Staying Connected While Traveling Out the Country

When traveling with a group, it’s important to have communication at all times so you can stay with us. We’d hate for you to get lost in a foreign country. There’s plenty of ways you can stay connected to the group and your family back home to update them on the fun you’re having. 

Wifi

You’ll soon find out that WiFi is your best friend when traveling abroad. There’s a reason why so many places promote free WiFi. You can connect to WiFi at a lot of places abroad, like at the hotel, restaurants, shopping malls, libraries, etc. You won’t ever have to worry about being offline for too long.

SIM Card

Consider purchasing a local SIM card when you reach your destination. You can change to a local number cheaply to have access to calls and internet service if you’re ever outside of a WiFi zone. SIM cards are great for emergencies or to make sure you’re connected at all times.

If you have a phone that you are making monthly payments to, that phone may not be unlocked. Be sure to double check with your network provider to confirm whether or not your phone

WhatsApp/Line/Viber/WeChat

Depending on where you’re traveling, there’s usually a favorite messaging app that the locals prefer. If you’re in Thailand, the go-to app is Line; if you’re in China, WeChat is a must; and for most other places, WhatsApp is a must. The apps work vía wifi, so you don’t have to worry about drain data when messaging throughout the trip. 

International Data Plans

Most phone services provide international data plans, but it's best you check with your specific provider about capabilities. Many times there is an extra fee on calls and data use when roaming outside the country. If you prefer to keep the same service when abroad, consult with your company about adding data service if it extends to where you’re traveling. 

Business Center

Vacation is supposed to be a time where you unplug from your work, but there are just some things we can’t get rid of quite so easily. If you didn’t bring your laptop but need to use a computer during your trip, most hotels will have a business center that you can use. Most centers also have a printer so you can print out travel details, tickets, itineraries, etc.