How to connect to a cellphone network abroad

You've landed at your destination, gotten your passport stamped, and collected your bags. But if you want to use apps to order a taxi or rideshare, you'll need to connect to a cellular network. Here are some ways that have worked for me, plus one I've heard of. (Shoutout to my friend for requesting this topic!)

The first thing to check is: do you even need to get an international calling or data plan?

Maybe you don't need one.

Some phone plans automatically cover calling, texting and data in other countries. For instance, my current carrier, Mint Mobile, automatically covers the U.S. and Canada. And I am pretty sure when I had unlimited data with T-Mobile on at least one trip many years ago, so I kept using my phone as usual.

In any case, check with your phone company to see if it has international roaming.

But what if you do need an international plan?

If you know your carrier doesn't cover the country you're going to, here are some possible ways to connect.

If you have Mint Mobile: Buying international roaming

I fall into this category, so I use the Minternational Pass. Basically, you can buy passes for 1, 3 and 10 days, which give you international data and roaming. It can get pricey for longer trips, but it's a solid option. 

How it works:

1. Buy the pass (or passes) on the Mint Mobile app
2. Connect to WiFi when you get to your destination.
3. Activate the pass in the app.

Airports, cafes, and train stations (and sometimes trains) will have free WiFi. Information desks are also a good place to ask for help.

For a cheaper option, you can get a 30-day pass without data. You can talk and text, but you can't use most apps unless you're connected to WiFi.

Note: If you change the language on your phone, Mint will think you are done using your pass, even if you have more time on it, and you'll find yourself without data or needing to burn through another pass.

So if you're a language nerd like me and trying to change your phone's language with each new linguistic region or country you visit: don't. Or at least wait until you're about to activate a new pass. Ask me how I know.

Buying a SIM card

You can also buy a physical SIM card, which will have a number for the country you're in. I did this back in the day before I had a smartphone and it worked fine. Stores for phone carriers should have them. Sometimes you can buy them ahead of time, like Positos Travelers does.

Note: If you are buying the SIM card in a store and you don't speak the language fluently, see if you can buy in your first language or get your friend from the area (or a translation app) to do it for you. I am a big proponent of speaking new languages even if you're not fluent (yet!), but I quickly realized trying to set up my phone at the beginning of summer study abroad that my foreign language skills were yet not up to the task.

It sounds obvious, but ordering food or talking about what you did this weekend - even writing an essay - is really different from buying a SIM card and having a more technical conversation about phone plans and using data. That said, if you are fluent in those topics, more power to you.

E-SIM cards

I've seen YouTubers advertise e-SIM cards for different countries. My phone is too old for e-SIM cards, but it sounds like a cheap and easy option (no worrying about losing cards, for instance). That said, I know you have to do extra research sometimes with YouTube endorsements, as with all endorsements, so if you have done this, let me know how it went.

That's all for now!

There are many ways to get your phone up and running, depending on your phone, carrier and destination. When it comes to actually making calls, WhatsApp has worked well for me, though the person you're calling also needs an account on the app.

What do you do when you need to make calls or use data in other countries? Feel free to leave a comment below.