Travelling with an International SIM Card: What to Keep in Mind

So, you’re planning a vacation abroad and since it’s going to be an extended stay, you’re looking for a way to stay in touch. The best option by far is to opt for an international SIM card. Now, you’ve compared prices, figured out the kind of deals that are being offered and settled on a suitable choice for a SIM card. Well done.

But that’s not the end of the story, folks.

There are quite a few things you need to aware of whilst using an international SIM card in foreign countries. And most of them are the difference between communication accomplished and a monster of a phone bill. So bear the following tips in mind.

Tailor-made Calling Plans

 

The first thing to keep in mind is that international communication, no matter how responsible you are, will not come cheap. But there are certainly ways and means to cut down on costs. For instance, if you know that you’ll be in touch with a certain person more than any other, it would be more economical to frame your international SIM card plan according to him/her. Opting for plans that make it cheaper for you to call and get calls from that person’s country will definitely allow for some major savings.

Local Numbers: Not so Local Anymore!

Quite a few telecom providers offer enviable deals on their international calling rates, but those may be only for certain countries. There’s a flipside to using an international calling card rather than a local one. If you’re in France and decide to call a French number, it won’t be charged as a local call – rather an international one. If you plan to stay in a single country for the length of your vacation, it might be better to get a local SIM. Unless you need to stay in touch with the family back home frequently. It’s important to weigh the scales to compare the cheaper option here.

Wireless Data: Planning it Right

The same rule applies for wireless data. Most international SIM card users are usually quite (unpleasantly!) surprised to discover how much their internet surfing has cost them at the end of their stay. Again, if you are going on a Eurotrip and plan to hit Austria, Germany and Italy – best go with an international SIM card. Otherwise, stick to the local SIM card and wireless data of the country you’ll be staying in. Try to find wireless hotspots – they’re all the rage in Europe and US.

Hunting for Hidden Usage

 

Smartphones usually have an automatic feature which lets your phone use internet data to keep itself updated. This means your Twitter feed, Instagram photos, email, and Facebook will keep getting updated thanks to all the data you don’t know is being spent. This is the hidden data usage that your smartphone takes for granted, and it costs a bomb if you’re on an international SIM card. Be smart and turn off all the push notifications, and hidden data via the mobile data settings option on your phone. Most well-informed travellers tend to ‘go online’ at certain points in the day to get back in touch with civilization – then switch it off when they’re done. This saves up on cost and how.

Going Offline

Since you’re in a foreign country, odds are you’ll need the internet to help you out at times – whether it’s to get to places or find out lucrative travel deals and discounts. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to download Google Maps offline so as to not keep using your mobile data constantly. Apps like Foursquare, too, have an offline feature that keeps you abreast of the latest in restaurant deals in your host country. Keep in mind, nowadays it’s not the calling but the internet that is the main offender in your mobile bill. So try to keep that to a minimum, especially on an international SIM card.

With these tips and a little common sense, you’ll be well on your way to keeping that mobile bill sheet on the shorter side. Let us know if you find more hacks to being a pro at using international SIM cards!