A Guide to Cell Phone Plans for Traveling Abroad

You scroll through your phone daily tapping away at your favorite apps. It’s so easy to stay connected. Your phone seems even more important during international travel. Cell phones allow you to chat with family and friends back home, post travel photos on social media, and search for top reviews while abroad. You get lost, maps! You need to communicate, translate! You are unsure of a price, currency converter! Cell phone plans for traveling abroad are a wide range, and it can be a bit overwhelming right off the bat. 

Without your travel apps, who are you?

Before heading abroad, it’s important to have a grasp on travel cell phone plans, sim cards, WIFI, and all things phone related. We know your mom has been asking how to keep in touch, so keep reading!

Why it might be worth it to invest in travel cell phone plans

You board the airplane and listen to the nice flight attendant who reminds you to turn your phone on airplane mode. Hours later you arrive at your destination, turn it on, call home, and you’re good to go! False. You need to make sure that you have a phone that actually connects abroad, doesn’t cost you loads of roaming fees, and is all within your budget. It’s easy enough to find an international travel cell phone plan, but you have to do it right. 

1. Avoid roaming fees. You do not need to pay extra fees while you travel. Cell phone plans under some big name networks are great for going abroad while other carriers may load on fees outside of your home-country. Why waste precious cash on silly phone fees when you could save it for an adventurous excursion wherever you may be? 

2. Less fear of getting lost. Google maps is amazing in most countries, but there are also loads of other map apps that can help you navigate a new city. Many apps are easy to download offline so that you don’t have to waste data or rely on WIFI. Depending on where you are living or traveling overseas, you could easily pinpoint your location constantly so that you can know where to go at all times and star your new fave cafes.   

3. More connectivity to home. Mom and dad will be wondering, “How will I ever talk to you again!?” Luckily, there’s an app for that, well loads of apps for that. With data or WIFI, you can constantly check in with your parents while sending them crazy food pics. There are plenty of free chat apps to stay in touch when you travel. Some popular ones are Whatsapp, Line, Skype, Hangouts, iMessage, FB Messenger, and much more. 

4. Can help you manage your budget (especially if its prepaid). Decide your budget before you snag the first international travel cell phone plans that you find. Do you want a prepaid plan on a burner phone to last you a couple of weeks or are you wanting something more long term with unlimited data? Plan a monthly budget on how much you will spend on your travel cell phone and then stick to it! If that means giving up data, rely on public WIFI. Pro tip: Starbucks’ around the world have free WIFI—#caffeinated. It’s nice to have a phone number in case of emergency, but you likely won’t be making tons of phone calls for lengthy conversations. 

We only approve of a 15 minute phone break once a week… Because you gotta catch up on Twitter.

Things to consider

You may want to snag that first brand new shiny iPhone that’s been screaming “buy me” on all the local ads. But ask yourself what you really need when browsing through the best cell phone plans for international travel. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a travel cell phone. 

How long will you be gone? 

Are you going abroad for just a few weeks? If so, make sure you either have free roaming or turn your smartphone on airplane mode. You can then rely on WIFI and grab a cheap burner phone for emergency calls. If you have an unlocked phone, it’s really affordable to snag a local sim. Just bring your passport to a phone shop and see what’s in your budget range.

If you plan to stay abroad for more than a month, consider a pay as you go or prepaid travel cell phone plan while you shop for the best international phone packages in your new country. Each country will offer different packages for data limits, 3G, 4G, calls, and texts. You need to decide what is right for you.

An even easier option is acquiring an eSIM before traveling, since eSIM is quickly becoming more common than physical sims. Our top pick is Holafly eSIM—unlimited data, no roaming fees, instant setup, and coverage in 200+ destinations so you can stay connected from the moment you land. Another great option is World eSIM, offering data in over 180 countries with affordable pricing and reliable connections and you can purchase online from anywhere at any time. They currently offer 20% off any plan.

Use code GOABROAD for 5% off a Holafly eSIM

Is it cheaper to buy a phone there and a local data plan? 

You likely will find that it is cheaper to go for a local plan once you are abroad. This especially depends on your destination. For example, in Thailand you can get an unlimited data sim card for just $30 over the course of four months (savings!!). The best way to go about scouting the best cell phone plans for international travel before you arrive would be to join expat community groups on Facebook that are based in your destination city. You can use the search function to find relevant information on sim cards and travel cell phone plans so that you can compare and contrast prices before you take off. 

Is your phone unlocked? 

If you see yourself traveling overseas for a while, it’s ideal to bring an unlocked phone from home. This means you are not tied down to a current phone plan and don’t owe any money on your phone. It’s possible to unlock your current phone or you can get cheap, refurbished, unlocked phones on Amazon for a great deal. Make sure that before you confirm your purchase that you research that the unlocked phone type will still work with a network abroad as not every single phone will. Having an unlocked phone is also a great idea if you are backpacking or moving through various countries because you can swap local sim almost anywhere you go. 

Option: Go so old school you just use payphones.

What type of travel are you planning for?

Are you VOLUNTEERING OR STUDYING abroad? If you are volunteering abroad, remember to minimize your screen time and fully immerse yourself in your project. Yes, it will be nice to have access to your phone during down time or to tell mom and dad what’s going on abroad. But remember that you are helping out a community and don’t need to post pics of you and the kids you’re working with constantly. 

If you are studying abroad, you likely will have WIFI connections across your university campus. If that is the case, ditch the data plan and grab a cheap phone for calls and texts. You can rely on the free WIFI for researching or staying in touch with family back home. Whether you are volunteering or studying, you won’t need to have constant data at your fingertips, so consider a cheap travel cell phone plan for emergencies or setting up study dates. 

Are you TEACHING abroad? If you’re teaching abroad, you will likely have a steady income and be able to afford a bit more while overseas. Do you need data for staying up to date on school events and lesson plans? It might be nice to have a reliable connection in your apartment and the ability to hop on the internet whenever need be. Since teaching usually requires longer contracts, you can usually get a better deal on long term international travel cell phone plans through a local provider.  

Are you WORKING OR INTERNING abroad? Is your job going to require you to constantly be connected? Do you need to be on your email even outside of the office? If working or interning abroad, consider a higher data package so that you can make sure you aren’t missing out on an important work event or an email just because you didn’t have good WIFI or slipped into the terrible world of 3G.

Are you traveling in RURAL AREAS? Will you have limited access to WIFI? Will you even have a cell signal? If traveling abroad in a rural area, you will need to see what works best once you land abroad. Even if you have an international travel cell phone plan, it may not be reliable in the middle of nowhere Cambodia. Local sims are the best plan of action in these areas. If you are really worried about being able to get data access, you can buy or rent pocket hotspots that can connect to your phone. So even if you are completely off the grid, there are options for internet access so that you can email your family back home and keep them up to date about your #nomadlifeabroad.

Are you HOSTEL-HOPPING? WIFI doesn’t grow on trees—meaning it’s not (always) free. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t. But you can’t always just rely on loitering outside of a McDonald’s to connect for a quick second when you are lost. At a cafe, you will likely need to grab a coffee to access the WIFI code and at a hostel you could have an additional fee for the internet password. Keep in mind that when you are traveling it might be nice to have a sim or a travel cell phone plan with some data. 

What is your goal for having easy access to your phone?

Remember that our favorite little devices can become a crutch for escapism or a deterrent from our ability to be immersed into foreign cultures. You didn’t come all this way just to watch more Netflix, did you? Although you may get overloaded with cute doors and foreign food, not everyone is obsessed with it as you are. Put your phone away, look around, meet REAL people, and save your fingers from the arthritis that is bound to hit you sooner rather than later. Yes, we love our phones, but it shouldn’t be your bestie.

Popular phone carriers broken down by region

Each part of the world has their top carriers. The following are some recommended phone carriers for when you are looking at cell phone plans for traveling abroad. 

• Europe: Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile
• US/Americas: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint 
• Africa: Vodafone, Telefónica, Airtel
• Australasia: NTT Docomo, China Mobile, Telstra

Make sure to consider the cost of your current plan versus the most popular carriers in your travel destination to see what is best for you.

International data plans vs. pay as you go vs. prepaid options

Always weigh the pros and cons when looking at cell phone plans for traveling abroad. 

• International data plan. This is great if you are planning to expat in one place for a longer period of time. If you are gone abroad and living in a country for a year or more, you may want to just stick with a local cell phone plan. Depending on where you live, you may find better deals through long-term packages.
• Pay as you go. Pay as you go is best for budget travel and for those scared of commitment. Pay as you go is the most flexible option because you can load up your phone with the minutes and data that you think you will use for a short period of time. On the downside, you would have to continue adding money to your plan which may be a tad inconvenient at times. Also, be cautious of the amount of texts and calls that you are using so you don’t find yourself out of fuel on a motorbike without access to a phone. 
• Prepaid options. You can get a local sim on your unlocked phone and load it up for months at a time. This gives you the opportunity to have your phone bill paid for in full and not have to worry about it for a while. This is great for people on the go who are unsure of how long they will be abroad, don’t want to commit to a data plan, but also don’t want to have to reload their prepaid cards every few weeks. 

Call me, beep me, if you wanna reach me.

Recommended travel cell phone plans

Yes, everyone has their own cup of tea, but here are some of the best cell phone plans for international travel. 

For adventure and budget travelers:

• Grab a local sim with your unlocked phone wherever you may be. This is usually very cheap, you aren’t tied down to any sort of contract, and there are a variety of plans to choose from. 
• Don’t have an unlocked phone? Whether you’re an android or iPhone person, you can find refurbished deals on Amazon for a steal. Check out the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active which is dust, shatter, and waterproof while allowing you to snap awesome quality pictures of your adventures. An iPhone will likely be more expensive, but they take great photos. Check out a refurbished iPhone 7 or 7 Plus and take advantage of the iMessage feature to keep in touch with friends and fam back home. But be warned, with iPhones you need to make sure you have the proper adapter for international travel so that you can charge your phone abroad. 
• If you can ditch the calls, consider a Tep Wireless or any sort of pocket WIFI device. This allows you to access internet only when you really need to—even in remote areas. If you’re on the go and staying at hostels or find cafes with WIFI, there’s no need to have data all the time. A pocket WIFI device is a great safety net or backup whenever you need. 

For frequent, short-term travelers:

• T-Mobile offers plans that include unlimited calls, texts, and data in over 140 countries. Keep in mind, you’ll have to make sure you have a compatible phone wherever your destination may be. Although the data speeds will be faster in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, there’s options to snag a data pass whenever you travel to get the same quality speeds that you are used to at home. 
• Sprint has a global roaming package that offers free data and text to select phones. If you have a LTE/GSM capable smartphone, you’re all set! Roam away and bring the world of data with you with no extra hassle. 
• AT&T Passport offers plans for those traveling abroad for 30 days. By prepaying before you jet off, you’ll have unlimited talk, text, and data. The Passport plan is offered in over 200 countries. 

For aspiring expats or long-term travelers:

• If you’re planning on staying abroad and settling for a while, check with your local phone shop for the best options. Keep in mind that if you are abroad long term, there’s no need to make direct phone calls home because there are free apps for that. Connectivity is easy-peasy!

Our final piece of advice

Yes, we love love love our phones—and subsequently cell phone plans for international travel. Phones give parents peace of mind while we are abroad. They allow us to share our favorite moments with friends. They help us when we are lost or in sticky situations. But no matter what, don’t forget to unplug, live in the moment, and to make real friends while abroad. No need to be constantly glued to your little device of internet magic. And most importantly, never ever text and walk. Just don’t do it! 

Explore International Data Plans & SIM Cards