It’s no secret; telekinesis would make communicating around the world a whole lot easier, and cheaper. Until then, here are three reliable, cost-effective options for communicating within your destination country and between countries.
1. Smartphone apps that operate with a Wi-Fi connection
These smartphone apps will use your home-country mobile phone number (or overseas number, see below) as your “identity” to exchange calls and messages between devices with the same app. It is important to install the apps before leaving the country. You must be able to receive a text message to activate some accounts. Also, be sure your friends and family have the app installed on their devices.
- Viber– Viber lets you send free messages and make free calls to other Viber users in any country. A desktop version is available for Windows and Mac.
- WhatsApp– WhatsApp is solely a messaging platform, however, allows for creation of groups and sending of multi-media messages. WhatsApp seems to be the most popular application throughout Europe. I have met friends from England, Ireland, and Germany during my travels abroad. We used WhatsApp to communicate.
- iMessage and FaceTime- iPhones maintain their ability to communicate between other Apple devices in any country. From my experience, FaceTime is the most reliable video calling application.
- Skype and Google Hangout– The advantage of both Skype and Google Hangout is their availability on any smartphone or device with a Wi-Fi connection.
- Snapchat: Great news! It works over seas. So take those selfies and send them around the world for free!
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Added bonus: Check out these top FREE travel apps for additional ways to save money and have fun overseas.
2. Pre-paid plan: The “burner” phone
Tap into your inner secret agent and take a trip back in time with one of these indestructible flip phones. “Burner” phones are a good option for communication within a country. Devices are relatively in expensive, and pre-paid plans allow you to control how much you are spending.
The phone itself will cost between 25-30 USD. Rates will vary by country and carrier. For example, within Spain, I can make calls for $0.10/minute and send text messages for $0.25 each. Should I need to make and international call I would be charged $1.55/minute. I can accept incoming calls and text messages at no cost to me.
Tips for saving minutes and money
- Choose the same provider if traveling in a group. Most offer discounts for communication between phones on the same network.
- Have a secret code. You are charged only for outgoing calls that make a connection (this includes connecting to others’ voicemail). To avoid charges, call, let it ring and hang up; as a sort of code. My friends and I use one ring to signify we are leaving our houses, and two rings to mean we have arrived at a meeting point. More than two, we know we should answer the phone.
- Avoid sending unnecessary text messages. This is common sense; with limited messages, be smart about what is important to communicate, and what can wait.
3. “Unlock” an old smartphone
“Unlocking” a phone means obtaining permission from your current service provider to operate a phone from an expired contract on a new network (i.e. switch from AT&T to an overseas carrier). It is the cheapest option as you do not have to buy a new phone. Unlocking offers the most flexibility within country and between countries because you can download the apps I mentioned above onto one phone. You avoid the hassle of brining multiple devices because your camera, Wi-Fi connection, and domestic and international communication options are all on one device.
How it works
- Contact your current provider to have your device unlocked. Do this at least one month before your leave as the process can take some time.
- Purchase a new destination country SIM card and pre-paid plan. A SIM card is used to keep the information about your phone number and network provider relative to your device. A new card will cost about $7. The pre-paid plan will work the same as above.
- Eject your current SIM and replace with new international card. SIM cards are usually housed in the back of the phone near the battery or on the side near the headphone jack (iPhones).
That’s it, 3 easy steps. Once the new card is inserted, your new overseas number is connected to your device and you are ready to roll. Don’t have an old smartphone lying around? Buy a low cost one here:
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