Travel and Phones

[marzNC]

I don't know what Google Maps added the feature for downloading maps. Turns out that Apple Maps only added downloading maps in 2023, with iOS 17.x.

The pace of change in the use of smartphones when traveling keeps increasing. Perhaps more in countries besides the USA.

 

[Eera]

I don't do anything special at all, I just treat my phone like I would my wallet - because let's face it, these days it is.

 

[marzNC]

Here's a recent article (should be guest access) about the options for phones when traveling internationally. There are suggestions for three categories of risk.

April 30, 2025

How to Protect Your Phone While Traveling Abroad

Here are some best practices for safeguarding sensitive personal data.

www.nytimes.com

" . . .

Assess your risk​

First consider who you are, what you do for work and what’s on your phone, laptop or tablet, said Jeremiah Grossman, a cybersecurity expert.

If, for instance, you’re a retired U.S. citizen carrying some vacation photos and text conversations with friends from your book club on your device, you probably don’t have to worry. But if you’re a student on a visa who has been involved in government protests, there may be media on your phone that could create issues.

“If law enforcement had everything on your phone and access to everything, would that be bad for you?” Mr. Grossman said.

From there, assess whether your risk is high or low and pick an approach.
. . ."

 

[marzNC]

I don't do anything special at all, I just treat my phone like I would my wallet - because let's face it, these days it is.

While I don't make any changes to how I use my phone, I do carry it differently when flying. Have been using a "neck wallet" for decades that can hold a cell phone, a credit card, and a DL for airline check in and TSA security checks. One reason I prefer a smaller iPhone is to make it easier to carry since I don't use a purse most of the time.

When carrying a passport, I had a different neck wallet that is a bit wider. Found one in a ski shop in Chamonix that was even better than the one from Eagle Creek on sale at REI in Boise (thanks to @diymom ). The Cocoon version makes it easier to keep stuff separate and has a zip pocket big enough for a passport. Both shield RFID cards.

 

[WaterGirl]

FWIW DD just returned from 6+ week 3 country European trip, no one cared about her phone in any country or when returning to the US. She kept everything on her phone, including her banking app. She has a very low level T-Mobile plan, which she added some extra data to for $10. Used Whatsapp for almost everything. She was in southern Spain in a very small town during the "big power outage" a few weeks ago and she still had T-Mobile service for about 1/2 hour after the electricity was off. Based on her experience whats been posted seems like media hype/ fear mongering journalism.

 

[Jenny]

FWIW DD just returned from 6+ week 3 country European trip, no one cared about her phone in any country or when returning to the US. She kept everything on her phone, including her banking app. She has a very low level T-Mobile plan, which she added some extra data to for $10. Used Whatsapp for almost everything. She was in southern Spain in a very small town during the "big power outage" a few weeks ago and she still had T-Mobile service for about 1/2 hour after the electricity was off. Based on her experience whats been posted seems like media hype/ fear mongering journalism.

Good to hear, thanks.

 

[Christy]

Based on her experience whats been posted seems like media hype/ fear mongering journalism.

I can't actually find reputable media sources that recommend getting a burner phone, etc. The sites that do are ones I've never heard of, not known media outlets. Just there for clickbait it seems. The NY Times thing posted above isn't about what Jenny is asking about.

 

[HuntersEmma57]

This is so interesting because my mind immediately went to the current concerns with phones being looked at by immigration officials coming back into the US rather than concerns while actually traveling outside of the country. I am coming back to the States in a little over a week and will almost certainly be deleting my social media accounts from my phone even though I don't post anything controversial on those platforms.

100% with you on that. My son has a business and is sending one of his virgin iPhones that has not been previously activated and he has an international plan so accessing and using maps is NBD. No social media apps. I use Signal for texting and Runbox for email that I can log into on a browser and delete any comms.

 

[HuntersEmma57]

100% with you on that. My son has a business and is sending one of his virgin iPhones that has not been previously activated and he has an international plan so accessing and using maps is NBD. No social media apps. I use Signal for texting and Runbox for email that I can log into on a browser and delete any comms.

You know why people have insurance? Just in case. We don't have any way of knowing on what day we will have a car accident or if we will get diagnosed with cancer in March of 2026. When you're wrong about risk, it can really bad suck. I worked in IT and directly with cybersecurity officialsi n the fed gov't. I'm about as boring white bread as you can get and I still take precautions. And if they draw wrong conclusions over something harmless???