Surprisingly, all of my travels so far have been done without using any international data plans. Somewhat unintentional, somewhat intentional. For as long as I can remember, my family has been on MetroPCS (don’t come for us LOL) and, considering I spend 100% of my time in regular cities, it’s worked perfectly fine throughout the U.S. However, I’m pretty sure it did not have an abundance of reliable roaming options abroad since it was a smaller and cheaper company. At least that was my assumption so I never took the time to look into it LOL. I just figured outside of WiFi, I would be on my own and planned accordingly. Even during trips with my roommate who has T-Mobile, her roaming services weren’t helpful. So I became very comfortable navigating without it and honestly, it’s not as bad as you may think.
Map It Out
I always start by planning out where I want to go and what I want to do during the trip or before I leave my accommodation for the day. This way you can use the WiFi to download all directions and an offline Google Map prior to leaving for the day. Also, screenshot any locations you intend to visit should you need to show a taxi driver or someone on the street for assistance, esp. if there is a language barrier. Hotels typically also have area maps at the front desk that you can use as a guide.
Screenshot Everything!
I screenshot hotel information, reservations emails, prepaid e-tickets, necessary QR/barcodes, etc. Although previously loaded emails should still be viewable offline, this ensures you still have access to all important information if the app decides not to load properly.
Take Advantage of Public WiFi
Many buildings you enter (stores, restaurants, airports, etc.) will offer free public WiFi. Some countries even have WiFi hotspots on the streets (I recall passing a “Free Wifi” sign on the side of a bus stop in Japan). Once you are connected, you can search for your next activity, scroll through your social media, upload pictures, use WiFi calling to connect with others, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask for the WiFi password either, esp. at restaurants. The worse thing they can say is no but most restaurants only require a password to ensure only paying customers have access. From my experience, this will probably be sufficient to get you through the day.
Use Offline Entertainment
Many paid subscriptions including Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Premium allow you to download videos and music to play offline. You can also download books and podcast episodes to read/listen to offline. Lastly, most games can probably be played without a connection (Candy Crush and Unblock Me were some of my go-to's). These are great options for when you are waiting at the airport or relaxing by the pool or beach for an extended period of time.
Explore Now, Post Later
Of course, you can take your pictures and videos throughout the day but there is no need to post them immediately. You can take them all while out and about and post once you get back to your accommodation at the end of the day (or in my case, a week after I get back home LOL, I promise I’m going to do better!) If you feel like you are slightly addicted to your phone, this could also help you live more in the moment because you are not constantly posting, checking notifications, or accidentally falling down the rabbit hole of your IG feed.
Have you ever traveled without access to phone service? Any other tips?
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