travelling overseas with spark

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Spark overhauls roaming to offer fantastic new travel value to New Zealanders

Spark has announced a fresh and simplified new approach to roaming, with seven day packs designed to make travel easier and offer greater cost certainty and bang for buck.

Spark CEO of Home, Mobile and Business, Jason Paris, said, "We know staying connected while overseas on holiday or business is massively important to New Zealanders. We’ve spoken at length to our customers, listened to what they said, and designed new roaming plans to meet their real travel needs. As a result, we’re confident this is our best offer yet for the way New Zealanders really do travel.”

The new Spark roaming packs offer seven days of roaming across 33 destinations for just $20 (buying 500MB, 200 incoming and 200 outgoing minutes, and 200 texts) or $15 (buying 500MB data) and are available to Spark Business, Prepay and Pay Monthly customers.”

Paris said, “Most Kiwis don’t just travel for a day but for an average of five days at a time, so weekly packs are a much better fit for their roaming needs than other options. We also know nearly a third of customers travel to more than one destination each trip, so roaming that works across the countries they travel to makes life much easier. To cap it off, we’ve been able to cover the places that matter, including 17 of the top 20 places New Zealanders travel to. No more zones, just an awesome single price for heaps of data, texts and minutes around the world.”

Spark has seen roaming data use jump by nearly 60% over the past year across its most popular travel destinations. Over the same time, the number of New Zealand residents travelling abroad has risen by 11.5% according to Statistics New Zealand. This highlights the significant growth in demand for roaming services – a trend Spark expects to accelerate in coming years as the global travel boom continues.

“New Zealanders are more and more travel-hungry and people are now reliant on their mobile phones when travelling. We use our smart phones for dozens of things, like finding our way around a new city, searching for restaurants, keeping appointments and checking in with friends and colleagues. Customers need to know they can roam without worrying about a huge bill. These new roaming packs cater for that, they’re incredible value, working out at around $2.85 a day when spread across seven days, and much better suited to a digital world where people need to stay connected.”

Paris added that the allocations in the new packs deliver enough for a roamer to do the things one might typically need to do while travelling: “For example, when we’ve tested it using navigation apps, we’ve found these apps usually use less than 5MB per hour – so 500MB should easily be enough to help you find your way around for a week.

“For us this is about helping unleash the potential of New Zealanders, no matter where they are in the world.”

The new packs:

The new $20 roaming pack delivers 500MB, 200 incoming and 200 outgoing minutes, and 200 texts for seven days (about $2.85 per day).

On a per dollar basis, that’s up to five times as much data, and 4-10 times as many minutes and texts – depending which previous Spark roaming pack you’re comparing to.
The new $20 pack offers double the data, per dollar, of the old $20 Australia-only roaming pack.

The new $15 roaming pack delivers 500MB data for a week.

That’s around 60–95% more data per dollar, depending on which previous Spark data roaming pack you’re comparing to.

28% of Spark customers who roam are travelling to Australia, then carrying on to another destination.

Over the past year (1 July 2016–30 June 2017) roaming data used by Spark customers in Spark’s five most popular roaming destinations (Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Fiji, China) has climbed by 57%.

According to Statistics NZ, New Zealand resident traveller departures to the same destinations (Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Fiji, China) from June 2016 to June 2017 have increased by 5.4%, 18.4%, 1.5%, 1.7% and 19.4% respectively.

Notes to the editor:

More information can be found at www.Spark.co.nz/roaming.

The packs are available to both Prepay and Pay Monthly Spark customers, and can be changed, viewed and purchased through the MySpark app, Spark.co.nz, Spark Online Chat, by phoning 0800 800 123, or by texting BUY ROAM (for the $20 pack) or BUY DATAROAM (for the $15 data pack) to 258.

Casual data blocks: $10 will buy 200MB to use across the course of a day (based on New Zealand time). This is available to both prepay and pay monthly customers in zones 1, 2 and 6. There is an automatic cap of 14 blocks per day, after which casual rates apply.

The minutes and texts in Spark’s new roaming packs can be used to call or text any country, not just those countries where the roaming packs are available.

The new roaming packs cover 83% of the places Kiwis tend to travel to, and 92% of the places New Zealanders travel to on business according to Statistics New Zealand:

Oceania: Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru.
Europe: United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Germany.
Asia: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, Macau (Pay Monthly only), Malaysia, Phillippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand.
Americas: USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela.
Africa and the Middle East: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.

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How to Use Your Existing Phone Overseas

Published September 19, 2018

Having a phone that works just like it does at home when you’re traveling internationally is probably the best thing you can do to reduce stress and maximize your ability to enjoy wherever you are. Being able to use Google Maps and Translate, staying in touch with friends and family at home, having easy access to booking sites like Orbitz and Expedia in the event of delays—these are only a few of the ways Internet access is invaluable while overseas.

But depending on your carrier, using data outside the US can be costly. The dreaded roaming fees alone can cause stress, with every moment you spend online potentially racking up budget-destroying bills.

It doesn’t have to be that way. As someone who’s traveled to 12 different countries in the past year alone, I’ve learned many ways to travel with your current phone cheaply—or at least for cheaper than you might think.

If you travel outside of the US regularly, check out our Best Cell Phone Plan for Frequent International Travel guide. Changing carriers (and maybe phones) can save you money in the long run.

Option 1: Do nothing (or almost nothing)

Every major cell phone company has some sort of international roaming option. These range from excellent to extortionate and are your easiest (though not often best) option.

If your carrier is T-Mobile, Sprint, or Google Project Fi, you’re covered with some kind of unlimited data in most countries around the world. It’s hard to beat that for easy. With T-Mobile and Sprint, you get unlimited—but relatively slow—2G data. It’s fast enough for most messaging apps, translation tools, and maps (just be sure to download offline maps on Wi-Fi). But it’s too slow to easily use image-heavy social media like Instagram or Snapchat—check out Options 2 and 3 below for ways to get faster service, if that’s a priority. With Google Project Fi, you get pretty much the same high-speed 4G you have at home.

For the most part, for any of the three aforementioned carriers, you simply enable “roaming data” in your phone’s settings to start using the data. But it’s best to check with your provider to be sure.

If you have AT&T or Verizon (PDF), make sure roaming and mobile data are turned off. The pay-per-use international roaming rates for both companies are exorbitant. These companies offer temporary data packs, but they’re also expensive. We’ll cover those in the next section.

Fortunately, if you’re on AT&T or Verizon and don’t want to pay their rates, it doesn’t mean you’re cut off from the Internet entirely while you travel. Public Wi-Fi is everywhere, and any data you use while connected to it doesn’t count as roaming. Depending on where you’re headed, you’ll likely find free Wi-Fi in restaurants, tourist spots, and even some public parks and metro stations. And of course, nearly every hotel and hostel will have Wi-Fi. However, the more expensive the accommodation, the more likely it is that you’ll have to pay extra for Internet access.

If you’re on public Wi-Fi, it’s best not to access banking or other sensitive info without a VPN , just to be safe.

Option 2: Temporary data passes

These have different names— Verizon’s $10 TravelPass , AT&T’s $10 International Day Pass , T-Mobile’s $5 International Pass , and Sprint’s $5 to $10 International High-Speed Data Roaming Pass —but all are the same idea. They provide a set amount of roaming data, usable for a certain amount of time, for one price. Need some 4G data while you’re in Paris? That will be $5 to $10 a day. Most companies offer a month’s worth of data at a slight discount off the day-pass rate. AT&T, for example, will sell you 1 gigabyte of international roaming data to use over the course of a month for $60 ; at Verizon, it’s half a gigabyte for $70 .

Without question, these are all expensive, albeit less so than traditional roaming fees. If you can’t unlock your phone (it’s new, say), data passes might be your only way to use your phone while traveling without bankrupting yourself. For T-Mobile and Sprint, buying a data pass—which you can do whenever you want before you leave or while you’re traveling—is a way to temporarily relieve the annoyance of slow 2G data. And some monthly plans, such as Verizon’s Above Unlimited, include a few free data passes each billing period.

As for Project Fi, it doesn’t sell passes, as you’re already getting 4G data, wherever it’s available, at the same rate you’re paying for data at home.

For most non-Fi people, a far better option to data passes is getting a local SIM card.

Option 3: Get a local SIM card

This is an option that’s common everywhere except in the United States. A SIM, or subscriber identity module , is a removable chip roughly the size of a microSD card. It lets your current phone work in another country as if you bought the phone there: local number, cheap and fast data, and so on.

When you land in a new country, just go to a local telecom store (the equivalent to Verizon or AT&T, in other words), and buy a temporary SIM. It’s that easy. These are often called “pay-as-you-go” SIMs, but some areas have special SIM offers for travelers. Either way, they’re usually good for a month and include more data than you’ll probably use. The store will likely help you install it too, which takes seconds. After a phone restart and a few minutes more, your phone works just as if you bought it new in that country. When your trip is over and you’re heading home, put your old SIM back in and your phone returns to normal (make sure you’ve disabled data-roaming till you’re back in the US, though).

I’ve done this dozens of times in countries all over the world. It takes maybe half an hour out of my first day in the country, and makes traveling much easier; my phone works just as it does at home. The only two drawbacks: you won’t be using your “home” number while you’re traveling, and you’ll be without service from the time you arrive in the country till you can get to a telecom store. (This is where a $5 to $10 data day pass might come in handy, if you’re worried about getting into town or finding your lodgings without phone service.)

You can also buy SIMs at the airport and many tourist/souvenir shops, but these are often more expensive. I stick with SIMs from the main telecoms in a country, assuming they’ll offer the best coverage and service. For example, if there’s an issue with my Vodafone SIM in the UK, I can go into countless Vodafone stores everywhere. Not so much with “Joe’s Travel SIM XXXtrafast” from a random travel stand. Wikipedia lists the main providers in Europe , Asia/Pacific , Africa and the Middle East , and the Americas , so you can have an idea of what to look for when you arrive.

There are also “travel SIMs” that you can buy ahead of time that claim to work everywhere in the world, but I’ve researched these extensively, and all are more expensive than buying a SIM at your destination. Though prices vary, most local SIMs cost $10 to $20 and are good for a month with several gigs of data. I’ve paid as much as $35 and as little as $6.

The trick with this option is that your phone needs to be unlocked. Each company has different requirements to do this. Generally, the phone needs to have been on the company’s network for a certain length of time, and you need to have paid the phone off (or fulfilled your contract, if you still have one). To find out more on how to do this, check out the Unlocking your phone section of our “Best Cell Phone Plan for Frequent International Travel” guide.

One drawback for some people is if someone calls your “real” number, it will just go to voicemail, and you won’t see any texts from them till you put your old, home-carrier SIM back in your phone and access a cell network or, depending on your carrier, Wi-Fi. Your phone is essentially a different phone. You can give friends/family your “new” temporary number for emergencies, or ask them to use a data-based messaging service like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. You might also put your temporary number on your “real” outgoing voicemail message.

Option 4: Rent a hotspot

You rent a small device, perhaps slightly larger than a phone, that creates a little zone of Wi-Fi for you and your family. Connect all of your devices to it, then turn it off when you don’t need it.

The main advantage to this option is if you’re traveling with others, you and all of your gear can tether to the single hotspot instead of you all having to buy travel data. Of course, any member of the group who leaves your little Wi-Fi bubble to explore solo will have to give up Internet access while doing so.

This is something to look for at an airport, or research before you go, because you have to return the physical device. That means either dropping it off where you got it, or mailing it back when you get home.

This is not something I’ve tried, nor does it seem very popular, but it could work for you if the other options here aren’t exactly what you’re looking for. I’ve seen prices in the under-$10-a-day range, which is expensive compared with other options, but for a family traveling for two weeks somewhere, the cost of getting local SIMs for everyone may rival the cost of renting a hotspot.

Also keep in mind that most phones can create their own Wi-Fi hotspots, so if you get a local SIM card, you can tether a tablet, a computer, or another phone to yours and share your Internet without having to pay extra for a physical hotspot device. Some SIMs don’t allow this, though, so best to check before you buy.

Option 5: Use an old phone (or get a cheap one) instead

If you’re the type of person who holds on to old phones, dust off the newest of them and it could be your key to easy international travel. As long as it’s not too old (under four years is a safe bet), and the battery can still hold a charge, and you’re able to update its software via Wi-Fi, you should be able to use it when you travel by buying local SIM cards. Check with whatever cell phone company you used the phone with to make sure that the phone is unlocked.

Oh, and if you go this route, keep in mind that some providers will unlock only one phone per account in any 12-month period. I found this out the hard way.

Once it’s unlocked (if it wasn’t already), follow Option 3 above. You’ll still have to get a new phone number with every SIM card, but otherwise you’ll be using your familiar old handset with all of your contacts and apps just as you left them.

If you don’t have a usable old phone, you could instead buy a new, but inexpensive and unlocked, phone. For example, our pick for a budget Android phone is great for the money, takes good pictures, can create a Wi-Fi hotspot, and costs $160. After three or four trips using $20 local SIMs instead of month-long data passes, you’ll have made back your investment.

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A virtual private network (VPN) is a useful way to improve security or privacy in certain situations, but it’s difficult to find one that’s trustworthy. The Best VPN Service
You don’t have to pay a lot for a full-featured phone, and Samsung’s Galaxy A15 features a beautiful OLED screen and good performance for under $200. The Best Budget Android Phones

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The Ultimate Guide to International Smartphone Use

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

We're all for disconnecting while on vacation. But sometimes — whether you're traveling for business or searching for directions — having an internet connection can be seriously useful, even crucial, when traveling abroad.

Not all that long ago, international travelers had to choose between paying exorbitant roaming rates from their US carrier, or worrying about securing and activating a local SIM upon arrival.

Today, things are mercifully different. There are more options, and it's more affordable than ever to stay connected abroad. Most major US carriers have adopted sensible pay-per-day rates to compete with T-Mobile and Google Fi , both of which disrupted the prior model of charging per-megabyte rates. (For reference, TPG himself was dinged by AT&T at $19.99 per megabyte in 2010 while roaming in London. He faced a $180 charge for essentially checking his email twice.)

In this guide, we'll take an in-depth look at what international roaming options exist on the major US carriers; when you should consider procuring a local SIM upon arrival; what an unlocked smartphone is (and who should consider one); and options for long-term travelers and backpackers.

Roaming With Major US Carriers

First, the good news: Every major domestic telecommunications company now offers international data roaming that isn't outrageously expensive. In some cases, throttled (read: slow) data usage is included gratis for a number of countries. Elsewhere, you're able to use your phone exactly as you would in the US for around $10 per day. For short-term stays and vacations, you should be in good shape.

If you want to avoid roaming charges altogether, be sure to leave your phone on Airplane mode even after you deplane. And if you simply want to avoid data roaming charges (but still want calls and texts to come through), visit the "settings" menu on your phone and toggle off Data Roaming.

For $10 per day, per line, you can activate AT&T's International Day Pass (available exclusively for users on AT&T's Mobile Share or Unlimited plans, but unless you're a prepaid customer, chances are high your plan falls into one of those two buckets).

To check your eligibility, log in to your AT&T account and add the International Day Pass, if shown. Make sure to toggle for each line on your account. You won't be charged a dime until you turn your phone on while in a foreign country, and the $10 per day will be added to your bill automatically. Once AT&T detects you're back in the US, those $10 charges will automatically cease.

Unlimited calls are included within countries covered by International Day Pass (currently listed as " over 100 ") and back to the US, plus unlimited texts to the world. A big boon to AT&T's plan is the speed. Your speed overseas will not be throttled, so if you're in an LTE network zone, you'll enjoy LTE speeds. For Mobile Share plan customers, we recommend resetting the data usage counter on your phone upon landing to keep track of how much data you use overseas, as your international data usage will count against your monthly data allotment.

Effortless to add to your account
Use your existing phone (no need to hunt for an unlocked one)
No data speed throttling
Take calls on your personal number at no extra cost
Mobile Share plan users have to monitor data usage
$10 per day, per line, can add up quickly for families and long trips
While over 100 nations are covered, many still aren't

While Google Fi isn't a "major" carrier in terms of mass awareness, it's a well-known option for frequent travelers. You pay $20 per month for unlimited calls and texts, and $10 per gigabyte for high-speed data. If you happen to use more than 6GB, Google's new "Bill Protection" kicks in to cap your data bill at $60 per month, covering further high-speed data usage up to 15GB per month. In the US, Google Fi latches onto whichever signal is the strongest between its three partner carriers: Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular.

The great news here is that Google doesn't differentiate between domestic data and international data, which makes it an outstanding value for long-term travelers and backpackers . Another major perk of using Google Fi overseas is the breadth of nations that are covered (currently, over 170 ). You won't find Pitcairn Island on the list, but certain African countries like Ivory Coast, Chad and Congo (DRC) are included with Google's plan, whereas they are frequently omitted by rival carriers.

Google Fi's primary limitation is its diminutive list of supported phones. Fewer than 10 phones are supported (all of which use the Android operating system), though the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are excellent devices if you're in the market for a new handset anyway. No, an iPhone won't (officially) work with Google Fi. There are workarounds if you have an unlocked iPhone , but you'll be limited to the T-Mobile network.

Google Fi treats international data just like domestic data
Works in more than 170 destinations
Monthly pricing with no contract or commitment
The Google Fi-compatible Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL take amazing photos
Even combined, Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular may not provide ideal coverage for you at home
Very limited supported phone selection: you may need to buy a new phone

If you aren't concerned with voice calling, Sprint's international roaming plan provides text and data coverage in more than 185 destinations . Sprint Global Roaming is included on postpaid plans with LTE/GSM capable smartphones, giving you text and 2G data coverage at no extra charge. Just fly, land and start using your smartphone as you normally would. Voice calls, however, will run you $0.20 per minute or more, so plan on making calls through Slack, WhatsApp or another platform that uses data rather than voice networks.

However, that little 2G detail means that while overseas, your data will be severely throttled to 128Kbps, which is too slow to stream videos on YouTube or engage in a non-glitchy FaceTime chat. Sprint does allow users to pay extra to enable LTE speeds abroad.

Canada and Mexico: $2 per day or $10 per week
Other destinations: $5 to $10 per day or $25 to $50 per week, depending on Sprint's partnership agreements in the nation you're visiting

The 2G data should be fine for checking email and navigating with Google Maps, but at least there's an option to pay for a faster path should you land and determine it's necessary. One other quirk: Sprint offers a dedicated Japan Plan for just $5 per month, which enables high-speed data roaming, texting and voice calls.

The best option for long-term travel in Japan
2G data speeds for free, with an option to pay more for faster access
Rates are reasonable for those who frequent Mexico and Canada
Support for 185-plus destinations
It's Sprint, which doesn't have the best US coverage
International voice calls can get expensive, fast

As with Sprint, T-Mobile's postpaid ONE plans include international texting and 2G data (capped at 128Kbps) for free in more than 210 countries. Sadly, the carrier recently nixed a $25 monthly upgrade to T-Mobile ONE Plus International, which included unlimited LTE hotspot access in the US; unlimited international calls to landlines in over 70 countries and mobile numbers in over 30 countries; unlimited 4G LTE in Mexico and Canada; and unlimited in-flight Gogo Wi-Fi within the US and boosted international data speeds to 256Kbps. It remains to be seen if T-Mobile will replace that plan with anything comparable.

2G data (128Kbps) for free
Reasonable rates for travelers who frequent Mexico and Canada
Support for over 210 destinations (basically anywhere you'd be allowed to visit)
T-Mobile's coverage beyond major US cities isn't spectacular

Similar to AT&T, Verizon's TravelPass allows you to take your domestic talk, text and data allowances with you. You're only charged on the days you use your device abroad: $5 a day per line in Mexico and Canada, or $10 a day per line in over 130 other supported countries. And once you activate TravelPass on your lines, nothing else is required. As with AT&T, just keep an eye on your data usage if you're using a plan with a monthly cap. You'll also want to visit Verizon's list of supported nations to make sure the place(s) you'll be visiting are covered.

Verizon's US LTE coverage is fantastic
$5 to $10 per day, per line can add up quickly for families and long trips
While over 130 nations are covered, many still aren't

When to Buy a Local SIM Upon Arrival

If you're planning on being in a country for more than two weeks, you can expect to use a significant amount of data. It can also be helpful to have a local telephone number to call and text with residents and businesses. That's when having a local SIM may be right for you.

Local SIMs typically cost between $20 and $50, include between 1GB and 5GB of data (plus a sizable allotment of texts and voice minutes for in-country calling), and can be purchased at minimarts or vending machines at major airports. Once you have a SIM, you can typically "top-up," or add data, texts or minutes using your smartphone and a credit card.

It can be surprisingly easy, too. London-Heathrow, for example, has an automated SIM vending machine. But then there's the rest of the world — airports like Fa'a'ā in Tahiti — where you're as likely to ride a unicorn through immigration as you are to find a store that's open and selling SIM cards with English instructions when you land.

Still, if a local SIM seems like the option for you, you'll need an unlocked smartphone.

Getting an Unlocked Smartphone

A "locked" smartphone is chained to an exclusive carrier with software settings that can't be changed by the user. Generally speaking, if you purchase a phone from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon or Sprint (and still owe money on it) it's locked — and will remain that way. While it's locked, it will refuse to work with any SIM from another carrier.

An "unlocked" smartphone, on the other hand, will readily accept any SIM from any carrier, either domestic or international. If you maintain solid standing with your carrier and your smartphone is fully paid off, they will almost always provide an unlock code to customers who fill out an online request form. (To save you the trouble, they're linked here: AT&T , Verizon , Sprint and T-Mobile .)

Alternatively, you can order an unlocked smartphone directly from a manufacturer like Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Motorola or Google. You can also search for a gently used, unlocked smartphone on an auction marketplace. Just don't be surprised by the cost, as the flexibility to use them with any carrier results in premium pricing.

If you're planning a whirlwind tour of Europe or Asia, you'll undoubtedly cross borders. Each country has its own set of carriers and generally, a SIM purchased in one nation won't function in another. With an unlocked smartphone, you can swap prepaid SIM cards from various countries in and out as you travel. Many of these SIMs don't expire, so much like foreign currency, you could theoretically save SIMs with remaining credit to use whenever you return.

Still, having a single SIM from Google Fi is a far more elegant solution. But that only works if you're willing to hitch your wagon to the Android operating system.

Getting a Dual SIM Phone

Frequent flyers may also be interested in scooping up a Dual SIM smartphone, which can either hold two physical SIM cards, or, in some cases, a single physical SIM card with an additional onboard eSIM. This type of phone allows a user to initiate a call, text or use data with more than one carrier (versus just a single carrier).

Phones such as the Huawei P20 Pro, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max , OnePlus 6, Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Asus Zenfone 5Z and Honor 10 all support dual SIMs, and that list is growing rapidly. This option is generally best for regular business travelers that consistently spend time in two countries (think: Canada and Germany). Keep in mind, however, that you'll need to pay for either data or a plan for both SIMs individually.

There are two major, competing radio systems used by cell phones: CDMA (code division multiple access) and GSM (global system for mobile). In the US, only two of the major carriers (AT&T and T-Mobile) utilize GSM — but that's the network preferred by pretty much every other country on Earth. Verizon and Sprint operate on CDMA. However, most modern smartphones that support CDMA also have SIM card slots to support the LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network: the standard for data.

To cut down on the techno-babble, here's what most travelers needs to know: Very generally speaking, a GSM phone will be easier to transfer to a new network. But that's not to say it can't be done with a newer CDMA device. As long as the phone is unlocked and has a SIM card slot, it should work on a GSM network. To be sure your phone will be fully functional abroad — voice, data and texts — research the specific model of your phone and the bands it supports, and cross-reference that with the frequencies available in the countries you'll be visiting.

Using a Laptop Abroad

Many of the international plans mentioned support tethering — the function that allows your smartphone to share its data plan with other nearby devices like laptops.

That said, the 2G speeds offered by T-Mobile and Sprint won't cut it on a laptop, and both AT&T and Verizon will begin to throttle your speeds after you exceed approximately 22GB per month. Carriers are quick to notice prolonged tethering, and will typically take action on your account if you do it enough.

If having data internationally for use on a laptop is a primary concern, supplement whatever Wi-Fi you're expecting to have available with an international hotspot.

Skyroam , for example, offers a compact mobile hotspot for about $150. Once you have it, you can pay $9 per day or $99 per month for unlimited global data in over 120 countries to use on up to five devices simultaneously (phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches). For travelers who can't take chances with coffee shop or hotel Wi-Fi, the hotspot also delivers peace of mind, and the puck itself also doubles as a charging device.

How to Choose the Right Option for You

Before deciding which phone to buy or network to choose, there are a handful of factors to consider:

On an international trip for under two weeks, it's usually easier to use the day pass option provided by your carrier. If you also need data for a laptop, rent a Skyroam hotspot for the duration of your trip.
On overseas trips longer than two weeks, travelers who already have an unlocked phone should see if the arrival airport sells local SIM cards. Travelers can also consider buying an unlocked phone for this purpose.
Buy a Skyroam hotspot and carry it with you as you go, keeping your smartphone connected to data while you travel.
If you're not married to a carrier already, consider the switch to Google Fi , as it's one of the best options for travelers.
None of this advice really applies to cruising. Each carrier has their own rate charts for texting, calling and using data while at sea — and they're all pricey. For avid cruisers, you're better off paying for Wi-Fi once aboard.
Whatever phone you end up using on your international escapades, be sure to use a card that offers cell phone protection , such as the Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card or Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card (up to $600 of protection (subject to $25 deductible).

Do you have any other suggestions for staying connected abroad? Sound off in the comments below!

"Whether it’s responding to emails, talking to their family back home over Facetime or video-conferencing a client elsewhere in the world, mobile data is the thing they need. Our new Roaming Data Packs allow them to do all those things affordably and easily whether they’re in Beijing, Sydney, Seoul or New York."

New Zealand China Trade Association (NZCTA) Chairman, Martin Thomson, welcomes Spark’s new roaming packs and he says they will only make things easier for New Zealanders doing business in China.

"Growth in trade, investment and links in general between New Zealand and China since the signing of the NZ China Free Trade Agreement has been tremendous and more and more New Zealand businesses are wanting to partake in that. Anything that can be done to make the experience for New Zealand businesspeople visiting China a little less daunting while pursuing new opportunities - like affordable access to data roaming - has got to be a good thing," said Mr Thomson.

Mr Paris says customers needn’t worry about being stung by a hefty data bill on their return home.

"Spark’s MyMobile app tracks the data, texts and calls customers are chewing through on their trip so customers can be fully across their mobile usage throughout their trip. Customers can also set up roaming data caps and alerts for when they’re close to their data limit." said Mr Paris.

For more information about Spark’s new Roaming Data Packs customers can download Spark’s Roaming app or to purchase a pack customers can go to their Spark My Mobile app or visit www.spark.co.nz/roaming . Customers can also check out Spark’s Tech in a Sec clip for more information about the roaming app and for more tips and tricks on the best ways to stay connected when overseas.

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Spark launches new international roaming offerings

Posted by Steve Biddle | 14 Feb, 2019 | News & Opinion | 0 |

Spark has refreshed its mobile roaming packs to offer better value to its customers.

Customers heading to any one of the 39 supported countries - Australia, UK, USA, China, American Samoa, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, UAE, US Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, San Marino and Vatican City have the option of two different roaming packs which now feature 1GB of mobile data, an increase from the previous 500MB.

Both packs offer 1GB of data, with a data only pack costing $15, and a $20 pack offering data, 200 inbound voice minutes, 200 outbound voice minutes along with 200 TXT messages.

The packs are valid for 7 days, and can be used across multiple countries. Once expired, Spark users can simply purchase additional packs as required.

Customers who don't opt for a roaming pack will pay casual rates for data, voice and TXT messages. These rates will vary depending on the country.

About The Author

Steve Biddle

From the day I flew on my first plane I was addicted to travel. I love seeing the sights of the world, staying in nice hotels and meeting new people all while drinking the odd glass of champagne or whisky.

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How to use your phone when travelling abroad: SIM, Wi-Fi-only, or roaming plan?

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There are several ways to use your phone while travelling overseas, but which is the best and most affordable? Photo / 123RF

Signing herself “Befuddled Oldie” (I’m sure you’re not), a reader writes: I have just come back from a Japan cruise and had endless trouble with my NZ phone service . Wi-Fi on the ship would have been very expensive and I wanted to use my phone on shore as well. I eventually muddled through with a combination of weekly and daily roaming but it cost me a fortune as I think I had mobile data on some of the time and don’t really understand the system. When I got back, the company refunded some of the money and said that on a future trip it would be best to buy and use a local SIM card locally. How does this work, and will I still have all my contacts?

I recommend going into their brick-and-mortar store before you go away and talking to a real, live human being (they do still have them) about where you’re going, how long you’ll be away, and how you’re likely to use your phone. They should be able to offer you a suitable plan and whether you’ll need a local SIM .

You have several options for using your phone overseas . The three most common are a daily roaming plan from your home carrier, buying an international SIM card or, as suggested, picking up a local SIM at your destination. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

Roaming happens when you use your phone outside your carrier’s network. You are a guest on a new carrier’s network and… Guess what? It’ll almost always cost more.

A daily roaming plan works best on a short trip, when you need to make calls and texts, but don’t plan on using data; or if your carrier offers free international data or calls.

An international SIM card can access mobile data and be used for calls and text services on almost any network from any carrier. They’re designed for long-term travellers or people travelling for work so are best if you’re away for longer than a month, visiting more than one country or region (e.g. Europe) and need a reasonable amount of data to stay in contact with friends and family.

What is the cheapest way to use your phone overseas? Photo / 123rf

A local SIM card, bought when you arrive at your destination , is one of the most popular methods for getting cell service abroad. You’ll find them on sale in pretty much any airport . However, I’d suggest asking your local carrier if they have a partner company in the place you’re visiting and going to that company’s official, branded store in a major city.

A local SIM card gives you a local number (you’ll have to advise friends and family asap) and you don’t have to sign up to a new contract. They’ve been around for a long time because they’re relatively cheap, simple and they work.

You won’t lose your contacts IF they’re saved to the Contacts option in your phone or an email account such as Gmail. You will if they’re saved on your NZ SIM card. If you’re unsure, talk to the phone company store – or a trusted teenager!

Reader 2 (see, we have more than one), writes: Have just returned from a fortnight in Hawaii and although we tipped for meals, taxis etc (mostly 20 per cent or slightly above) we were unsure of how much to leave for the housekeeper in our hotel . We were reserved for 12 nights and did not require much in the way of housekeeping. We did have a kitchenette and we kept this clean and tidy. In the end, we decided on $10 a night. Was this enough? We would like your advice on what the standard/average tip per night should be. Also, how much to tip the porter who took our four bags down to reception on the morning of our departure and phoned a taxi for us. We gave him $5 per bag and $5 for phoning for the taxi (ie $25). Enough?

You were generous! In Hawaii, the going rate for the housekeeper (wait for it) seems to be $2-$5 a day – and many Americans often fail to tip the housekeeper at all, although awareness of the practice is on the rise. As for the porter, the rule of thumb is $1-$2 a bag, and I’d agree with you tipping some more for the phone call.

So, you left a little more than you might have – one, it sounds like you appreciated the service and two, you went a little way towards making up for our Kiwi reputation of not tipping at all!

Do you have a question for our travel expert? Email [email protected] with First Timer in the subject line.

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The Great Escape: Spark drops roaming rates as Kiwis' data use overseas soars

The boom in travel and roaming overseas has led Spark to overhaul its rates.

Spark has seen roaming data use jump by nearly 60 per cent over the past year across its most popular travel destinations.

New Spark roaming packs offer seven days of roaming across 33 destinations for just $20 (buying 500MB, 200 incoming and 200 outgoing minutes, and 200 texts) or $15 (buying 500MB data) and are available to Spark business, prepay and pay monthly customers.

Last month rival Vodafone said it would more than double the number of countries in which its on-account customers can use their phones in the same way they would at home.

Its daily roaming destinations offer, which costs an extra $5 per day, now extends to over 70 countries.

Spark's chief executive of Home, Mobile and Business, Jason Paris, said most Kiwis travel for an average of five days at a time, so weekly packs were a much better fit for their roaming needs.

The company said that compared to the old rate per dollar, the new $20 pack offers up to five times as much data, and four to 10 times as many minutes and texts, working out at $2.85 per day when spread across the seven days. The new $15 data roaming pack offers around 60 per cent to 95 per cent more data per dollar.

Paris said nearly a third of customers travelled to more than one destination each trip.

''We've been able to cover the places that matter, including 17 of the top 20 places New Zealanders travel to.''

During the past year the number of New Zealanders travelling overseas for work and on holiday had risen more than 11 per cent to 2.74 million.

''This highlights the significant growth in demand for roaming services - a trend Spark expects to accelerate in coming years as the global travel boom continues,'' said Paris.

Based on a 2014 New Zealand Telecommunications Forum international mobile roaming guide, 500MB of data would equate to around 25 hours of web browsing or social media use.

About half of travellers turn off their data when overseas for fear of getting a big bill or not knowing what roaming rates are, Spark said.

The new roaming packs cover countries where up to 93 per cent of New Zealanders go.

They are: Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Britain, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Germany, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, US, Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

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Heading overseas? Here’s how to best use your mobile to keep connected

$travelling overseas with spark$

Before you go, there are a few steps you should take to ensure your smartphone will work overseas and you don’t end up with an unwanted phone bill, plus if something goes wrong, how you can contact us.

Here are the most common questions you are asking, and some answers that can help.

Does Telstra offer cheap overseas calls, SMS and data?

To reduce bill shock and get you a better deal, we provide an International Roaming Day Pass service. For most people on a Consumer or Small Business plan, it is a service that activates automatically when you land overseas, and you do not need to do anything to turn it on.

It offers international roaming for $5 a day in New Zealand, and $10 a day for over 70 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Americas, and Oceania. This means you can call for no additional charge to Australia and to any other country included in the zones.

Depending on your service and your destination, your International Day Pass offers unlimited calls and SMS (Short Message Service) in most popular countries, and a daily 1GB data allocation in most locations. However, there are some terms and conditions, so make sure you check out our International Roaming Day Pass offer page to understand everything before you go.

If you use all that data before the indicated period is up, on most plans you will receive an automatic top-up of 1GB that lasts 31 days for $10. This 1GB of data will sit in reserve for days you go over your daily data allowance until you have used it all.

Be mindful of your time zone

On some older Telstra plans, the day pass runs on Australian Eastern Standard Time (12am-11:59pm) and not the local time of your destination. So, if you are planning to use your phone with the International Day Pass for a limited time, make sure you check the clock as you may incur a second charge if your usage period extends after midnight in Australia.

You’re able to check your mobile data usage via the MyTelstra app. Also keep an eye out for your SMS messages as you may receive SMS usage updates from Telstra at certain points.

What if I am not covered by the International Day Pass? Can I still use my device?

When you arrive overseas, we’ll send you a free SMS or email to let you know if your destination is eligible and whether your International Day Pass is working. 

If your destination isn’t eligible for an International Day Pass, you will be charged pay-as-you-go roaming rates. This means you’ll be charged for every call, SMS and MB of data used. These rates differ from country to country, so Telstra will send you a SMS with pricing information for that destination. 

Regardless of whether you use a Telstra international roaming option or not, your mobile device will still work for features that do not require an internet connection - such as your camera app, or even the likes of Google Maps if you’ve saved offline map details for where you are.

Will my mobile phone work on a cruise ship?

When you’re on the high seas, you want to make sure you’re connecting to your friends and family back home to share memories and stay in touch. However, while we have the largest mobile network in Australia, our coverage and Day Passes do not stretch out into international waters.

When you’re sailing on a cruise ship, international roaming services and fees will apply. When you’re at sea, your phone also may try to connect to the cruise ship’s own mobile service. Connecting to these networks will be charged at pay-as-you-go rates and are not included as part of any International Day Pass.

To minimise charges, we recommend using the ship’s Wi-Fi service instead – but depending on your cruise ship and fare, the cruise provider also may charge you to access this. So worthwhile checking out when you board.

Logged into this Wi-Fi with the Wi-Fi Calling setting on your phone activated, Telstra post-paid customers will still be able to make calls to Australian destinations, receive calls from anyone and make and receive texts.

Finally, if you want to be extra sure, turning off your mobile data roaming setting while aboard a cruise ship will ensure your device only uses the Wi-Fi connection available, and not any cellular data.

How do I contact Telstra while overseas?

If you want to talk to someone in our Australian contact centre, simply dial +61 439 125 109. This is a dedicated number for international callers available from 8am to 7pm AEDT (Aust Eastern Daylight Time), Monday to Friday. There are no additional costs when calling from a Telstra device beyond the International Day Pass charge, but if you aren’t calling from a Telstra device, you will incur charges from the alternate provider.

However, time zones can be a challenge, so if you have an internet connection you can always chat to Telstra via Facebook or X (Twitter) social channels and send us a private message. Our social team are available 24/7, so will be free to chat regardless of the time zone you are in.

You can also contact us from some overseas locations through Telstra Messaging when logged into My Telstra (app or web browser) and entering your username and password. This service is also available 24/7. There are also several self-help options available on the app, so in some cases you might be able to fix the issue yourself without having to speak to us.

For security reasons, we can’t communicate only over email about your account. That goes for if you are in Australia or abroad - it is just safer that way.

Whatever way you choose to reach out to us, we’ll need to grab some details from you to verify your identity before we can help. This is to make sure your account is safe and it's not someone pretending to be you.

You will be asked your Telstra account number, so make sure you have that written down or the MyTelstra App installed on your device (it will be listed under the Payments tab). Part of this verification process also includes you accessing a two-factor verification code, which depending on your contact method, may be sent via SMS or email.

What if I lose my phone overseas?

First thing: don’t panic. Then contact Telstra to let us know. Once we have verified your identity, we can either block your device or temporarily suspend your Telstra service, so it cannot be used while it is missing. If you then find your phone, simply contact us again and we can restore it.

You should also contact your financial institutions to let them know if you had any linked bank cards stored in your phone’s digital wallet.

Depending on how and where it was lost, you should also consider reporting it to local authorities. Often this is required for travel insurance purposes.

I want to use a local country SIM card - is there anything I need to know?

While Telstra’s data roaming packs are extremely popular, many people who are having extended holidays or in countries where our data packs do not work may choose to use a local SIM card.

Simply take the Telstra SIM card out from your mobile phone’s SIM slot and put it in a safe place, and then insert the local SIM.

If you are overseas and purchase a local eSIM, you won’t need to remove your physical Telstra SIM card - but make sure to turn the Telstra SIM off while you are away in your phone settings. If it’s active, it will try to connect, wherever you are.

Similarly, if your phone uses a Telstra eSIM, make sure you jump into your settings and turn the service off while overseas if you do not want it to be active.

What happens if I just turn off my data?

Turning off your data is another effective cost saving option. You will not incur any charges, but you will still be able to receive incoming text messages and incoming calls.

However: if you respond to or send a text, or answer a call, you will automatically activate our International Roaming Day Pass and be charged $10. You might want to save up all your calls and texts for one day to minimise your charges.

It’s important to note- most apps or features like maps, google translate, find my device and social media will not work with your phone’s mobile data switched off – in this situation, you’ll need to connect to Wi-Fi to get any updates or send posts.

I have a smartwatch. Will it also work overseas?

Most smartwatches are paired to your mobile phone via Bluetooth. If you have one of those connected and your data activated, then it will still work while you are overseas. Your watch will continue to display SMS messages that are coming through from your phone and will piggy-back on whichever mobile service or Wi-Fi you have activated in your phone.

You won’t be charged $10 data roaming for each Bluetooth paired device that you use - but you will get charged for each device with its own Telstra mobile connection as it activates.

If you have a smartwatch in Australia with the Telstra One number option activated -where your watch can make and receive calls without being attached via Bluetooth - this service will not work overseas. It only works on the Telstra network in Australia.

My phone has an eSIM. What is that and what if I want to buy a local country SIM card?

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a mobile network SIM that is built into compatible mobile phones, tablets, wearables, and other technology. You don’t need a physical SIM card as a result and it allows you to have multiple phone numbers connected to the same device using a digital e-SIM profile, including an overseas local network. There are a range of phones on sale that are e-SIM compatible, including popular Samsung, Apple and Google devices and you can check to see if your phone is listed HERE.

If your phone uses a Telstra eSIM, make sure you jump into your settings and turn the service off while overseas if you do not want it to be active.

My phone is ‘dual sim’. What does this mean, and how can I best use it overseas?

Dual SIM is a capability your device may support, allowing it to support up to two mobile services. That might mean you could have one international SIM card and one Telstra SIM card in your device. It might also mean your device can either take two physical SIM cards or a mix of e-SIM and physical SIM. The advantage of a dual sim device is that you can use a local sim card for calls but still be able to access messages and calls from your normal service, however you may still incur Telstra roaming charges.

What about overseas Wi-Fi? Should I try and use that whenever possible and is it safe?

Free public or hotel Wi-Fi is handy for googling things and keeping updated on social media. However, it isn't as secure as the Wi-Fi you are used to at home, so be careful about sending and receiving confidential information like online banking across public Wi-Fi networks - you do not know who is in control of the network.

If you do use public Wi-Fi, we recommend using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to help keep your connection private. You can also turn any public hotspot into secure Wi-Fi with  Telstra Device Security- on top of offering a VPN connection, it has a range of other cyber features which can boost your security on up to 10 devices - worth a thought if you are travelling with a family or for an extended period.

What about using streaming platforms?

While streaming platforms like Netflix, Spotify and YouTube are awesome when you have some airport downtime, they can quickly chew through your mobile data allowance. We strongly recommend downloading and saving any streaming content when you are on Wi-Fi, so it is available to watch or listen later. This will free up your mobile data for more important things like accessing crucial travel info, maps, connecting to your social media, and any texting and calling.

If you listen to lots of podcasts, or if you have heaps of Spotify playlists saved, make sure that these do not update automatically. Trust us – it’s better to listen to the same thing twice, than it is to realise your phone has unexpectedly downloaded a four-hour history lesson while you were on the beach.

Any other tips before I leave Australia?

You should make sure you have a variety of up-to-date forms of contact details registered, such as telephone numbers and email addresses, plus know your account number, so that you or your authorities can enable that two-factor authentication to proceed in case you can’t receive an SMS. To check your account details, call us before you leave on 13 22 00, chat to us online or visit in-store.

We also suggest making someone you trust an authority on your account. That way, you can ask them to make changes on your behalf if you can’t do so.

Make sure you complete any available software or app updates - and then turn off any automatic updates. That way you won’t accidentally download a phone system upgrade that might use lots of data. You can then use Wi-Fi or wait until you get home to do any recent updates.

Also, make sure that you set your device to back up to the cloud over Wi-Fi as you travel. This will help make sure your precious memories aren’t lost with your device (if it is).

Many popular brands offer a ‘find my device’ type setting which if activated, can be handy if you have misplaced your device. You’ll just need to be logged in to another compatible device and have your data roaming working to be able to track it down.

Mobile technology has changed the way we travel overseas and stay connected. It can keep us safe in an emergency and allow us to communicate and find our way in unfamiliar places. These few tips will help you use your devices wisely.

Things you need to know

This advice is of a general nature and some exceptions or variations may apply depending on the device you are using or the plan you are on. If you have any doubts or want to double check something, please contact Telstra on 13 2200 or visit a Telstra store before you go.

At Telstra we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia .

Phone & Internet

Best Roaming Plans NZ

Posted by Caitlin Bingham 03/10/2023

What is roaming?

Roaming (commonly referred to as global roaming, international roaming or data roaming) is when your phone uses another provider’s network to use functions such as calling, SMS, and mobile broadband (data) when your own network is unavailable. This is typically done when travelling overseas.

For example, if you’re on holiday in America, your NZ Mobile plan won’t be of much use. However, with roaming, you can use an overseas carrier’s network to continue surfing the web, and texting/calling to your heart’s content, all from your own device, number and SIM.

The overseas carrier won’t charge you to use its network. Rather it will charge your local carrier, that will then charge you, in the form of casual rates or as part of your prepaid plan.

But be warned, roaming rates are not as kind as regular domestic charges.

→Related article: Best Endless Data Mobile Monthly Plans

How much does roaming cost.

It’s important to note that unless you select a specific roaming plan, you’ll be charged casual rates while roaming. And those rates can be very high.

For example, in certain locations, Spark charges $9.20 per megabyte (yes that MB, not GB) of data used and $5.16 per minute of calling! When you factor in that just 15 minutes of social media browsing can use around 5MB of data (while video calling, streaming, and even using Google Maps can use much more) that’s could get very expensive very fast. And if you’re a prepay customer, those rates can be even higher!

So unless you’re happy to burn through cash, it pays to consider your options. One of those options is to organise a designated roaming phone plan. For, as you’ll see below, that can make things considerably cheaper.

Compare phone plans with Canstar Blue

Roaming phone plans

Below is a brief overview of roaming options from all the major telcos in New Zealand. For further details, be sure to visit individual retailer websites.

Importantly, when purchasing one of the below roaming packs, most retailers state that the plan starts from the moment it’s purchased. So if the plan is only valid for seven days, for example, make sure you don’t purchase it in advance.

For those not keen to pay Spark’s casual roaming rates, you can add one of the two below plans to your prepay or Pay Monthly plan. Note that the packs below are add-ons, meaning you will need to have a valid Pay Monthly or Prepay plan.

Furthermore, the below plans are only available in select countries. Excluded destinations will be subject to casual roaming rates.

For One customers on a pay monthly plan, you can continue to use your pay monthly plan for an additional $8/day (in select locations). For prepay customers, you can purchase an add-on, in addition to your plan.

As with One, 2degrees customers can continue using their NZ plan for just $8/day in over 100 destinations worldwide. For countries not included, the below rates* apply:

$3.45 per minute to call anywhere in the world
$1.15 per minute to receive any call
$0.91 a text sent to anywhere in the world
$57 for a 500MB data pack

Note that certain destinations may be excluded from roaming altogether.

Skinny has a range of roaming add-ons for you to choose from. For countries not covered casual rates apply. These rates vary depending on location.

Do I have any alternatives?

Even with a roaming plan, costs can still add up. After all, many of the above plans aren’t exactly great value compared to what you’re used to here in New Zealand. Although they’re certainly better than sticking with the casual roaming rates!

If you’re looking to avoid data roaming altogether, but want to continue chatting away while abroad, some options may be to:

Get a local SIM

Instead of paying 2degrees to let you use AT&T’s network on your next trip to New York, you could always just go straight to the source. Most telcos offer travel SIM cards pre-loaded with a boatload of data, specifically designed for tourists, and these often provide better value than what your roaming plan will.

If you do get a local SIM, you’ll likely have to go through the hassle of stopping into a store and getting it set up. You’ll also have to get a new number. But if you’re willing to stomach the minor inconvenience, good deals are there to be had. Especially if you’re visiting countries where your hard-earned NZD goes a long way.

Stick to wi-fi

How keen you are to do this might depend on where you’re going and how you’re travelling. For example, if you’re going backpacking through a remote country, having data on hand could be hugely important.

But if you’re taking a quick trip to a major metropolis, awash with free wi-fi from Starbucks and Mcdonald’s, you might find you don’t really need data at all. You just might have to wait until you’re back at the hotel before posting your photo dump to Instagram.

Stick to receiving calls

It pays to double-check your carrier’s rates, as sometimes receiving calls can still incur charges, but it could be worth organising it so your mum calls you, instead of you calling her. Especially if she has a phone plan with plenty of international minutes.

For example, all prepay plans from Warehouse Mobile provide 200 minutes of calling to mobile numbers in NZ, OZ, the UK, the US and Canada, Germany, India, China, South Korea and more!

Make sure you check your settings!

Importantly, when travelling overseas, make sure you’ve had a look at your phone’s roaming settings. Dive into them and turn them off if possible. Otherwise, your phone may automatically connect to a network and start running up charges unbeknownst to you.

Throwing your phone into airplane mode should also do the trick.

Should I use roaming when overseas?

While roaming the streets of a new city is always filled with excitement, your phone’s data shouldn’t necessarily come with you. Casual roaming rates can be exorbitant and should almost definitely be avoided at all costs. But even a roaming pack can be tough to stomach. After all, you’d never usually pay $57 for just 500MB of data, or even $23 for a plan that lasts just 7 days!

But, then again, depending on the type of travel you’re doing you might find it’s worth it for you. For example, if you’re spending thousands of dollars on a week-long trip to the US, another $23 to keep your data on for the week isn’t so bad. Plus, it saves the hassle of dealing with a telco stall at the airport.

On the other hand, if you’re off for a month or more, you might want to consider a local SIM. Especially as plenty of destinations offer boatloads of data at cheap prices we’re not used to here in NZ.

Or, you could always forego roaming packs and local SIMs, put your phone down for a bit, and enjoy your surroundings. Not everything in life has to be posted online!

*Prices accurate at time of writing (October 2023). Further information on pricing can be found at individual retailer websites. This should be used as a starter guide and not considered an actual quote.

About the reviewer of this page

This report was reviewed by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.

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A how-to for each of the best ways to receive calls while travelling overseas. This guide also include VOIP which is not pictured.

Receiving Calls While Overseas: Complete How-to Guide With Costs

I recently had to set up my phone to receive calls from another country. I found out this wasn’t easy. After a bit of research, I put together this guide to help anyone else in the same situation. This guide aims to help anyone receive calls on their phone if they are in another country.

It typically costs between $1 and $5 per minute to receive calls while overseas using roaming. Many providers offer daily or weekly roaming packages that include receiving calls as one of their features, these can range from $5 to $12 per day. Alternatives to roaming include using Skype, an app, VOIP, or a local SIM card.

In this guide I’ve included details on:

How to set up incoming calls while travelling , for each of the different options
How much it typically costs for roaming , particularly if you’re coming from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Singapore
Cheaper alternatives to save money instead of roaming.

In summary, setup of each option is as follows:

To receive calls using roaming : Activate roaming with your provider and then receive calls as per normal.

To receive calls using Skype : Register a Skype number, then you can receive calls using that number while logged in to the Skype app.

To receive calls using apps : Download the app, have the other person download the app, then you’re free to call each other as long as data/Wi-Fi is available (note, roaming data can be expensive! Try a local SIM instead).

To receive calls using a local SIM : Buy a local SIM card, activate the number and give it out to people, receive calls; the person making the call may be charged a high rate for making an international call.

I’ve gone in to each of these steps in further detail below, I’ve also looked at the costs of roaming and the alternatives in this guide.

How to Receive Calls While Overseas

To receive calls while overseas activate roaming or install an app that can be used to call. If roaming, people can dial your number as if you were at home. If using an app, both parties will need the app installed. Alternatives can include Skype or other VOIP services to register a number that you can be reached on, or to purchase a local SIM card in the country.

This section contains further detail on how to get stated with each of these options. Further below I’ve included the typical costs to pay. While roaming is the most common, I’ve also included details on the costs of these alternatives.

To receive calls while roaming : Activate roaming with your mobile phone provider, this may need to be done prior to leaving. You do not need to tell anyone you are roaming, anyone calling you will be able to dial your number normally. Significant charges may be incurred when receiving calls, I’ve included a list of these costs below .

If someone calls you overseas and you have roaming active, they will be able to reach you as normal and you may be charged to receive the call. If you are overseas without roaming active, the call may go to voicemail or the person will otherwise be told you are unreachable.

Roaming typically costs $1 to $5 per minute depending on which country the SIM card is registered in and which country the phone is roaming in. See below for further details, including how much it costs to roam for Americans, Canadians, Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, and Singaporeans (click here to skip ahead).

There is no need to let other people know if you are roaming . To them, it will seem like you haven't left the country; they will dial your number and you can receive the phone call. The person making the call is charged a normal rate, and you are charged the roaming rates (see below for more details).

To receive calls using Skype : Register a Skype number on their website and pay the monthly subscription fee. Then anyone can call you using that number as long as you are logged in to Skype. There seem to be no additional fees other than the subscription fee for the number.

Skype costs approximately USD 7 per month depending on account region. Discounts are available if subscribing for 3 or 12 months at a time.

To receive calls using an app : Download and register with the app, and ensure the person wanting to call you has done the same. Apps can include Facebook messenger, Whatsapp, Line or many others. Follow instructions within the app to call each other.

Using an app is typically free for calling.

To receive calls using VOIP : Sign up with a VOIP provider, register a dial-in phone number, download a VOIP app, connect to the provider using the app, and then anyone can call you on the dial-in phone number.

VOIP costs approximately USD 5 to USD 18 per month with an additional charge for calls (e.g. 17 cents per minute).

To receive calls using a local SIM card : Purchase a local SIM card upon arrival in the country; activate the SIM card; give the number to people who wish to call you. Calls will be charged at an international rate for the person making the call; the majority of providers around the world do not charge for receiving calls, in my experience.

Receiving calls on a local SIM card is typically free for the person receiving the call; the person making the call likely has to pay international call fees.

How Much Roaming Costs to Receive Calls

I’ve compared the costs for people from different countries using popular providers. This section of the guide will be helpful for Americans & Canadians, Brits, Aussies & Kiwis, and Singaporeans.

In another guide I wrote about who pays for call costs while roaming. Check it out here: landinglastminute.com/calling-someone-roaming .

Roaming is expensive, further below I’ve included details on cheaper alternatives (click here to skip ahead).

For Americans and Canadians

This is a brief summary of the options for receiving calls for those who are coming from the US or Canada.

AT&T includes receiving calls in its $10/day International Day Pass 1 , there is no additional cost to receive a call from someone in the States. I couldn’t find any other details on the per minute rate for those using the AT&T’s roaming passport or pay-per-use rates - I’d take a guess it is roughly $1-$2 per minute, based on their outgoing costs.

T-Mobile seems to charge 25 cents per minute to receive a call if roaming abroad on a Magenta, ONE, or Simple Choice plan 2 . The terms and conditions have some strange wording, though this is how I interpret it.

Rogers allows its Canadian quotas to be used when travelling to the US for CAD 8/day or for anywhere else at CAD 12/day 3 .

Telus includes receiving calls in its Easy Roam plans. This costs CAD 8 per day in the States or CAD 12 per day in other destinations 4 . Telus explicitly state receiving calls are treated this way (i.e. Easy Roam activates as soon as you receive a call).

Bell includes receiving calls with its Roam Better plans. The cost is CAD 8 per day for the States or CAD 12 per day for its other covered destinations 5 . Unlimited incoming calls is explicitly stated as a feature of these plans.

The cheapest roaming option for Americans to receive calls appears to be T-Mobile with its 25 cents per minute plan . I couldn’t confirm details with AT&T to verify their costs though. Money can be saved however by using apps or VOIP (see below for further details).

Canadian providers all seem to charge the same for incoming calls while roaming, typically costing CAD 12/day. Local SIM cards might offer a cheaper alternative, see below for further details.

For British

Vodafone includes receiving calls as per the UK allowances for its pay monthly customers at a cost of £6 per day 6 (or no additional cost on Unlimited Max plans). For pay as you go customers, the cost is typically 36p per minute, though this varies by country you’re in.

EE charges £1.20 - £1.80 a minute as a standard cost for receiving a call abroad 7 , this can vary by country you’re in.

O2 offers a travel bolt on for £4.99 per day on pay monthly plans; it includes 120 minutes of calls that can be made or received 8 . I couldn’t find reliable details for pay as you go.

The UK still participates in the EU’s roam like home programme at the time of writing this guide; this means that when travelling to the UK, receiving calls costs the same (should be no charge) as it does when in the UK.

For Australians and New Zealanders

Telstra includes unlimited calls with its AUD 5 or AUD 10 International Day Pass options 9 . If not using an International Day Pass, receiving calls can cost $2 - $5 per minute 10 .

Vodafone (AU) charges AUD 5 per day to use the Australian quota in another country. As receiving calls is typically not charged in Australia, all Vodafone plans should have free incoming calls when the $5/day roaming is activated 11 .

Optus offers unlimited incoming calls with its AUD 10 per day roaming pass 12 . Alternatively, receiving a call while roaming overseas with Optus typically costs $1.50/minute for those on a plan or 50 cents to $1 per minute for those with prepaid roaming. 13

Spark includes 200 minutes of incoming calls in its 7 day roaming pack for NZD 20 14 in supported countries. Otherwise expect to pay $1/minute to receive a call.

Vodafone (NZ) charges NZD 7 per day to use the New Zealand quota while travelling abroad, this should mean all incoming calls have no charge 15 .

For Singaporeans

All three major providers (SingTel, Starhub, and M1) charge typically SGD 1-2 per minute to receive calls 16 17 18 . Even when purchasing a roaming pack, receiving calls still costs this amount.

MyRepublic and TPG offer an alternative for incoming calls using their app. As far as I can tell, there is no additional charge for using their app to receive calls, even when you are in another country 19 20 .

Cheaper Alternatives to Roaming

I’ve put together a list of some of the cheaper alternatives to roaming. You don’t have to roam to receive calls while overseas, and here are some of the alternatives you can use to do so.

A local number can be registered with Skype that allows you to receive incoming calls for a flat fee.

It costs roughly 7 USD per month at time of writing, with discounts available for purchasing 3 or 12 months at a time. I had to sign in with my account to get this quote, the price may change based on your account (it seems to consider local taxes). There seem to be no additional fees for receiving phone calls using Skype.

Supported countries include:

US and Puerto Rico
UK and Ireland
Germany, Denmark, Finland, Poland
Australia and New Zealand

A full list of supported countries is available here

I’ve found Skype to be the best option to receive calls while overseas, as long as you’re coming from one of the supported countries. If your home country is not supported (and unfortunately there are many not supported), using an app or VOIP may be a better option.

How to use Skype to receive calls

Download Skype here and register an account.
Select the country and phone number from this page
Give that number to people to give you a call

Instructions on Skype’s phone number registration page allow you to choose which part of the country the phone number is located in. This allows you to select a number suitable to the location of people you expect to be calling you (e.g. If people calling you typically live in LA, choose an LA phone number so they don’t have to pay long distance charges).

Video and voice calling apps work wherever an internet connection is available that allows the apps to connect. I’ve used apps to receive calls including:

Facebook messenger
Skype (using Skype to Skype)

And others.

There are no fees to use messenger, Whatsapp, Line or other apps to receive calls while travelling overseas apart from any data or WiFi charges incurred in using the internet to make the call.

Apps allow you to make and receive phone calls while travelling. If you’re interested in finding out more about how apps work to make and receive phone calls while travelling, I’ve gone in to further detail in my calling while travelling guide. Check it out here: landinglastminute.com/calling-while-travelling-guide .

I found VOIP to be the cheapest yet most complicated way to receive calls while travelling overseas.

VOIP typically costs USD 5-10 per month to register a phone number, and then may cost an additional 10-20 cents per minute to receive phone calls. Phone calls are either received by a corresponding VOIP app on your phone, or can be redirected to another phone number in any supported country (most of them).

Here are the steps I went through when I first signed up with a VOIP provider to receive a call overseas:

Choose a VOIP provider - I chose voip.ms as they supported the country I wanted to register the phone number in.
Sign up to their plan - this includes a separate step of having to register a DID number
Provide ID - as I was registering a new number, I had to provide ID
Download a VOIP app and enter the settings
Give people the new number to call

It took a long time to sign up as they had to manually approve my payment and ID. I don’t recommend VOIP for most people; check out an app, Skype, or roaming instead.

Get a local SIM (and pass the costs to the other person)

Buying a local SIM when travelling in another country usually gives you a phone number that you can receive calls on. Give this phone number to people back home and they can call you.

In most countries it is free to receive phone calls. This means the people back home need to figure out how to dial the international number to reach you.

While calling an international number is generally easy (try the +xx prefix), it can be costly. I’ve found it can cost anything from a few cents per minute to a few dollars per minute. Each country I’ve lived in though has an option to make international calls for those few cents per minute. These can include:

Prepaid international calling cards
Opt-in mobile phone plans which include international calling minutes
International calling minutes included in phone plans

I write guides on how to purchase a local SIM card at many popular destinations such as Canada , Scotland , Australia , and New Zealand .

Bottom Line

In order from most preferred to least preferred, here is my preference on the best ways to receive calls while travelling overseas:

Roaming - good if you are already roaming or have a cheap roaming plan from a provider, otherwise it can be expensive
Local SIM - these days it can be cheap for people back home to make phone calls overseas, it does involve giving people a new phone number though to contact you on
Skype - if your home country offers a Skype number, this is a great way to get people to call you

While I do have VOIP as well, I really don’t recommend it. It’s complicated to set up and isn’t easy to use. If you want some pointers on how to use VOIP, head on over to my contact section and get in touch - I’ll gladly help you out.

AT&T International Day Pass costs and terms

T-Mobile roaming rates, click “See full terms” for text about calls

Rogers roam like home details

Telus Easy Roam details, they explicitly mention receiving calls

Bell Roam Better details, unlimited incoming calls is explicitly stated

Vodafone UK roaming details for pay monthly and pay as you go

EE roaming details by country

O2 Travel bolt on details

Telstra International Day Pass inclusions

Telstra pay per use roaming rates

Vodafone Australia roaming details

Optus roaming pass for those on a plan

Optus prepaid roaming rate

Spark roaming

Vodafone NZ roaming rates

SingTel roaming rates

Starhub roaming rates

M1 instructions on how to find out roaming rates

MyRepublic incoming calls

TPG Singapore incoming calls

Tags: roaming communication

← Airport Lounge Passes: A Guide to the Top 4 Lounge Access Passes
Alternatives to Roaming: 4 Options and Their Costs →

Written by Chris who travels frequently for work and understands what it can be like to arrive somewhere new and unfamiliar.

I wrote Landing Last Minute to help the hurried traveler get necessary information about any destination.

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Section 5 - Rubella
Section 5 - Smallpox & Other Orthopoxvirus-Associated Infections

Rubeola / Measles

Cdc yellow book 2024.

Author(s): Paul Gastañaduy, James Goodson

Infectious Agent

Transmission, epidemiology, clinical presentation.

INFECTIOUS AGENT: Measles virus

TRAVELER CATEGORIES AT GREATEST RISK FOR EXPOSURE & INFECTION

PREVENTION METHODS

Rubeola is a vaccine-preventable disease

DIAGNOSTIC SUPPORT

Measles virus is a member of the genus Morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae .

Measles is transmitted from person to person via respiratory droplets and by the airborne route as aerosolized droplet nuclei. Infected people are usually contagious from 4 days before until 4 days after rash onset. Measles is among the most contagious viral diseases known; secondary attack rates are ≥90% among susceptible household and institutional contacts. Humans are the only natural host for sustaining measles virus transmission, which makes global eradication of measles feasible.

Measles was declared eliminated (defined as the absence of endemic measles virus transmission in a defined geographic area for ≥12 months in the presence of a well-performing surveillance system) from the United States in 2000. Measles virus continues to be imported into the country from other parts of the world, however, and recent prolonged outbreaks in the United States resulting from measles virus importations highlight the challenges faced in maintaining measles elimination.

Given the large global measles burden and high communicability of the disease, travelers could be exposed to the virus in any country they visit where measles remains endemic or where large outbreaks are occurring. Most measles cases imported into the United States occur in unvaccinated US residents who become infected while traveling abroad, often to the World Health Organization (WHO)–defined Western Pacific and European regions. These travelers become symptomatic after returning to the United States and sometimes infect others in their communities, causing outbreaks.

Nearly 90% of imported measles cases are considered preventable by vaccination (i.e., the travelers lacked recommended age- and travel-appropriate vaccination). Furthermore, observational studies in travel clinics in the United States have shown that 59% of pediatric and 53% of adult travelers eligible for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine at the time of pretravel consultation were not vaccinated at the visit, highlighting a missed opportunity to reduce the likelihood of measles introductions and subsequent spread. Encourage all eligible travelers to receive appropriate MMR vaccination. Outbreak investigations are costly and resource intensive, and infected people—in addition to productivity losses—can incur direct costs for the management of their illness, including treatment, quarantine, and caregiving.

The incubation period averages 11–12 days from exposure to onset of prodrome; rash usually appears ≈14 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever, with temperature ≤105°F (≤40.6°C); conjunctivitis; coryza (runny nose); cough; and small spots with white or bluish-white centers on an erythematous base appearing on the buccal mucosa (Koplik spots). A characteristic red, blotchy (maculopapular) rash appears 3–7 days after onset of prodromal symptoms. The rash begins on the face, becomes generalized, and lasts 4–7 days.

Common measles complications include diarrhea (8%), middle ear infection (7%–9%), and pneumonia (1%–6%). Encephalitis, which can result in permanent brain damage, occurs in ≈1 per 1,000–2,000 cases of measles. The risk for serious complications or death is highest for children aged ≤5 years, adults aged ≥20 years, and in populations with poor nutritional status or that lack access to health care.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive neurologic disorder caused by measles virus that usually presents 5–10 years after recovery from the initial primary measles virus infection. SSPE manifests as mental and motor deterioration, which can progress to coma and death. SSPE occurs in ≈1 of every 5,000 reported measles cases; rates are higher among children <5 years of age.

Measles is a nationally notifiable disease. Laboratory criteria for diagnosis include a positive serologic test for measles-specific IgM, IgG seroconversion, or a significant rise in measles IgG level by any standard serologic assay; isolation of measles virus; or detection of measles virus RNA by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Measles Virus Laboratory is the national reference laboratory; it provides serologic and molecular testing for measles and technical assistance to state public health laboratories for the collection and shipment of clinical samples for molecular diagnostics and genetic analysis. See detailed information on diagnostic support .

A clinical case of measles illness is characterized by generalized maculopapular rash lasting ≥3 days; temperature ≥101°F (38.3°C); and cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis. A confirmed case is one with an acute febrile rash illness with laboratory confirmation or direct epidemiologic linkage to a laboratory-confirmed case. In a laboratory-confirmed or epidemiologically linked case, the patient’s temperature does not need to reach ≥101°F (38.3°C) and the rash does not need to last ≥3 days.

Treatment is supportive. The WHO recommends vitamin A for all children with acute measles, regardless of their country of residence, to reduce the risk for complications. Administer vitamin A as follows: for infants <6 months old, give 50,000 IU, once a day for 2 days; for infants 6 months old and older, but younger than 12 months, give 100,000 IU once a day for 2 days; for children ≥12 months old give 200,000 IU once a day for 2 days. For children with clinical signs and symptoms of vitamin A deficiency, administer an additional (i.e., a third) age-specific dose of vitamin A 2–4 weeks following the first round of dosing.

Measles has been preventable through vaccination since a vaccine was licensed in 1963. People who do not have evidence of measles immunity should be considered at risk for measles, particularly during international travel. Acceptable presumptive evidence of immunity to measles includes birth before 1957; laboratory confirmation of disease; laboratory evidence of immunity; or written documentation of age-appropriate vaccination with a licensed, live attenuated measles-containing vaccine 1 , namely, MMR or measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV). For infants 6 months old and older, but younger than 12 months, this includes documented administration of 1 dose of MMR; for people aged ≥12 months, documentation should include 2 doses of MMR or MMRV (the first dose administered at age ≥12 months and the second dose administered no earlier than 28 days after the first dose). Verbal or self-reported history of vaccination is not considered valid presumptive evidence of immunity.

1 From 1963–1967, a formalin-inactivated measles vaccine was available in the United States and was administered to ≈600,000–900,000 people. It was discontinued when it became apparent that the immunity it produced was short-lived. Consider people who received this vaccine unvaccinated.

Vaccination

Measles vaccine contains live, attenuated measles virus, which in the United States is available only in combination formulations (e.g., MMR and MMRV vaccines). MMRV vaccine is licensed for children aged 12 months–12 years and can be used in place of MMR vaccine if vaccination for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella is needed.

International travelers, including people traveling to high-income countries, who do not have presumptive evidence of measles immunity and who have no contraindications to MMR or MMRV, should receive MMR or MMRV before travel per the following schedule.

Infants (6 months old and older, but younger than 12 months): 1 MMR dose. Infants vaccinated before age 12 months must be revaccinated on or after the first birthday with 2 doses of MMR or MMRV separated by ≥28 days. MMRV is not licensed for children aged <12 months.

Children (aged ≥12 months): 2 doses of MMR or MMRV separated by ≥28 days.

Adults born in or after 1957: 2 doses of MMR separated by ≥28 days.

One dose of MMR is ≈85% effective when administered at age 9 months; MMR and MMRV are 93% effective when administered at age ≥1 year. Vaccine effectiveness of 2 doses is 97%.

Adverse Reactions

In rare circumstances, MMR vaccination has been associated with anaphylaxis (≈2–14 occurrences per million doses administered); febrile seizures (≈1 occurrence per 3,000–4,000 doses administered, but overall, the rate of febrile seizures after measles-containing vaccine is much lower than the rate with measles disease); thrombocytopenia (≈1 occurrence per 40,000 doses during the 6 weeks after immunization); or joint symptoms (arthralgia develops among ≈25% of nonimmune postpubertal females from the rubella component of the MMR vaccination, and ≈10% have acute arthritis-like signs and symptoms that generally persist for 1–21 days and rarely recur; chronic joint symptoms are rare, if they occur at all). No evidence supports a causal link between MMR vaccination and autism, type 1 diabetes mellitus, or inflammatory bowel disease.

Contraindications

People who experienced a severe allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, hives, hypotension, shock, swelling of the mouth or throat) following a prior dose of MMR or MMRV vaccine, or who had an anaphylactic reaction to topically or systemically administered neomycin, should not be vaccinated or revaccinated. People who are allergic to eggs can receive MMR or MMRV vaccine without prior routine skin testing or the use of special protocols.

Immunosuppression

Enhanced replication of live vaccine viruses can occur in people who have immune deficiency disorders. Death related to vaccine-associated measles virus infection has been reported among severely immunocompromised people; thus, severely immunosuppressed people should not be vaccinated with MMR or MMRV vaccine. For a thorough discussion of recommendations for immunocompromised travelers, see Sec. 3, Ch. 1, Immunocompromised Travelers .

MMR vaccination is recommended for all people with HIV infection aged ≥12 months who do not have evidence of measles, mumps, and rubella immunity, and who do not have evidence of severe immunosuppression. The assessment of severe immunosuppression can be based on CD4 values (count or percentage); absence of severe immunosuppression is defined as CD4 ≥15% for ≥6 months for children aged ≤5 years, or CD4 ≥15% and CD4 count ≥200 cells/mL for ≥6 months for people aged >5 years.

People with leukemia in remission and off chemotherapy, who were not immune to measles when diagnosed with leukemia, may receive MMR vaccine. At least 3 months should elapse after termination of chemotherapy before administering the first dose of vaccine.

Steroids & Other Immunosuppressive Therapies

Avoid vaccinating people who have received high-dose corticosteroid therapy (in general, considered to be ≥20 mg or 2 mg/kg body weight of prednisone, or its equivalent, daily for ≥14 days) with MMR or MMRV for ≥1 month after cessation of steroid therapy. Corticosteroid therapy usually is not a contraindication when administration is short-term (<14 days) or a low to moderate dose (<20 mg of prednisone or equivalent per day).

In general, withhold MMR or MMRV vaccine for ≥3 months after cessation of other immunosuppressive therapies and remission of the underlying disease. See Sec. 3, Ch. 1, Immunocompromised Travelers , for more details.

MMR vaccines should not be administered to pregnant people or people attempting to become pregnant. Because of the theoretical risk to the fetus, people should be counseled to avoid becoming pregnant for 28 days after receiving a live-virus (e.g., MMR) vaccine.

Precautions

Personal or family history of seizures of any etiology.

Compared with administration of separate MMR and varicella vaccines at the same visit, use of MMRV vaccine is associated with a higher risk for fever and febrile seizures 5–12 days after the first dose among children aged 12–23 months. Approximately 1 additional febrile seizure occurs for every 2,300–2,600 MMRV vaccine doses administered. Use of separate MMR and varicella vaccines avoids this increased risk for fever and febrile seizures.

Thrombocytopenia

The benefits of primary immunization are usually greater than the potential risks for vaccine- associated thrombocytopenia. Avoid giving subsequent doses of MMR or MMRV vaccine, however, if an episode of thrombocytopenia occurred ≤6 weeks after a previous dose of vaccine.

Postexposure Prophylaxis

Measles-containing vaccine or immune globulin (IG) can be effective as postexposure prophylaxis. MMR or MMRV administered ≤72 hours after initial exposure to measles virus might provide some protection. If the exposure does not result in infection, the vaccine should induce protection against subsequent measles virus infection.

When administered ≤6 days of exposure, IG can be used to confer temporary immunity in a susceptible person. If the exposure does not result in modified or typical measles, vaccination with MMR or MMRV is still necessary to provide long-lasting protection. Six months after receiving intramuscularly administered IG, or 8 months after receiving intravenously administered IG, administer MMR or MMRV vaccine, provided the patient is aged ≥12 months and the vaccine is not otherwise contraindicated.

CDC website: Measles

The following authors contributed to the previous version of this chapter: Paul A. Gastañaduy, James L. Goodson

Bibliography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and mumps, 2013: summary recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013;62(RR-04):1–34.

Gastañaduy P, Redd S, Clemmons N, Lee AD, Hickman CJ, Rota PA, et al. Measles. In: Roush SW, Baldy LM, Kirkconnell Hall MA, editors. Manual for the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2019. Available from: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html .

Hyle EP, Fields NF, Fiebelkorn AP, Taylor Walker A, Gastañaduy P, Rao SR, et al. The clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of measles-mumps-rubella vaccination to prevent measles importations among US international travelers. Clin Infect Dis. 2019;69(2):306–15.

Hyle EP, Rao SR, Bangs AC, Gastañaduy P, Parker Fiebelkorn A, Hagmann SHF, et al. Clinical practices for measles-mumps-rubella vaccination among US pediatric international travelers. JAMA Pediatr. 2020;174(2):e194515.

Hyle EP, Rao SR, Jentes ES, Parker Fiebelkorn A, Hagmann SHF, Taylor Walker A, et al. Missed opportunities for measles, mumps, rubella vaccination among departing U.S. adult travelers receiving pretravel health consultations. Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(2):77–84.

Lee AD, Clemmons NS, Patel M, Gastañaduy PA. International importations of measles virus into the United States during the post-elimination era, 2001–2016. J Infect Dis. 2019;219(10):1616–23.

National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Measles (rubeola): 2013 case definition. Atlanta: CDC; 2013. Available from: https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/measles/ .

Patel MK, Goodson JL, Alexander JP Jr., Kretsinger K, Sodha SV, Steulet C, et al. Progress toward regional measles elimination—Worldwide, 2000–2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(45):1700–5.

Pike J, Leidner AJ, Gastañaduy PA. A review of measles outbreak cost estimates from the US in the post-elimination era (2004–2017): Estimates by perspective and cost type. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;1(6):1568–76.

World Health Organization. Measles vaccines: WHO position paper—April 2017. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2017;92(17):205–27.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Delta
Racial and Ethnic Diversity
LGBTQ+ Diversity
People with Disabilities
Veterans and the Military
Sustainability
Awards & Recognition
Global Partners

On Monday, April 29, more than 150 Delta volunteers, BCD Travel and KABOOM! came together to build Delta’s 38th playground at Kelly Park, the sixth in LAX and second in the City of Compton, since the partnership began in 2013. This community service project was offered to attendees of Delta’s Global Sales annual conference, Connect 2024, and it is the fourth KABOOM! playground built in partnership with BCD Travel since 2018.

The new play space offers a safe, accessible place to be physically active, learn and grow for approximately 4,600 children living within two miles of the park, located in Compton, California. During the event, residents of the neighborhood pitched in to assist with the build, pointing out how excited their families were to have a modern, walkable playground nearby.

“Delta’s partnership has been hugely important in impacting the lives of children in this city, and we are grateful for the ways you’ve shown up to show this community the depth of care,” said Emma Sharif, Mayor of Compton. Ms. Sharif was instrumental in bringing the first KABOOM! playground to South Park in Compton in 2019 while she was a city councilwoman and spoke about how proud she was to build a second in her district.

Delta Global Sales leaders like Shawn Cole, V.P. - Global Sales and Scott Santoro, V.P. - Los Angeles and Sales-West led teams throughout the day in building benches, pouring concrete, and participating in the closing ceremonies that included the offices of Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and CA State Senator Steven Bradford.

The playground was completed in just five hours and included a multi-dimensional play structure with four slides, a rock-climbing wall and a swing set. The volunteers also completed side projects for the community center, including a new coat of paint, gardening and a pergola built from the ground up. At the ribbon cutting, the City of Compton and Kelly Park Community Center was surprised with a check for $10,000 from Delta presented by Delta leaders –the contribution will assist with long-term maintenance of the playground.

Delta is proud to support KABOOM! in its goal to end play space inequality by uniting with communities to build kid-designed play spaces that can spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for the children who are often denied opportunities to thrive. As part of our partnership, which reached its 10-year anniversary in 2023, Delta volunteers have helped build 38 KABOOM! playgrounds around the country.

Community Engagement
Los Angeles

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Boeing is on the verge of launching astronauts aboard new capsule, the latest entry to space travel

Boeing’s Starliner capsule atop an Atlas V rocket is rolled out to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will launch aboard to the International Space Station, scheduled for liftoff on May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore exit the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a mission dress rehearsal on Friday, April 26, 2024. The first flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule with a crew on board is scheduled for Monday, May 6, 2024. (Frank Micheaux/NASA via AP)

Boeing Crew Flight Test crew members Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore work in the Boeing Starliner simulator at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Nov. 3, 2022. The first flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule with a crew on board is scheduled for Monday, May 6, 2024. (NASA/Robert Markowitz)

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — After years of delays and stumbles, Boeing is finally poised to launch astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA.

It’s the first flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule with a crew on board, a pair of NASA pilots who will check out the spacecraft during the test drive and a weeklong stay at the space station.

NASA turned to U.S. companies for astronaut rides after the space shuttles were retired. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has made nine taxi trips for NASA since 2020, while Boeing has managed only a pair of unoccupied test flights.

Boeing program manager Mark Nappi wishes Starliner was further along. “There’s no doubt about that, but we’re here now.”

The company’s long-awaited astronaut demo is slated for liftoff Monday night.

Provided this tryout goes well, NASA will alternate between Boeing and SpaceX to get astronauts to and from the space station.

A look at the newest ride and its shakedown cruise:

NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore exit the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a mission dress rehearsal on Friday, April 26, 2024. The first flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule with a crew on board is scheduled for Monday, May 6, 2024. (Frank Micheaux/NASA via AP)

THE CAPSULE

White with black and blue trim, Boeing’s Starliner capsule is about 10 feet (3 meters) tall and 15 feet (4.5 meters) in diameter. It can fit up to seven people, though NASA crews typically will number four. The company settled on the name Starliner nearly a decade ago, a twist on the name of Boeing’s early Stratoliner and the current Dreamliner.

No one was aboard Boeing’s two previous Starliner test flights. The first, in 2019, was hit with software trouble so severe that its empty capsule couldn’t reach the station until the second try in 2022. Then last summer, weak parachutes and flammable tape cropped up that needed to be fixed or removed.

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, workers open up the capsule of the Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship after it lands successfully at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. China's Shenzhou-17 spacecraft returned to Earth Tuesday, carrying three astronauts who have completed a six-month mission aboard the country's orbiting space station. (Lian Zhen/Xinhua via AP)

Veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are retired Navy captains who spent months aboard the space station years ago. They joined the test flight after the original crew bowed out as the delays piled up. Wilmore, 61, is a former combat pilot from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, and Williams, 58, is a helicopter pilot from Needham, Massachusetts. The duo have been involved in the capsule’s development and insist Starliner is ready for prime time, otherwise they would not strap in for the launch.

“We’re not putting our heads in the sand,” Williams told The Associated Press. “Sure, Boeing has had its problems. But we are the QA (quality assurance). Our eyes are on the spacecraft.”

Boeing Crew Flight Test crew members Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore work in the Boeing Starliner simulator at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Nov. 3, 2022. The first flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule with a crew on board is scheduled for Monday, May 6, 2024. (NASA/Robert Markowitz)

THE TEST FLIGHT

Starliner will blast off on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It will be the first time astronauts ride an Atlas since NASA’s Project Mercury, starting with John Glenn when he became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962. Sixty-two years later, this will be the 100th launch of the Atlas V, which is used to hoist satellites as well as spacecraft.

“We’re super careful with every mission. We’re super, duper, duper careful” with human missions, said Tory Bruno, CEO of ULA, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Starliner should reach the space station in roughly 26 hours. The seven station residents will have their eyes peeled on the approaching capsule. The arrival of a new vehicle is “a really big deal. You leave nothing to chance,” NASA astronaut Michael Barratt told the AP from orbit. Starliner will remain docked for eight days, undergoing checkouts before landing in New Mexico or elsewhere in the American West.

STARLINER VS. DRAGON

Both companies’ capsules are designed to be autonomous and reusable. This Starliner is the same one that made the first test flight in 2019. Unlike the SpaceX Dragons, Starliner has traditional hand controls and switches alongside touchscreens and, according to the astronauts, is more like NASA’s Orion capsules for moon missions. Wilmore and Williams briefly will take manual control to wring out the systems on their way to the space station.

NASA gave Boeing, a longtime space contractor, more than $4 billion to develop the capsule, while SpaceX got $2.6 billion. SpaceX already was in the station delivery business and merely refashioned its cargo capsule for crew. While SpaceX uses the boss’ Teslas to get astronauts to the launch pad, Boeing will use a more traditional “astrovan” equipped with a video screen that Wilmore said will be playing “Top Gun: Maverick.”

One big difference at flight’s end: Starliner lands on the ground with cushioning airbags, while Dragon splashes into the sea.

Boeing is committed to six Starliner trips for NASA after this one, which will take the company to the station’s planned end in 2030. Boeing’s Nappi is reluctant to discuss other potential customers until this inaugural crew flight is over. But the company has said a fifth seat will be available to private clients. SpaceX periodically sells seats to tycoons and even countries eager to get their citizens to the station for a couple weeks.

Coming soon: Sierra Space’s mini shuttle, Dream Chaser, which will deliver cargo to the station later this year or next, before accepting passengers.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Connect to networks when roaming
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Roaming charges & data caps with Spark Business

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Travelling overseas? Learn about your roaming options with Spark. Find out how to solve roaming problems, and who to contact while you're overseas.

Roaming packs

There are several types of roaming packs depending on your destination and usage requirements.

Find out more about roaming packs

How to buy roaming packs on the Spark app:

Sign in to the Spark app and select MySpark from the main Menu
Tap on the Products tab and select the product line to view the details page.
Scroll down the details page to view the roaming packs and rates button.
Search and select your roaming destinations to review the casual rates and packs available at your destinations.
Select your roaming pack and a review screen will appear, read and tick yes to the terms and conditions.
Swipe the button to confirm and add the pack on your account or proceed to the payment journey for prepaid customers.
Purchased roaming packs will appear in the products details.
Roaming usage: currently the roaming pack usage can only be accessed from MySpark online.

Who to call if you have a roaming problem

From anywhere in the world, contact the International Roaming Helpdesk. They're available 24/7. Call +64 3 371 0866. This is a free call from a Spark mobile.
From within New Zealand, call 0800 Good2Go (0800 466 324)
Australia: 0011800 4663 2460
UK: 00800 4663 2460
China: 00800 4663 2460
Hong Kong: 001800 4663 2460
Thailand: 001800 4663 2460
Canada: 011800 4663 2460

Lost or stolen devices

Contact the International Roaming Helpdesk on +64 3 371 0866 if you lose your device or it gets stolen. They're able to block your SIM.
If you don’t block your SIM straight away, you'll get charged for all calls made and data used until it's blocked.
Change any passwords, or other important information, stored on your device as soon as you can.

Calling tips

Making calls while roaming:

Make sure the numbers in your contact list are in the international format so you can make calls and send texts without any issues.
All Spark mobiles and tablets offer +code (aka plus code) dialling. This lets you make calls, while roaming, without dialling the international access code.
027 123 4567 becomes +64271234567
09 345 6789 becomes +6493456789
Not sure how to get the + symbol on your keypad? Pressing and holding the 0 (zero) key on most phones brings up the + key. On older phones it can be a long press, or many presses of the * or # keys.
Store phone numbers in your contact list in the international format. This way you'll always dial or text the correct number. Note: This won’t impact making calls or sending texts when back in New Zealand.

Access voicemail while roaming:

Call +64 83 083210 and wait for a message
Type in your PIN
Select # and listen to your messages

Visiting New Zealand?

While you're in New Zealand, we have a range of prepaid plans that you can choose from. Find out more about your options for your time in New Zealand. View NZ mobile plans

Keep your roaming costs down

First, check out our available roaming packs. These packs give you the best value for calling, texting and data. Use the search box to see what's available.
We have data caps to help keep your roaming costs down. They’re set at $150 for all customers (except Spark Digital). Learn how to set up data caps
You can disable roaming in your device's settings. You can also call us and request a roaming bar to ensure you avoid data charges.
Your phone may use data in the background. This could be to get emails, get social media notifications, or auto-update apps. To make sure you don't get charged for this, disable roaming using the settings menu on your mobile.
If you're a sharer on a shared/group plan, you must still purchase your own Roaming Pack to avoid casual rates in destinations. You cannot share the share leader's Roaming Pack.

Turning off data roaming

Depending on the device and software you're using, instructions may differ. Select your device and follow the steps to disable data roaming. If these steps don't work for your device, find instructions in your device's user guide.

Go to Settings.
Select Mobile.
Select Mobile data options.
Turn Data roaming off.
Select More networks/Mobile networks.
Deselect Data roaming.

Windows Mobile

Swipe left to view the Apps list.
Select Mobile network.
Select Data roaming options.

Stay safe when travelling

Use strong passwords, passcodes, or touch ID to lock and protect your devices.
Apply a sim lock to prevent your sim from being used if removed from your device and inserted into another.
Use a tracking app like Apple or Samsung's Find my phone feature. This will help protect your phone if it's lost or stolen.
Be wary of skimming devices on ATMs.
Avoid internet banking and online shopping on public computers and public WiFi networks.
Turn off bluetooth and WiFi when you're not using it.
When you get back, check your credit card statement in case there are unknown transactions on it.

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Marriott boosts full-year profit view after mixed Q1 results

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Reporting by Aishwarya Jain and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Milla Nissi

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A man who says he is homeless for over 30 years begs for money as he sits outside a branch of the ANZ Banking Group in central Sydney, Australia

Australia's ANZ unveils $1.3 bln buyback after half-year earnings meet estimates

ANZ Group on Tuesday unveiled a new A$2 billion ($1.32 billion) share buyback after the bank's first-half cash earnings largely met analyst estimates, but flagged its concerns about challenges in Australian and global economies.

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, is prepared for launch

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COMMENTS

International Roaming: Travel with your mobile
International roaming lets you take your Spark NZ mobile overseas. Keep in touch with family, friends and the office while travelling 44 destinations worldwide. ... If you're traveling to more than one destination included in the pack you don't need to buy multiple packs. The same pack will work in all included destinations within the 14 days.
Solve roaming problems
From anywhere in the world, contact the International Roaming Helpdesk. They're available 24/7. Call +64 3 371 0866. This is a free call from a Spark mobile. From within New Zealand, call 0800 Good2Go (0800 466 324) Free calls from landlines are available in the following countries: Australia: 0011800 4663 2460.
Understand roaming charges & data caps
How roaming data caps work. If you're a Pay Monthly, Prepaid or business customer, a default cap of $150 will be set for your mobile number. This excludes Spark Digital customers. This cap is for casual roaming data rates only and doesn't apply to roaming pack usage. If you reach that cap, you'll no longer be able to do anything that uses data.
Set up with Spark while visiting NZ
SIM card. To use your phone in New Zealand, you'll need a $5 prepaid Spark SIM or Spark eSIM (free). Spark SIMs come with a New Zealand mobile number. To get a Spark SIM, find a store near you. If you're flying into Auckland or Christchurch, there's a kiosk at the airport. NZ Travel Packs. If you'll be in New Zealand for up to three months ...
Spark overhauls roaming to offer fantastic new travel value to New
Spark has announced a fresh and simplified new approach to roaming, with seven day packs designed to make travel easier and offer greater cost certainty and bang for buck. Spark CEO of Home, Mobile and Business, Jason Paris, said, "We know staying connected while overseas on holiday or business is massively important to New Zealanders.
How to Use Your Existing Phone Overseas
That will be $5 to $10 a day. Most companies offer a month's worth of data at a slight discount off the day-pass rate. AT&T, for example, will sell you 1 gigabyte of international roaming data ...
The Ultimate Guide to International Smartphone Use
Sprint does allow users to pay extra to enable LTE speeds abroad. Canada and Mexico: $2 per day or $10 per week. Other destinations: $5 to $10 per day or $25 to $50 per week, depending on Sprint's partnership agreements in the nation you're visiting.
Spark launches new Roaming Data Packs for 16 countries
Spark announced today it has launched new Roaming Data Packs for 16 countries in response to a phenomenal increase in the amount of mobile data used by customers travelling overseas. The company has seen a more than 460-per cent increase in the total amount of mobile data used by customers travelling to China in an average month, in the last three years, followed by large increases in data ...
Spark launches new international roaming offerings
Both packs offer 1GB of data, with a data only pack costing $15, and a $20 pack offering data, 200 inbound voice minutes, 200 outbound voice minutes along with 200 TXT messages. The packs are valid for 7 days, and can be used across multiple countries. Once expired, Spark users can simply purchase additional packs as required.
Compare Mobile Data Roaming Plans
In the past, New Zealanders travelling overseas were charged a significantly higher rate for using their phone to make calls or use the internet. However, things are getting better - Spark, One NZ, 2degrees and Slingshot all offer fixed-price roaming plans which cover 20-70 countries, meaning you can use data without being uncertain of the cost.
How to Use Your Cell Phone Internationally
1. AT&T International Day Pass® ($10/day) AT&T customers with an unlimited plan will get a great value overseas. AT&T International Day Pass lets you use your phone as you do at home for $10 per day, giving you unlimited data*, talk and text with your eligible AT&T unlimited plan. Plus, International Day Pass covers more than 210 destinations.
Spark cuts roaming rates as data use overseas soars
The boom in travel and roaming overseas has led Spark to overhaul its rates. Spark has seen roaming data use jump by nearly 60 per cent over the past year across its most popular travel ...
How to use your phone when travelling abroad: SIM, Wi-Fi-only, or
You have several options for using your phone overseas. The three most common are a daily roaming plan from your home carrier, buying an international SIM card or, as suggested, picking up a local ...
The Great Escape: Spark drops roaming rates as Kiwis'…
The boom in travel and roaming overseas has led Spark to overhaul its rates. Spark has seen roaming data use jump by nearly 60 per cent over the past year across its most popular travel destinations. New Spark roaming packs offer seven days of roaming across 33 destinations for just $20 (buying 500MB, 200 incoming and 200 outgoing minutes, and ...
Here's how to best use your mobile to keep connected overseas
To reduce bill shock and get you a better deal, we provide an International Roaming Day Pass service. For most people on a Consumer or Small Business plan, it is a service that activates automatically when you land overseas, and you do not need to do anything to turn it on.. It offers international roaming for $5 a day in New Zealand, and $10 a day for over 70 countries across Europe, Africa ...
Spark New Zealand Review: Big But Not Special (+5G Speedtests)
1 you will be charged 25 NZD, 42 NZD, 68 NZD, or 112 NZD, respectively, if you buy your Spark Travel Pack in the duty-free area of Auckland Airport (AKL) or Christchurch International Airport (CHC) 2 to Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, the United ...
Best International Phone Plans for Travel in 2024
The Google Fi Unlimited Plus plan is the best phone plan for international travel. This prepaid unlimited plan costs just $65/month and includes tons of great travel perks, such as: Unlimited 4G LTE data in 200+ countries. Unlimited texts in 200+ countries. Calls for $.20/minute.
Data Roaming: Best Roaming Plans NZ
For countries not included, the below rates* apply: $3.45 per minute to call anywhere in the world. $1.15 per minute to receive any call. $0.91 a text sent to anywhere in the world. $57 for a 500MB data pack. Note that certain destinations may be excluded from roaming altogether.
Spark Offers New Roaming Travel Packs to New Zealanders
Spark has seen roaming data use jump by nearly 60% over the past year across its most popular travel destinations. Over the same time, the number of New Zealand residents travelling abroad has ...
Receiving Calls While Overseas: Complete How-to Guide With Costs
Alternatively, receiving a call while roaming overseas with Optus typically costs $1.50/minute for those on a plan or 50 cents to $1 per minute for those with prepaid roaming. 13. Spark includes 200 minutes of incoming calls in its 7 day roaming pack for NZD 20 14 in supported countries. Otherwise expect to pay $1/minute to receive a call.
Number of Chinese Tourists Traveling Overseas Jumps Despite Sluggish
Chinese tourists are headed overseas for the extended May Labor Day holiday at near pre-pandemic levels, accelerating a rebound of what used to be the world's biggest travel market.
Rubeola / Measles
Most measles cases imported into the United States occur in unvaccinated US residents who become infected while traveling abroad, often to the World Health Organization (WHO)-defined Western Pacific and European regions. These travelers become symptomatic after returning to the United States and sometimes infect others in their communities ...
Dubai plans to move its international airport to a $35 billion new
3 of 3 | . This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central on Friday, April 26, 2024. Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, will move its operations to the city-state's second, sprawling airfield in its southern desert reaches "within the next 10 years" in a project worth nearly $35 billion ...
Delta volunteers from Global Sales and Los Angeles build 38th KABOOM
On Monday, April 29, more than 150 Delta volunteers, BCD Travel and KABOOM! came together to build Delta's 38th playground at Kelly Park, the sixth in LAX and second in the City of Compton, since the partnership began in 2013. This community service project was offered to attendees of Delta's Global Sales annual conference, Connect 2024, and it is the fourth KABOOM! playground built in ...
Boeing set to launch astronauts for NASA in new capsule
Boeing's Starliner capsule atop an Atlas V rocket is rolled out to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will launch aboard to the International Space Station, scheduled for liftoff on May 6, 2024.
Solve roaming problems
From anywhere in the world, contact the International Roaming Helpdesk. They're available 24/7. Call +64 3 371 0866. This is a free call from a Spark mobile. From within New Zealand, call 0800 Good2Go (0800 466 324) Free calls from landlines are available in the following countries: Australia: 0011800 4663 2460.
Marriott boosts full-year profit view after mixed Q1 results
Hotel operator Marriott International raised its forecast for annual adjusted profit on Wednesday after mixed first-quarter results, banking on international travel demand to offset weakening ...

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Spark overhauls roaming to offer fantastic new travel value to New Zealanders

How to Use Your Existing Phone Overseas

Option 1: Do nothing (or almost nothing)

Option 2: Temporary data passes

Option 3: Get a local SIM card

Option 4: Rent a hotspot

Option 5: Use an old phone (or get a cheap one) instead

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Further reading

Gray-Market Deals: The Truth About Shadowy Savings

The Best Refrigerators

Yes, You Can (and Should) Recycle Batteries. Here’s How.

Expert Tips for Buying Used and Vintage Furniture

The Ultimate Guide to International Smartphone Use

Roaming With Major US Carriers

When to Buy a Local SIM Upon Arrival

Getting an Unlocked Smartphone

Getting a Dual SIM Phone

Using a Laptop Abroad

How to Choose the Right Option for You

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About The Author

Steve Biddle

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How to use your phone when travelling abroad: SIM, Wi-Fi-only, or roaming plan?

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Heading overseas? Here’s how to best use your mobile to keep connected

Does Telstra offer cheap overseas calls, SMS and data?

Be mindful of your time zone

What if I am not covered by the International Day Pass? Can I still use my device?

Will my mobile phone work on a cruise ship?

How do I contact Telstra while overseas?

What if I lose my phone overseas?

I want to use a local country SIM card - is there anything I need to know?

What happens if I just turn off my data?

I have a smartwatch. Will it also work overseas?

My phone has an eSIM. What is that and what if I want to buy a local country SIM card?

My phone is ‘dual sim’. What does this mean, and how can I best use it overseas?

What about overseas Wi-Fi? Should I try and use that whenever possible and is it safe?