It was with a pleasant surprise that I realised the first time that my mobile phone worked outside of the UK. It was a rude shock when I received the mobile phone UK bill, and realised that there is a considerable additional cost to “roaming” overseas.

Mobile phones UK are able to “roam” when you are overseas by locking onto the network with the strongest signal. The catch is that any calls you make or receive involve an extra charge – even if you are calling from within the country to the country (a way to imagine it is that the call within the country is going via the UK). To avoid excess charges, perhaps it’s worthwhile converting to SMS text messages or even diverting your calls to voicemail, so that you only pay the cost of retrieving the messages.

Another alternative is to buy a SIM card local to the country that you are visiting. That way, you can take advantage of the current deals on mobile phones offered by the network providers. This is a great option for individuals who frequently visit a particular country, or who visit the country for a long period of time. On many mobile phones it is a simple matter to swap SIM cards, but this money-saving initiative is blocked by some networks by locking SIM cards to handsets. If you are able to swap your SIM card, this is a great option when travelling overseas to avoid the unseen costs of staying in touch with your friends, family and colleagues.

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