Five tips for staying in touch with family while traveling

If you often travel for business or are on a long vacation away from close family, it can feel a bit hard on these relationships to disconnect for so much time. However, there are many ways to make sure that your family back can stay in touch with you — from sending instant messages, to writing old-fashioned letters, and, of course, using a world data SIM to stay connected. Here are a few tips we can offer from experience:

1. Schedule it out
An attractive part of traveling is the opportunity to leave familiar environments. If you are traveling for fun, chances are you’ll want time to let go of where you were and focus on where you are now. A great way to draw that boundary is by scheduling a time to talk to family, rather than carrying on text conversations. This also allows you not to lose track of keeping in touch with your loved ones at home while immersed in an exciting new adventure.

2. Use portable Wi-Fi hotspots
Purchasing or renting a mobile hotspot before your trip can be one of the most cost-effective ways to maintain an internet connection while you are away. Because they allow multiple users to connect at once, these palm-sized pocket gadgets get you online at affordable prices and are easy to use. Of course, you can reduce your dependency on hotspots if you are willing to invest in a world data SIM, as this will give you the chance to utilize a basic connection at any time.

3. Make Skype calls
Making Skype or other video calls can be a great way to reconnect because of the personal element being face-to-face adds. Other than Skype there are a few good ways to video call home. Facebook messenger is a great app because it is specialized for both instant messages and video calls. Either way, of course, an Internet connection is a necessity, which can be tricky when you aren’t in your hotel room or a local cafe.

4. Use location sharing apps
Using location sharing apps can be a fun way to stay in touch. Many of these apps allow you to show your family where you are, share pictures, and tell fun stories easily. These apps are also good for letting your family know you are on track and okay at the push of a button — though it is important to note that you will need a mobile internet connection to make this work. Once again, this speaks to the importance of bringing along a worldwide data SIM!

5. Use a BNESIM card
BNESIM can hook you up with a world data sim that will give you both access to calls and mobile data while anywhere in the world. This is essential for staying in touch with home. From saying hello to your mom to staying safe, a BNESIM card can keep you connected — and the best part is, you can get your prepaid internet SIM for free when you invest in any of our data, calling, and SMS plans. Visit the BNE SIM pricing section for more information on this exclusive offer!