5 Ways to Save Money on Cell Phone Costs While Traveling Overseas
Taking a cell phone abroad is a confusing proposition for most travelers. Will it work when you need it? Will you be able to receive texts, incoming calls, and data? How much will all this cost? There are some tricks seasoned travelers use to save money on phone bills while gallivanting around the globe. Read through these ideas and see which ones suit your needs.
Take Full Advantage of Skype
Skype isn’t just for video calls. The app offers voice calling, too. Calling other people who have a Skype account is free, and you don’t have to use the video option if you’ve just rolled out of bed. You can also use your Skype account to call any mobile or landline telephone in the U.S. Either buy Skype credit and pay 2.3¢ per minute, or buy a monthly subscription for $6.99 to place unlimited calls to anyone in North America.
You can get a Skype phone number for about $5 a month so your family in the U.S. can call or leave you a message anytime just by dialing a phone. You won’t incur roaming charges either. It’s a huge comfort to elderly relatives or children to know they can connect with you easily even though you’re far away. Just make sure you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network before you place or answer calls, so you’re not using your phone’s data to place or receive calls.
Get a Local SIM Card
Depending on the network and phone you’re using, you might be able to unlock your phone from your network so you can use a local carrier while traveling. Not all phones can be unlocked, and not all carriers use SIM cards, so make sure you have a compatible device and carrier, like this one from T-Mobile. If you’re a techie, you can unlock your phone yourself with a code from your carrier. Otherwise, stop by customer service and ask them to unlock your phone and show you how to change the SIM card.
When you reach your destination, you’ll probably see SIM cards for sale in every convenience store and newsstand. Usually, you’ll pay between $10 and $20 to get a local phone number, unlimited calling, and one or two gigs of data. If you’re not comfortable changing the card yourself, visit the local carrier’s kiosk or storefront in a mall, and someone there can do it for you.
Get an International Plan
A SIM card is nearly always the most economical choice, but it’s a good idea to gather information on all your options first. The choices are a bit mind-boggling, so visit your carrier and ask what your options are for the countries you’ll be visiting. Be sure to ask about data, texting, and voice calling. If you don’t have time to visit your carrier in person, use the website chat feature to get recommendations. Go for the maximum amount of data, since you’ll want to upload photos and use social media while you travel.
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Harry Carver