How to avoid sky-high mobile bills when travelling this summer

Top tips for using your phone abroad without breaking the bank

With the summer in full swing, the kids on school holidays and millions of people in Spain heading abroad for their summer getaways, now’s a good time to check how your mobile phone plan works when you’re outside the country. If you’re travelling within the European Union, you’re in luck - you can call, text and use data just like you do at home. But outside the EU, things get a bit more complicated and a lot more expensive if you’re not careful.

Simple ways to keep your costs down abroad

• Turn off roaming completely: You can usually do this in your phone settings or by contacting your provider.
• Rely on Wi-Fi: Many airports, hotels, cafés and public spaces offer free Wi-Fi. It’s the easiest and cheapest way to stay connected.
• Buy a local SIM card: If your phone is unlocked, you can get a SIM in your destination country. These often come with better data packages than international roaming.
• Get a roaming plan: Some providers offer fixed-rate bundles for calls and data abroad. These can save money if you know roughly how much you’ll use.
• Try an eSIM: This is a digital SIM you can download for use in other countries. Companies like Orange, Vodafone and Movistar now offer international eSIMs – just make sure your phone supports it.