If you will be traveling internationally, you really need to think about what you are going to do with your phone. For those that plan on taking it with them they need to take the right steps in order to ensure that it works and that they won’t be charged with hefty international rates. This is how to prepare your phone for overseas travel.
Go The Internet Only Route
If you don’t plan on using your phone to make calls you can still go online when Wi-Fi is available. To do so you must put your phone on airplane mode to keep from incurring any charges. You can also toggle off “cellular data” if you want to use the internet only.
Get A Global Package
For those that will need to use their phone while overseas, they should get a global package. Dependent on your service provider and where you will be traveling to, it can cost anywhere from $5 to $10 per day or even more. However, for some people it will be worth the added costs in order to stay connected to their loved ones.
Replace Your SIM Card
Are you planning on traveling internationally for a while? If so then it may be worth it to replace your phone’s SIM card with one from a local provider at your destination. Your phone will need to be unlocked in order for it to work. If your phone isn’t then your provider may be able to help you unlock it if your phone is paid in full and you aren’t in a contract.
Don’t Forget About Your Charger
In most instances you won’t need to purchase a new charger for international travel. However, you may need a plug adapter in order to charge your device. Fortunately, these adapters do tend to be cheap and can be purchased online at sites like Amazon.
Make Sure Your Phone Has Insurance
While you are overseas your phone may become damaged, get lost or be stolen. This is why it’s imperative to have insurance. Before traveling make sure you phone is insured. Make sure you read the fine print and see what the limitations are and what the criteria is in order to make a claim. Phone insurance does tend to be cheap and usually costs less than $10 a month. If you have to use it just one time it more than pays for itself.
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Preparing your phone for overseas travel is part of the modern pre-departure checklist. Our advisors also recommend reviewing TSA PreCheck vs. CLEAR to streamline your airport experience when heading abroad.
