How To Travel without an International Phone Plan – My Top 5 Tips!
Are you considering traveling on your next trip without an international phone data plan? There are several reasons why you might be considering this option. It may be that you do not want to incur the additional costs on your phone bill, you prefer getting lost in the streets of a new city, or you are trying to be fully present and a little off the grid when traveling. Whatever your reason may be, there are a few things you should know before you go on your trip without cell service!
I have traveled out the country several times over the past 5 years or so and I have NEVER paid for an international phone plan. My personal reasons are that I’d rather spend that money on something else on the trip, and I have found I actually enjoy being more present during my travel experiences. If I have data, I know I’ll end up scrolling on Instagram and not taking in my surrounding, which I definitely do not want to be the case if I am experience a new culture!
Top 5 Tips for an Enjoyable Experience Traveling without Phone Service!
1. Contact Your Phone Provider to See What’s Included
Before continuing on to the next steps, I would suggest checking where in the world your phone plan works. For example, I live in the U.S. and my domestic phone plan also covers phone data in Canada and Mexico. So, if I am planning to go to either of those destinations, there’s no need for me to think about planning a trip without phone data because there is no additional cost.
Regardless, I still think some of these tips are helpful and relevant even if your phone will have access to service where you are traveling. If you are going somewhere remote, there is also always a chance that cell service will be spotty where you are at, so these tips can be helpful in those types of situations!
Basically, always check before you go because your “domestic” plan might include a little bit more than you think and it’s always good to know!
2. Most Communication Apps Work Over Wi-Fi
If you are traveling without an international data plan, then communication might be one of your main concerns. Whether you are traveling solo and always want someone back home to be able to get in contact with you or you are traveling with a friend or spouse and want to be able to find them if you get separated, the ability to communicate immediately is something we have grown accustomed to.
One thing that is good to know is that most communication apps, such as Apple iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp all work without phone data as long as you are connected to Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is readily available in most parts of the world, so this means that even without an international phone plan you will not be fully disconnected during your trip.
In my experience, I always ensure any Airbnb or hotel I am staying at has Wi-Fi. That way you will have the ability to communicate when you are at your home base. This means you can let your loved ones know when you are heading out or getting back from a day of exploring as well as research some things you would like to do that day.
Also, most coffee shops and oftentimes even restaurants have Wi-Fi available so you can always take a midday rest and connect to Wi-Fi while refueling with an afternoon pick-me-up coffee. I do this a lot when traveling mainly because I love trying new coffee shops but also because it gives me the opportunity to update my family on where I am at while also looking into things to do for the rest of the day.
3. Download Google Maps and Pin Locations
This might be a hot take, but I think Google Maps is the superior navigational app. Even with an iPhone, I would always recommend downloading Google Maps in advance of traveling to use on your trip.
Google Maps has this great feature that allows you to download a map of the area you plan to travel to. This is extremely helpful as you will be able to navigate without a phone plan. Major attractions and sightseeing destinations are also usually downloaded along with the map, and that helps you to see what is nearby throughout the day. This is perfect for adding these popular must-see attractions into your day in a natural way while walking around and exploring the city you are visiting.
You can also save or “pin” your own locations on the map, which is a great feature! I like to pin restaurants I have reservations at or would like to try to make it easy to find them when I’m hangry, haha. I also use this feature to save the location of any less major attractions I’d like to visit. Some helpful examples would be pinning the boarding destination of a River Siene Boat Tour in Paris, France, or a street corner that is the perfect photo spot to have an unobstructed view of Rome’s grand Colosseum. You can also group your saves into different categories, so you can easily find saved restaurants, attractions, or photo ops!
In order to download a map, open Google Maps on your phone and click the top right logo where your profile picture is. From here, click “Offline maps” and “Select Your Own Map.” This is where you can zoom in to the city you will be traveling to and download the map!
4. Have Reservations Made in Advance
One thing that can be tricky when traveling without cell service is that you won’t be able to make reservations for restaurants or attractions since you won’t have access to the internet to or call the place. The easiest solution to this is planning ahead!
Depending on where you are going, dining may or may not require reservations in advance. For example, if you are traveling to Rome, Italy in the busy summer months and want to dine at the amazing Trulissa Taverna in Trastevere, then you will need a reservation made in advance to get in. Personally, I prefer not to have all my meals planned out, but I do like to make a few reservations to ensure I can try the city’s delicious cuisine.
Once you have picked a few restaurants you want to try, either for the vibes or because they make a certain dish you have been wanting to try, make the reservation in advance! Make sure to also save the location on your downloaded Google Map so you don’t have any trouble finding it when you are on your trip. If you happen to stumble upon a place while you are already on your trip, don’t be afraid to go in and make a reservation in person!
Reservations not only apply to dining, but also many major attractions. If you plan to visit the Vatican Museum or go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it’s best to buy tickets in advance. Usually, these types of popular attractions require you to reserve an entry time. Doing this before your trip is the smartest way to ensure you get to see all the top cultural sights you don’t want to miss out on during your trip!
5. Loosen Up & Have Fun!
The biggest tip for having an enjoyable experience while traveling without phone service is to GO WITH THE FLOW! Traveling this way opens up so many opportunities to explore new cities in different ways. You might end up stumbling into a cute neighborhood with hidden gems for dining or shopping.
There will most likely be a few “mess-ups” during your travel, but if you can make the best out of these situations and not hold too tightly to a plan, then I think you can end up having an even more memorable and exciting trip!
Conclusion: A Fun Way to Travel and Be Present!
Overall, traveling without phone service is not as daunting as it may seem. There may be a few “hiccups” during the trip, but those happen even when you do have phone service – that’s just life! I have found that traveling without phone service offers many benefits:
- Save money since you won’t be paying for an international phone plan
- Be more present and enjoy all the experiences of your trip without phone distractions
- Explore new parts of the city you happened to stumble upon
Ultimately, it’s your decision to travel with or without phone service. If you do decide to travel without it, I hope these tips and tricks are helpful and allow you to work around some of the potential challenges of not having a fully functioning phone with you!
