When traveling abroad, mobile roaming charges can quickly add up if you’re not prepared, and the most important thing you need to do is just contact your provider and ask them.
We’ve put together a list of 4 things you can do to avoid unexpected costs:
1. Check Your Provider’s Roaming Plans
Contact your carrier to see what international packages they offer (e.g. daily or weekly roaming passes), and confirm with them what is included – data, calls & SMS – and the cost of exceeding limits.
This is a quick guide on what Simpatico’s Roaming Packages can offer:
- O2: Free EU roaming (up to 25 GB); £5/day for global roaming.
- EE: £2/day in the Europe Zone, £7.50/day in the Business Zone, and £10/day in the World Zone.
- Three: £2/day in EU (12 GB cap); £5/day in certain non-European countries
- Vodafone: £2/day in EU for 5GB, 10GB & 20GB contracts (unlimited contracts have free roaming for most European countries); £5 daily charge for non-European countries
Please Note – there are countries that are not covered by roaming on any of the major UK networks. These are typically destinations considered high-risk, under international sanctions, or where UK networks do not have roaming agreements. Check with your provider if you are unsure.
2. Use Wi-Fi Whenever Possible
- Use Wi-Fi for calls and messages through apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Skype.
- Consider downloading maps and entertainment offline before you travel to avoid data use.
3. Control Data Usage
- Switch mobile data roaming OFF unless you need it, here’s how:
iPhone go to Settings > Mobile Service > Mobile Data Options > Toggle Data Roaming – Off
Android (may differ slightly depending on brand) go to Settings > Network & Internet or Connections > Select Mobile Network or SIMS > Toggle Data Roaming – Off
- Turn off background app refresh and automatic updates.
4. Use Messaging & VoIP Apps Instead of Regular Calls
- Stick to WhatsApp, Telegram, or similar apps for free calls/messages over Wi-Fi.
- Avoid SMS and standard calls when possible, as they are often the most expensive.
Mobile Travel Checklist – Before You Leave:
- Check your roaming plan with your carrier (costs, packages, limits)
- Activate or buy a roaming pass if it’s cheaper than pay-as-you-go rates, or use Simpatico where all network options come with a daily pass for different destinations
- Download offline maps (Google Maps → Offline Maps)
- Download content (music, shows, e-books) to avoid streaming abroad
- Turn off auto-updates and cloud backups (they can eat up data)
- Install messaging/calling apps (WhatsApp, Signal, Skype, FaceTime)