Originally Posted by
OskiBear
After having my phone stolen on a recent trip, I started wondering if it makes sense to bring a spare, back-up phone.
[in-between stuff]
Would it be possible to bring an unlocked phone and, in the event of loss or theft of my primary phone, simply buy a local SIM to at least have a mobile device for use?
Does anyone do this regularly on international trips?
I generally have two or three phones on me when I'm travelling internationally.
1) Personal phone (this one has my normal sim card in it). In most cases, this phone is inactive. It's just so I have access to my number so if I have to use an SMS multi-factor authentication method (like some banks), it's there.
2) Work phone. This one may or may not travel depending on where I am going. If I'm going to somewhere where I am likely to be "searched" or am not allowed to bring "work-related devices", then it stays home as it can access client resources.
3) Travel phone. This is my "burner" phone. I put in a local sim for wherever I am going (and can get a data plan). So it's my hotspot/local contact point. This phone gets factory reset once I get home to flush any "leftover" stuff.
Several other members of FT have #3s (or some variant) as well. It might seem like a big hassle, but for me, I don't feel it as such. It really doesn't add anything to the weight for me as two of the phones are usually in a pocket in my travel backpack (against my back and attached to the top).
As has been mentioned, you can always bring a spare and plug in a local sim (if compatible). Just keep in mind not all bands are supported everywhere. But most phones will have one or two that can be usable.