A Guide to Phone Services for Those Who Are Traveling

Having a cell phone is a great way to stay in touch while traveling. Because technology has gotten better, they can now be used to record and share memories of your travels, find information about places while you're on the go, and set up a wide range of travel services.

Taking your phone with you abroad

First, figure out if your current phone will work in a different country.

The first thing to find out is if your phone will work in a different country. Different countries and cell phone companies use different technologies and frequencies, and your phone needs to be able to work with all of them.

GSM is the most common cell phone technology, and you can find it all over the world. CDMA is less common, but Verizon, Sprint, and a few other US carriers use it. If your phone only works with CDMA, it probably won't work anywhere else in the world.

Here is a full guide that will save you time and trouble when you travel with your phone.

Use A VPN To Stay Safe Online.

Install a VPN on your mobile devices. Do this whenever you use public Wi-Fi, whether you're in the U.S. or somewhere else. VPNs, or virtual private networks, add another layer of security to your online safety. When you're not in your home country, they can make it look like your internet traffic is coming from the United States. This is helpful if you need to do emergency banking or other online tasks that might be blocked for people who aren't in their home countries.

Bring your phone and pay for roaming.

A simple but expensive solution is to bring your phone and pay roaming fees. This is a great choice for trips that aren't too long. This choice is only a good one if you answered "yes" to the first three questions.

Use local SIM

Because a local SIM card often replaces your home phone number with a local one, the easiest way to avoid the "new number, who are you?" routine is to use apps like Whatsapp or WeChat to talk to friends back home. You won't have to pay extra for calls, texts, or data use, but you will be able to order a pizza from your local pizzeria or add your new Facebook friends from abroad.

Buy a package

You could also bring your phone and buy a data plan for it to be used overseas. Carriers have many programs to choose from. AT&T has a plan that costs $10 a day and only charges you for the days you use it. If you're going somewhere where you might not need phone coverage at all, but you're not sure, the $10-per-day plan is a great option. You're not required to use it, but it's there if you need it.

Power Up Your Phone.

You won't need a voltage converter because almost all cell phones will charge when plugged into outlets with 100 to 240 volts. (If you aren't sure, check the voltage on the bottom of the phone.) All you need is a simple plug adaptor to plug in like you would at home. Just make sure you have enough battery life when you travel.

The whole point is to save money.

To use cellular data, go to the settings on your device and turn on Cellular Data Roaming. When you don't want to use cell data, turn it off completely. Look in the Settings of your device for Cellular or Network. Do you have a Day Pass for International Travel? Turn off data roaming on days when you won't be using your phone to avoid a $10 fine.

There are no third-party apps like iMessage, Skype, or Hangouts. You can only use the texting feature that comes with your phone. When you're traveling, these apps work the same as the rest. Instead of your text feature, they use your data.

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