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Roaming and travel apps:
Tips for travelling abroad
Would you like to travel abroad without any worries and stay connected to the whole world? Today, roaming makes this possible. But how can you keep your costs for calls, text messages and mobile data abroad as low as possible? And what else do you need to bear in mind when using your mobile phone abroad? Here we have compiled valuable information on roaming, tips for handling your holiday photos wisely and recommendations for useful travel apps.
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You will find these topics on this page:
- We define the term ‘roaming’ and give tips on how you can keep your roaming charges low.
- We talk about holiday photos on social media and what you should bear in mind.
- How can you use Wi-Fi safely at your holiday destination?
- And we show you a handful of lifesaver apps for your next holiday abroad.
You will find the following topics on this page
Topic
What is roaming?
Roaming means using mobile internet abroad, or more precisely, roaming is the function that allows you to access the internet outside the area covered by your own mobile network provider. Because you are using the infrastructure of a foreign network, additional charges may apply.
Mobile networks have limited coverage. Network operators therefore rely on partner networks abroad to ensure that their customers have mobile network access wherever they travel.
This means that when you make calls, send messages or use mobile data while abroad, you are usually doing so via the local network. This can result in additional costs, i.e. roaming charges.
There are various ways to do this. These 4 tips will help you optimise your roaming before and during your trip:
- Check your roaming credit: Many subscriptions already include international roaming volume. First, check your credit in the Swisscom Cockpit(opens in new tab) to decide whether and what further preparations are necessary. Our larger competitors offer similar functions: at Sunrise(opens in new tab) or at Salt(opens in new tab).
- Set up a roaming limit: In Cockpit(opens in new tab), you can define and change your cost limit. Once your set limit is reached, roaming is automatically blocked and no further costs are incurred.
Tip: If you have not purchased a call or data package for your destination country, you can only make calls and send messages on the foreign network once you have set a roaming limit higher than CHF 0. - Use data roaming selectively: Only use data when you actually need it. Then switch off mobile data in your device settings or put the device in flight mode.
- Switch off the mobile hotspot: A mobile hotspot allows other devices to connect to the internet via your mobile connection. This leads to increased data consumption. It is therefore better to switch off the mobile hotspot when abroad.
- Roaming for children: If you offer your child in the back seat your smartphone as a hotspot during the journey, this can be expensive. We recommend that children download the films they want to watch on the journey to their device at home beforehand. Many mobile games do not require internet access – these are also recommended for the 7-hour journey to Tuscany.
- Additional tip: Google® Maps(opens in new tab) allows you to download a map section to your mobile device. You can access this map at any time without network access or data consumption and navigate to your campsite.
If necessary, purchase a roaming package for calls and data: This allows you to use your smartphone abroad easily and cost-effectively. A roaming package(opens in new tab) is usually valid for one month. The price per package varies depending on the services included. You can easily activate the desired package in your Cockpit(opens in new tab). The costs will be charged to your next monthly bill.
Topic
Conscious use of images
Have you taken a holiday photo that your friends absolutely must see? That's great. But before uploading or sending it, check whether other people are visible in the picture. If so, ask them for permission and make sure you don't disclose any unnecessary personal details such as names, addresses or locations.
Capturing a special holiday experience or a spectacular moment with friends in a photograph is a wonderful thing. However, sharing this photo affects not only your privacy, but also that of your friends and family. Therefore, please ensure that you treat the information and images you publish online with respect.
It is worth paying attention to these things when sharing holiday photos:
- Share group photos with caution: Are other people recognisable in your holiday photos? Be sure to ask for permission before publishing the pictures. Respect the privacy of your friends and family.
- Avoid sharenting: This new phenomenon refers to parents often carelessly posting pictures online that (also) show their own children. You can read more about sharenting and our tips for parents on our topic page Sexting, sharenting and legal pornography.
- Protect personal details: Be careful not to disclose sensitive information such as your name or address. Also check the comments to ensure that no unwanted information ends up on the internet.
- Remove the location from the image information: Disable location sharing in your camera settings and remove manual locations when sharing your photos.
- Check the image content: Is the photo suitable for public viewing? Or does it show an intimate moment or an embarrassing situation that should not be shared?
- Use closed groups: You could consider using closed groups to share holiday photos in a private setting. There are various services, including Swisscom myCloud(opens in new tab), that offer such features. But remember: once it's online, it stays on the internet.
Topic
Wi-Fi – but securely
‘What's the Wi-Fi password?’ Alongside the room number and breakfast room, this is the most important question when checking into a hotel. Wi-Fi is particularly popular abroad, as network access allows travellers to access data free of charge. However, there are a few things to bear in mind when surfing safely abroad.
As a general rule, avoid public Wi-Fi networks, as they pose an increased risk of data theft or malware. Do not make any payments or conduct any sensitive business, and do not share any personal information, such as images of your ID, on a public Wi-Fi network.
How to stay safe when using foreign networks:
- Disable automatic Wi-Fi connection: This ensures that you can choose the Wi-Fi network and when to connect.
- Choose secure Wi-Fi networks: Check the name of the Wi-Fi network (SSID) you want to connect to. Does it match the name of the hotel or restaurant you are in?
- Choose password-protected Wi-Fi networks: A secure network should always be password-protected. Ask the hotel or restaurant for the password and never connect to open networks.
- Use a VPN: Establish an encrypted connection with a virtual private network (VPN) when you need to make a payment via online banking, for example.
- Update your device: Update your mobile phone, tablet or laptop before you travel to close any known security gaps in good time.
- Deactivate file sharing: By deactivating file sharing, you can prevent others from accessing your data on public networks.
- Do not connect USB cables to public charging ports: USB cables can be used to transfer not only power but also data. Cybercriminals can use a tampered charging port to access your data without your knowledge.
When abroad, ensure that you handle your data securely.
Generally, using your own provider's mobile network offers the most secure Internet connection. However, please note: clarify in advance which services are included in your subscription and whether a roaming package is recommended.
Topic
Useful travel apps
How do I get directly to the nearest tourist attraction? What are the best restaurants nearby? How do you say ‘thank you’ in Greek again? There are a handful of apps that can prove very useful when travelling. We present a selection and give you tips on how to use these apps efficiently.
4 apps we recommend for travelling abroad
- Travel Admin: provides FDFA travel advice for each country, gives tips or assessments on what to look out for on your trip. The app also provides emergency numbers.
- Currency converter: The Currency FX currency converter always uses the current daily exchange rate. The source and target currencies can be changed as desired in the app, making it easy to convert amounts.
- Google Translate: In this app, you can choose both the languages and the format of the translation yourself: text-to-text translations are possible, as are live translations with text recognition in an image or as a voice recording. Tip: Text-to-text translations of one language can be made available offline. (Live translations, however, require an internet connection.)
- Google Maps: The map app is great for finding your way around unfamiliar places. Not only does it show you the shortest route, it also displays nearby attractions and restaurants. Tip: You can download freely selectable map sections in advance and make them available offline. This allows you to navigate to your destination without any problems, even without an internet connection.
Other practical apps
- Duolingo: Would you like to learn the local language of your travel destination? Duolingo is an attractive language learning app that introduces you to unfamiliar words, their pronunciation and usage in a playful way.
- Flight Tracker: This app provides real-time flight tracking information. It keeps friends and family members informed about the progress of your flight or any delays and changes.
- Airbnb: Private individuals rent out their accommodation worldwide on Airbnb. Airbnb is a good alternative to hotel accommodation, as the mostly well-equipped apartments give you a feeling of being at home. Landlords often provide their guests with helpful tips and local recommendations.
- Tripadvisor: In this app, travellers can find helpful reviews, recommendations and information about hotels, restaurants, activities and destinations.
Tips for using apps abroad to reduce your roaming charges
- Turn off automatic app start-up: Automatic start-up of videos and animations consumes unnecessary data. It is therefore better to turn it off when abroad.
- Deactivate automatic updates: Uploading photos to a cloud (such as Swisscom myCloud(opens in new tab)) only works with an internet connection. It is best to wait for a secure Wi-Fi connection and otherwise pause automatic uploads to the cloud.
- Pause automatic uploads: Uploading photos to a cloud only works with an internet connection. It is best to wait for a secure Wi-Fi connection and otherwise pause automatic uploads to the cloud.
- Use offline functions: Streaming services such as Netflix or Spotify can also be used offline. To do this, select the desired titles in the app and click on the ‘make available offline’ function.
This is important
- Roaming refers to the mobile internet usage of a partner network abroad.
- Check your roaming credit and roaming limits before and during your trip to avoid any unpleasant surprises at the end of your trip.
- If you publish holiday photos on social networks, make sure you do not publish any unnecessary personal details and obtain the permission of all persons depicted.
- Wi-Fi allows you to access data free of charge abroad. Look for secure, password-protected Wi-Fi networks and use a VPN if possible.
- Apps such as Google Maps or Travel Admin are helpful travel companions that are best downloaded and prepared before you travel.
Useful links
Further content
Would you like more information about using mobile phones abroad? We have compiled the most important documents and links here.
Videos
Travel tips for the summer holidays.
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Ask Marcel
Marcel is a trainer at Swisscom. He is available to answer any questions you may have about travelling abroad.
Marcel
Trainer at Swisscom