Your data needs while travelling abroad will entirely depend on your needs. Data is an essential element that you should consider while packing your favourite travel essentials. So, if you’re wondering, ‘how much data do I need when I travel,’ and usage requirements overwhelm you, we have a solution. Read further to know how to stay connected and not blow through your entire data allowance in a day.
Understanding Your Data Needs
Streaming Videos: If you are a YouTuber or an influencer, streaming videos and catching up on the latest trends aren’t something you would want to miss out on. The best time to watch a YouTube video is on your trip, with a drink by the poolside. However, worrying about your data usage isn’t something you would want to think about. On average, streaming SD (Standard Definition) videos will require 1 GB per hour and HD (High Definition) videos will require 3 GB per hour.
Streaming Music: Listening to your favourite tunes while driving on an empty road abroad is a dream come true. But what if you get interrupted by an alert that your data just ran out? Don’t make the mistake of spoiling the mood, and be sure to have at least 150 MB per hour, which would make your usage 2-3 MB per minute.
Using Social Media: If you are a casual social media user and want to watch your cutesy reels on your trip, then you should know something about Instagram. Social media apps like Instagram require at least 60MB per upload, so make sure you have at least 1 GB per hour if you’re a GEN Z and if not, 200 MB per hour will also work.
Navigation Apps: The most useful app on a trip is definitely the navigation app. In a new place, you need your Google and Apple maps. But how much data do they actually consume? For a successful trip where you won’t get lost in a new terrain, make sure to get at least 1 GB per hour. To be fair, maps do use up a lot of data over a prolonged period of time, so make sure to be prepared.
Estimating Your Usage
Light User: If you don’t watch reels or have any presence on social media and wish to have a disconnected trip, then it’s better to estimate the usage of your data according to what you will use it for. If you don’t plan on using navigation apps and are well-versed in the directions of the place you’re going, then you’re good to go. There’s no need for you to splurge on data.
Moderate User: If you are a corporate employee or a student and will be using Google Meet or Facetime to contact your family, then getting 1 GB per hour is the safest bet for you. This way, you won’t have to worry about wasting your data and can utilise it with good connection speed.
Heavy User: This is only for the people who are chronically online or gamers. If you want to improve your progress on a game with a view on your vacation, getting a good data package with at least 3 GB per hour is the way to go. Don’t take anything less. You’ll need at least 10GB for the length of your entire trip if you constantly stream videos on social media.
Advanced Tips on Saving Data:
Download Content in Advance: Still wondering, ‘How much data do I need when I travel?’ You’re definitely not alone. Everyone feels the pain of not having any downloaded content to watch on their flight once in their life. If you don’t want to be bored on a long flight and want to save some money on data, download content in advance that you can watch on your trip. Doing this will save you money and time and won’t bore you.
Use Wi-Fi: You might want to say, no shit, sherlock. But a lot of people forget that wifi exists when they reach an establishment and a lot of people don’t end up availing the benefit of free wifi. Do your research beforehand and go to places like cafes, hotels, or airports that offer free wifi with their services and make sure to avail this while you enjoy your trip stress-free.
Turn off Background Data: This is a hack that not everyone is aware of. The apps that you keep open on your phone use data in the background to maintain your history. Change the settings on your phone to limit the background data usage on your device. This data usage impacts your data and the money you spend on it. Checking this can save you some big bucks on data.
Use Data Alerts on Your Device: The best way to conserve data while on your vacation is to set up data alerts on your smartphone or tablet. These alerts will inform you whenever your usage increases so that you can manage your finances and data accordingly. To set up data alerts, go to your device’s settings, find the ‘Data Usage’ or ‘Network & Internet’ section, and set the alert threshold to a level that suits your data plan. This comes in handy when you are going on a short trip and don’t want to spend a lot on the data and sim usage.
Summary
When you’re on the go, staying connected without blowing through your data is a must! Whether you’re binge-watching shows by the pool, jamming to your favourite tunes on a road trip, or navigating through unfamiliar streets, knowing how much data you’ll need is key. Light users can chill with just a bit of data, but if you’re the type who’s always online or gaming, you’ll need a bigger plan. To keep your data in check, download stuff before you leave, hop on Wi-Fi whenever you can, cut down on background data, and set up alerts to avoid surprises. Plan ahead, and you’ll enjoy your trip without the dreaded “out of data” message!
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