The Most Important Tool Abroad: A Cell Phone
When you're traveling abroad, the most important tool in your arsenal is a cell phone. The question is...how do you make sure you have service in your new country
Logistics, Logistics, Logistics
It will be said over and over again.
Imagine you meet an incredible chick while you’re out exploring a new city and have no way to schedule a date.
Imagine you’re late for an event and have no way to contact anyone.
Imagine you have a language barrier and need to pull out a translator app but have no service.
You need a cell phone.
Don’t be the traveler that’s completely blind.
I’ve met lots of travelers, tourists, and ex-pats that, for someone reason, never have cell phone service… and they are permanently lost, inconsistent, or get forgotten about
Having a line of communication as you travel is as easy as two steps…
Step 1: Get a Cell Phone.
It’s 2023 - You probably already have a cell phone - I suggest you get another one.
A cheap Android or iPhone that uses a GSM Sim card. I picked up a cheap late-model Google Pixel 3 XL
.Depending on your budget, you can buy whatever you want from Amazon, eBay, or any second-hand store. Just make sure it’s unlocked.
The purpose of this phone is to be a backup that you carry with you if your primary phone gets lost, stolen, or goes out of service.
Step 2: Find an in-country provider.
A. In the Airport: When you arrive, you can likely walk around the airport, find a 7-11 or the country equivalent and buy a sim card. You only need a basic package of data for now.
B. International Providers: Your current cell phone may have an international plan. I don’t recommend this unless it’s an extremely short trip. You tend to rack up a hefty bill, and your service might be spotty.
When I landed in Germany, I paid 20 bucks for 200 minutes and 500MB of data a decade ago.
In Mexico, the local Telcel - has a 25USD package that provides unlimited calls,text, social media apps (WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), + an additional six gigs of data.
If you are only in the country for a week or so, you could pay 5U5 USD for a 2-week plan.
Step 3. Have fun
Now that you have a line of communication, you.