Cell Phones

Most major U.S. carriers offer international plans, allowing you to use your regular phone number while traveling. This is often the most convenient option, but costs can vary widely—so be sure to check your provider’s rates for calls, texts, and data in your destination before you leave.

If you decide to use your existing plan:

• Choose a plan in advance: Pay-as-you-go international roaming can be very expensive if you don’t select a package ahead of time.

• Limit background data usage: Turn off automatic updates and background app refresh for apps like email, social media, and cloud services.

• Adjust your phone settings: Consider turning off data roaming or setting data usage limits to avoid unexpected charges.

• Use Wi-Fi when possible: Activities like maps, social media, and streaming can use a lot of data—connect to Wi-Fi for heavier usage whenever available.

Before you travel, plan how you’ll use your phone abroad. Most students choose between buying a local SIM card or setting up an eSIM.

• • • • eSIM (digital SIM): Many newer phones support eSIM, which lets you download a data plan before you leave or once you arrive (no physical card needed). This is often the easiest option and can be set up in minutes.

      • Local SIM card: If your phone is unlocked, you can purchase a physical SIM card at your destination (often at the airport or local shops).

Some eSIM options to check out:

• KnowRoaming 

• Nomad 

• Saily 

• Jetpac 

You can buy a cheap phone just for your trip, along with a prepaid SIM card that will work in your host country. These can either be purchased in the US before you leave, or once you get to your host country. If you do buy a phone here, make sure it is GSM compatible and unlocked – searching “Unlocked Quad-band GSM phone” in Amazon or Google should help you find what you want.