A jetsetter who often travels the globe on various holidays and backpacking trips has shared the one habit he’s implemented that’s “saved” him whenever he’s been left stranded at the airport, or unable to contact anyone.
Landing at the airport in a new country is usually cause for excitement – it could signal the start of a holiday, an exciting business trip, a hen or stag do, a solo getaway and much more – but, if you’re left unable to book a taxi or find your hotel information due to your phone not working properly abroad, it can quickly turn stressful.
In a post titled “what saved me when my eSIM didn’t activate at the airport” on Reddit, the keen travel buff explained: “I saw others posting about the same issue so I figured I’d share my experience.
“I landed in Istanbul expecting my eSIM to kick in and it didn’t. I wasn’t able to get online or call an Uber, and the airport WiFi needed SMS verification.”
But thankfully, he “half-heartedly” took proactive steps to mitigate the downsides of this common situation and urged others to follow suit.
He continued: “Before the trip, I had screenshotted the map route to my hotel and downloaded the local city map on Google Maps offline.
“Honestly, I did it half-heartedly, but it was the only reason I didn’t end up stuck and panicking. Seriously, download your map. It takes 20 seconds and works every time.”
In the comments section, people shared their thoughts. One person advised: “And activate e-sim before you leave. It starts when it connects to the towers in whatever country you visit.”
Someone else shared their own tips: “This is great advice, I began doing this as soon as the internet appeared and we could DL things like this.
“Another great idea is to get an app you can use when you have no connection.
“Several excellent offline navigation apps are available for use without a data connection. Google Maps, HERE WeGo, OsmAnd, and Sygic are popular choices that offer turn-by-turn directions and detailed maps for download, allowing for navigation even when offline”.
Another Reddit user added: “Same, man. eSIMs can be super flaky when you land, especially abroad. Offline maps saved me too, never trust airport WiFi or mobile data on day one.
“Takes a minute to download but avoids tons of stress later. Always gotta be prepared for that ‘no signal’ nightmare.”
In an additional post, the man reiterated this habit and added extra step people may benefit from. He titled his advice: “One thing I always do now when landing in a new country”.
He explained: “I always screenshot the airport arrival signs, customs info, and the address of my first hotel in the local language before my flight.
“It’s saved me more than once when my SIM didn’t work, Wi-Fi failed, or I just needed to show a taxi driver something fast.
“It takes 30 seconds and removes so much stress, especially after a long flight when your brain’s running on fumes.”