Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Conservation
  • Privacy
  • Travel Writing Competition 2025
  • Reviews
  • Travel Resources
  • T&C
  • Contact Us
  • Conservation
  • Privacy
  • Travel Writing Competition 2025
  • Reviews
  • Travel Resources
  • T&C
  • Contact Us
Pure Travel
Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Travel Resources

Using your phone to stay connected wherever you travel… a quick guide to the DO’s and DON’Ts!

  • March 24, 2014
  • Jules

Are you planning to use your phone abroad while you are on holiday?  Here are some tips to ensure you don’t come back with a hefty phone bill or a broken device!

Travelling Do’s with your phone:

  • Do decide what you will use your phone for and how often when you are abroad.  Are you using it for business or personal purposes?  Will you mainly send text messages or will you make voice calls as well?  What about checking your emails, updating statuses and uploading pictures on social media?  Do you also want to utilise your phone’s GPS capabilities?
  • Do use free Wi-Fi hotspots whenever possible.  Many hotels, cafes and libraries offer access to their network for free.
  • Do check information regarding international dialling codes so that you can make calls without any glitches from abroad.
  • Do check with your current mobile phone carrier to make sure you can access their network from your holiday destination. If your current mobile phone company charges roaming fees for using their internet services abroad, do look into alternative mobile broadband data providers such as Mobi-Data (click the link to jump to their homeage).  They provide domestic as well as international coverage in over 40 countries.
  • Do ask your carrier if they offer any international calling plans and if so, how many minutes, texts and how much internet data usage are included.
  • Do consider downloading applications such as Fring, Skype and Viber onto your phone. These applications allow their users to access text messaging services, as well as make and receive voice calls and even video calls.   There is a great article on instant messaging apps when abroad here.
  • Do keep track of your phone and data use while abroad to keep a handle on the costs.
  • Do carry a list of phone numbers for emergency services with you.
  • Do consider backing up your photos and any important data stored on your phone before you travel.  You may even wish to consider backing up data whilst on the road.

Travelling Don’ts with your phone:

  • Don’t travel without checking the electric socket shapes used in your travel destination.  Buy a plug adaptor before travel if necessary.  Don’t assume your accommodation will have spare adaptors.
  • Don’t try to charge your battery abroad without checking whether the voltage provided by local power outlets is supported by your device.
  • Don’t wait until you are abroad before downloading useful applications you will need on your smartphone, tablet or laptop devices.  Google Talk, Skype, FaceTime and Google Maps are just some applications that might come in handy.
  • Don’t forget confidentiality and security issues if you are using your device for business purposes, you never know who might be listening or watching!
Share
Tweet
Related Topics
  • how to stay connected when travelling
  • practical travel tips
  • travel advice
  • travel and communication
  • travel tips
  • using your phone
Jules

Previous Article
  • Destination Inspiration

Beaches, Culture and Nightlife: Guide to Fortaleza in Brazil

  • March 24, 2014
  • Jules
View Post
Next Article
  • Travel Resources

Simple Steps for the Perfect Honeymoon

  • March 24, 2014
  • Jules
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Travel Resources

5 Best US Wildlife Destinations: Manatees, Wolves & More

  • Jules
  • May 28, 2025
A glamorous woman on holiday
View Post
  • Travel Resources

Travel Light, Smell Divine: Small Perfumes for the Modern Explorer

  • Jules
  • May 27, 2025
Great Migration
View Post
  • Travel Resources

Serengeti Migration Safari: Nature’s Greatest Show on Earth

  • Jules
  • May 21, 2025
Relocating - a family in new home
View Post
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel Resources

Trading Zip Codes and Time Zones – What It Really Takes to Relocate Across State Lines

  • Jules
  • May 19, 2025
Drone shot of a beach
View Post
  • Travel Resources

How to Plan a Trip That Balances Rest and Fun

  • Jules
  • May 12, 2025
A view of Cannon Beach Oregon
View Post
  • Travel Resources

Adventure Together: Creative Ideas for Your Next Family Trip to Cannon Beach

  • Jules
  • May 12, 2025
A young man looking out over the mountains while on a hike.
View Post
  • Travel Resources

How to Add More Outdoor Fun to Your Family Travel Plans

  • Jules
  • May 12, 2025
View Post
  • Travel Resources

Family Travel Made Easy: Tips Every Parent Should Know

  • Jules
  • May 12, 2025
Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Pure Travel
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}