How to Stay Connected Online While Traveling

This might seem like a super simple topic—especially if you’ve traveled before or even just left the country for a bit. But when you’re traveling more frequently, long-term, or even solo, figuring out how to connect online affordably and effectively is a lot more important than people realize.

And if you don’t plan it right, it can get super complicated and super expensive really fast.

I’ve been traveling the world since I was a kid, but I didn’t truly understand the importance of finding the right way to stay connected until I started solo traveling. In this guide, I’ll walk you through all the options based on my personal experience as an American iPhone user.

While this applies to anyone traveling, it’s especially useful if you’re from the U.S. and using a phone with an American phone number, carrier, and service setup.

Why It’s a Bit More Complicated for American iPhone Users

Let’s start with this: iPhones sold in the U.S. (from the iPhone 14 onward) no longer have a physical SIM card slot. That means you can’t just pop in a new SIM when you land in a different country like travelers from many other parts of the world can.

This is unfortunate because physical SIM cards are often the cheapest and most practical way to stay connected abroad—especially if you’re traveling long-term and moving through multiple countries.

Instead, with the newer U.S. iPhones, your only option is to use an eSIM. We’ll get into that in a bit. But before we go there, let’s cover all the options, including the more expensive—but popular—ones like international roaming.

Also, just to clarify: I’ve never traveled with a non-iPhone, so I can’t speak directly about Samsung, Google Pixel, or Android devices. This article is based on my experience traveling with an iPhone, an iPad, and a laptop.

If you’re using a different device, I recommend checking your specific phone’s compatibility with physical SIMs and eSIMs before making a plan.

Understanding Your U.S. Phone Carrier and Apps

In the U.S., most of us are with major carriers like:

• AT&T
• Verizon
• T-Mobile
• Mint Mobile
• Visible
• Others

And unlike many travelers from other countries, Americans often rely heavily on Apple apps tied directly to their carrier and phone number.

These include:

• Messages (iMessage)
• FaceTime
• Phone app (calls using your U.S. number)

All of these work off your American carrier plan and your +1 phone number.

However, around the world, the most popular messaging and calling app is WhatsApp. It lets you call, text, and video chat anyone—no matter where they are or what number they have—as long as you have Wi-Fi or data. The key thing is: WhatsApp works independently of your American carrier.

So, if you’re traveling abroad and want to stay in touch without racking up a huge bill or relying on U.S. service, WhatsApp is a must. You can use it with your U.S. number even if your primary SIM is inactive, and your messages will remain intact.

Before you leave, make sure your key contacts also have WhatsApp downloaded—especially if they’re not already using it.

Option 1: International Roaming (The Easy, Expensive Route)

This is what most people do, especially when traveling for just a few days or when they don’t know about better options. It’s simple to activate, but it’s also the most expensive.

How It Works:

• You leave your U.S. SIM in your phone.
• You turn on international roaming in your settings.
• You get charged a daily fee based on your plan.

Now, here’s the important part: Roaming fees vary by carrier and plan. Some factors that affect your pricing:

• Whether you’re on an individual or family plan
• Which carrier you use (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.)
• Whether your plan includes international perks

For example, on my AT&T family plan, the international roaming fee is $12/day per device, and after 10 days, it’s free for the rest of that billing cycle. So if you only need it for 10 days, great—but if you’re traveling for a month, that’s $120 per device, which really adds up.

Now you might be thinking, “$120/month doesn’t sound that bad for unlimited data.” But over time? Not worth it. I traveled for nine months across over 10 countries, and using eSIMs, I spent less than $120 total during that entire time.

Keep in mind, too, that not every international plan includes calls or texts. Some only include data. So you might still be charged extra for outgoing calls or texts—even if you’re already paying a daily roaming fee. Always check the fine print.

Yes, roaming is super easy to activate—you just toggle it on in your settings—but it’s also the most expensive and the least flexible option. If you’re only going away for a week, it might be fine. But if you’re backpacking, working remotely, or slow traveling, it’s not the best deal.