How to Avoid Roaming Charges (Especially When Travelling)

You land. 
You switch your phone on. 
You get that text. 

“Welcome abroad. Data charges may apply.” 

Instant panic. 

Roaming charges have ruined more trips than lost luggage. One minute you’re Googling directions or posting a sunset pic, next minute your bill is doing madness when you get home.

If you’ve ever wondered how to avoid roaming charges, or more specifically how to avoid roaming charges when travelling, this is for you. No scare tactics, no boring legal chat. Just practical, real-life ways to stay connected without your phone bill taking the absolute mick. 

What Are Roaming Charges? 

Roaming charges are what you get charged when your phone connects to a network outside your home country. 

Basically, when you travel, your UK network lets you “borrow” a foreign network. That network charges your provider. Your provider then charges you. And somehow it ends up being expensive for opening Google Maps for 30 seconds. 

Roaming charges can apply to: 

• Mobile data 
• Making or receiving calls 
• Sending texts 

Data is usually the biggest problem. Calls can sting too, but data is where the damage really happens. 

User story: Ayesha, 24, London 
Ayesha checked directions in Rome using mobile data. No streaming, no videos, just maps. She came home to a bill that made her question every life choice. Turns out roaming data is ruthless. 

Why Roaming Charges Can Be So Expensive 

Roaming charges aren’t expensive by accident. There are a few reasons they hit so hard. 

First, you’re using another network’s infrastructure. That network wants paying. 

Second, roaming data is often charged per megabyte if you’re not on a roaming plan. That adds up frighteningly fast. 

Third, your phone does stuff in the background even when you’re not touching it. Emails syncing. Apps refreshing. Updates lurking. 

So even if you think “I barely used my phone”, your phone might disagree. 

User story: Tom, 29, Leeds 
Tom swore he didn’t use data abroad. Turns out his phone quietly backed up photos and refreshed apps. His bill said otherwise. 

How to Avoid Roaming Charges When Travelling 

This is the part you actually care about. 

Here’s how to avoid roaming charges when travelling without turning into a digital hermit. 

Turn Off Data Roaming Before You Leave 

This is non-negotiable. 

Data roaming is what allows your phone to use mobile data abroad. Turning it off stops accidental data use completely. 

Do this before you even get to the airport. Don’t wait until you land. 

Once it’s off: 

• No surprise data charges 
• No background data sneaking through 
• No stress 

You can still use Wi-Fi with data roaming turned off. 

User story: Malik, 22, Birmingham 
Malik forgot to turn roaming off on a trip to Turkey. His phone connected automatically and rinsed data in minutes. Next trip, roaming off from the start. Problem solved. 

Use Wi-Fi Whenever Possible 

Wi-Fi is your best mate abroad. 

Hotels, cafés, airports, trains, even random restaurants usually have it. It might not always be fast, but it’s free. 

Use Wi-Fi for: 

• Messaging apps 
• Social media 
• Uploading photos 
• Video calls 
• Checking bookings 

Just be sensible with public Wi-Fi. Avoid logging into banking apps on sketchy networks. 

User story: Chloe, 27, Brighton 
Chloe lived off café Wi-Fi while travelling. Coffee, Wi-Fi, messages sent. Zero roaming charges. Elite behaviour. 

Download Maps, Media, and Travel Documents Offline 

This one is so underrated. 

Before you travel, download: 

• Google Maps for offline use 
• Boarding passes and tickets 
• Hotel confirmations 
• Spotify playlists or Netflix shows 

That way, you’re not burning data just to find your way or kill time on a flight. 

User story: Sam, 31, Reading 
Sam downloaded Google Maps before travelling. Everyone else was panicking about signal. He was navigating like a local, no data needed. 

Smart Mobile Settings That Reduce Roaming Costs 

Your phone has settings designed to stop it rinsing data. You just need to actually use them. 

Enable Low Data Mode or Data Saver 

Most phones have a low data or data saver mode. 

This reduces: 

• Background activity 
• App refresh 
• Data-heavy tasks 

It won’t stop roaming completely, but it massively reduces sneaky usage. 

User story: Priya, 26, Manchester 
Priya switched on data saver while abroad. Her phone stopped doing background nonsense and her data lasted way longer. 

Disable App Updates and Background Data 

Apps updating abroad is a rookie mistake. 

Turn off: 

• Automatic app updates 
• Background app refresh 
• Cloud photo backups 

You can update everything when you’re back on solid Wi-Fi. 

User story: Ben, 28, Croydon 
Ben’s phone updated apps overnight abroad. Painful lesson. Now he disables updates before every trip. 

Alternatives to Standard Roaming 

If you actually want mobile data abroad without stress, there are better options than standard roaming. 

Use an eSIM for Travel 

An eSIM lets you add a digital SIM for the country you’re visiting. 

No swapping SIM cards. No tiny trays. No losing your main SIM.

eSIMs are great if: 

• You want instant data 
• You’re visiting multiple countries 
• Your phone supports eSIM 

You usually pay a fixed amount for a data bundle, which makes costs predictable. 

User story: Farah, 25, Luton 
Farah used an eSIM on a Euro trip. She paid once, tracked usage easily, and didn’t stress about bills at all. 

Buy a Local SIM Card 

Old-school, but still effective. 

Buying a local SIM gives you local rates and often loads of data for cheap. Great for longer trips. 

Downsides: 

• You’ll get a new number 
• You need to swap SIMs 
• Not ideal for short trips 

Still, if you’re staying put for weeks, it’s a solid option. 

User story: Ryan, 34, Nottingham 
Ryan bought a local SIM while staying in Thailand for a month. Cheap data, no roaming worries, job done. 

How to Check and Monitor Roaming Costs 

If you do use roaming, keep an eye on it. 

Most phones show: 

• Data usage by app
• Roaming data usage 
• Daily or monthly totals 

Check this daily when travelling. Don’t wait until you’re home and scared to open your bill. 

Many networks also send usage alerts. Read them. Don’t ignore them and hope for the best. 

Special Situations to Watch Out For 

Some situations are especially brutal for roaming charges. 

Roaming on Cruises, Ferries, and Boats 

This is where things get wild. 

Your phone might connect to satellite networks at sea. These are extremely expensive.

Always: 

• Turn on airplane mode 
• Use ship Wi-Fi only if needed 

Seriously, roaming at sea is not the one. 

User story: Jess, 30, Liverpool 
Jess checked Instagram on a ferry. One scroll. Massive charge. Never again. 

Border Zones and Stopovers 

Near borders, your phone can jump networks without warning. 

You might be in one country but your phone connects to another network entirely. 

Same with airport stopovers. Your phone can roam even if you’re just passing through. 

Quick fix: 

• Use airplane mode near borders 
• Manually select networks if needed 

How Talk Home Mobile Helps You Avoid Roaming Charges 

Here’s the thing most people clock way too late. Avoiding roaming charges isn’t just about flicking a few settings when you land. It actually starts with who you’re on as a network back home. 

And yeah, this is where Talk Home Mobile low-key comes in clutch. 

Talk Home Mobile is built for people who travel, call abroad, message loads, and just want things to work without their phone taking the mick the second they leave the UK. No drama, no sneaky extras, just clear rules so you’re not stressing mid-trip. 

A few ways Talk Home Mobile helps keep roaming stress to a minimum: 

• Clear roaming rules, so you’re not guessing what’s included 
• EU roaming options on selected plans, which is handy if you’re hopping around Europe 
• WiFi Calling, so you can make calls over WiFi and keep roaming switched off 
• No mid-contract price hikes, meaning no jump scares when the bill lands 
• SIM-only flexibility, so switching things up before a trip is dead easy 

If you’re the type who lives on café WiFi, hotel WiFi, airport WiFi, or even your mate’s dodgy Airbnb router, WiFi Calling is a game changer. Your calls still go through. Texts still land. Your mobile data doesn’t get touched. Roaming stays off. Sorted. 

User story: Farah, 27, London 
Farah does weekend trips around Europe and refuses to turn roaming on. She uses WiFi Calling on her Talk Home Mobile SIM, sends WhatsApps on WiFi, and checks Google Maps offline. She’s travelled loads and hasn’t been hit with a roaming charge once. No stress, no panic, no surprise bills. 

The big win here is peace of mind. When you’re on holiday, the last thing you want is checking your phone like, “Wait… did that cost me?” Talk Home Mobile makes it way easier to just get on with your trip and not worry about your phone doing something cursed in the background. 

Can You Avoid Roaming Charges Completely? 

Yes. Fully. No loopholes needed. 

If you: 

• Turn off data roaming 
• Use Wi-Fi 
• Download things offline 
• Use eSIMs or local SIMs 

You can travel without paying a single penny in roaming charges. 

It just takes a bit of prep. 

Final Tips to Avoid Unexpected Charges 

Quick checklist before you travel: 

• Turn off data roaming 
• Enable data saver 
• Disable background updates 
• Download essentials offline 
• Decide on eSIM or local SIM 
• Keep an eye on usage 

Do this and you’re sorted. 

Your holiday budget should go on food, experiences, and memories. Not a phone bill that makes you cry. 

Frequently Asked Questions