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Phones & Tech

Keeping your phone and gadgets working on the road: phone plans and eSIMs abroad, plug adapters and voltage, flying with electronics and power banks, and staying safe online and from theft.

Phones abroad

A traveler using a phone on a street abroad
Main guide

How to Use Your Phone Abroad Without a Huge Bill

Using your phone abroad can cost a fortune if you're not prepared. This guide compares carrier day passes, plans with roaming included, travel eSIMs, local SIM cards and Wi-Fi, with real cost examples, how to check your phone is ready, how much data you need, keeping your number for calls and security codes, and how to avoid surprise charges.
What US phone plans charge abroad Last checked on October 23, 2026.
Provider Price Details
AT&T International Day Pass, opens in a new tab $12 a day; $6 for each extra line Visit site AT&T International Day Pass, opens in a new tab
Google Fi Unlimited Premium plan, opens in a new tab Included ($65 a month plan) Visit site Google Fi Unlimited Premium plan, opens in a new tab
T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan, opens in a new tab Included in plan Visit site T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan, opens in a new tab

See all 7 options and how we chose them

For information only, not a recommendation. Rates and terms change often and may depend on where you live; check the details with the provider before you apply. Pond.com isn't paid by any provider listed here.

Plugs and power

Several travel plug adapters and a charger on a hotel desk
Main guide

Travel Plug Adapters and Voltage: What You Need for Each Country

Outlets and voltage differ around the world, so a US plug often won't fit, and some devices can be damaged. This guide shows the plug types and voltage in popular destinations, explains adapters vs voltage converters, how to check your devices, what to buy and how to stay safe.

Flying with electronics

A closed laptop, phone and earbuds case on an airplane tray table by the window
Main guide

Flying With Electronics: Security, Batteries and Rules on the Plane

Phones, laptops, power banks and other gadgets all come with rules at airport security and on the plane. This guide covers what goes in your carry-on vs checked bag, getting through security, lithium battery limits, using devices on board, luggage trackers, and what to do if a device overheats or slips into your seat.
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Your phone and gadgets on the road

Your phone is your map, camera, translator, wallet and boarding pass when you travel, so it pays to get it ready before you leave. Our guides cover the costs, the setup and the rules that trip travelers up.

Start with how to use your phone abroad without a huge bill, which compares carrier day passes, plans with roaming included, travel eSIMs and local SIMs with real cost examples. Then follow how to set up a travel eSIM step by step, or learn how to use your phone abroad without data if you'd rather rely on Wi-Fi.

Outlets and voltage differ around the world. Travel plug adapters and voltage shows which plug you'll need in popular destinations and which devices are safe to use abroad. Bringing styling tools? See using a hair dryer or straightener abroad. Sleep with a CPAP? See traveling with a CPAP machine.

For the airport and the plane, flying with electronics covers security checks, battery limits and using devices on board, and are power banks allowed on planes? explains the newest airline rules.

Stay safe too: learn whether public Wi-Fi is safe when traveling and how to protect your phone from theft. For paying abroad, see our guide to travel money.

Common questions

At minimum, your phone and charger, a plug adapter for your destination, a power bank in your carry-on and a charging cable for each device. A small universal adapter with USB ports and a pouch to keep cables together make life easier.

Start each day with a full charge, carry a power bank, and lower your screen brightness and close apps that use GPS when you don't need them. Downloaded offline maps also use less battery than streaming maps over mobile data.

Check your carrier's international options or buy a travel eSIM, update your phone, turn on location tracking and theft protection, back it up, and download offline maps, translation languages and your tickets.