A Traveler’s Guide to Mobile Phones Before Flying Off

Everyone agrees that when we travel one of the most important items we keep in our pockets or bags (besides passport and flight ticket) is our cell phone. Your phone is your lifeline that keeps you connected to people and all over the world, no matter where you are. It can be used for emergencies or to contact your family and friends back at home, share your latest adventures via social networks, look up your mail and do the Google lookup, and much many more! It’s a great idea to have a mobile phone that you can use when you’re in a foreign country.

However the activation of your phone’s roaming services isn’t cheap and nobody would like to head home to find a massive bill at the close each month. Other scenarios to think about are not being able to make use of your phone, or worse, it is lost or stolen. Here are some tips you need to know prior to using your mobile in foreign countries.

Questions you should ask your service provider before taking your call abroad

If you plan to use your mobile phone a frequently, the first step to do prior to getting to the airport to contact your service provider and inquire about their roaming program. This way you’ll be able to determine whether you are able to make use of your phone in other countries. These are the questions you can ask your provider:

Does my phone function abroad?

 Most of the carriers today offer roaming services, however they require activation. You can choose to activate them. If you’re not planning to make use of services abroad some carriers will allow you to temporarily stop your service in order to cut down on roaming fees.

What will you be charged per minute for roaming? 

If your provider provides roaming services and you are interested, you can inquire how much it will cost making international calls. You can also connect to the Internet or make local calls, etc.

Do I have my device locked?

 If the answer is yes, then you may need the phone to be unlocked or get an R-sim. Certain carriers have their handsets locked. If you want to add an entirely new SIM card (subscriber identity module) this won’t work, particularly if your phone was part of an existing mobile phone plan. Alternately, you can purchase an unreplaceable phone, which means you’ll still be able to make calls and text. If you don’t have a phone you should consider purchasing an local SIM card when you arrive at the destination.

A few tips to take your mobile abroad

Traveling overseas without a smartphone is similar to crossing a bridge without actually crossing a bridge. A lot of travelers nowadays rely on their phones to locate tourist spots, cheap hotels and restaurants, making reservations, sharing on social networks, keeping connected with those from home, finding maps, translation and more! It doesn’t matter if you have roaming and not some excellent ways to make the most of the use of your smartphone overseas:

• Switch off everything that requires mobile data

If your provider doesn’t offer roaming services or you do not wish to, it’s best to turn off your mobile data or data roaming services or other similar applications. It is also advisable to turn off any automated functions that require apps to connect to internet, including emails social media, automated updates, etc. While traveling, you could also take advantage of the airplane mode feature on your phone or contact your service provider to temporarily disable your SIM and then activate it when you return.

• Only use WiFi in order to access the Internet

The phone can be an instrument to assist you finding and discover data from the Internet. It helps you keep in touch with your friends and also to learn more about a specific area or even a specific location. Even without cell data however, you are able to connect to the Internet through WiFi. Before you go on vacation take the time to download all the applications that you regularly use, or your preferred social media applications (though it is necessary access to Internet and you’ll be amazed at how having notifications only once a minute is relaxing and relaxing). It is also possible to download offline travel apps as well as interactive maps, so you do not have to depend heavily upon the Internet. By doing this you don’t have to search for an internet connection to connect. Many restaurants, hotels and other places provide free WiFi which allows you to get everything you need.

• Make the most of apps for communicating

Apps are heaven-sent to travelers who want to keep connected. If you’re unable to connect with your phone or don’t want to pay to pay a large amount of charges for data roaming All you have to do is make the most of your time use of WiFi. Skype, WhatsApp, Messenger for instance. They are all great ways to connect with your loved ones when you’re abroad. It’s also a great method to connect with your local friends. You don’t have to be connected to cell service to receive messages. All you have for is to join the Internet by WiFi and you’ll be able to instant chat and make and receive messages within minutes.

• Buy a disposable SIM card abroad

One of the most sought-after choices for travelers is to use disposable SIM because it’s convenient. You will not only have local service, but you can also enable cell data, but you will also make calls locally and internationally, as well as send texts. But, certain providers restrict their phones to the same way as described earlier. It is necessary to unlock your phone or install an adapter or R-sim in order to allow you to use your local SIM. After your journey, you’ll be able to just deactivate the service and go back to your home.

Worst case scenario – stolen phone

Most likely the most damaging possibility for you while traveling is losing your phone. It is important to be cautious when you take out your phone in unfriendly locations since thieves, pickpockets and swindlers are often targeted by unassuming tourists. In all possible ways do not allow anyone to carry your phone, or take you take it away from your sight. You will not only lose the information and contacts you have stored, the misuse of your phone could cause hundreds of dollars of charges added on your telephone bill. Additionally personal photos, passwords and emails may also be lost or stolen. Therefore, you should never lose track of your mobile phone when you travel.

In the event your phone goes missing or is stolen, notify your service provider right away to cancel the service even if you have the possibility of finding it. You may choose to temporarily disable it in the event of a loss or theft. It is also possible to ask your service provider to block users from accessing your phone through cutting off its IMEI (International Mobile Station Equipment Identity). To find out the phone’s IMEI you need to dial 60# or examine the battery. Along with the model number, make note of the numbers in the event that your phone is lost.

The phone locating apps you downloaded earlier on your phone are useful since they are able to track your phone’s location and remotely wipe out all information associated with it, including find me on my iPhone or Google Device Manager. This allows you to eliminate all the sensitive information and lock your phone and let your phone be able to ring from a distance.

Make it a habit to look over your mobile insurance policy to determine the extent to which they cover damage or unauthorized use of your mobile.There are flights to that country from Gulf Air and Saudi Airlines.