Communication has changed a lot in the past decade and how we have thousands of applications we can use to get in touch with our loved ones and others. If you are planning a trip, you should think about communication if you are staying there for a while. Most people make a list of things that they will pack but once they arrive they start thinking about the things they need to do there.
For example, in most countries, you can pay roaming services which can be a bit expensive instead of buying the SIM card they use in the country you are visiting. Even if this is a better option, remember to check if the person selling it is suspicious because there are a lot of scammers in third-world countries.
Virtual Private Network
Before choosing the best way to communicate with someone abroad, you should check for a good VPN. It is used to mask your presence so people that you are sharing the network with can’t access your device. It’s a very beneficial thing to have even at home but traveling to some locations where theft is common means that you should take caution.
You can learn a lot from International Drivers Association about traveling tips and what is necessary to have like an international license so you can drive your own vehicle. Your VPN can be turned on for the whole trip because it’s paid as a monthly subscription.
Social Media Apps
Most people you know are probably using Facebook Messenger and Instagram to communicate with friends and that’s one of the ways you can do it while overseas. You can share pictures and everything that is going on which is very useful but you should take into notice that not every country uses these two apps.
Countries like Japan and China have their own popular applications used for communication and it can be quite hard to sign up for them if you are not from China. Some of them will require a SIM card or social number so you can sign up. That’s another reason why you would want to get a SIM card from the country you are visiting.
Messenger also requires your cell phone number but you can use it all over the world so they are not restricted as WeChat used in China. You can create an international account but it’s different so the best thing to do is create one once you arrive there.
Whatsapp is a must-have application because the majority of Airbnb hosts use it as a way to communicate with their clients. This is a common thing all over the world so expect to use it more while abroad. You can use it to communicate with people at the location and with your loved ones.
Local SIM cards
The biggest reason why people don’t buy SIM cards nowadays is WiFi. Back in the day, most people would buy one and then make a call through it and buy their own internet. In Japan, it would cost you around $25 to get one that will have 2GB of internet. This can be enough for a two-week trip if you use it only for communication but if you want to use it to post pictures, it won’t be enough.
The downside to some of these cards is that you can use them only for the internet instead of for phone calls also. So, if you are on a business trip and need to make some calls, this wouldn’t be an option. Instead, you would need to sign up for a monthly subscription and get a new card.
Considering that you need to sign a 1-year contract, you should focus on other ways of communication instead of making phone calls. Get more internet so you can use Whatsapp and other applications to talk to people.
In some countries like Portugal, you will basically have free WiFi everywhere you go and these are the locations where VPN is extremely recommended. Also, consider that it can be slow so it can be better to get your own internet if you need a fast and stable connection.
Spain and other European countries are much cheaper when it comes to sim cards and what you get with them. For example, for only ten euros you will get 10GB of the internet compared to Japan where you’ll need to pay double the price. Either way, it’s better to have your own internet than connect to someone else’s.
