The Most Important Tool Abroad: A Cell Phone + Data

The most important tool in your arsenal is a cell phone service. 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. You’re relying on either public Wi-Fi or your hotel/Airbnb Wi-Fi. You will completely miss out on being able to plan proper dates. Imagine you’re late to meet up with friends on a trip 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 with data! Don’t be the traveler that’s completely blind. I’ve met lots of travelers, tourists, and ex-pats that, for some 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 2024 - You probably already have a cell phone - BUT! I suggest you get another one simply because you don’t always want to carry your main phone when you're out on random trips. You don’t want to break your phone, lose it, have it stolen, or face whatever Murphy’s law might throw at you.

The two prerequisites for a burner phone are:

1. Unlocked

2. GSM SIM Compatible

3. eSIM Compatible

The reason it should have both a physical SIM and an eSIM slot is because - why not? It's 2024, so have multiple bases covered and contingency plans in place.

Google Pixel 5 - Cheap Android option
Iphone 11- Cheap Iphone option
Both of these are on the cheaper side, but you can purchase what you want.

Step 2:  Find an in-country provider.

A. In the Airport or Corner Store: 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. This is always the cheapest option. On my last trip to Nicaragua, I paid about $4 for a 7-day, 5.5G plan that also included unlimited social media data.

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. For example, coming from Mexico, I assumed my international plan would work well enough in Nicaragua to do basic things, but I noticed it burned through my credits so quickly that I ended up just turning it off.

C. eSIMs: I typically buy a cheap eSIM from Bitrefill (because you can buy them in seconds with crypto). When I hit the ground, I go to a convenience store and buy a physical SIM.

Bitrefill Referral Link
Bitrefil Esim section


Step 3. Have fun

Now that you have reliable communication, data, and maps, you no longer have to hope for free Wi-Fi somewhere, ask random shops if you can use their Wi-Fi, or only have Wi-Fi while you’re in your room. Don’t travel and be lost in the sauce.