5 Tricks to Ensure You Always Have Internet Access on Your Travels

If you’re a passionate globetrotter or a digital nomad who can’t live without a decent internet connection while on the go – welcome to the club, we completely understand your concerns! However, a fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection can sometimes be an impossible mission that can bring a lot of stress and anxiety. If that’s exactly what you want to avoid, just keep on reading and learn about five useful tricks on how to ensure you always have internet access on your travels. Check them out and enjoy!

Look for accommodation with free internet connection

Finding a hotel, AirBnB, or a rental apartment that provides a free internet connection for their guests should be your top priority, as this is one of the best ways to always have internet access while on the road. It’s highly likely to cover both your private and your business need for data volume, but there’s often a small catch – the Wi-Fi sometimes isn’t as fast as you hoped for. In order to prevent such problems, you should either check its speed in advance or go directly to that place and run a speed test. Of course, checking out other people’s reviews is highly recommended, so don’t skip that step and avoid that place if former guests ranked it poorly.

Use Wi-Fi in cafés, restaurants, and public spaces

Another way to have internet access while traveling around the world is to use free Wi-Fi in cafés and restaurants, which is a great way to post a couple of photos and scroll through your Instagram feed while having a cup of coffee or a delicious meal. However, you should bear in mind that Wi-Fi connections sometimes tend to be slow in such places, so be patient and give them some time. Besides that, you should also know that some cities offer free or cheap internet connections in particular public areas, especially in the city center, so be sure to take advantage of these and give them a try as well.

Buy an inexpensive local SIM card

On the other hand, if you need a 24/7 internet connection while on the go, you should definitely buy a cheap local SIM card. These usually include text and talk time, as well as a highly required data volume you’ll be able to use outside your accommodation. For example, if you’re traveling to the US, getting a local SIM card full of data is the easiest and the cheapest solution. All you have to do is to find the nearest AT&T store and ask for the deal that will meet your needs. Just bear in mind that your phone needs to be unlocked in order to use a local SIM card, and you’ll be more than fine.

Avoid using apps with ads and turn off updates

A large number of apps you can download for free are actually designed to bombard you with ads, and this kind of additional content actually equals additional download. This basically means that using apps with ads will eat through your data, so try to stay away from them as much as possible while traveling. You should definitely do a little research of your apps before you hit the road, so that you learn which apps to stay away from while far from home. Besides that, you should turn off updates as well, as these can also use your data without you even noticing it. Just download them when you have access to Wi-Fi and everything will be okay.

Use an external wireless card

Last but not least, using an external wireless card is a great way to always have internet access while traveling. It will combat weak connections and slow internet speeds, and it’s particularly beneficial for people who love to travel with their laptop. A good external wireless card has a powerful transmitter and a good antenna which can reach much further than the one in your laptop, providing you with a stronger Wi-Fi connection. If that’s exactly what you need, invest your money in an external wireless card, plug it into your laptop via USB, and enjoy a fabulous Wi-Fi connection without any distractions.

As you can see, there are a lot of tricks that can help you have internet access wherever you go. All you have to do is to stick to our tips and guidelines, and once that’s done, you won’t have to worry about your internet connection anywhere in the world!

About the Author

Roxana is a travel enthusiast and lifestyle consultant from Sydney and she loves to write about her adventures. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family. Being a typical Aussie, she often hits the waves and loves beaches and sunshine! You can find out more about her writing following her on twitter and facebook. She is also one of the editors at Highstylife Magazine.