Which Airlines Accept Paypal For Payment?

by Flyguy | Feb 13, 2020 | Airline Information

Which Airlines Accept Paypal For Payment?

Can you actually pay for your flight using PayPal? Yes, you sure can!

These days, booking your travel online is the most common way to go. It’s so easy to do with online companies like Expedia and Trip Advisor.

PayPal has offered its service to many airlines all over the world. The list of airlines that accept PayPalas a payment option for airline tickets continues to grow all the time. People love using PayPal to pay for their flights as it’s convenient and secure.

And it’s not only airlines that are accepting PayPal for traveling. Companies like Air B&B, Agoda, cruise lines, car rentals, and many others now accept PayPal.

According to PayPal.com, “PayPal is accepted all over the world in many different currencies. This means you can still enjoy the same easy, secure service anywhere you go from participating business partners.”

Why Should You Consider Paying for Your Flight with PayPal?

It’s convenient, quick and easy – You won’t need to dig out your credit card, plus when your booking online it’s so easy to click that pay with PayPal button!

It’s a safe and secure way to pay online – PayPal is trusted by millions of people around the world as a proven way to pay online safely.

No extra fees- Some airline will charge extra fees if you pay with your credit card. If you pay with PayPal, you will avoid these unnecessary fees.

You may not have a credit card – Remember the days of needing a credit card to book anything for your travels like hotels, car rentals and flights? Well, that’s just not the case anymore.

Yes, in some cases you will still need a credit card, but if you don’t own one, you can still book a flight online without one by using PayPal.

Some Things to Consider when Using PayPalto Pay for Your Flight

Make sure to have a PayPal account already set up prior to booking. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you are in the middle of online booking or about to click the pay now button and realize that PayPal is not set up yet.

PayPal might not be available everywhere. Make sure you confirm this prior to the booking process, as certain countries and areas may not accept it. Plus check if your currency is allowed.

Confirm any airline fees. Always check to make sure of any additional fees the airline may charge if you use PayPal. You don’t want a surprise charge that you were not expecting.

PayPal credit.

If you live in the U.S, PayPal allows you to defer payments for 6 months. That may be something you want to take advantage of. But not all airlines allow you to pay with PayPal credit.

List of Airlines that Accept PayPalin 2019

I have put together a full list of airlines that acceptPayPal in 2019. Keep in mind that this list is current as of the time of writing and is subject to change without notice. This list is in alphabetical order and sorted by region.

Asia

AirAsia
AirChina
Cebu Pacific
ChinaAirlines
ChinaEastern
ChinaSouthern
HainanAirlines
MalaysiaAirlines–Only when using their mobile app
PhilippineAirlines
Scoot
SingaporeAirlines
ThaiAirways
VietnamAirlines

Africa

1. EthiopianAir
2. KenyaAirways
3. SouthAfricanAirways

Central America

Aero Mexico
Interjet
Volaris

Europe

Alitalia
AegeanAirline
AirBaltic
AustrianAirlines
AzoresAirlines
BritishAirways
BrusselsAirlines
CzechAirlines
Eurowings
GermanWings
Jet2
KLM–Only when paying with the mobile app will PayPal be accepted.
LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa
Monarch–GBP and EUR currencies only
Ryanair
SAS
SATA
TAPPortugal
Transavia
Vueling

Middle East

ElAl
Emirates–AUD/EUR/GBP/USD currencies only.
Etihad Airways–Only in USD,GBP,and AED and only for flights originating in countries where that currency is used
QatarAirways
RoyalJordanian
SaudiAirlines

North America/Caribbean

AirTran
CarribeanAirlines
Delta–OnlyforflightsintheUS
JetBlue–Not including flights to the Dominican Republic
Southwest
United–Only for flights in the US
US Airways
AmericanAirlines–Only for flights in the US, Canada, and the UK and must use a US PayPal account.

Oceanic

Jetstar Australia
VirginAustralia

South America

Azul
GOL
LAN

In total, that’s 59 Airlines around the world that accept PayPal. Perhaps more by the time you are reading this.

The first airline started accepting PayPal in 2007. That was Northwest Airlines. The second to follow was Southwest Airlines.

As I mentioned earlier, many other travel companies use PayPal as well.

Travel Sites Accepting PayPal

Booking any kind of travel can be a challenging and frustrating experience and can also prove to be stressful as you search high and low for the best deals and discounts for your airfare.

Once you find the perfect deal, you might also find that you have limited time to take advantage of that deal and having to grab your credit card to input all those numbers is wasting some valuable money-saving time.

You may not even have a credit card at all, to begin with, because you are trying to avoid falling into debt, but you still need a way to pay for your flight. For all of this, PayPal definitely comes in handy and proves to be a very convenient choice.

The following are a few of the bigger travel companies that currently accept PayPal as an online payment;

Expedia

They are a participating business partner with PayPal which means that you can use your PayPal account to secure your flight or any other vacation aspect like hotel or rental, a cruise, and more.

Hotels.com

If you are looking for high-quality hotel chains, all-inclusive resorts, or other luxurious destinations to stay on your next vacation, then this is a site that makes it easy to book and accepts PayPal for an even more convenient booking experience.

Orbitz

Often used to book flights and hotels, this is another popular site that travelers visit to find the best deals and discounts available on everything they need for their next vacation. This includes the flight, hotel bookings, and rental car service.

As already mentioned, Southwest Airlines also accepts PayPal in addition to other sites, including HomeAway, Hotwire, and VRBO, among several others.

Need to find the right luggage and accessories for your next trip? Nomatic.com creates the most functional gear for travelers including luggage, bags, wallets and much more.

RoamRight travel insurance also accepts PayPal. Travel insurance is a necessity these days. You can get an easy free quote online by clicking below.

Get the best prices and selection online for hotels by using Agoda.

So, if you are traveling with any of these airlines or any of the other companies mentioned, go ahead and use PayPal! It’s safe and secure, easy and convenient, and using PayPal as a form of payment is growing all the time.

Hopefully, you found this helpful. As always, feel free to leave a comment or send us a message anytime via our contact form.

Thanks for reading!

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at zero cost to you. I will only sell and recommend products that I have either used personally or believe will be helpful for you. You will only see proven and trusted gear, and I will help guide you away from the products that simply don’t work!

American Tourister Luggage Review (Quality, Durability, Cost)

by Flyguy | Jan 12, 2020 | Buyer Guides

American Tourister Luggage Review (Quality, Durability, Cost)

American Tourister produces some of the best luggage on the market today. Did you know that American Tourister and Samsonite are actually the same company?

Let’s face it. Buying luggage today can be very frustrating and complicated. With so many different brands, styles, and several other things to consider, it’s not easy to decide what is best for you and your family.

It’s true. Samsonite bought American Tourister in 1993. Although the Samsonite and American Tourister brands are different, the quality remains the same. Both are top notch in many ways.

In this article, I will review many of the American Tourister luggage. Hopefully this will be a helpful guide for you; it will cover many topics including quality, durability, and cost.

For more of our favorite gear recommendations, check out these popular Gear Guide links:

My favorite thing about American Tourister luggage is that the quality of all the bags is great for the price you pay. They offer amazing value. You will find that many brands on the market offer good quality, but the luggage will cost more than American Tourister.

The cheaper luggage bags are exactly that. Cheap — and poor quality. It’s nice that American Tourister offers luggage of great quality for a great price. Those things together can be a difficult match at times.

Some other things about American Tourister luggage that you should know:

Very durable and long lasting – These luggage bags are built with materials designed to stand up to the conditions. Traveling can really show the wear and tear on luggage over time, so you need something that is durable and built to last.

Many Options – With most American Tourister luggage, you will have many options for colors, materials, and features. Different handles, wheels, pockets, zippers, sizes, and designs to name a few. Colors can range from the common black to bright orange and pink. There is even a luggage bag made out of denim material, which is one of my favorites I will review here today! It’s a great bag.

Stylish Designs – American Tourister has done a great job of keeping up with the times. All their luggage is very stylish, modern, and convenient to bring with you anywhere you travel.

Expandable and Adaptable – Most American Tourister bags have plenty of room for expansion which is always a huge bonus. Whether you have a 3 or 4 piece set, they are fully functional together and easy to use as a family set.

What to Look For When Purchasing Luggage – Must-Have Items

There are some must-haves you need to consider before buying your luggage. This goes for any luggage, regardless if it a carry on bag, roller bag, or a full set. Aspects like the design, style, and color are nice, but not must-haves. The following items should be considered on all luggage.

Quality
Warranty
Size and Weight
Features
Great Reviews

1. Quality

This is a no brainer really. As with many things, you get what you pay for. But you don’t need to spend a fortune to still get quality luggage and American Tourist prooves that.

If you purchase a poor quality luggage bag, you will be very disappointed with your choice. Paying for a cheap bag is never ideal. It will cost you more in the end as you will either end up returning the bag for something else or simply throwing it away and buying another one that costs more which you should have bought in the first place.

Things like zipper quality, handle quality, wheel quality…these are all things you need to make sure is good quality. I spent many years with roller bags during my travels, and the wheels were always something I struggled with: poor bearings, the material would always cause the wheels to fail causing me to carry the bag instead of rolling it. Very frustrating!

Buying a cheap and poor quality luggage bag just never works out. I recommend you make quality a must-have item. Avoid the frustration and buy something decent up front.

I’m not saying you need to break the bank though. All of the luggage options in this article are very well priced and provide great quality.

2. Warranty

Does the luggage have a warranty? This is something you definitely want. For me personally, I would not buy a product that the company doesn’t stand behind and isn’t confident in.

Samsonite and American Tourister put their products through rigorous tests of strength, durability, and dependability that represent the environmental demands of frequent travelers.

They pay attention to quality and detail so that every customer is happy with their purchase. They offer a limited three-year and 10-year global warranty which you can learn more about on their website.

This is something that is very important to me and you should make it a must-have item.

Check out this video that shows how American Tourister tests their luggage.

3. Size And Weight

If you are an avid traveler, then you know how important size and weight are when it comes to your luggage. Airlines today have strict luggage rules for both carry-on and checked luggage.

You must follow the airline’s guidelines to avoid paying a hefty excess baggage fee or perhaps not having the bag allowed on board.

It is always recommended that you check with each airline that you are traveling on to confirm their rules with regards to luggage sizes and weights.

According to the United Airlines website, most travelers can bring on board one full-sized carry-on bag plus one personal item free of charge. You must make sure the bags follow the size guidelines.

The maximum dimensions for a carry-on bag are 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm), including handles and wheels. The maximum dimensions for your personal item that fits under the seat in front of you, such as a shoulder bag, purse, laptop bag or another small item, are 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm).

If you are traveling on a Basic Economy ticket, your personal item will be the only item you can bring on board.

According to the TSA, “Size dimensions of carry-on baggage allowed in the cabin of the aircraft vary by airline. Contact your airline to ensure what can fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.”

4. Features

I was a bit hesitant to list this as a must-have. But the more I think about it, I realized that for all the years of traveling with so many different bags, the features of the bag were actually very important.

Here are the main features to look for:

Lots of packing space
Internal and external pockets
2 or 4 wheels – Are they spinnable?
Telescopic handle
Easy to use a TSA luggage lock
Scratch and stain resistant
Reinforced corners

5. Positive Customer Reviews

This could actually be a #1 must-have, but not everyone will look at customer reviews before purchasing an item. For me, I will not buy anything of value without checking the reviews.

Reviews can be found anywhere online by a quick Google search, or my preferred place is Amazon. I normally buy most items on Amazon, and they have a great customer review section for every item they sell.

You can read full reviews from actual customers that purchased the item and they will give a rating on a scale from 1-5. Of course, you will want to look for many 4 and 5-star ratings.

With all the American Tourister luggage I will review here, you will see thousands of different customer reviews by clicking the product link. Most people are very satisfied with their luggage purchase which shows that American Tourister is a name that can be trusted and provides great quality and price.

Best Overall Pick – American Tourister Luggage

#1. Fieldbrook II – 3 Piece Set – Includes 21″ Upright + 25″ Upright + Carry on bag

Features and Specifications:

✅ Ultra light-weight construction

✅ Reinforced corners

✅ Push button locking telescopic handle

✅ Smooth rolling wheels

✅ Strong and durable design

✅ Sizes: Carry on bag – 15″ x 10″ x 8″ – 21 inch Upright – 21″ x 14″ x 7″ – 25 inch Upright – 24.5″ x 16″ x 8″

✅ Weight: 15.87 lbs Total

I listed the Fieldbrook II – 3 piece set as my top pick for many reasons. If you are looking for a multi-bag set for a great price, this is it. Most single piece bags will cost the same or more than this 3 piece set and you will still get great quality.

There are many extra features that this luggage set has, including 3 different sizes that are suitable for all airlines. Several internal and external pouches for extra storage including laptops and tablets.

The material is made from ultra-lightweight 600D shiny polyester. The wheels are tough and roll quietly, no humming or uneven wear.

The telescopic handle is easy to move up and down using a push button on top. It is not clunky and the handles move smoothly.

This luggage set is designed to stand up to the harshest travel conditions and has received numerous 5-star reviews on Amazon. All for an amazing price. This is one luggage set that you should consider for you and your family.

Who should buy the Fieldbrook II 3 piece set?

If you are traveling as a family and in need of a luggage set at a great price, then this is for you. If your plans include air travel, then this luggage set will work for you as they are airline friendly.

Who should not buy the Fieldbrook II 3 piece set?

If you are expecting this luggage set to be equal in quality and features of a high end and expensive set, then this is not for you. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great quality set, but I have read numerous reviews where people are disappointed that they are not the quality of a high-end luxury designer set. This set will cost less than a hundred dollars, not thousands like the others.

You can buy the Fieldbrook II 3 piece set on Amazon.

#2. American Tourister Belle Voyage Spinner – 25″ Upright Bag

Features and Specifications:

✅ Stylish design with blue denim

✅ Smooth rolling wheels

✅ Push button telescopic handle

✅ Large interior pocket including shoe pocket

✅ Expandable up to 1.5″

✅ Dimensions: 27.3” x 17.5”x 12”

✅ Weight: 8.8 lbs

The Belle Voyage Spinner is very unique due to the denim fabric and overall design. It’s very stylish and most people who own this bag absolutely love it.

It comes with rose gold accents on the logo, zipper pulls push-button locking handle. There is also an option for a floral pattern if you prefer that over the blue denim.

The pockets are easily accessible, on the interior and exterior. Another great add on is the interior shoe pocket and blouse pocket on the door.

If you on a smaller budget, then this bag is for you. You won’t compromise quality and this bag offers many features for the price. It is also airline friendly; just confirm with your airline before you set out on your trip.

Who should buy the Belle Voyage Spinner?

If you are looking for a good quality bag that has many features, stylish and unique, then this bag is for you. You will stand out in the crowd with this bag!

Who should not buy the Belle Voyage Spinner?

If you are looking for a carry on bag only, then I would look at a different bag as this one may not be suitable for all airlines. If you plan to use it as a checked luggage bag, then you shouldn’t have a problem.

You can buy the Belle Voyage Spinner on Amazon.

#3. American Tourister Splash 2 – 21″ Upright

Features and Specifications:

✅ Inline skate wheels

✅ Large front pockets

✅ Cross straps for securing items inside

✅ Perfect carry on bag

✅ Dimensions: 21.0 x 14.5 x 8.0 Inches

✅ Weight: 7.1 Lbs

I really like this bag for use as a carry-on. Although there are many other uses, it meets the airline’s regulations for size and weight.

The Splash 2 is another durable bag that is built to last. All its components are heavy duty and long lasting, but still a lightweight bag.

The inline skate wheels are made from polyurethane with ball bearings to minimize frictional resistance. This will ensure longer lasting and even wear wheels.

The retractable handle will lock in place when not in use and is smooth to operate. While some luggage bags don’t offer a top carry handle, this one does. So if the retractable handle were to fail, you still have a handle to carry it.

The cross straps are another nice addition. If you have loose items inside the bag, these will prevent things from moving around keeping them safe. It also keeps things neat and organized.

The additional large front pocket is great to keep a laptop or tablet in. Also, you can keep documents close by and easily accessible by using the front pouch.

Who should buy the Splash 2 – 21″ Upright?

This bag can have many uses for all types of travelers. But I recommend it be used as a carry on bag as it meets all the airline’s requirements for a carry on bag.

Who should not buy the Splash 2 -21″ Upright?

If you are looking for a luggage bag that you will be using as a checked bag, then this bag may not work for you for two reasons. Perhaps you have many items to pack and you need a lot of space, you should look at a larger bag like a 25″ or larger. If you are traveling for a long period of time, you might need a bigger bag.

Also, if you check your luggage bag, it will be more prone to damages as it will be tossed around. This bag does not have reinforced corner protectors so that might not be ideal for you.

You can buy the American Tourister Splash 2 on Amazon.

#4. American Tourister iLite Extreme 21″ Spinner

Features and Specifications:

✅ Fully lined interior

✅ Expands for additional packing

✅ Multi-directional wheels

✅ Stylish design – Top and side handles integrated into the case

✅ Dimensions: 8 x 14.5 x 21 inches

✅ Weight: 7.1 lbs

The ILite Extreme Spinner is a 21″ roller bag made from 100% polyester. Its design includes a fully lined interior with a large packing area which is expandable.

I really like the design of the top and side handles that are integrated into the bag itself. Not only does this look great, but it also provides extra strength and durability.

The 4 multidirectional wheels are built with new housings and bearings allowing them to roll smooth and evenly without noise.

One thing I noticed about this bag that not many people consider, is that when it’s fully expanded, it will not fall over. Not many bags can do that!

Who should buy the ILite Extreme Spinner?

If you are looking for a lightweight bag that is convenient and easy to take with you anywhere, then this bag is for you.

Who should not buy the ILite Extreme Spinner?

Like the Splash 2 luggage above, this luggage does not make a great checked bag for the same reasons.

You can buy the ILite Extreme Spinner on Amazon.

Summary

You will probably notice some similarities with most of the American Tourister luggage on the market today, great quality and great pricing being the most common. Also, the luggage features unique styles, sizes, and colors.

Whatever luggage you decide to choose from American Tourister, I’m sure you will be happy with it. Remember that they offer one of the best warranties in the business and have many 5 star reviews on Amazon, so you can be confident in your purchase.

If you enjoyed our American Tourister luggage guide, have a look at all our travel gear guides here:

Hopefully, you found this helpful. As always, feel free to leave a comment or send us a message anytime via our contact form.

Thanks for reading!

Best Affordable Travel Watches For Men (Updated for 2020)

by Flyguy | Jan 10, 2020 | Buyer Guides

Best Affordable Travel Watches For Men

As a traveler, I know how important it is to keep track of time. We always have a schedule that needs to be followed. Whether it’s check-in time, a bus tour, or meeting with friends, it’s important to have a great travel watch.

According to Wikipedia, watches progressed in the 17th century from spring powered clocks and the technology of digital and mechanical watches has significantly improved over the years. They keep getting better and better.

Not only are watches just used to keep track of time, but for many other great features like scheduling, mapping and even making phone calls. Having a good travel watch is almost a necessity these days for most travelers.

It is not always easy to make the right selection when looking at watches for travel. There are so many styles and options, and some of the best travel watches can be confusing to make the right choice. And you don’t need to spend a fortune. You can stay on a budget and still buy a very nice watch.

In this post, I will show you the best affordable travel watches for men. Look at all the different styles, prices, and specifications of all the best travel watches and see which one is the best for you.

For more of our favorite gear recommendations, check out these popular Gear Guide links:

#1. Cheap Travel Watch – Casio G-Rescue Solar Atomic Classic Color Watch

Features And Specifications:

✅ 1/100-second stopwatch

✅ Atomic timekeeping

✅ Solar-powered sport watch

✅ Resin band with buckle closure

✅ Water resistant to 200 m (660 ft)

✅ Dimensions: 4.4 x 3.6 x 4 inches

✅ Weight: 8.8 ounces

✅ Battery: 1 CR2 battery required

This is the perfect watch for travel if you are sticking to a budget and you just want a solid watch that is reliable, durable and easy to use.

It is a solar powered sport watch, that has atomic timekeeping — world time in 48 cities. It has 24/48 hr time formats and will keep track of 31 time zones with a calendar. This watch is tough and doesn’t scratch easy. It’s great for hikers and campers as well.

The one thing I don’t like about this watch is that it is not very fashionable. I don’t like the look of the screws on the front. But that is just my preference; it may not be an issue for you.

Who should buy this watch?

Anyone who is on a lower budget and wants a watch that is very tough and great for keeping track of different time zones. It’s also great for adventure travelers as it’s durable and long-lasting.

Who should not buy this watch?

Scuba divers. The Casio G-Rescue is only certified water resistant to 200 meters or 660 feet. This is definitely not a watch for you if you like to scuba dive. Also, if you are looking for a watch that looks good or has advanced features like some of the more expensive watches, you should probably look elsewhere.

For the price and durability, it is a great watch that I think you will be happy with.

You can get the Casio G-Rescue Solar Atomic Classic Color Watch on Amazon here.

#2. Best GMT Watch- Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Navihawk Atomic Timekeeping Watch

Features And Specifications

✅ Japanese quartz movement with analog display

✅ 48-millimeter stainless steel case

✅ Water resistant to 200 m (660 ft)

✅ Atomic timekeeping technology

✅ 99-minute countdown timer

✅ Universal coordinated time (UTC) display

✅ Pilot’s rotating slide rule dial ring

✅ Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.9 x 8.3 inches

✅ Weight: 4 ounces

✅ Battery: 1 lithium ion battery required

With so many great GMT watches on the market today, I wanted to review the watch that will give you the best value for an affordable price.

GMT watches can be way too expensive in my opinion, and for a fraction of what some higher-end models charge, you can get a very comparable watch like the Citizen Eco-Drive.

This watch uses atomic clock synchronization for superior accuracy. It will display the time digitally in 43 cities. The Citizen is a very durable watch that looks great as well. I love the Polyurethane band as well, plus it is only 23mm in width.

It’s also very lightweight at only 4 oz; this is something I always have an issue with when buying a watch. But, the Citizen’s weight is perfect.

Who should buy this watch?

This watch will suit any traveler who crosses multiple time zones and is looking for a modern look and feel. This watch is very comfortable and has a great price tag and specs to match some of the higher priced watches.

Who should not buy this watch?

Again scuba divers will not be happy with this watch. It’s water resistant to 200 meters or 660 ft. Other than that, I think the Citizen Eco-Drive is a great choice.

You can get the Citizen Eco-Drive Navihawk on Amazon here.

#3. Best Budget Digital Travel Watch – Casio G-Shock GD-100-1B Watch

Features And Specifications

✅ Shock resistant & 200M water-resistant

✅ 12/24 hour formats

✅ Multi-time (four different cities)

✅ Dimensions: 3.9 x 4.2 x 2.4 inches

✅ Weight: 3.52 ounces

✅ Battery: 1 CR2 battery required

This is another Casio G-Shock watch that is excellent for travelers on a budget. This watch is cheaper than the G-Rescue mentioned earlier but still have some nice features.

A nice improvement for this watch is a newly designed high-density LED light, which has been employed to light up the dial face from behind.

As you can tell, I’m a huge fan of the Casio G-Shock watches as a suitable match for someone is budget focused. They are very tough and durable, hold up to a variety of weather conditions, and are reliable.

Who should buy this watch?

As mentioned earlier, the Casio G-Shock watch is a perfect watch if looking for a lower cost. It’s great for all types of travelers including hiking and camping. Also, if you’re not looking for the higher-end features of expensive watches, this is for you.

Who should not buy this watch?

Anyone who is looking for the added features like the atomic timekeeping should go for the Casio G-Rescue. Also, if you’re looking for a watch that is a classy or modern design, this is also probably not what you are looking for.

Although this watch doesn’t have the screws in the front face like the first watch I mentioned earlier, I still don’t find it fashionable.

You can get the Casio G-Shock digital watch on Amazon here.

#4. Affordable Smartwatch For Travel- Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Smartwatch

Features And Specifications

✅ Text, call and receive notifications directly from your watch

✅ Make payments with Samsung Pay almost anywhere

✅ Compatible with Android and iOS smartphones

✅ S Health Fitness Tracking

✅ Built-in GPS

✅ Built-in speaker/microphone

✅ Rotating bezel navigation

✅ Dimensions: 1.81 x 1.93 x 0.51 in

✅ Weight: 5 oz

✅ Battery: 1 CR2 battery required

The Samsung Gear S3 is my favorite watch on the list. It connects via Bluetooth so you can receive texts, emails, and alerts without reaching for your phone. With a built-in speaker and microphone, you can also make and answer calls hands-free.

Now for people that know me, you know I am a huge Apple fan. I only use Apple Mac and iPhones and as you can see from my blog post I wrote about the best tablets for international travel, I review and recommend the Apple Ipad. So why don’t I recommend the Apple watch here?

Well for only 2 reasons. I LOVE the look of the Samsung Gear S3. It’s very fashionable and modern looking and in my opinion, a huge factor of owning a smartwatch is that you want it to look good, right?

Although I love the Apple watch as well, I put the Samsung ahead for appearance reasons. Also at the time of writing this, Samsung is currently cheaper than the Apple. And since this post is based on the best affordable travel watches for men, I listed it here.

Now I still highly recommend the Apple Watch 3, but you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Gear S3.

Who Should Buy This Watch?

Anyone looking for the advanced technology of a smartwatch. It has all the connectivity features using Bluetooth, this watch is also very comfortable to wear and looks great. If you are looking to have a very classy-looking watch, this is a great choice.

Who should not buy this watch?

Here’s the thing with smartwatches. They are addictive! I find that most people who own them are so into all the technology and cool features that they tend to forget the main function of a watch: to tell time!

So if you are looking for a basic watch for travel without all the fancy tech, phones, Bluetooth etc. this is not the one for you.

You can get the Samsung Gear S3 on Amazon here:

#5. Best GPS Watches For Travel – Garmin Forerunner 35 Watch

Features And Specifications

✅ Garmin GPS built-in quality

✅ 24/7 heart rate monitoring

✅ Vibration alerts

✅ New high-resolution display

✅ Smartphone compatibility

✅ Dimensions: 1.4 x 0.5 x 1.6 inches

✅ Weight: 1.6 ounces

When choosing a watch for a main specific feature like GPS capability, it’s important to go with a brand that is known for it’s GPS products, like Garmin.

For anyone that has other GPS products, you will know that Garmin produces excellent quality gear at great prices. Now in saying that, they also make very high-end and expensive GPS watches. But that’s not what we are focusing on here.

The Garmin Forerunner 35 is the perfect GPS watch for the outdoor adventure traveler. It still has some of the main features of the higher end Garmin 735XT model, but at a fraction of the price while maintaining the Garmin quality.

I love the smartphone connectivity feature of this watch; it’s something that more people are looking for in a watch these days.

Who should buy this watch?

Anyone who is an outdoor adventure traveler looking for a GPS watch. Hikers, runners, walkers, campers will appreciate the Garmin Forerunner 35. Also if you are looking for a quality GPS watch and don’t want to break the bank, this is the one for you.

Who should not buy this watch?

Anyone who is not an outdoor adventure traveler, this watch is most likely not for you. There are so many great features that you probably won’t appreciate having like heart rate monitoring. Also, if you are looking for a classy looking watch, this is not the watch for you.

You can buy the Garmin Forerunner 35 on Amazon here.

Summary

So as you can see, there are quite a few options to choose from when looking for an affordable travel watch for men.

When deciding, you will most likely see several watches for travel. Have a look at all the main features and try to eliminate the things you don’t need or are not really looking for in a watch.

For example, if you don’t need the advanced features of a smartwatch and just want a basic, affordable, and durable watch, go with the Casio G-Rescue. If you don’t need the GPS capability, then the Garmin is not for you.

But if you wanted to spend a bit more money and have all the great features of a smartwatch, then try the Samsung Gear S3. I honestly don’t think you can go wrong with any of these watches on the list. They are all great watches for the features that they have.

If you enjoyed our Best Affordable Travel Watches for Men guide, have a look at all our travel gear guides here:

Hopefully, you found these guides helpful. As always, feel free to leave a comment or send us a message anytime via our contact form.

Thanks for reading!

How To Use Pinterest To Promote Your Blog (Comprehensive Guide for 2020)

by Flyguy | Jan 9, 2020 | Make Money Traveling

How To Use Pinterest To Promote Your Blog

If you want to be successful on Pinterest, the first thing you need to understand is that Pinterest is a search engine and should be treated as such. A search engine with a human component.

No, Pinterest is not a social platform like Facebook and Instagram.

This is a huge mistake that many people make when setting out on their Pinterest journey.

Not using Pinterest as a search engine will make things very difficult for you to succeed on their platform.

Google is the largest search engine in the world and has been for quite some time. When you “Google” something for information, you will be given the results for your query.

Google does an amazing job in determining user search intent and will show you the best results for you based
on what you are searching for.

Well, Pinterest does the same thing. If you want to learn how to use Pinterest to promote your blog, keep reading.

The Pinterest algorithm is changing all the time, just like Google. In 2020, learning to adapt to these changes is more important than ever.

The next thing you need to know is that it will take time to grow on Pinterest. There is a ton of information online about how fast you can grow thousands of followers and get thousands of views per day on your blog or website.

Well, that’s just not the truth in most cases.

Pinterest is a long term plan and not a get rich fast plan. There are many strategies to implement and a lot of dedication and hard work involved on your end to be successful.

I just don’t want you going into this with false expectations. I will be upfront with you and tell you exactly what you should focus on to make Pinterest work for you.

Plan for the long game and you will be rewarded. Looking for a quick fix to your blogging traffic woes,
then Pinterest is not for you.

But if you stick with it, put in lots of effort and with hard work over time, Pinterest is one of the best platforms to help you get loads of targeted traffic to your website or blog.

Unlike social platforms like Facebook and Instagram, where it’s becoming more difficult all the time to get traffic without paying for it, Pinterest is still very much a viable option. You won’t need to “pay to play” on Pinterest, unlike other platforms.

Although the option to pay for success is still an option on Pinterest, it’s not necessary.

So why do I get to tell you all this information?

Well, I have been studying and working on the Pinterest platform for the past few years. I have built many websites and blogs, and now I’m using the power of Pinterest to drive traffic.

I know what works and what doesn’t. There is a Pinterest strategy that I use to be successful. This is what I will pass on to you.

Enjoy this free Pinterest marketing strategy guide!

Make it work for you!

Creating Your Pinterest Account

I know you are here to learn how to boost your blog traffic using Pinterest. So, in order to set up your account properly, you need to have a business account.

Click Here to set up a Pinterest business account.

If you already have a personal account, you can convert it to a business account. If not, then just create a business account to start. I recommend doing it this way as it will save you time and effort of switching.

Once your account is created, you will need to verify your website. You can do that by clicking the link.

I want to mention something again because it is very important. Pinterest is a search engine with a human component. From now on, when you do anything on Pinterest including creating your account, remember that. Keywords and search results are key.

Once you create your account, add your email and website url, you will be asked to select ideas that you are most interested in.

Once you do that, your home feed with be populated with pins from your topic choices.

Now it’s time to set up your profile. Select the 3 dots in the upper right corner, then pick settings.

When selecting a profile name, make sure to use your business name. You are allowed up to 30 characters. I always type the name of the business with some keywords that accurately represent your business. Don’t keyword stuff. The words you use have to make sense. Notice how my keywords used above is a phrase that both makes sense and accurately describes what my business is about.

Next, select a profile picture. A company logo is fine to use. Just make sure the image is 165×165 px. Then pick a username. It can be anything you want but keep it related to your business.

The about you section should again be an accurate representation of your business using keywords where it makes sense. Again no keyword stuffing here. For example, my about you section above describes what I do while using the keywords “healthy coffee choices”. Notice I didn’t just stuff random coffee terms in the box.

As you scroll down the page, you will see the area to claim your website. This is very important as it tells Pinterest you are the authority for that particular website. Don’t skip this step.

In order to claim your site, you will be given 2 options. I find it easy to select the add HTML tag option and add it to your WordPress site. Copy the numbers and letters in the box and move to your WordPress dashboard.

For this step, I’m going to assume that you are using the WordPress platform. You can install the Yoast plugin which makes this next part easy.

Select Pinterest from the Yoast SEO social section. Then paste your code from the previous step in the Pinterest confirmation box. Click save changes.

When you return to Pinterest, click next and you will see this screen.

Click submit and you are all set. Wait 24 hours and you should get a success message with a checkmark next to your account confirming that it is claimed.

Enable Rich Pins – This is another part of setting up your account. You want to enable rich pins to show additional information from your website onto the pins.

The best way to set up Rich pins is to visit Pinterest here, then click add Rich pins to your account.

Next, go to the Rich pin validation page here. Enter your URL and click Validate.

Tip: Only enter a blog post URL or page URL, not your homepage. This is important for validation.

You will then receive confirmation that your pins have been validated. Click the “Apply now” button. Then you have to wait another 24 hours, and you will see this.

That’s pretty much it to setting up your Pinterest account. If you end up getting errors or if something doesn’t set up properly, contact Pinterest customer service and they will help you out.

Viral Pin Creation Checklist

In order to have a chance at your pin going viral, it needs to be created properly before it gets pinned.

You could do everything else right on Pinterest, but if you have a poor looking pin, it won’t go anywhere. Chances of a bad looking pin going viral are pretty much zero.

To give your pin a fighting chance, use the following checklist:

Pin size should be taller than wider. If you are using Canva for creating your pins, the default pin size is 735x1102px. Pinterest is now recommending a 2:3 ratio for pin size and 600x900px is now the more commonly used pin size.

Make sure the pin has an attention-grabbing title. Boring titles that are not interesting or say exactly what the pin is about, rarely get clicked.

Use Pinterest SEO. I’ll explain more on this later.

Use Fonts and colors that are easy to read and attention-grabbing. Most Pinterest users are on mobile, so your pin has to look amazing on mobile devices.

Use a logo if possible. Pin theft is huge these days, and a log will help with preventing a pin from being stolen. It also helps brand your pin.

Use unique images that are clear and precise. Don’t use photos that are not related to the pinned content. No clickbait. You can use free and paid non-copyright images from sources like Pixabay, Unsplash, Shutterstock, and many others. There are various sites available for stock images.

According to Pinterest, the Anatomy of the pin includes:

Tasteful logo placement

A context that shows how to use your product or service Your product or service as the focal point
Bold and clear use of text overlay to convey your message
Striking visual image and vertical format (600x900px)

Make sure the pin size that you select, suits the content you are trying to display. Don’t make your pin look out of place just to satisfy that 2:3 ratio. But Pinterest is now saying that any pins that don’t follow a 2:3 ratio, could be penalized. They no longer want those very long and skinny pins that used to be popular. Like I was saying earlier, you need to adapt to the algorithm and show Pinterest you have what they are looking for.

Pinterest SEO

There are many pieces of the puzzle that you must put together to be successful on Pinterest. The biggest piece is understanding SEO and how to implement it on your pins and your profile.

So we already mentioned that Pinterest operates as a search engine with a human component. Let’s look at some examples.

Log in to Pinterest and in the search bar start to type the main keyword for your pin. In this example, let’s say you are interested in making a pin for “best coffee” and have a look at the suggested result that Pinterest shows you.

The terms that show up in the drop-down menu are what Pinterest is saying are the most commonly searched for terms that relate to your main keyword.

So let’s say we have an article on our blog that is all about coffee tables. That’s a pretty broad topic and most likely is competitive but very popular.

Millions of people search on Pinterest every day and according to the Pinterest auto-suggest, the term “best coffee tables” is a commonly-searched term. You can see other popular searched terms like “best coffee maker” and a few others. But let’s give our pin a chance to rank in the search results and actually be seen. So lets narrow it down a bit more.

Focusing on our main keyword “best coffee tables” we notice many other terms that appear in boxes below the search bar. These are other terms that are popular in the search which you can use to really focus in on a topic that is not so broad and gives you that chance to target certain visitors.

For example, you could design a pin with the title “best coffee tables for small spaces” or “best coffee tables for family rooms” If you click on the button for small spaces, you will see all the pins that relate to “best coffee tables for small spaces” and that term will now show in the search bar.

Earlier, I had mentioned that Pinterest is a great way to drive “targeted traffic” to your website. Well, this is how you do that. We are targeting people who are interested in “best coffee tables for small spaces”.

If your pin has all the proper elements and is eye-catching, people will click on it. That pin will have a direct link to your article on your blog, now it’s generating traffic. Imagine how many visitors you can get from thousands of people clicking your pins. Not only that, people will save your pins that they like, causing it to snowball into a viral pin that gets shared many many times and the resulting blog traffic can be impressive.

Let’s look at another example. Go to the Pinterest search bar and type “Healthy coffee” as your main keyword. You will see the following results.

Select “Healthy coffee smoothie”

You will now see all the results for that term. As before, you can narrow it down even further into “healthy coffee smoothie for breakfast” or “low carb healthy coffee smoothies” There are so many pins you can design using these keywords and many variations of those terms.

Another thing to point out. Notice the pin ranking at the top of the page with the title ” healthy coffee banana smoothie”. The main keyword is in the search bar and the term banana is in the suggested boxes below.

The pin image shows a healthy coffee smoothie and there is a banana in the image. Now is this pin perfectly optimized for SEO? Well, I don’t know without checking further into the pin description but just looking at the above keywords and seeing that it’s sitting at the top of the page, means Pinterest feels that this pin is most relevant to that search query.

* Pinterest can “see” your images on the pin. That’s why a pin related to coffee should not have some other misleading image on it.

Now let’s look at SEO for pin descriptions.

Whenever you are designing a pin title or filling out the pin description, it’s important to use the keywords from Pinterest suggest like we have been doing so far. Don’t just use words that you think are relevant.

Pinterest gives us an amazing tool to use with the search bar and we should always use that when filling out information about our pins. After all, Pinterest is basically telling us what it’s users want. All those terms you see that show up in search, are what people are searching for the most.

So we would be crazy to ignore that and not use it in our pin descriptions.

Pin descriptions need to be exactly that. A description of your pin. As I mentioned earlier, no keyword stuffing! Let’s look at our example of healthy coffee smoothies.

A proper description for your pin could be – Looking for a great healthy coffee smoothie that is perfect for breakfast? Maybe you want a coffee smoothie with bananas? Try a coffee smoothie recipe that is great with any diet that you will love.

Catch my drift here? See how many keyword options I used without keyword stuffing? The terms breakfast, diet, and bananas all were used and they are suggested terms.

When adding a pin to your boards, you will click the + sign to add the pin. Then add your SEO title and SEO description. The pin itself can be uploaded from your computer.

SEO For Pinterest Boards

Pinterest boards are basically a place to hold your pins. So when you save a pin, you must put it in a board. I recommend that you have multiple boards which all are based around your main theme, niche, or idea.

For me, I like to have 20-25 boards. Every account is different so whatever you find covers all your main topics, is how many you should have. Within reason of course. But 25 boards should be plenty. Too many boards is confusing and just looks messy.

To add a board, click the create board box.

Keeping with the coffee theme, (I like coffee) you want to set up your boards using SEO. You could set up a board for Healthy coffee drinks for diets, dairy free coffee drinks, low carb coffee drinks etc..

I also recommend that your first board be your main board with the title of your blog or business. This is where all your pins will be saved. Your other individual boards will only be for pins that are about that specific topic.

To edit your board title and description, click on the pencil icon.

Now add your SEO board description. Detail what that board is about using keywords. I used the title Healthy coffee drinks for diets.

Just like your pin descriptions, make sure to detail what the board is about using Pinterest suggestions for SEO. No keyword stuffing here either!

Winning Pinning Strategy

I will start by saying that there is not 1 specific pinning strategy that works for everyone. I wish there was. But the truth is, everyone has a different topic and different business strategies to implement. What works for you might not work for me.

There are so many variables in determining that perfect strategy. Pinterest isn’t for everyone and not all businesses will do well on Pinterest. That goes for any platform you use. But, I do know what has worked for me, and there are things that you can do to increase your reach and become a power pinner to drive huge traffic to your blog.

Here is my strategy that has worked for me. I’m always trying new things and ideas as Pinterest changes.

Once you have your profile and boards set up, you can start pinning. I recommend if you are promoting a blog post, that you create 2-3 pins per post. So if you have 30 blog posts, make 60-90 pins.

You don’t need to do this all at once, and you should always spread out the timing for your pins. As far as the number of pins per day, that will vary. Some people have success with pinning 30-50 times per day, others it’s 15-20. For me, I found that 25 pins per day does better than 50 or more.

Creating pins does take time and if you are doing 2-3 per post it can get very time-consuming. I recommend using Canva as it is user-friendly and easy to learn. If you are using manual pinning, meaning no scheduler (we will talk about this later) then you should create a spreadsheet to keep track of your pins on a daily basis. It will get very confusing if you don’t know what pins you put where and at what time.

Once you get into a routine, it gets easier. Your best chance of success will come from pinning many times throughout the day to multiple related boards.

One thing to note here. Pinterest does not like duplicate content. You don’t want to pin the same pin over and over. Creating a schedule for each different pin will be the best thing to do.

I also find that Pinterest loves it when you are active on the platform. Meaning if you are on Pinterest throughout the day pinning your content, plus pinning other people’s content, that’s a good thing. I’m not saying that you need to pin tons of others content, but if it is relevant to your topics and adds value to your boards, then pin it. Show Pinterest you are an active member who loves to use their platform.

You really need to experiment over time as your profile grows. Remember you are in this for the long haul, there are no quick wins or instant success. If you put in the effort, you will be rewarded.
You winning pinning strategy should include setting up 20- 25 boards, 2-3 pins per post, pin 25 times per day, or more if needed.

On top of pinning, you should also follow boards and people that are in your niche. Remember Pinterest loves active users, so get involved!

Your strategy should also take into consideration how many group boards you are on, how many blog posts you are promoting, pin automation like Tailwind.

So how many followers do you need? The answer to that is it doesn’t matter. Yes, if you have more followers, your pins might get seen more and pinned more. But in my experience, the amount of followers really doesn’t relate to the amount of traffic you will get. Concentrate more on creating awesome pins and a pinning strategy and don’t worry so much about getting followers. They will come naturally.

Using Group Boards

Group boards are a great way to get your pins noticed and shared. These are boards that are created by someone, then joined by many other users to share content in hopes of getting other shares to snowball into a viral pin.

Group boards used to be a huge advantage to users in the past, and I believe they still are but not as much. I still think you should use group boards, but on 1 of my accounts, I noticed no difference in traffic between being on 25 group boards versus 0.

This is something you need to experiment with.

The way to tell if the board is a group board or not is to look for a circle with the dividers in it. But I have to warn you, joining a group board is not easy. You have to be accepted by the board owner to contribute. This means sending them an email asking to join. They will want to know if you will follow the board rules, you have proper content, and agree to no spam. The owners of these boards want to make sure you are legit and will add value to the group. If you don’t follow the rules, they have no problem kicking you out.

Also, be prepared to send out a lot of email requests and get very few replies. For me, I had about 10 replies from about 100 emails. It’s a ton of work but many people say group boards are a huge part of their success so it’s worth it.

Also, make sure you are not just joining boards for the sake of joining a board. If the group board is not active, has poor content, never repins, and is spammy, then you don’t want to be there. It will actually do more harm than good. Stay away from spammy group boards. Over time, you can see the stats of what pins perform well over others, and adjust your group board strategy accordingly.

Automating Your Pins

Pin automation is an amazing tool to have. What a timesaver. So far, we have talked about pinning all your pins manually which if done right takes a lot of time and effort.

You can drastically cut down this effort and be way more organized with a pin scheduler. The only tool that I recommend you use is called Tailwind. This tool is most commonly used among Pinterest users and is approved by Pinterest. Some other automation tools may not be approved like Boardbooster, which is not around anymore.

A good way to get your account banned is to use a non approved software or tool to automate your pinning strategy

Tailwind is a tool that I recommend you check out if you are going to be a serious Pinterest user. Although not necessary, it will save you a lot of time and effort and it gives you the advantage of joining Tailwind Tribes.

Of course, like everything, there is a strategy involved. A strategy that will take time for you to implement. But if done right, and you take advantage of everything Tailwind has to offer, you can skyrocket your Pinterest reach and overall traffic to your website.

But if you are new to Pinterest, Tailwind is definitely not necessary. Learning Tailwind is a whole other separate course in itself.

Summary

I really hope you found this information helpful. Take the time to learn how to use Pinterest to promote your blog. It is worth it to understand Pinterest and how it can work to send a ton of traffic to your blog or website. There is no doubt that the Pinterest platform is one of the best online for directing targeted traffic. It is one of the most popular used platforms in the world today and it continues to grow.

Don’t underestimate the Power of Pinterest!

Of course, there are many other topics I could go into great depth, and there are many Pinterest courses online that you can buy. I have personally bought a few and for the most part, found them to be helpful. If I can recommend any one of them it would be Pinterest Traffic Avalanche by Create And Go.

This course is by far the best Pinterest course out of the ones I have tried. It covers everything you need to know in great depth and is an all in one course. I took this course and was blown away from the amount of content and value you receive.

Check out a video from Lauren at Create And Go:

Wishing you all the best in your Pinterest success!

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at zero cost to you. I will only sell and recommend products that I have either used personally or believe will be helpful for you. You will only see proven and trusted products, and I will help guide you away from the products that simply don’t work!

Buying A Sim Card In Europe (Best Sim Card Deals in 2020)

by Flyguy | Jan 2, 2020 | Sim Cards

Buying A Sim Card In Europe

Why should you buy a sim card for other countries?

If you are traveling overseas into Europe, it is generally a good idea to get a sim card while you are there. Or purchase one prior to leaving. Even though your non-European cell phone will work there, it can get quite expensive.

It is recommended to use a European sim card if you plan to use your phone for voice or data.

Getting a new sim card will give you a European mobile number and you will pay cheaper rates than if you were to stay with your current provider, even with an international plan. Generally, with a European SIM card, it’s free to receive domestic texts and calls.

If you make domestic or local calls, expect to pay anywhere from about 2–20 cents/minute and 5–15 cents to send a text within the EU.

To save money and get the best rates, buy a new SIM card every time you go to a new country.

How to buy a sim card in Europe?

To get a European SIM card, you’ll need to do the following:

Make sure you have a proper phone. You will need to either have a European phone or have one that can be unlocked for the new sim card to work. I find a lot of cell phone providers lock their phones so you can’t switch sim cards.

First check with your current provider, if you have a phone that cannot be unlocked, you will need to buy one for your trip. You can buy a cheaper unlocked phone if you plan to use it for international travel only.

You can also buy one in Europe when you get there that will already have the proper sim card installed.

Shop around for a new sim card. It will be easy for you to buy a sim card in Europe. They are located everywhere, including all mobile phone stores, shopping malls, newsstands, and vending machines.

They will normally cost no more than $10 and will include some minutes for the amount you pay. If you are using a smartphone, you will want data. Expect to pay around $30 for a sim card that will include a months data usage.

Also if you are traveling with a tablet or laptop and you need data coverage, make sure you include it as well. You can read more on the best tablets for international travel here.

Once you purchase the new card, ask the store clerk to install and set it up for you. Make sure to test it at the store by making a call. It will most likely ask you for a PIN code, so make sure to enter it properly and if you need it to be translated for your language, ask the clerk how and where you can set that up.

Best sim card for Europe with data

Here are 3 of the best providers that offer sim cards with data.

1. Orange Holiday Europe – Prepaid SIM card

✅ 10GB of Internet in Europe on 4G networks – Data tethering and use in hotspots allowed

✅ 2 hours and 1000 texts from Europe to worldwide

✅ Credit valid 14 days after 1st use

✅ Triple cut SIM card (standard/micro/nano). No activation, easy to use

✅ Covers 30 countries in Europe: Andorra, Azores, Aland islands, Germany, Austria, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Canary Islands , Cyprus, Corfu, Crete, the Cyclades, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France mainland, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Rhodes, Romania, UK, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden

✅ Easy to recharge online

You Can Get The Orange Holiday Europe– Prepaid SIM card on Amazon here:

2. Mobal Europe Plus SIM Card – Excellent Coverage Throughout Europe

✅ 1GB of fast 4G data included

✅ Free calls & texts: Unlimited and FREE incoming calls & texts. Super low call rates to USA and Canada from most countries.

✅ No contract necessary

✅ Your SIM is activated for one month. Service is active from the start date of your choice and will end 30 days after the start date.

✅ Easy to recharge online

You can get the Mobal Europe Plus SIM card on Amazon here:

3. OneSimCard Prepaid International SIM Card

✅ Mobile coverage in over 200 countries, free incoming calls in over 160 countries

✅ Mobile data service in over 160 countries

✅ SIM offers a European and US phone number

✅ 5 GB of international roaming data available

✅ Wi-Fi and mobile data calling using same phone number

✅ Free incoming texts from everywhere

✅ No contracts, simply pay for the service you use

You can get the OneSimCard Prepaid International SIM Card on Amazon here:

Buying a SIM card in the United Kingdom

Basically, in the UK there are 4 main network providers. (O2, EE, Three, and Vodafone). They will all be very similar in price and coverage. You will find any one of these providers fairly easily, and honestly just go with the one that is convenient for you. It’s not worth the hassle of looking around too much to save a few cents.

Topping up your SIM card

If you are not going to be using your mobile phone very much in the UK, it might be more cost-effective to buy a UK prepaid SIM card from a mobile phone shop. You can also purchase top-up vouchers whenever you need more credit. It’s very convenient and easy to do.

Some UK mobile phone companies include:

Carphone Warehouse
Phones 4 U
O2
Vodafone
T-Mobile
Orange

You can either opt for a contract or a Pay-As-You-Go. Look at the pros and cons of both options to see what works best for you. If you decide to use a longer-term contract, you will need to provide the following documentation:

Proof of identity
Address in UK
Enrolment in University/college (or acceptance letter)
Proof of employment (or acceptance letter)
Bank details

Some of the larger providers will do a credit check, so if you are not a citizen or cannot pass a check, then the best way to go is a pay as you go plan.

Summary:

Before you travel to Europe, ensure you have a cell phone that can be unlocked. If your current phone cannot be unlocked, then you will need to buy one. Check with your current provider to find prices and rates under your current plan to use in Europe.

Chances are it will be better to buy a SIM card when you arrive in Europe, but you can also get one prior to leaving. You can check the best prices on Amazon here, or purchase one once you arrive at your destination.

Don’t forget a data plan if you will need data. Data can be very expensive if you don’t have a proper plan. Also, you can read up on the EU rules for data and roaming policies here.

Hopefully, this helps you with some tips on buying a SIM card for traveling to Europe. There are many options available, so choose the one that works best for you.

Thanks for reading!