5 tips for making affordable calls overseas
Sometimes you just have to make a call overseas, but as anyone who’s ever had a five minute conversation with international roaming switched on would agree, this can be a very expensive process. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We’ve put together a simple guide to international calling, with five expert tips to making and receiving calls overseas without it costing a fortune.
1. Turn International Roaming off
This is the first and most important thing you should do. Your provider is required to send you an SMS when you’re about to start incurring international roaming charges. Heed this warning, and turn international roaming off before you go!
2. Buy a prepaid SIM in Australia
Your local provider probably offers a range of travel packs catering for travellers who want to make cheap calls and texts overseas. There is also a range of prepaid SIM packages that are exclusively geared towards catering for travellers and can provide services if you’re visiting more than one country. Your phone may have to be unlocked though, so check with your provider.
3. Buy an overseas SIM when you arrive
This is a good idea if you’re just visiting the one country for an extended period of time. Local SIM cards geared at travellers are available at most airports, while you can visit a supermarket or department store to buy a local SIM (provided your phone is unlocked) and use the same provider the locals use. This is a useful, relatively inexpensive alternative for extended holidays.
4. Use apps and wifi
Make sure you download these apps before you go, but if you do that you’re golden! Download communication apps like Skype, iMessage of WhatsApp and as long as you can get to a Wi-Fi hotspot you can communicate with anyone, wherever. Skype offers a cheap rate for calls, iMessage allows you to communicate between Apple devices and WhatsApp offers connection between platforms.
5. Go without a phone
Sometimes having our conveniences when they’re overseas can distract us from taking in the sights and sounds of the experience. There’s a certain freedom that comes with arriving in a city where no one can contact you, and you won’t get any annoying texts from telecommunications companies when you’re fast asleep. It’s definitely something worth considering.