How To Avoid Roaming Charges Abroad (And Save Yourself From A Horrendous Phone Bill)
A fridge magnet...
...and a £300 phone bill.
Yet every year, thousands of people get caught out by roaming charges simply because they assumed their phone would work exactly the same abroad as it does at home.
Unfortunately, since Brexit, it's no longer as simple as it used to be. Some UK mobile providers still include roaming in certain plans, while others charge daily fees or have different rules depending on where you're travelling.
The good news?
Avoiding roaming charges is actually really easy.
Here's how.
1. Check Your Mobile Contract Before You Travel
This is probably the easiest money you'll ever save.
Some UK providers still include European roaming.
Some charge a daily fee.
Some only include certain destinations.
Others seem to have made their pricing up with a blindfold on.
Never assume you're covered.
Take two minutes to check your provider's website before you travel. It could save you a very expensive surprise.
2. Use An eSIM (It's Completely Changed The Way I Travel)
This is honestly one of the best travel hacks I've discovered.
Instead of paying expensive roaming charges, I install an eSIM before I leave the UK.
The moment I land...
Google Maps works.
WhatsApp works.
Uber works.
I can message family to let them know I've arrived.
No hunting around an airport looking for a local SIM card.
No fiddling about with tiny bits of plastic.
No relying on dodgy airport WiFi.
Just internet.
An eSIM is simply a digital SIM that you download to your phone before you travel. Most modern iPhones and Android phones support them, and once you've set it up, it couldn't be easier.
I've personally started using Holafly because it's simple to set up and, in many destinations, offers unlimited data.
If you'd like to give it a try, head to holafly.com and use my discount code:
MRJONESRAPS
at checkout to save on your purchase.
If you do use my code, thank you. It helps support MrJonesTravels and allows me to keep creating honest travel guides like this.
3. Turn Off Data Roaming
If you're not using a roaming package or an eSIM, make sure you switch data roaming off before you travel.
Otherwise your phone can quietly connect to foreign mobile networks in the background without you even realising.
It's one setting that could save you hundreds of pounds.
4. Download Everything Before You Fly
Before you leave home, download anything you'll need.
That includes:
Google Maps offline areas
Boarding passes
Hotel confirmations
Netflix downloads
Spotify playlists
Translation packs
Airport WiFi isn't always reliable, and having everything ready means less stress when you arrive.
5. Make The Most Of Free WiFi
Hotels.
Restaurants.
Cafés.
Airports.
Most places offer free WiFi these days.
It's a great way to save mobile data, especially if you're only checking emails or uploading the odd holiday photo.
Just avoid using public WiFi for online banking or anything involving sensitive personal information.
6. Stop Your Phone Wasting Data
Your phone doesn't know you're on holiday.
The second it finds an internet connection, it'll happily start:
Updating apps
Backing up photos
Downloading software updates
Syncing cloud storage
Before you travel, turn off automatic updates and large downloads over mobile data.
You'll be amazed how much data you save.
7. Be Careful With Social Media
One Instagram photo?
No problem.
Uploading twenty-seven 4K videos of the hotel pool before you've even unpacked?
That can use a surprising amount of data.
If you're using unlimited data, crack on.
If not, it's worth keeping an eye on how much you're uploading.
8. Don't Assume Europe Is Free
This catches loads of UK travellers out.
Before Brexit, roaming across much of Europe was included by most providers.
Now it depends entirely on your mobile network and your plan.
Always check before you fly rather than assuming you're covered.
Is An eSIM Worth It?
For me...
Absolutely.
The moment I land, I want to order an Uber, find my hotel, check directions and message family to say I've arrived safely.
I don't want to spend half an hour looking for a SIM card shop.
An eSIM removes all of that hassle.
It's one of those things you don't realise you'll appreciate until you've used one.
Final Verdict
Roaming charges are one of the easiest holiday expenses to avoid.
A few minutes of planning before you travel could save you hundreds of pounds and a lot of unnecessary stress.
If you're looking for the simplest solution, I'd genuinely recommend trying an eSIM.
I've been using Holafly on my travels because it's quick, reliable and incredibly easy to set up.
If you'd like to use it yourself, simply visit holafly.com and enter my discount code:
MRJONESRAPS
at checkout.
Your holiday should leave you with amazing memories...
Not a phone bill that costs more than your flights.