Sharing your top travel moments instantly with your loved ones back home is easy with technology but can mean less cash in your pocket for souvenirs. (Suddenly postcards sound better, right?) Check out Explorica’s tips for keeping in touch on the cheap and maybe you can have the best of both worlds.
- Ever heard of Skype? It’s an absolute bargain to use when you’re traveling with a laptop or a smart phone. The web application allows you to chat free from one wi-fi-connected device to another. Plus, there are penny options to call from your digital device to a regular phone. And if you “buy” a local number before you leave, it works abroad just like at home. But remember, to use Skype on your end, you need an Internet connection. And in some parts of the world, this might be hard to come by. That’s when Boingo.com can help. This service offers pay-as-you-go wi-fi plans in hotspots around the U.S. and in many international countries. (Best tip: Shut your cellular data and data roaming off when you travel to stop any auto downloads, like email, which really adds bulk to your bill.)
- Nowadays, apps are where it’s at. And there are a wide range of mobile apps that’ll let you call and text for absolutely zilch. Look up textplus.com, pinger.com or similar products from the Apple Store. Remember, you’ll need wi-fi or Internet access to put these handy apps into use.
- Lastly, travel light by buying a phone card that works best in your host country. A phone card will remove the worry of tempting sticky fingers or of misplacing your smart phone.