Mobile abroad: How to use your phone cheapest when travelling

Mobile abroad: How to use your phone cheapest when travelling is written by The editorial staff, RejsRejsRejs.

The best tips for using mobile phones abroad

Have you also heard horror stories about sky-high mobile bills that ended up being more expensive than the plane tickets after a trip abroad? Or that you just can't connect with anything?

Fortunately, it doesn't have to end that way. We guide you on how to use your phone as cheaply as possible during the journey, so that you don't end up with an annoying mobile phone bill after the holiday, or even worse: Running dry on the journey.

Use your own mobile abroad: How to use your phone cheapest

The first and most common solution is to use your own mobile abroad with your own SIM card. There are several companies that offer subscriptions with free data and voice in many countries abroad, so you can use your phone on the journey as you normally would.

This applies, for example, to the mobile company 3, which has '3likehome', where you can use the phone exactly as you normally would in 73 countries, without it costing extra.

However, you should be aware that it is only valid for 30 days, so if you are traveling for a longer period of time or must move abroad, it may be a good idea to choose one of the other solutions or, for example, have an additional user, where you only use the phone as a phone after 30 days, when the first phone has reached the limit. You can use Wi-Fi just fine until then.

TDC has a similar concept called 'Roaming+', which also lets you use your mobile in a number of countries as you normally would, without paying extra.

How to use your phone cheapest: Buy a local SIM card

Another good and often cheap option is to buy a local SIM card when you arrive at your destination. It is especially a good solution if you are traveling outside the EU's borders to e.g Asia or USA and must be away for a long time.

With a local SIM card, it is much cheaper to make local calls and send text messages. You can also choose subscriptions with data, so you don't have to depend on Wi-Fi.

You can buy a local SIM card at the airport when you arrive or at a local telecom shop. Here they can also help you set it up if there are problems.

However, this also means that you must keep your own SIM card in a safe place and that your own phone number no longer works; unless your phone has room for 2 SIM cards, which is rare. Check if your phone has room for two.

Use an eSIM card like Airalo

If you neither want to end up with an overwhelming phone bill nor spend time buying a local SIM card at the airport, then an eSIM card is also an option. By the way, your phone works completely as normal - your SIM card is just digital, and you therefore also have the option of receiving calls on your own phone number.

There are several providers of eSIM cards, but Air it is one of the popular providers and covers over 200 countries and regions. You can buy eSIM cards for individual countries, continents and the whole world. You can use the code JACOB9625 to get a good discount when you start.

Remember to set up your eSIM card before you travel, as otherwise you have to use data abroad to set it up, and it can be expensive.

It is worth noting that eSIM card often not as cheap as buying a local SIM card.

So if it's a budget solution you're looking for, a local SIM card is a cheaper solution. On the other hand, eSIM card is much more flexible than a local SIM card and can cover more countries, and often uses the best of the local networks.

What should you switch off on your mobile phone abroad?

What ends up giving many people a big extra bill on the journey is data roaming. It is therefore important that you switch off roaming before traveling abroad. Unless you have control over your subscription.

It is especially important to switch off - if it is not included in your subscription - if you are traveling outside the borders of the EU, as it can quickly become very expensive. It can actually cost more than 50 kroner per minute.

You turn off data roaming under "Settings" on your phone. We've created a guide below for both Apple and Android that you can follow.

On Apple products, you can turn off data roaming as follows:

• Go to Settings
• Click on Mobile data or Mobile network.
• Select Data settings
• Turn off data roaming to avoid using data completely
  

On an Android it looks a little different:

• Tap Settings
• Select Network & Internet
• Go to Mobile Networks
• Turn off Data Roaming to avoid using data
  

It is also a good idea to switch off automatic updates and notifications if you have data switched on on your mobile abroad.

They use a lot of data - even when you are not using the app. You can turn off automatic updates and notifications under “Settings” on your phone.

Use of Wi-Fi on your mobile abroad

You can also choose to use Wi-Fi to connect with the world when you're away. Many cafes, hotels and the like offer free wi-fi. In this way, you can access the Internet without using data.

Here, however, it is important that you are aware that you are using a secure network. If you use an insecure network, hackers can collect and misuse your information.

Your phone will often warn you if you are about to connect to an insecure network. You can choose to use one VPN, if you want to be completely safe and don't want to risk anything.

Check your phone plan before you leave

Many phone companies have different rules and benefits. It is therefore a good idea to check the rules for your particular subscription before you travel abroad.

Your telecommunications company must inform you of the cost of using your mobile phone abroad. Therefore, check what it costs to use data, call and send SMS at your travel destination. It is extra important to check this if you are traveling outside the EU as prices can be very high.

Check whether there are restrictions on talk time or the number of text messages and whether roaming is included in your subscription before you travel abroad, so that your phone bill does not suddenly run out of steam.

It is also a good idea to check whether your mobile subscription allows you to use the mobile abroad at all. Although most subscriptions include use abroad, there are still some mobile subscriptions that can only be used in Denmark.

It is also obvious to pick them up apps you need on the trip, before you leave.

Remember that you can set a limit on your use of data abroad if you want a warning before the bill runs out. For example, 600 kroner You can get more, but then you have to actively approve it.

Use of mobile phones when traveling in the EU

If you travel within the borders of the EU, the rules for data use look a little different.

You do not have to pay extra to use the mobile phone when you travel around the EU, as it is covered by your normal subscription due to EU rules. You can therefore safely use your mobile as you normally would when traveling within the borders of the EU.

However, be aware that some companies offer limited free data in the EU and others do not, so it's a good idea to check this before you travel. Many subscriptions have what is called a "fair use" limit, which means you can't surf the web unlimitedly. This limit is usually stated in your subscription.

If you use more data than the established limit, fees will be charged for your extra data consumption in Europe. It may therefore be a good idea to use Wi-Fi whenever possible, even when traveling in Europe.

In addition, it is a good idea to be aware of the use of data at the EU's outer borders. If you are close to the border of a country outside the EU, your phone may connect to a foreign provider instead of a network within the EU.

It can end up being really expensive if your subscription does not include roaming in the country in question – even if you just need to check an email on the phone.

Use of mobile phones abroad on board ferries

Regardless of what your mobile subscription looks like, it is important that you are aware of the use of your mobile on board ferries and cruise ships. Your phone can catch the ferry's network, which can result in a significantly higher price than what you pay for roaming.

Are you on havet, you can also run the risk of your call going via satellite, and this is very expensive. It is therefore generally a good idea to put your mobile on airplane mode if you are traveling on ferries and cruise ships, and use Wi-Fi instead.

Deactivate your answering machine before the journey

It is a good idea to deactivate your answering machine when you travel outside the EU, if you can do without it. When someone leaves a message on your answering machine, you pay both to receive the call on your phone and for your phone to call a server in Denmark and leave the message there.

This means that you risk paying double for a single call that goes to the answering machine. You can avoid this by deactivating your answering machine before travelling.

Beware of the use of emojis

If you send text messages during your trip outside the EU, it is a good idea to be aware of the use of emojis. They can cause extra costs on your mobile bill.

An emoji can take up several hundred characters, but an ordinary text message can be a maximum of 160 characters. This means that a sweet message home to someone you care about with a few heart emojis can be counted for 5-10 SMSes on the mobile bill.

It is therefore a good idea to limit the use of emojis when texting on holiday or sending messages via Wi-Fi where it does not matter.

Vacation time can be screen-free time

Remember that holiday time can also be screen-free time.

Your holiday is an obvious opportunity to put down the screen and enjoy all the wonderful moments on the journey. If the phone or the internet is not working, see it as an obvious opportunity to disconnect and take a short break from the screen.

Weather spontaneous, enjoy each other, and come well-rested home from vacation. And then it is time to consider how you will get more vacation, and take some nice ones holiday pictures.

We hope you learned more about using your mobile phone abroad. Nice trip.