One of the most popular paradoxes in the modern travel industry is the fact that we become much more dependent on our tablets and smartphones when we travel than usual. Downloading travel plans, finding contact information, and even just checking a map all requires a stable data connection. Keep in mind that roaming data can be pretty expensive when you are outside your home country – that is unless you signed a deal with the right cell company.
Even if you are using a local SIM card, the mobile data can be much more expensive than what you might be used to. But don’t be afraid, because there is always hope. There are many different ways to use less mobile data, without having to get rid of any of its functions. And now, here is what you can do to reduce the mobile data usage to minimum when traveling!
Use Applications That Work Offline
Do you know what is even better than reducing the mobile data usage to minimum? The answer is very simple – not using any mobile data at all! Here is what you can do in order to accomplish this. Before the trip, take your tablet or smartphone and see if there are any good offline apps available for download. If you see something that might be of help, make sure to download it. Pretty much everything from city guides to currency conversion is available offline. The best thing about these apps is that you don’t need to have an active Internet connection to use them.
Auto-Playing Videos Are Bad For Your Mobile Data
When you are on a cell connection, auto-playing videos tend to use a whole lot of mobile data. That being said, make sure to disable auto-playing videos in any app that allows you to do so. How you do it depends on the app itself, but in general, it can be done.
Download Google Chrome
If you don’t have Google Chrome installed on your phone, make sure to download it before hitting the road. Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers in the world. When its Data Server is on, it reduces the mobile data usage by up to 50%, which is pretty good. There is even a nice-looking dashboard that shows how much mobile data you have saved in the last month. Such a good feature, isn’t it?