When traveling abroad on a limited budget, you would not want to break the bank on an expense that you may not consider while making the travel expense which is the cost of staying connected to the internet. If you are not experienced in international traveling, this may shock you when you see a very long mobile bill.
The easiest way many people can stay online when traveling internationally is by activating the international Roaming Pack on their cellular network. These plans are usually a bit more expensive than other options to keep you online while traveling. Though the plans have become a little economical over the last few years because of the rise in competition, it is still on the higher end, especially if you are a digital nomad who needs to make use of the internet now and then and connect it to their laptop as a hotspot.
Hence, figuring out the best way to stay connected to the network via your iPhone without burning a hole through your pocket is essential.
- Activate International Plan on Your Existing SIM:
If you are traveling for a week or so, the best option for your iPhone to stay connected to the network is activating an international plan on your existing cellular network. Getting a local eSIM card in such a scenario is not advisable because you may have to pay for a minimum monthly pack, which will be useless as it is a short trip. Just ensure that when you are using your international SIM card, you will be charged an exorbitant amount if your data plan usage exceeds the limit. Keep the data plan usage within limits by limiting the number of apps that have access to the Internet. Turning off mobile data when not needed can help save data.
If you need to download heavy files, you can make use of public Wi-Fi for free. Honestly, it is not really safe to make use of public WI-Fi. Hence, it is best to book an accommodation that offers free WI-Fi usage to help you stay connected and also save data.
- Make use of eSIMs:
iPhone 14 comes with eSIM card options nowadays that eliminate the need to open the SIM card port whenever you need to switch your cellular network service. The software can help you to switch between different eSIM cards easily. The phone itself allows you to store more than 8 eSIM cards. When traveling, you can check the best service network in your destination and buy a prepaid plan online. This means that you can download the eSIM on your phone without the need to visit any store to get hold of a physical SIM card.
Usually, when travelers land at their destination, they must visit a store to get a local SIM card. Till then, they are disconnected from the network. This connectivity issue can be solved by using eSIM cards, which can be activated as soon as you land at the destination. This will help you even when traveling to different destinations as you can get other local eSIM cards, store them on your iPhone, and switch between them as and when needed.
- Use Data Cards
If you want to save money and stay connected to the network, you can get a data-connected eSIM card such as Holafly. This is mainly popular with travelers who travel abroad a lot. This is the cheapest and easiest method of staying connected to the internet.
Now you may wonder that when you can activate a data plan on your existing international eSIM card, why do you need to get Holafly, a separate data eSIM card?
Well, though your international eSIM card may give you connectivity in densely populated areas, the connectivity may not be as strong as you move toward less populated areas. When you use Holafly, you can be assured that you will be connected to the data most of the time, even in the remotest place possible, which is why most travelers opt for this. You will be connected to the internet and can make calls using apps like WhatsApp. They also offer unlimited data plans, which is one of the reasons why switching to a Holafly eSIM is a more pocket-friendly option.
You need to understand that iPhone lets you save 8 eSIM cards, but at a time, only 2 can be simultaneously used. This means you can get a data SIM card such as Holafly in one of the slots, and the other can be your usual cellular service provider. Just turn off its data and only keep international calls activated for emergencies.
The Bottom Line:
Staying online is not an option but a necessity nowadays. Cheaper network operators make it possible for anyone to use their smartphones to connect to the internet when traveling to a different country. Still, a few smart moves help you save a tonne on the data cost, which can be reassigned to a different travel expense.