If you are a regular traveler, for business or pleasure, you know the complicated thing that is communicating with the people back home. Luckily for you, the year 2016 offers more options for you than have ever been available before. If you have been traveling for more than a decade, you remember that it used to be much, much more difficult. Expats living in foreign countries before the internet was as powerful as it is today recall living in a foreign nation (especially without knowing the language) as being a very lonely thing. Today, all you need to do is update yourself on some of the best new ways to keep in touch with the people in your life, wherever you are in the world.
First of all, it’s important to remember that the classic communication methods still exist. It’s easy to get distracted with innovative new technologies, and trends in social media. Despite all this, perhaps the most reliable way to get in touch with someone in your life is by telephone, even if they are in another country. Calling cards have nation-specific options for travelers. Whether you are planning a trip for the future or are currently in need of phone access, you should order some cards right away. Even though calling cards have been available for many years, they are still one of the most trustworthy methods for calling people abroad, especially if you are in an area that doesn’t have the first-world connectivity you are used to.
For people who are traveling in nations that have decent coverage or better, it becomes possible to use a smartphone. Not everyone feels comfortable traveling with a smartphone just anywhere, but if it works for your situation you’ve got a number of options. You could ask your telecom company about what international roaming options they have. This will be very expensive unless you work out a deal or they have some plan tailored to people in your situation. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Alternately, you can use nation-specific SIM cards with your jailbroken smartphone. Just get a local SIM card for any nation you are traveling within and, voila, you’ve got a local phone in your pocket.
Finally, we’d be remiss not to mention all of the international communication options that exist in the realm of social media. Facebook really changed this all for us. Anyone can connect with anyone else (providing both parties have internet access) through social media, leaving comments, videos, or even chatting face to face within the platform itself. In the old days (just a few years ago), Skype was the only game in town when it came to Face-to-face. Today, it seems like every new social media platform has that built in standard.
There are endless ways to communicate with the people you love while you are traveling during the holidays. So figure out which one of these options works best for you, and be ready. Give your grandmother a call. Happy holidays!
