These days, travelers face many choices before they get out the door of their homes. Luggage and travel options, in addition to where they are going to visit, are just a few of the decisions one needs to make before taking a break from everyday life. One of the most important choices is what to do with your cell phone when traveling. Using Simify is going to be the best way to go and below is a breakdown of how and why you should choose it over other options.
All the Options
The three options a cell phone owner has been to use a local SIM card, traditional roaming, which comes with every cell phone plan, or an international SIM card.
Roaming – when you travel outside of your home base, your cell phone will automatically switch to roam. This typically comes with a fee to use other cell towers. The issue with roaming is that it is often expensive. The charges are per minute of the call or texting data. If you are on a short trip, this may not be a big deal. However, if you are visiting relatives or over a holiday for an extended period, the fees can quickly add up.
Some cell phone plans include a limited number of roaming minutes for either calls or data and sometimes the combination of the two. You will need to consult your plan’s rules and regulations for how many minutes you will receive. In addition, you’ll need to find out how much extra minutes will cost you because you will no doubt go over the limit.
Local Sims Card – this is a physical card with a chip you purchase once you arrive at your destination. You can purchase one at your cell phone providers store or many big-box stores. They may not cost that much upfront, however the fees to use them could start adding up after a few days use. Some of the sims cards can be paired with your cell phone service and a special deal in which you can get unlimited usage as well as a local phone number. This is helpful when you are going to be staying in an area for an extended period. Out of state college students or people who live in another part of the country, for winter can use this option without spending much money.
International Sims Card – since cell phone towers and access are practically everywhere, it should be easy to connect everywhere. The issue is cell phone companies charge for the use of their services. To help keep that cost low, purchasing an international sims card is a better deal. If you are travelling for more than a month, this will be the ideal purchase. They do not come with small amounts of service, so they are not recommended for a week or two travels. They also work overseas when traveling for a short period of time and will save you money over the roaming charges or local sims card costs.
To save money, time, and frustration, investigate the different options for making phone calls and using data when you travel before you leave the house.
