Crossing borders is always fun, but it comes with a connectivity challenge. You can get unexpected high charges just because you connected to the internet or received a call, or you can get stuck with no signal because you don’t have a local mobile plan.
This means that you always need to prepare for connectivity before travelling, which involves anything from a good eSIM plan to adjusting your phone settings. We’ll look at the different preparations you need to make.
Understand how your mobile plan works across borders
The first thing you need to do is consider how your mobile plan behaves when you visit a new country. This is important as even the same carrier treats foreign connections differently depending on the user’s mobile plan. Some offer roaming bundles as an extra advantage, some charge a per-day fee, and others bill users per MB.
These vary significantly in the overall cost, and you need to ensure you know what to expect to avoid huge bills or surprises. The information should be available on your carrier’s website, so check it out to be sure. The only exception is if you have an EU plan and are going to another EU country, as there are no extra roaming charges. However, some carriers still enforce daily limits.
Get an eSIM plan that works across multiple countries
If you want reliable connectivity without the unpredictability of standard roaming costs, an eSIM is always the most practical option for travellers. These services let you purchase per-country or per-region plans that offer a specific allocation or unlimited access.
Multi-country eSIM plans, like a European plan, usually cost almost the same as a per-country plan, making them the best option for travellers. These are the best plans for anyone visiting Europe as they make it easy to move from one country to another. This also applies to UK citizens, as local carriers now charge roaming fees across Europe.
Prepare your phone before you leave
Your phone needs a few adjustments before travelling to ensure smooth connectivity and avoid unexpected costs. The first is confirming that it supports eSIM, but most recent phones do.
The second is setting up your eSIM. You can do this by installing the provider’s app or scanning the QR code you’ll receive in your email after the purchase. You can then set the eSIM as your data SIM and activate roaming before your flight.
To avoid roaming charges triggered by receiving a call or SMS, consider disabling your local SIM card.
Plan for gaps in coverage during transit
Even with a solid setup, the connection can always drop. This is common on day trips to remote areas, and it can also occur for unclear reasons. It doesn’t last long if you have a good eSIM provider, but it can catch you off guard.
It’s always advisable to download offline maps for the regions you plan to travel to as they save data and provide a backup option. You should also save your tickets and accommodation addresses offline to avoid last-minute scrambling.
Have a backup plan for power and connectivity
Long travel days and constant map checks can drain your battery faster than you expect. It’s always good to carry a power bank you can use to recharge your phone if you are planning on going on day trips or staying for long outside your hotel.
You can then take advantage of the Wi-Fi provided in hotels and other public places to supplement your data whenever you need to carry out data-intensive tasks like video calls. However, note that these are always risky, so ensure you use a VPN to stay safe.
