For many people, summertime is also travel time. Thanks to roaming regulations in the EU, surfing with a smartphone costs the same in many countries as at home. But of course this does not apply in all countries. Where abroad should you be careful when it comes to mobile communications?
The regulations for EU roaming have been in effect since 2017. But it’s not just in countries that are part of the EU that you can use your smartphone abroad like you would at home.
You can also benefit from EU roaming when traveling to Great Britain, Norway, Iceland and overseas territories such as La Réunion or Martinique. However, this does not apply in all European countries and when traveling abroad it can quickly become expensive when it comes to mobile communications.
Where should you pay attention when it comes to mobile communications abroad?
Not all areas in Europe fall under the EU roaming regulation. Before traveling to the following areas, you should definitely check the conditions of your mobile phone contract:
- Andorra
- Gibraltar
- Isle of Man
- Channel Islands
- San Marino
- Vatican City
Many providers also include these travel destinations in the EU country list and therefore offer favorable conditions for surfing abroad. However, you should check your contract in advance to avoid unnecessary costs.
Roaming outside the EU
Roaming outside the EU can quickly become very expensive. It is a good idea to deactivate roaming on your smartphone before you leave.
Otherwise your cell phone bill can cause enormous costs. With the provider Vodafone, for example, a minute of telephone calls in Cuba or the Maldives costs 3.99 euros. Mobile data costs even higher amounts. For example, you have to pay 16.99 euros per megabyte – and that really doesn’t get you very far on the internet these days.
It can therefore make sense to set up a cost airbag before a trip. Your mobile phone provider will then inform you when you have reached 80 percent of the preset cost limit.
Mobile communications: These alternatives are available for roaming abroad
If you are planning a longer trip or want to travel spontaneously a lot, mobile data can be very useful when traveling. Here it can make sense to get a local SIM card or an e-SIM. This way you protect yourself from unnecessary costs and can also travel flexibly on your trip.
But if you prefer to stick with your mobile phone provider, you can also buy travel packages for non-EU countries here. Vodafone, for example, offers daily or weekly packages for this purpose.
If you book weekly, you can use 50 free minutes and 50 SMS messages every day. You have four GB of data available to you throughout the week for the price of 34.99 euros. The speed is then reduced. Telekom, for example, offers two GB for a week for 15.95 euros.
However, the prices and offers from mobile phone providers vary greatly. Individual providers often have different offers for different countries. It’s worth checking your options before you leave so you can avoid unnecessary costs.
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The article Mobile communications abroad: Caution is advised in these countries by Maria Gramsch first appeared on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.