Phones, Money and Admin Abroad

Data

An eSIM bought before departure is the simplest option for most phones. Regional plans covering Europe or Asia typically cost 8 to 20 EUR for 5 to 20 GB, which is far less than roaming outside a bundled allowance.

Install it at home but activate on arrival. Keep your original number active for bank verification messages, which is the detail people forget.

Cards and cash

Use a card with no foreign transaction fee, and always choose to be charged in the local currency when a terminal offers a conversion. That offer is never in your favour.

Withdraw from bank-owned machines rather than standalone ones in tourist areas, which charge high fixed fees and often push their own conversion.

• Mostly cardless: Sweden, Netherlands, UK
• Carry some cash: Italy, Greece, Germany, rural Spain and Portugal
• Cash important: Japan for small restaurants and shrines, Thailand for markets and transport

Documents to have offline

Passport photo page, travel insurance policy number and emergency line, accommodation addresses, transport tickets and any visa or entry authorisation.

Keep them in a single offline note or PDF, and email a copy to yourself as a backup. Do not rely on an app that needs data to open.

Insurance, seriously

Check that your policy covers the activities you have planned. Hiking above a certain altitude, via ferrata, scooter riding and diving are commonly excluded or need an add-on.

For scooter and motorbike hire abroad, most policies require the correct licence category. Riding without it usually voids both the travel insurance and the rental cover.

Small habits

Download offline maps for each city. Screenshot tickets. Keep one backup card separate from your wallet. Note the local emergency number, which is 112 across the EU.

Tell your bank where you are going only if they still require it, which most no longer do, but do check that your card has not expired mid-trip.