Travel Tip

If you think that on your next vacation you’re going to go off the grid and leave your life behind for a week, then think again. According to a 2013 survey conducted by TripBarometer, a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, 87% of all global travelers reported using their smartphones while on vacation and 61 % reported using social media while away, citing reasons like FOMO (“Fear Of Missing Out,” for our readers who aren’t very abbreviation-savvy) and a desire to make their friends back home jealous.

So if you’re someone whose phone burns a whole in your pocket while on vacation–and, statistically speaking, there’s a good chance you are–you’ll want to make sure you have everything you need to stay connected and keep your Facebook posts rolling hot off the presses. Before you leave home, check and see what the cellular service is like in your destination. You’ll also want to look into the strength and range of internet coverage, if any is available, and how you can connect to the world wide web while you’re away.

The other important detail to remember is that not every country uses the same type of electrical current. If you travel from the U.S. to India, for example, you could discover that India’s power grid isn’t compatible with American chargers, and you’ll watch the precious battery on your phone drain like sand in an hourglass. Contact your hotel or accommodation site or ask your travel agent what type of current is used at your destination and if they have international adapters available (Which make different types of current compatible with one another). And remember to bring your charger!

So if you’re smartphone is going to double as your traveling companion on your next vacation, take a few precautions: Find out what cellular service is like, find out how you can connect to the internet, and learn about the electrical grid in your destination so that you won’t have a problem uploading the perfect profile picture to make all of your friends jealous.

Or you could put your phone away and enjoy the vacation. Just saying.

For more information on phone use and electricity abroad, visit our website and Facebook page!