Over the last decade, smartphones have grown from a novelty into indispensable parts of our lives. Today, we rely on them for more than just phone calls and text messages but for everything from keeping in touch with our friends and the world over the internet to playing puzzle games and no deposit slots, taking pictures and shooting videos, keeping us entertained, and sometimes even to replace our wallets and credit cards. And they are very useful when traveling the world, too, providing us with turn-by-turn navigation, guidebooks, instant translators when going abroad, and such. But there are so many that it might be hard to choose one that will best suit our needs when away from home. This short guide below will provide you with a few tips on how to choose the best phone for your travels.

What's The Perfect Phone for Travel?

No network lock

No matter how cheap it is for you to call and use the internet in your home country, it will cost you a lot if you use your phone abroad. Moreover, it will cost you to even receive phone calls and texts, not to mention the enormous data costs when roaming. So, you might want to choose a phone that is not locked in your home network – i.e. one that will be able to handle a local SIM card.

And when abroad, you will be able to simply buy a pre-paid SIM card and use it to navigate the web, call, and text while on vacation and avoid being charged extra for these services.

 

A big battery is a plus

Power outlets don’t grow on trees (they only do so at the Washington University) so you’ll make sure your phone has a big enough battery to last you through the day. Of course, you can always invest in a power bank to keep your phone juiced up. But a big battery is always a plus.

 

Make sure it can take a pounding

Last but not least, if you choose a phone to take with you abroad, make sure it resists to as many outside factors – such as shocks, dust, water – as possible. After all, dropping your phone and having to find a service that will be able to fix it for you in due time can be a true burden – and something that can ruin your entire vacation. If you can, choose a phone that’s both stylish and “rugged” – like Samsung’s Galaxy S8 Active – or “ruggedize” it using a special case that makes it resist whatever the country you’re visiting may throw at it.