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Older children have the wonderful advantage of being able to travel in the fall, winter, and spring when they are in school. That will open. Whether you’re traveling internationally or domestically, here’s some general information about cellular and Wi-Fi to help you use technology effectively and keep your data secure anywhere in the world.
General
Before you go, find out what local cellular and Wi-Fi conditions and restrictions are. We know we face limitations when we travel abroad, but you can face them at home too. If you’re planning to drive in remote areas and plan to use a navigation app like Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze, you’ll need cell service. Before you hit the road, check with your carrier and make sure you’re covered wherever you go. If you don’t have cell service, be prepared to deal with Wi-Fi capability or both.
There are two basic ways your phone can be connected. One way is through cellular signals; Another way is to access the Internet through a Wi-Fi network. Although they are distinct, today’s mobile technology blurs the lines between them. Some carriers’ technology seamlessly switches between a mobile phone and Wi-Fi if a Wi-Fi network is available – allowing you to use less expensive technology whenever possible. You should contact your service provider to understand how your service works and how to use your phone or tablet’s settings to control whether you use cellular or Wi-Fi on calls and check email or use a web browser.
When you use a cellular network to browse the Internet and access websites that require a password, you’re safe—for the most part. No one guarantees absolute security. When you use a public Wi-Fi network, even if it asks for a password, it’s still public and not as secure as your home network. You can add security by using a VPN (virtual private network).
A VPN creates a secure connection between you and the Internet. When you connect to the Internet with a VPN, all of your data traffic is sent through an encrypted virtual tunnel. This has several advantages:
- Your real IP address and location will be hidden, making you more anonymous on the Internet.
- Encryption keeps hackers and cybercriminals at bay, making the internet safer.
- By using different IP addresses, you can access websites and online services that would otherwise be blocked.
The latter benefit comes in handy if you’re abroad and want access to subscriptions like newspapers and entertainment services, such as Netflix, that are restricted or isolated from overseas Wi-Fi connections. We recommend that you do some online research to learn more about VPNs, including their prices. A general link is https://vpnoverview.com/privacy/anonymous-browsing/hide-or-change-ip-address/.
Learn how your phone stores and saves photos and videos. Your device has limited physical storage space and cloud storage for additional items, but you can purchase additional cloud storage. Many of you have iPhones and use iCloud. If you are, we recommend buying 50GB of iCloud storage for 99 cents a month before you go. Google has similarly priced options, and there are services including Dropbox that offer storage capabilities no matter what device you use. Remember that if you delete a photo or video from your phone or tablet, you’ll also delete it from iCloud. There are ways to get those deleted items back within 30 days, but you can avoid problems by being careful about what you delete. You can avoid problems by buying enough storage space before your trip.
Domestic road trip
While traveling in the US, you can keep all the electronic comforts of home, including your streaming services like Netflix, if your accommodation has capable TVs. In any case, all you have to do is enter your username and password and then start browsing. The key is to remember to disconnect each service from each TV you use.
Otherwise, you’ll stay signed in on that device, and the next resident can watch movies and shows on your dime.
If you’re renting a car, it may have technology to connect your iPhone or Android phone to the infotainment system. It has many advantages, including voice driving directions while displaying the map on the car’s display, which is often larger than your phone. That’s useful when visiting places you’ve never been. It also lets you make hands-free calls to your phone contacts and access your music playlists. At the end of your trip, be sure to wipe your car’s data system before turning it in.
If you’re visiting a city, Google Maps and Apple Maps can provide you with walking directions or public transportation directions.
International road trip
If you’re traveling internationally and don’t drive, you can access Wi-Fi to check email, look up information on sites you’re visiting, and make restaurant reservations. You can even use an app to download a walking map and just look at your phone as you follow the route. Think of it as a map replacement.
Consider an app like WhatsApp — the popular meta service, people who brought you Facebook — to use a Wi-Fi Internet connection for voice and text capabilities. In short, WhatsApp allows you to make voice or video calls or send instant messages (just like text messages) over the Internet to anyone in your contact list. And the service is free – except for the usage fee you have to pay to use Wi-Fi. That cost should be much less than the cost of cellular service. Learn more about WhatsApp and how to install it on your mobile device – or computer – by clicking here.
If you’re traveling abroad, Western Europe is light years ahead of the US when it comes to Wi-Fi security. But to be as secure as possible, you should have strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.
You have two options for overseas cellular service. One is to get a SIM card for the country you are traveling to, especially if you have rented a car. That allows you to access GPS systems and allows you to make phone calls in case of an emergency or need directions. Again, in most modern countries, you can buy a SIM card from a vendor at the airport upon arrival. They should be able to install it for you and make sure it works before you go on your way. Some phones may use SIM cards or have a slot to install a second SIM card. Research your phone and check options with your carrier.
Overseas SIM cards have two major drawbacks. First, if your US SIM card is not activated, you will not be able to associate any voice or text messages with your US phone number. If your phone can handle two SIM cards, you’ll need to switch back and forth between the two to get US messages and use cellular capacity in the country you’re visiting.
We prefer the second option: get a second phone for domestic use. You can buy a second phone just for travel and get a local SIM card at the airport if you’re traveling to multiple countries. You can also make it permanent for use in the country you visit frequently. You can use Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze for driving directions and have the phone capabilities you need.
Check with your carrier about transfer options while abroad. Some have plans that allow you to access local networks – either as part of their service or as a separate daily fee. Make sure you understand how costs and rates are structured. The cost can be very high, and you don’t want to have any surprises when you get your bill. One way to avoid roaming charges is to put your phone or tablet on airplane mode. That allows you to use your camera and read your book without worrying about accidentally using precious data.
In the past, traveling was a way of disconnecting from the world. Now, we depend on technology to make our journeys better, prevent catastrophic events or share our experiences in real time. If you take the same care in planning your technology as you do in planning your laundry, you can have a safe and enjoyable journey digitally.
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