep it down. You can do this by buying an eSIM, watching your mobile app usage, and putting your phone into airplane mode. Still, if you don’t use your phone at all, you’ll experience the best trip ever and be more present.