One of the most frustrating hurdles when traveling is staying connected to those you left behind. This article by Blayne Sabbert from Stuff.co.nz discusses the different ways to side-step this hurdle.
FLYING HIGH: Downloading maps before you leave home can save on data while travelling. | Image Source: stuff.co.nz
Travelling overseas is fun, but excessive use of your phone resulting in big bills can take the shine off any trip.
It’s so easy to get off the plane, turn on your phone and get connected straight away. But if you’re not paying attention, you could get stung by hefty roaming charges when you get home.
More people want to use their phones while travelling and Spark (formerly Telecom) says its customers are using 700 per cent more data than in 2012 when travelling overseas.
The other alternative is to use a local sim card but the quality of service may not be what you are used to, not to mention the lack of coverage if you head to out-of-the-way areas.
But Kiwi phone companies are starting to offer tempting roaming deals, which is good for anyone who travels a lot and wants to stay connected.
The best deals are offered to those who have a monthly account, so if you are using prepay, it is worth your time reading up on how you can get the best prices.
There are some ways to ensure you don’t use data needlessly. Firstly, download any maps you think you may use. Google Maps is best for this, though the offline maps only last 30 days.
This also applies to any books, music or movies you may want access to while travelling. A bit of planning can not only save money but also time, as 3G or wi-fi in some countries is very slow.
Before you leave, transfer any photos to your computer or your cloud storage to make sure you have a lot of space for new snaps. Another trick is to disable mobile data so you phone can only use wi-fi.
Also, hunt out free wi-fi at cafes, restaurants or libraries to get your online fix. But the best ways to avoid steep costs is to leave your phone at home and enjoy your holiday device-free.
Vodafone
Packages: Account customers can pay $5 to use the calling minutes, texts and data on their New Zealand plans when visiting Australia, Britain, the United States, and 15 other countries.
Data: 50c/MB in Australia and $10/MB in other countries.
Calls: $3 to make a call and $1 to receive a call for many countries.
Texts: 80¢ to most countries.
Telecom
Packages: None available.
Data: $10 a day for Australia, US, Britain and 13 other countries for account customers. Prepaid customers pay $1/MB in Australia and up to $8 in other countries.
Calls: 49¢ to make a call and $1 to receive a call in Australia. This goes up to $4.49/$1 for other countries.
Texts: 80¢ a text in all countries.
2degrees
Packages: Account customers using their mobiles in Australia will pay 10c a minute for calls and texts and 10c/MB to Australian and New Zealand numbers. All customers can get 300Mb of data in Australia over seven days for $10.
Data: 50¢/MB in Australia, China, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, US and Vanuatu. Varies for other countries ($2.50/MB in Britain)
Calls: 44¢ a minute from and within Australia. Rates for other countries vary.
Texts: Texting in most countries costs 79¢, though only 10¢ in Australia for account customers.
Local Sim cards
The downside of buying a local sim card is that you don’t always know what you are getting. In Australia, Vodafone offers a good deal, but it’s coverage is quite poor in areas out of the main centres. Also, you have to find somewhere to buy them or queue at the airport with the dozens of other travellers, therefore it pays to do you homework before leaving home.
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