Temporary Local Sim Card
If you are staying in one place for an extended period of time, a temporary local Sim Card is your best bet. I used one of these for four weeks in Cusco, Peru (Claro brand) and in Spain and Bulgaria this worked smoothly as well (Orange Mundo brand).
*Important Note*
Using an alternate Sim card requires that your phone is unlocked! For an iPhone, there are two ways to acquire an unlocked phone.
(1) you payed a lump sum for your phone when you directly bought it from Apple.
(2) you have had your phone for two years and are eligible to go through the unlocking process over the phone with your cell service provider.
Sim Cards are sold in convenience stores around the world, and offer low flat fees for one month of prepaid phone service at a time. In Cusco, Peru, there were multiple brands to choose from but I ultimately settled on Claro after seeking advice from online discussion boards and locals. I did the same in Spain, and went with the brand Orange. I had positive experiences with both of these brands.
Most SIM cards will give activation directions in the local language - ask for help with this when you are in the store, or the data won’t work!
International Cell Phone
An international cell phone is a great option for emergency situations. I will bring an international cell phone for the entirety of my trip. Phone calls cost $1/minute and sending texts is $.50 per minute, but for the occasional emergency or desire to call ahead to reserve a hotel late at night, it is a great option.
This popular app is a primary mode of communication in many parts of the world, and offers a free text messaging service over wifi. In my previous travel experiences, this was the most popular mode of communication with other travelers. Viber is a similar app that fulfuills the same purpose.
Wix Mobile
If you are a blogger like me, and choose to use Wix to host your site, there is a (somewhat shitty) mobile app available that allows me to post about my travels when abroad. This free app will not allow me to make major blog changes as far as site structure or design, but I will be able to compose and post from my phone. As I will not be bringing a laptop with me over seas, this will be an essential feature.
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