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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.

Roaming is the service that lets you use your mobile when you're in another country. For most people, it's enabled automatically, but the cost depends on where you're going and who your provider is.

Since 2017, there have been no extra charges for roaming between EU countries, including popular destinations like France, Germany and Italy, as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. You can use your minutes, texts and data exactly as you would in Spain, and receive calls without paying extra.

It’s also worth noting that some providers like Movistar and Vodafone don’t apply roaming charges in the UK, which is a welcome perk post-Brexit.

But if you’re planning to travel further afield, say to the US or South America, things change. Outside the EU, each mobile company sets its own rates, and charges can be eye-watering. In some cases, you could end up paying as much as €12 per megabyte of data. A quick scroll on Instagram could cost you more than dinner out.

To avoid nasty surprises, it’s well worth checking what your provider charges in your destination before you leave. Most companies list this information on their websites. For example, if you’re with Movistar and travelling to the United States, you’ll get 500MB of data per day for €6.05. Calls to Spain are €1.82 per minute (plus a €1.21 set-up fee), and each text costs €1.21.

Simple ways to keep your costs down abroad

If you’re heading outside the EU, there are a few things you can do to avoid racking up a big bill:

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.

Whatever your plans this summer, a few minutes checking your mobile plan now could save you a hefty bill later. Safe travels!

Image: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

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