Travel Hack – How I Stopped Paying Ridiculous Roaming Fees Abroad

Travelling the world is one of the best ways to experience different cultures, step outside your comfort zone, and see life from a new perspective. But let’s be honest — travel can get expensive very quickly.

Between flights, accommodation, transport, and food, even a short trip can end up costing far more than expected. And if you’re like most travellers, you’re probably always looking for smart ways to cut unnecessary expenses without making the trip less enjoyable.

One travel cost that catches many people off guard is international roaming. Using your regular mobile carrier abroad often leads to one of two things: painfully slow or nonexistent internet, or an unexpectedly expensive roaming bill.

And while having instant internet access sounds convenient, the prices are often hard to justify. Some carriers charge ridiculously high rates for roaming, especially when there are far more affordable alternatives available today.

The good news is that staying connected while travelling doesn’t have to cost a fortune. There are several easy ways to access the internet abroad without sacrificing convenience.

In this guide, we’ll go over some practical and budget-friendly ways to stay connected while travelling internationally.

Let’s get into it.

4 Alternatives to Mobile Roaming

Mobile roaming is notorious for overcharging users because you’re essentially borrowing a foreign network through your home carrier. This is often done at a marked-up rate far beyond what you can find locally or online. Even basic usage can activate exorbitant fees, and this can add up quickly, especially with the more data you use.

A quick browse on Instagram or Maps can lead to an instant bill rack-up while travelling. If you want to avoid that, then there are fortunately a number of alternatives that you can consider before turning on your local home carrier’s roaming plan.

Let’s take a look at them in greater detail:

An eSim

One of the most convenient and affordable ways to stay connected while travelling is by having an eSIM. It’s, in my opinion, by far and away one of the best connectivity options you can get while on a leisure or business holiday.

An eSIM is built and activated directly into an eligible smartphone. It allows users to connect to a local network as soon as they land in their destination, as long as it’s activated. No SIM card swapping needed.

What makes eSIMs great is their fairly flexible cost structure and inherent accessibility. Before travelling, it’s possible (and even recommended) to download an eSIM plan dedicated to the upcoming trip, like a Saily travel eSIM or any other eSIM provider you can find online. 

Then, all you have to do is follow the instructions required by the eSIM provider to activate it. This can be as simple as letting your phone scan a QR code to activate the eSIM or topping up an eSIM app with a few dollars to have Internet access by the time you arrive at your new location.

For frequent travellers who want on-the-go connectivity, an eSIM is an ideal solution to staying connected to the Internet that doesn’t require you to fumble with SIM ejectors or switching external devices. 

The best part, of course, is that it’s significantly more affordable than your home carrier’s roaming charges. You can spend as little as $10 AUD for a week-long trip in most countries, and you can have a great deal of your internet connectivity woes solved in an instant. 

Local Physical SIM 

An eSIM solves many internet connectivity issues, but there’s one key area where physical SIM cards get ahead: their more reliable access to local calling and SMS services.

With local physical SIM cards, travellers can have access to their own phone number. This allows your phone to access a domestic mobile network, enabling you to text and call the same way locals do.

You can typically find local SIM cards in airports and convenience stores. Once you have this SIM card installed and configured on your phone, you’ll have access to a data plan with calls and texts depending on the plan you choose.

While a SIM card may take some time to physically mount on your phone, it’s the only way to have SMS capabilities while travelling in a new area on a moment’s notice. If my travels require me to have a phone number—like for local app access or making reservations—then I’d pick a physical SIM more often than not.

And just like eSIMs, these physical SIM cards are also fairly affordable and easy to find in airports and most major shopping centres. It comes in various plans, too, making it easy for you to pick the right one without overspending or not having a big enough budget for more premium plans.

Portable WiFi Device

If you don’t have a smartphone with enough SIM card slots or eSIM card compatibility, then you could also rely on a portable WiFi device to grant you internet connectivity. 

A portable WiFi device is a solid option when travelling, as it allows you to instantly access the internet on not just your smartphone, but all devices connected to it. If you’re travelling with a family or with multiple devices, having a WiFi device on hand can make accessing the Internet fairly accessible. 

You also have the option to bring your own portable WiFi device if you have one at home or rent one at the airport. You will have to top up the device to ensure internet access, but once that’s done, you can use it freely until data runs out. 

The slight downside to this device is that you have to bring it along with you at all times, and the possibility that it’ll run out of juice mid-day, but if you have that covered, then it’s a practical option for getting internet access.

Rely on Public WiFi Options and Network Sharing

Lastly, if you prioritise saving money above all else, you can choose not to purchase data altogether and simply rely on public internet connectivity. 

While this option can feel restrictive and maybe even scary, it’s actually more viable than most people think. This is especially true in cities where WiFi is widely available, or if you’re constantly travelling with people who have a WiFi connection that they can share with you.

In any case, many hotels, cafes, malls, airports, and public transport hubs offer free WiFi for their patrons and visitors. This is usually sufficient to communicate with others over the web or to check maps. 

You can also download an offline version of maps to ensure you won’t get lost on your way to your destination. But wouldn’t you agree that getting directions from locals, using physical maps, and intentionally getting lost can lead to new and more interesting experiences?

In any case, for a short trip in a big and safe city, you can absolutely live without staying connected to the Internet throughout the day. Just have your wits about you and be watchful of your surroundings and security at all times.
I hope that these options can serve you well as you navigate travelling abroad with Internet access. All the best in getting connected on your upcoming trip!

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