Controlling International Cell Phone Costs

Updated: 8/4/2023

Do you know someone who has taken a trip overseas only to be surprised by a gigantic cell phone bill upon their return?  Some people even refuse to take their cell phones at all for fear of a huge bill.  Maybe that describes you.  If so, we would like to share a few easy tips for minimizing your cell phone charges as an occasional international traveler.

Take Your Phone

First of all, you really should take your phone.  Emergencies do happen and you never know when an accident or health issue may require immediate attention.  You may need to get help with a travel issue such as a cancelled flight or a disabled rental car. You could even get lost and need some help navigating back to your hotel.  In these cases, you will likely need to make a traditional cell phone call.

TIP: Each country has their own emergency number, it might not be 911.  In Europe it is 112 for most countries.  So check the number for each country you will be visiting. Here is a quick table of emergency numbers.

Another reason to take your phone is for its camera.  Today’s smart phones take phenomenal pictures, and of course they are a lot easier to carry when you are touring around all day.  So definitely take your phone and be sure to bring along a portable power station like this Anker PowerCore 10000 link, to make sure you always have power. 

TIP: Typically you will be taking photos on multiple cell phones and cameras. Keep your photos organized by ensuring that the dates and times on all of your devices are synchronized.  Most of your devices will likely have the ability to automatically Geo tag your photos with the location of the photo.  If not, consider taking pictures of signs at each point of interest or even make your own sign so you will remember where the picture was taken.  These tips will help you once you are home and download all your pictures.

Reduce Your Costs

We find that we rarely use traditional cell phone service while traveling.  Almost all of our communication takes place over Wi-Fi connected apps like Facebook, Skype, Messenger, etc.  If we need Internet access for communication or some other purpose, it’s pretty easy to find free access in airports, train terminals, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and bars.  In a recent trip to Serbia we just sat outside a Belgrade Starbucks and used their Internet access to send messages and post some pictures on Facebook.

There are a few ways to reduce your international cell phone bill like swapping out your SIM card or just renting a throwaway phone from your carrier for the duration of your trip.  However, there are a couple of simple steps that you can take, using your own phone, to keep those cell charges to a minimum.

• Before your trip, check with your cell phone carrier and sign up for a flat rate international calling plan. For example, Verizon offers its Travel Pass plan, for only $10 per day and allows unlimited calling, text or data usage in accordance with your regular data plan.  The $10 charge only applies on those days that you make traditional phone calls or access data without using Wi-Fi. 
• Once you leave the country, just set your phone to Airplane mode and leave it there. From this point on, try to use Wi-Fi access whenever possible.
• If you can’t find Internet access and must use your phone, remember to take your phone out of Airplane mode before trying to make your call or accessing the Internet. The good news is you will only be on the hook for a $10 charge for that day.  Just remember to set your phone back to Airplane when you are finished. 

eSIM Card

If you really need a data plan while traveling, then an eSim card is another alternative.  

Cruise Ship At Sea

International Cell Phone plans are a great way to go, like the Verizon Travel Pass for only $10 per day, if you use it.  But these plans cover your call when you are connected to a land based tower, in a specific country.  What happens when you are at sea? 

When you are at sea, meaning out of range from land based cell towers, then you have two options for using your cell phone. The first is to use the ship’s WiFi.  Some ships charge for this connection, and others don’t, so check with the cruise line.  Once you have a connection, there is no other charge.

But your phone, if on, will try to connect to a cell tower.  At sea it will find companies like ‘Cellular At Sea’, which will connect to a satellite.  If this happens and you use your phone, your carrier will usually consider this international roaming and the fees can be very steep.  You can rack up $100s of dollars in charges in no time.  So be sure to check that your phone is off or set it to airplane mode, or you could be in for a big surprise when the bill arrives.

Did You Know?

Almost all modern phones have a built-in capability for GPS.  Your phone can connect to a system of satellites to find your exact position just about anywhere you travel.  The good news is that since you are directly connecting to satellites, there is no need for any Internet connection.  You do not need to be connected to a cell tower or Wi-Fi at all.

So if you like to use mapping apps like Google Maps, you can do so while remaining in Airplane mode, and without incurring any charges.   Keep in mind that you may not be able to access the full range of functionality within your mapping application.  GPS doesn’t know the names of restaurants, hotels or other points of interest.  But it can show you what street you are on and which way you are moving. We have found this feature indispensable when navigating a new city.