Nowadays, you don’t have to solely rely on wifi to use your phone abroad. There are many options to use your phone internationally without having to worry about astronomical roaming costs. From local and international SIM cards to international plans with your phone carrier, it has never been easier to check your emails, browse social media, and look up the best places to eat as you travel. Check out these tips and what I recommend as you consider which SIM cards abroad are right for you.
What Are Sim Cards?
In simple terms, a SIM card is the tiny plastic card in your phone that allows you to connect to a mobile network. These cards all come with a code of certain digits, which you can transfer from one device to another. To access or replace your SIM card you can insert a paper clip, safety pin or any other SIM-eject tool into the hole next to the tray. The SIM card tray will be in a different place depending on your phone (mine is on the bottom left side of my phone).
Using an International Plan With Your Phone Company
If figuring out how to use SIM cards abroad seems a little too daunting right now or your phone is locked, you might want to start by using an international plan with your phone company. Unless you’re on a pre-paid plan, most phone companies offer an international plan of some kind. When you sign up for an international plan with your home phone company, you won’t have worry about changing out your SIM card. I would recommend this if you aren’t traveling for more than a week or so, as the charges could unexpectedly add up.
Check out your phone carrier’s website or give them a call to see what plans they offer and to decide which one will work best for you.
Buying Local SIM Cards Abroad
Learning how to use SIM cards abroad may seem a little intimidating, but that’s why I’m here! Through trial and error on my own travels, I’ve learned that they really aren’t as hard to use as I once thought. In fact, I now rely on SIM cards when I travel to stay in communication with everyone back home.
Local SIM cards are a bit different from international ones. Local SIMs are available once you get to your destination. You can find them in airports, local stores, phone carrier stores, and kiosks. You can even buy pre-loaded SIM cards on Amazon, so you can use your phone immediately after you land. If you buy your SIM card at your destination you’ll need your passport. You’ll also want to make sure your phone is unlocked for international use. If you aren’t sure, just contact your phone service provider to find out.
Pro Tip: When you buy a SIM card in Europe you can use it in multiple different countries without having to constantly switch it. As long as you use a large carrier, you can visit many European countries using only one SIM card. When I was in Europe last year, I bought a Vodafone SIM card in Athens. I then traveled to Italy, Hungary, and Czech Republic using the same card and had Internet access the entire time. Another large carrier I recommend is Orange.
International SIM Cards
An international SIM card is one that you can use globally. Instead of going to a local carrier and changing out your SIM card in every new country, an international one will automatically generate a new number once you enter another country. While this option is very convenient, it will definitely cost you more.
Coverage for an international SIM card abroad will vary depending on the card so make sure you read about the data coverage for the cards you are considering. If you need help deciding, here are the top international SIM card recommendations from one of my favorite travel blogs.
What I Suggest
I learned about SIM cards abroad as a complete travel newbie. When I had planned a trip to Greece and Italy, it was supposed to last a little less than a month. I didn’t know much about SIM cards at the time, so I signed up for a $10 a day international plan with my home phone carrier. After getting bitten by the travel bug, I decided to extend my trip and ended up traveling in total for almost three months instead! But as I’m sure you can guess, my phone bills for those months were astronomical. I ended up paying more than $700 for that very limited international plan. Yeah, I definitely needed to budget better (oops!).
Now a days when I travel, I like to use local SIM cards. I spent $12 on my Vodafone SIM card in Greece. Then would top up on minutes and data every month through their app. So in total, I was paying about $20 a month for the local SIM card, compared to a couple hundred per month with the international plan.
If you are planning on traveling to many different countries or are traveling long term, then I would recommend an International SIM card. Even though this option is more expensive than a local SIM card, it may be worth it if you find yourself traveling overseas frequently and just for the convenience factor alone.
So clearly there are many options for you to consider when it comes to using your phone abroad. Using your phone when traveling internationally is an absolute must and SIM cards abroad are a great way to do it. If you have any questions about using SIM cards abroad, leave a comment! I’m more than happy to help!
About the Author: I’m Alayna, originally from Orange County, California and now traveling the globe. After being bitten by the travel bug in 2021 during my first trip to Greece, I decided to completely alter the course of my life. For so long, I was under the belief that I had to go to college, get a good job, earn enough money, save up for practical things like a house and car, and then maybe travel if I found the time. Well, taking a spontaneous trip on my own terms made me realize there is no right way and wrong way to live life, and I am choosing to do something with mine I only thought was possible in my dreams: travel the world. It is my hope that through my stories I can inspire more people to take that same, life-changing trip to the place of their dreams!
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