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Entity offers advice on how to stay connected abroad without your cellphone.

While you’re ecstatic as you step from the plane and begin your vacation, you’re worried about your lack of cell phone service. What if there’s an emergency and you have to call someone? What if you’re lost and need to use the GPS? After spending money to plan your trip abroad, nobody will want to go home to a phone bill that costs a fortune.

But there’s no need to freak out. There are ways to get your cell phone working again without having to break the bank.

According to Tim Stenovec from Tech Insider, “The least expensive and easiest way that I’ve found to use your phone abroad is to buy a local SIM card, which gives you a local phone number in whatever country you’re visiting.” Instead of paying for an international plan with your network at home, buy a prepaid international SIM card in your country of travel. This option is only available to those with a phone not restricted to only one carrier.

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However, if you are visiting more than one country, “Contacting AT&T and Verizon to set up international roaming or tolerating T-Mobile and Sprint’s slow data speeds may be better than the extra trouble of juggling multiple SIMs,” advises The New York Times.

If you decide to purchase a plan with your operator before you go on your trip, it does make a difference which wireless operator you use, says CNET. The four main operators in the U.S. are AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, all of which have varying plans with different restrictions. 

To err on the side of caution, download text or call apps that run on WiFi such as WhatsApp or Viber. For Apple users, iMessage and FaceTime can be another way of contacting others free of charge.

Don’t leave home worrying about how much you’re going to have to pay when you return after a great trip. Once you find a plan that is right for you, taking your phone abroad doesn’t have to be as frightening as you think.

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