There is nothing quite like travelling to cleanse the soul and remind you why you are alive. It is definitely the best way to spend money, because you will come back a different person that is more relaxed and happier. Exploring new places and meeting new people are things that will open your eyes, and it is quite the fulfilling experience. Whether it is your first or tenth time travelling abroad, you need to always be prepared. This starts by doing some things before you even travel, like getting health insurance, for instance.
When it comes to your smartphone, there are some things that you need to do before travelling abroad.
Figure out how you’ll use it
This is probably the most important thing you need to do before you go anywhere. What exactly are you going to do with the phone in this new country you’re travelling to? Are you going to be making a lot of business calls? Will you need to regularly use the internet beyond that of the hotel’s? Do you plan on streaming Netflix? These are all the questions you need to consider before you go, because they will help you determine whether or not you need an international data plan. The duration of the trip will play a role in this, because if you’re just going for a few days, then it does not make much sense to get a data plan unless you need to do some work.
Learn data roaming charges
If you came to the conclusion that you will be needing data roaming, then you would do well to understand the roaming costs and how they work wherever it is you are going. For instance, if you’re going to a European country, your calls, text, and internet charges won’t be much different from what you’re paying right now. But when traveling outside of Europe, those regulations will change and you might be subject to much higher roaming charges. This is why it is very important that you research those roaming costs beforehand so you could form an idea of just how costly this will be.
Get a VPN
Generally speaking, it is a good practice to get yourself a VPN even when you are not travelling or anything. A VPN will add a very important extra layer of security to your online activities, and it will prevent any hacking or spying attempts on your browsing experience. This is particularly important if you are sitting in a restaurant or an internet café and using their public WiFi network, which can cause all sorts of problems. The last thing you want is for your personal data to be out there available to anyone using the same network. So, get a VPN and enable it whenever possible, especially when using your hotel or any other network. You should also spend some time before you travel, figuring out how it works and understand how to use it.
Protect your phone
Even if you like living on the edge and walk around with no screen protector or cover for your phone back home, you would do well to do otherwise when you travel. If your phone suffers a fall and breaks down in a foreign country where you don’t know anyone, it can be quite problematic. You probably won’t know how to fix it, and the last thing you need is to tap into your trip budget to buy a new phone, because it will really mess with your plans. So, before going abroad, get yourself a decent screen protector and cover to avoid any hiccups on your trip.
Disable voicemail
This might come off as a bit of a surprise, but you need to temporarily disable your voicemail before you travel to a new country. Why? Well, some networks actually do charge you for a fee if you listen to your voicemail in a foreign country. The costs are definitely not that steep if you are within the EU, but outside, it can be quite pricey. In either case, there is really no point in paying any added costs to listen to your voicemail. So, it is best that you reach out to your network provider and ask them to temporarily suspend your voicemail service –– which doesn’t incur any added fees.
Preparation is the most important thing when you are embarking on a trip abroad. It will make your life a lot easier and you will be prepared for anything you might encounter. As shown in this article, when it comes to your phone, you really need to be well prepared to avoid any extra costs.