Avoid data roaming charges while driving between borders?
 

Hello everyone,

I will be driving around Europe sometime next year. I would like to use some smartphone navigation apps (e.g., Google Maps and Waze), but unfortunately, from my experience, data roaming charges can drain my pre-paid credits quickly (e.g., Germany to Switzerland).

My current solution is to stop before crossing a border, turn off the phone, and switch SIM cards. I do know about dual SIM smartphones, but it also requires turning off the phone and inserting a new SIM card especially when crossing multiple borders.

I have seen Global SIM cards, and it looks promising. However, most of the reviews that I've read seem to point to such international SIMs do not provide the coverage as advertised. As a traveler, have you used such a SIM card? If so, which one has lived up to your expectations by far?

Thanks!

Most phones have the ability to turn off data while roaming, leave that on and swap SIM at the border crossing.
I find if you travel to any country enough times it is always cheaper to use a local SIM.

You can set both SIMs in a dual SIM Android not to data roam when you cross the border. Sometimes you can get decent roaming packages depending on the carrier, the countries, and your personal definition of "reasonable."

Don't assume that you have to be right at the border for coverage to switch. There are stretches of I8 in AZ where your phone will connect to the Mexican network unless you disable roaming, and I've seen similar issues in Europe.
So, I second the advice to disable data roaming at all times, and only turn it on consciously when you need it.

There has been more than one person who has speculated that IUSAcell tunes their towers that way. I live on the Canadian border and the towers are fairly carefully tuned. I actually wish for the days when bleed over coverage was better. I was alway conscious about this issue and it saved me money. I know I am in the minority but was a little annoyed when people called and complained and forced the companies to fix it.

Not sure which service you are using, but T-Mobile now has unlimited data while roaming. I have been to Mexico and Europe over the last month and have been using data extensively with no additional charges. What used to cost hundreds of dollars a month is now free.