Smartphones are an omnipresent part of our lives and have become an essential travel tool. In this guide we talk about how to prepare your phone for traveling abroad including preventative steps for identity protection, theft, damage, or loss, as well as setting yourself up for a smooth transition to get reconnected abroad.
Flight check-ins, banking verifications, and restaurant menus (ugh, the worst) frequently require smartphones nowadays. Not to mention navigation, translation, communication, and photos. There is no escaping their necessity and integration anymore.
I remember sitting back into the deep pillowy sofa in my mom’s living room, spending my final hours before embarking on a one-year solo adventure pleading with Apple and Sprint to unlock my phone. Thinking back, I get the same vanquished and prickly feeling, thinking I’d be flying to Iceland for a 12 day road trip with zero way to get in touch with anyone.
After nearly six hours of runarounds, persuasion, grating hold music, explaining and re-explaining my situation, I was finally vindicated and got my iPhone unlocked. Preparing my phone was just the beginning, I learned many, many more tip, tricks, and harsh lessons along the way that I am sharing to make your travels a whole lot easier in this upcoming series.
Why phone prep is important.
Amidst the excitement, travel contains more distractions, more stimulation, and more of the unknown. We are often more reliant on it when we are in foreign environments. The risk of leaving your phone on the seat of a taxi or having your phone stolen in a busy tourist attraction is generally higher when stepping out of routine.
Phone preparation and mindfulness are the best ways to prevent most travel related calamities, and these are preventative steps to help if anything does happen.
How to Prepare your Phone Ahead of Travel
The time you take prior to jetting off will save you once you are in your destination.
SIM Choices
One of the biggest questions is to decide if you are going to stay with your service provider and use an international roaming bundle and Wifi, activate an e-SIM like Airalo, or get local SIM’s. Here I break down the pros and cons of each to help make your phone prep easier.
The Pros and Cons of Roaming, E-Sims, & Local SIMs
International Roaming with your Service Provider
Pro: Seamless connectivity. Convenient. Your phone number stays the same, and you can receive phone calls and SMSs, ideal for OTPs and 2-Step Verification.
Con: Expensive and can have high fees for phone calls, SMS, and limited data usage. Mismanagement of data and messaging can lead to unexpected charges. Lower priority on local networks. Service not available in all countries. Not easily replaceable from abroad.
Recommendation: Great for short trips under 10 days with access to Wi-Fi depending on the country/region you are going.
e-SIM
Pro: Seamless connectivity abroad. Easy to activate. Can jump to multiple networks without having to swap physical SIM cards. No roaming charges. Your phone number stays the same.
Con: Only available in newer and more expensive smartphone models. Difficult to switch to another phone if your phone gets damaged and you need a replacement. Data plans are more expensive than local numbers.
Recommendation: Perfect for frequent international travelers going to multiple countries or regions for less than a month at a time and not reliant on data.
Get Your Airalo eSIM here.
Pre-paid local SIMs.
Pro: Local phone number, calling, and data plan. No contract. Flexible. More affordable. Easily swap between devices and can be used in any unlocked phone. Large data bundles available at a lower cost.
Con: Takes more time, effort, and patience. Set up is different in every country. Requires registration of the local SIM. Changing phone numbers each time you change SIM cards, unless you pay to keep it activated. Frequent calls and spam messages from providers or people trying to reach someone who had the number prior to you. If traveling specifically in the USA, lower priority on cell towers (not the case in other countries). Plastic waste.
Recommendation: Ideal for travelers who rely on a lot of data for navigation, communication, research, and creating hotspots. Good for travelers who spend over 10 days in one specific country or region.
Examples of Range of prices for phone usage:
T-Mobile US (with contract and International Plan)- 5GB, 10 Days, $35
Airalo E-Sim– 5GB, 60 Days, $35
Prepaid SIM in India- 6GB, 84 Days, $5.50
Prepaid SIM in Austria- 40 GB, 30 Days (plus calls and texts within the EU), $11
Prepaid SIM in Colombia- 7 GB, 30 Days, $8.25
Unlock Your Phone
If you are planning on using a local SIM card, ensure your phone is unlocked by your service provider BEFORE traveling abroad.
Setting up local SIM cards requires unlocked devices. It is far easier to deal with your carrier and prepare your phone in your home country. Carriers can feel especially entrapping, stay vigilant and calm. Yes, they can unlock a phone, but they don’t make it easy.
Secure Two-Step Verifications
Consider using email instead of phone numbers for important two-step verifications to ensure accessibility from anywhere in the world.
Alternatively, entrust someone at home with a stable number for your two-step verification. If you are traveling long-term, this is a helpful option. If you lose the phone and SIM attached to the two-step verification due to theft, loss, or damage, getting access to your accounts can be a lot more complicated.
Document Serial Numbers
Keep a record of your phone’s serial number and IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number in a safe place separate from your device. This is your phone’s “unique fingerprint” so to speak.
Take a screenshot and upload it into the cloud, or write it down in a notebook.
You can find this information under Settings > About Phone. This information is required when unlocking your phone and assisting authorities in identifying and recovering stolen phones.
Backup Important Documents
Store digital copies of important documents such as passports, visas, and travel insurance policies, and tickets in cloud storage or email as well as having them available on your phone. This ensures access to your information even if your physical belongings go missing.
Utilize Tracking Apps
Install and activate tracking apps or services on your phone before travel to locate it. These apps can provide real-time location updates and remote locking features if it goes missing. Google Find My Device or Find My iPhone by Apple.
Share your location
Share your location with a family member, friend, or travel companion. Not only is this a great safety feature, it is an excellent tool when you seperate from your travel partner and want to meet up again.
Create Space and Transfer Albums
Before any big trip, I prep my phone by clearing it off to make space for new photos, videos, notes, and apps.
I am notorious for running out of phone space even with an additional memory card in my phone. Rather than deleting the 20 unfocused photos of a mangy street cat, I will idly delete apps that take up an insignificant and inconsequential amount of space to allow my phone to functionally squeak by (yes, I can feel my partner’s judgment right now). AND this is a very bad temporary solution. Don’t do this.
**If you have an iPhone, be conscientious of the live photos function.
Still photos take about 5MB, whereas live photos can take up to 13MB of memory containing both the still and the short video.
Cloud Account
iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Photos are all good options. Set up your account to upload your pictures whenever you connect to Wi-Fi.
You can also manually back up photos, but I like knowing that mine are automatically getting there regularly.
If you plan to upload lots of photos and videos over data or you are utilizing someone’s hotspot, be aware that the uploads will chow right through the data.
Install a VPN
VPN or Virtual Private Network adds an extra layer of security when you are on public Wifi.
Several years ago, I was on a flight and signed onto the in-flight Wi-Fi. By the time I landed, someone on my flight attempted to open a US bank account in my name with my email address. Now I make sure to turn it on anytime I am on public Wi-Fi.
Get a Case and Screen Protector
Invest in a sturdy phone case to prevent damage from rough handling, water, and scratched screens.
Plugs, Cords, and Battery Banks
Here is a list of every type of plug adapter around the world. If you forget, they are easy to find pretty much anywhere.
Battery banks have come in handy especially for long travel days or places without reliable electricity. I have carried the same Anker battery bank for the past 7 years and highly recommend it.
Security Features
Use security features like a PIN, pattern, fingerprint or facial recognition to prevent unauthorized access to your device if it falls into the wrong hands.
Contact your banks
Contact your banks and let them know you are traveling abroad and where, so they don’t flag your usage for suspicious activity and can get you access into your mobile apps.
Comprehensive travel insurance covers not only medical emergencies but also loss, theft, and damage of personal belongings, including your phone.
Alternatively, confirm with the credit cards you used for any travel booking and see what insurance benefits are included. Often, they offer some kind of loss or theft insurance.
Connect with Local Expat Communities and Travel Groups
Find out which carriers provide the best coverage, if phone theft is a problem, and helpful apps for local transport, events, or safety.
WhatsApp has become one of the primary messaging and phone call services for both businesses, individuals, government, and groups internationally. Download the app get comfortable with how to use it.
A common question is: Will my WhatsApp number stay the same if I change SIM cards?
Yes, as long as you have access to the original SIM. You can remove it from your phone and the WhatsApp account and phone number will stay the same. If you set up a WhatsApp account on a pre-paid SIM and change countries, you can keep the WhatsApp number until it is designated to someone else (this can be as quickly as 3 months). If you change phone numbers, you can follow these instructions to change your WhatsApp number without losing your chat or history.
Skype
Skype and GoogleFi are the only platforms I have found that allow you to call landline and mobile phone numbers both locally and internationally using mobile data or wifi.
This has been an essential tool for reaching financial institutions, VISA offices and embassies, phone carriers, travel insurance, or family while abroad without incurring huge call roaming fees while on a pre-paid local SIM.
$10 will get you a little more than 7 hours of talk time and if the other person also has Skype, then the calls and texts are free. The money in your account doesn’t expire or have a set deadline for use.
I cannot tell you how often I use Skype. It has been a literal lifesaver on several occasions.
I highly recommend prepping your phone with OFFLINE versions of the following:
- Google Translate in the local language.
- Google Maps download the local area.
- XE currency in the local currency.
- Screenshot of your accommodations address and contact info.
- And a great playlist, podcast or book.
Consider a Secondary Phone
If you are traveling long-term, there are benefits to having a second phone. You can purchase a less expensive option, clone it or only add essential apps, and use it as your run-around phone.
This way you have peace of mind knowing your phone is safely stored with your other essential documents and less vulnerable to theft, damage, or loss.
Share Responsibly
Exercise caution when sharing your location or travel plans on social media.
Consider adjusting privacy settings to limit who can view your posts and be mindful of sharing real-time locations publicly.
Register Local SIM Cards
If purchasing a local SIM card, be prepared to register it with your passport and fingerprints based on local regulations.
Common Phone Prep Questions
If I get a new SIM will it wipe all my contacts and everything from my phone?
No and a little. You won’t lose photos, videos, or music. A SIM is only linked to the carrier and the phone number. What you may lose would be text messages, voicemails, and contacts that were saved on the SIM.
Voicemails can be saved as audio files and downloaded directly onto your phone.
Should I order and ship a SIM card before arriving in that country?
No. Purchase a pre-paid SIM on arrival. Most often they sell SIM cards in the airport, grocery stores, gas stations, or phone service shops. Having an idea of what network you want to join before you arrive is good, but not necessary. However, not all carriers are the same.
Will my pre-paid SIM work in any phone?
Yes, any phone that is unlocked will be able to jump onto your SIM’s network.
Preparing your phone for your next adventure abroad ensures its security and functionality throughout your journey. It will help you enjoy a seamless travel experience and reduce the stress and fears commonly linked to being disconnected.
One Response