There is nothing that can ruin a trip and holiday like exorbitantly high cellphone bills. The best and first advice always is to take your sim card out of your mobile phone or just keep it switched off.
Tips & advice to limit charges and how to use your smartphone as a clever travel tool:
1. Turn Off Data Roaming
Some mobile phones still run data in the background even if the roaming function is disabled. The newer models you can disable data and still run it on flight mode to make sure the phone is not updating app’s and emails in the background. Before departing make sure sms and mms settings are correct. When receiving sms’s or mms’s abroad you will be charged for the delivery.
2. Disable Push Notifications and Auto-Synching
Make sure Gmail, Facebook and all those data-hungry apps are disabled and will not be synching every few minutes.
3. Be Aware of How Much Data You’ve Used.
Reset your data tracker so you know exactly how much data you’ve used in a given time. If you have an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Usage (“Cellular Usage” on some phones) to reset data statistics. Samsung Settings > Connections > More networks. Most new Android phones also have settings.
4. Buy a SIM Card once you enter a new country.
Most African countries have cell and data reception. When entering a country the locals will quickly tell you which provider to use. Look out for travelers from North going South or vice verse to exchange data sticks. List of countries offering GSM coverage. Communication
5. Wi-Fi-Enabled Alternatives.
Most hotels, campsites, coffee shops, backpackers offer WiFi to Skype call if need be. European cities are not a problem at all and Wifi is available nearly everywhere if needed to use. We were able to use WiFi in certain Africa at some campsites and backpackers.
No need to waste money on satellite phones, we found the cost outweighs the benefits of having communication at all costs. When something happens in any case not much your family thousands of miles away can do for you at that given moment. It is not like they can send a helicopter to quickly recover you when you had an off in Angola. It’s an adventure after all and making plans when the shit hits the fan is just part of the risk.
6. Use a VPN for sensitive information transfers
Be sure to take steps to keep your data safe by using two important encryption practices. To encrypt data you send use a VPN (virtual personal network) service. There are many services that can do this, including Witopia.net, StrongVPN.com and Norton’s Hotspot Privacy. VPN services charge a fee for their use, with pay packages ranging from day passes for a few dollars to year-round protection.
Connect to websites via HTTPS, which encrypts anything you send and receive from the website. While a VPN service encrypts everything you send, HTTPS ensures that communication to and from a particular website is secure. To verify if you’re connected via HTTPS, look at the address bar of your browser window; you should see “HTTPS” at the beginning of the web address (or, on some web browsers, a lock icon).
7. Use off-line maps and applications.
You don’t need to leave your phone at home. There are a lot of limitations to smartphones when not able to access the net. But your smartphone can still be an invaluable helpful tool for info, serving as a pocket-sized travel guide, phrasebook, eReader, and music player, camera, video camera, torch, and even a beer guide. Smartphones can be a huge asset on the cross border or international trips.
Look for OSM-OpensourceMaps on Playstore or internet. Africa offline maps also on Playstore.
Google Maps. Though most mobile platforms can use Google Maps, only Android users can use it offline by choosing portions of the map to download and store locally. Maps will stay in memory for 30 days.
MapsWithMe. This app will download maps — including information about local businesses. The light version on Playstore is free. MAPS.ME
8.TripAdvisor Offline City Guides & Lonely Planet Guides
If you lean on TripAdvisor for information online, you’ll like their downloadable city guides, too, available for 80 cities worldwide. More in-depth guide and don’t want to carry around a bulky guidebook, Lonely Planet guides come as digital ebooks which can be loaded on to any phone or tablet you happen to have.
