Planning a trip abroad can be both exciting and stressful. See these best apps to aid comfortable traveling.
Exciting because of the prospect of traveling to a new place. Stressful, because overlooking even one supposedly insignificant detail can end up in an unpleasant obstacle.
One of the things people tend to overlook when planning their holiday is the amount of mobile data they’ll need. And let’s face it, the prospect of losing all connectivity while in an unknown place doesn’t sound like a fun experience.
How much mobile data is enough, then? 1GB, 3G, 5GB? If you choose the last option, how long will 5GB last on holiday? What affects and how to calculate your data usage?
We’ll answer that and more in the following guide.
Why Purchase Roaming Plans?
Roaming, or data roaming refers to using your mobile data when abroad – You should also have a taste of your favourite Dunkin Donuts, you should see Dunkin’ Donuts Holiday Menu. Whether it’s for staying in touch with your loved ones, using it for directions, or browsing social media, data roaming allows you to use your cellular data while exploring overseas.
The issue is that different countries charge data usage differently. If you aren’t careful, you may end up paying tons for even the tiniest amount of data. To prevent that, purchasing a data roaming plan from your cellular provider is the best idea.
These plans allow you to purchase a set amount of data for your trip. You may also be forced to buy a new SIM-only plan in the country you’re traveling to if it doesn’t support your providers’ network.
Whichever option you choose (or are forced to choose), the question remains the same – how much data will I need?
How to Calculate How Much Data I Will Need for My Trip?
The amount of data you’ll use on your trip will depend on how you use your phone.
In general, things like listening to music, using Google Maps for directions, browsing Google, or checking your social media will drain your data much slower than watching YouTube videos, streaming content, or video calling.
For instance, 1 hour of Google Maps requires around 60 MB. Respectively, the same amount spent on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) will require approximately 90 MB of data. The same goes for average internet browsing.
If you don’t intend to use your mobile data for anything other than that, it’s easy to calculate how much data you’ll need.
For example, say you’ll spend, on average, 2 hours navigation, 3 hours on social media, and 2 hours browsing the internet. In such a case, your daily data usage will be:
- 2hrs of Google Maps: 120 MB
- 3hrs of Social media: 270 MB
- 2hrs of Google: 180 MB
Summed up, that’s around 570 MBs of data used a day. Let’s round it up to 600 MBs. In that case, you’ll need, more or less, 3GB of data for a 5-day holiday trip.
However, if you intend to use your phone more extensively, for instance, for streaming content, making online calls, or holding video meetings, you’ll need much more than that.
So, summing this up, 3-5 GB of data should be enough for a week-long trip when using your phone moderately. For heavy users, it might be better to purchase a bigger package, e.g., 10GB, especially if you know you won’t have easy access to WiFi.
How to Monitor Data Usage on Holiday Abroad?
Calculating how much data you’ll need for your holiday is one thing. Another is monitoring you don’t exceed your limits or at least that you’re on the course of doing that.
Luckily, checking your daily mobile data usage is incredibly straightforward, both for iOS and Android users.
If you use an iPhone, you’ll need to go to Settings and then tap on Cellular Data. Once there, scroll down to Cellular Data Usage to display how much data you have used and which apps drain most of your data.
Android users need to follow a similar path. In short, head to Settings and tap Network & Internet (or Connections, depending on your device). Then, tap on Data Usage to see how much data you’ve used.
We’d recommend checking this data daily when on holiday abroad. Doing that will show you if no background apps drain your phone’s mobile data. It will also help you decide whether to purchase additional data to hold out until you’re back home.
How Can I Save Data When on Holiday?
There are numerous ways to save your mobile data when on holiday. Let’s go through some of the best data-saving practices:
- Download music, movies, or your favorite show episodes before your trip using your home WiFi to minimize data usage;
- Set data usage limits on your device;
- Try to avoid making video calls; use standard calls instead;
- When possible, take advantage of free WiFi (be sure to protect yourself with a VPN, though);
- Turn your mobile data off when not using it;
- Monitor your data usage to ensure that no background apps drain your data.
Following these simple steps should be enough to ensure you don’t exceed your roaming data package, preventing you from paying high data usage rates when abroad.
Key Takeaways
All in all, how much data you’ll need for your trip abroad will depend on your trip’s period and phone usage patterns. When used moderately, purchasing 3-5 GB of roaming data should be more than enough to keep you safe and sound for a week.
For those using their data excessively, e.g., streaming videos or making video calls, purchasing a more substantial data package might be a better option.
Also, remember that it’s possible to save tons of data by removing any data-draining background apps, downloading content using a WiFi connection, or turning off your mobile data when not using it.
By calculating your data needs and applying the above tips, you should rest assured that you don’t overspend on data usage when on holiday, allowing you to fully enjoy your well-deserved vacation.
