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Addressing data roaming charges
We’ve all been there; turning our phones on in foreign countries just to check our texts, emails or perhaps to navigate through the back streets of a bustling capital. It’s a problem increasingly shocking travellers when they return home to massive bills, just for using their phones abroad.
In fact, in a poll by Uswitch, 85% of us aren’t sure what we are being charged for, whilst a further 4 in 10 people are landed with a heavy bill on their return. Alexandra Xanthaki, a British holiday maker who travelled to Turkey, racked up a £2,318 bill after using her phone abroad, just one of the 40% of us surprised by unreasonable data charges.
So why do holiday travellers seem to have such an issue with the cost of data?
The truth is, we can’t help but stay connected. Whether it’s sharing holiday snaps or finding a decent restaurant, the modern traveller struggles to put their phone down. But the blame can’t all be on our obsessive networking? Perhaps it’s not all out fault?
In the data-world, your carrier used to roam freely abroad charges your network per megabyte, helping the traveller to rack up to an obscene bill. And if you haven’t noticed, your phone regularly switches between networks whilst abroad, meaning there is little incentive for providers to lower their prices.
‘Know before you go’
As recommended by Uswitch, the most responsible way to track your data spending is to know exactly what your network charges, upfront. If you know you won’t be able to survive without your trusty smartphone, contact your provider and get your charges explained.
Cap your bill
Asking your network provider to cap your bill means no nasty surprises when you return from holiday. This can be a safe way to keep an eye on your spending; however it can have its downfalls.
Once you’ve hit you’re limit, you’re out of data, meaning no important emails or essential directions can be found. If there’s a chance you may need access to the Internet once you’ve passed your maximum budget, it may be worth avoiding this option.
Buy a data add-on
In a recent study by Deloitte, just 18% said they would activate a data-add on. So why don’t more of us jump at the idea of saving money?
Perhaps it’s the impulsiveness of holiday-making, luring us into the false illusion of independence before landing us in the middle of a chaotic street with no other option but our trusty Google Maps.
Either way, data add-ons are always a good way to stay safe with data roaming costs and avoid a nasty shock when you arrive home. Try asking your network provider before travelling, to find out which offers may be available to you.
Turn off your data
Switching off data can avoid any nasty surprises all together and will put your mind at ease whilst abroad.
In a recent study by Deloitte, just over half of us claim to switch off our data entirely whilst on holiday, to avoid the astronomical costs of data. So why don’t more of us do the same?
Many public Wi-Fi hotspots can often come with chargers of their own, or a lengthy sign-up process to gain access.
Whilst this option is increasingly becoming free to use, there are still aspects of this service, which can be detrimental to your holiday experience.
- Security
These hotspots can often be unsafe, enabling potential hackers to access personal information, such as passwords or banking details.
- Spamming
For those services that request a sign up process, it can often be easy for them to gain access to personal phone numbers and email addresses, which can be sold onto third parties.
- Restricted use
Many free services restrict the use of their Internet; limiting the amount or type of content you are able to access. Public connections also come with location restrictions, limiting you to a certain spot, such as a coffee shop or bar. This can then lead to unnecessary spending to justify your free Internet use.
The solution to Holiday Wi-Fi – Use a portable Wi-Fi device:
Portable Wi-Fi provides you with a safe and secure Internet connection, without the hassle of, high data roaming costs, location restrictions or fiddly passwords.
A portable Wi-Fi device essentially creates a simple wireless ‘hotspot’ with a 3G connection, not only saving your mobile phone’s battery from draining but also saving time and money.
Tep’s portable Wi-Fi device is available to rent for a fixed daily cost of $9.95 and allows you to travel and use the Internet seamlessly in 64 countries worldwide; making it great for that trip you’ve been planning. It gives you unlimited access for up to 5 devices, which means you can share your fuss-free connection with your friends and family.
Please include attribution to https://www.tepwireless.com with this graphic.
