Today’s generation can’t go anywhere without their smartphone. No matter how hard you try to restrict yourself from using your phone, we all know that it’s easier said than done.  You will definitely want to post that perfect Eiffel Tower selfie on your Instagram account or start a live video from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. You might also want to use the phone to find the perfect restaurant/spot for a date night or a family dinner. There are several pros of carrying a smartphone along with you while travelling, just make sure you use it smartly.

Here are a few tips to use your mobile phone smartly while travelling abroad-

Beware of Free WiFi Connections

The international data pack is generally too expensive. Therefore, we tend to use a hotel or public WiFi connection to update our social handle or make our online transactions. Though it is not always unsafe, it can sometimes land you in the problem. Be wary, as hackers can also monitor hostel or hotel’sWiFi.

Google Translate (and Maps)

We all know that Google has made our lives easier. Be it Gmail, Google Maps, Google Translate, or Google Play, Google has penetrated our daily life deeply. While in aboard, you can use Google Translate to translate a word or phrase to or from dozens of languages. Apart from Google Translate, you can use Google Maps to reach anywhere in the world.

Lock screen

Having a lock screen on your phone is probably one of the most important things while travelling with a phone. These days we have a lot of photos, videos, and other essential documents saved on our phones. In case, our phone gets stolen while sightseeing, all the personal content will be compromised, bringing in a lot of trouble. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Turn off Auto Sync

If you decide to buy a local SIM, then you should definitely turn off Auto Sync as local carriers charge you per megabyte, which can be really expensive.

Shorter, Retractable Cables

It’s the time to ditch long cables as they take a lot of time to charge your device. Short or retractable cables work amazingly and are more comfortable to be packed. The other method you can use to charge your phone quickly is by putting it on airplane mode or by using a Travel USB Charger.

Battery pack

Carry extra battery packs as they can be convenient when you run out of charge in the middle of nowhere. Being with a discharged phone in abroad is troublesome. Firstly you won’t be able to contact your near and dear ones. You won’t be able to use the maps or translate the foreign language at all.  Hence, take extra caution and pack a battery pack with you.

It’s unquestionably worth travelling with your phone. You need your phone to contact people, reach a desirable spot, make a payment and much more. Like anything, we advise you to be conscious of your surroundings – like not leaving it on a table, unattended, and you’ll probably be fine. We also suggest you cover your trip with a travel insurance policy that gives you peace of mind while you enjoy taking that perfect selfie. A travel insurance policy is your ideal partner when you are travelling abroad.

By Chakraborty

Dr Chakrabarty is the Chief Innovation Officer of IntuiComp TeraScience. Earlier she was Assistant Professor of Delhi University, a QS ranked university in India. Before that she has held research positions in IIT Mumbai, IIT Chennai and IISc Bangalore. She holds 2 patents and over 20 research publications in her name which are highly cited. Her area of research is in smart technologies, integrated devices and communications. She also has a penchant for blogging and is an editor of Business Fundas.