With mobile contracts often coming out of your account on a monthly direct debit, lots of travellers don’t notice their bill has skyrocketed until it’s too late.
Experts are warning that there are some countries where mobile phone usage costs more than you think, and knowing how to avoid them can save you a nasty surprise when the bill comes through the post.
Arif Reza, CEO and founder of travel eSIM provider WorldSIM, said: “No one wants to come back from holiday to have an eye-watering phone bill to pay off. But this can easily happen if you’re not prepared. And there are some countries travellers need to be extra vigilant in.”
So for anyone planning a summer getaway, here are five countries that it’s especially important to watch out for:
Turkey
While many flock to Antalya or Dalaman for some sun-kissed white sand beaches and crystal clear waters that often come cheaper than many popular European coastal trips, phone charges don’t follow suit.
Arif added: “Turkey is an affordable destination, but some mobile phone providers are charging up to £7 per day for data access bundles in Turkey.
“On O2, pay-as-you-go customers are charged £7.20 per MB here, which can add up quickly if you’re not careful.”
UAE
For those wanting to scroll the internet on their trip to the Middle East, the price of streaming in Dubai can be brutal.
Mr Reza said: “In places like Dubai, some networks offer add-on bundles for a set fee. With EE, this is £25 for seven days. So your bill will be up £50 if you’re away for a fortnight.
“Some other providers offer pay-as-you-go customers data access per MB. This ranges from 12p to £7 per MB in the top four UK networks.”
Canada and the USA
Anyone planning a hop across the Atlantic should be wary of data roaming while in North America. Vodafone customers can be charged £6 or £7.86 per day for texts, calls and 25GB of data, which can soon add up on a 10-day trip, leaving you with an £80 bill.
Australia
Brits travelling down under can also face some hefty charges. Most providers offer daily access for £6-8, but with an Australian trip often around the two-week mark due to the long and pricy flights, this can soon add up.