Last Updated on February 12, 2024 by Travelationship
Whether taking a weekend holiday or traveling for several years, staying in touch with family and friends is essential. Social media has made it incredibly easy for any traveler with a smartphone to provide multiple updates on their daily activities, but what if you want to keep up with others on a more personal level?
We require different levels of communication to keep up with all aspects of our travels. For friends and family, we need a more personal form of communication, while for the blog, we need to keep updated more professionally.
Communication While Traveling
Here is a list of our favorite Apps/Programs and how we use each one:
Communicating Through Data
WhatsApp could not be any easier to use. We first learned of WhatsApp from our Rwandan friends. It has served us well in keeping in touch with our friends outside the U.S. Now that we are traveling, we use it religiously to remain in contact with friends worldwide; phone data service or the Internet is required to use WhatsApp. Get WhatsApp here.
Google Voice
We both decided to keep our cell phone numbers while traveling. Because we would be changing countries often, we thought it would be complicated and tiresome to update all our accounts with new local numbers continually. Although we are paying for basic monthly service, having a local number gives us peace of mind. Especially for our credit cards, travel insurance, banks, etc., to get in touch with us in case of emergencies. The best feature of Google Voice is the transcription of all voice mails into a text message. G.V. also allows any of our U.S. friends to text us anytime, and we can text right back – just as if we were still in the U.S. Get Google Voice here. *A U.S. phone number is required for use.
Skype
When we need that direct and visual interaction, we use Skype. We could use Facetime for some friends, but we have a good mix of iPhone and Android users in our network. Skype is one of the most widely available communication tools on Android phones and tablets, iPads, iPhones, Linux, Mac, PC, Playstation, Windows tablets & X-Box. Get Skype here.
iPhone/Apple
If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Macbook, and so does everyone else you are trying to communicate with, you have a couple of options. FaceTime and iMessage can work on cellular networks and just data, like through wifi. A decent bonus is built right in, so take advantage if you can.
Facebook/Instagram
We do our best to provide daily photo updates of our activities on both Facebook and Instagram. We are posting the same update to both, but I think we will be mixing that up soon to share more photos. Get Facebook here and Instagram here.
Messenger
While essentially a component of Facebook, Messenger can be a powerful stand-alone communication tool. You only need data to use it, making it great for hotels, restaurants, airports, and any place where you can grab some wifi. Several airlines even allow you to use Messenger for free on their paid network. Get Messenger here.
We have a few friends and family members who are not smartphone-savvy, and the only way to keep in touch is through email. Also, for blog business, email is our first official form of connecting. Popular free services are Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook.
Phone Network Communication
Sim Card
Local Sim cards can be pretty handy. With U.S. phone carriers charging crazy rates for International travel, they can be a long-term traveler’s saving grace. You can also use them with wifi hotspots or USB modems instead. Like anything, there are myriad options, and you are typically better off waiting until you arrive to get them. Read all the fine print and ask lots of questions.
U.S. Carriers
T-Mobile and Google Fi are the two U.S. carriers that give you the most options for using your current phone as is. Every phone plan is different, so double-check with your carrier about which plan you have and what options are available.
Phone Calls
For those areas where we can’t find the Internet or the electricity is limited, we rely on good old fashion phone calls. We have a cheap, reliable traveling phone that we use for local calls & texting. It also comes in handy when we are in places we either don’t purchase a sim card or don’t feel safe pulling out our smartphones.
Other Communication Options
Internet Cafes/Libraries
Don’t have a smartphone or computer? Don’t fret! Most countries have small cheap phones for purchase. Another option is using internet cafes for computer time. Pay as you need. Many libraries, especially in the U.S., have computers you can get on.
Mail/Post
If all else fails, remember snail mail? As much as we all seem to depend on technology, receiving a handwritten letter or postcard in the mail is a lovely surprise. By the way, there is an app to turn your photos into postcards