Travel experts are urging holidaymakers to carry out three simple checks on their smartphones before jetting off, warning that failing to do so could result in hundreds of pounds in unexpected charges.
Research suggests that countless UK travellers depart for overseas destinations each year without verifying their mobile settings, leaving them vulnerable to costly roaming fees. In most cases, examining device configuration ahead of departure represents a straightforward solution to avoiding these expenses entirely.
According to Harry Deacon, a travel specialist working for Holafly, there are three essential steps every British traveller should take before reaching the airport.
The first recommendation involves disabling data roaming. Many devices come with this feature pre-enabled, meaning the instant a user connects to an international cellular network, their data allowance begins depleting. Even during periods of inactive phone use, automated processes such as application updates and incoming emails can steadily consume data without the owner’s awareness. Disabling this option prior to departure and only reactivating it when specifically required represents one of the easiest methods to prevent substantial unnecessary expenditure.
Deacon also highlighted background application refresh as another potential source of unwarranted costs. Applications regularly poll for new content and feature updates, and when used internationally, this activity draws directly from roaming data allocations. Prior to travelling, holidaymakers should navigate to their device settings and deactivate background refresh for applications they do not require. Many users possess apps they rarely utilise, and these can quietly erode holiday spending without detection. On Apple devices, this setting resides within the general menu, while Android handsets typically locate it under battery or data usage sections. The process requires merely a moment yet could yield considerable savings on the subsequent phone bill.
The third critical oversight involves voicemail configuration. Incorrectly set voicemail systems can incur charges of approximately £1 for each incoming call received while travelling internationally. When a device attempts to retrieve voicemail messages during a trip, providers may treat this as a return call to the UK, with rates potentially exceeding £1 per minute depending on the network. To prevent this scenario, travellers should verify whether their carrier has visual voicemail activated and disable this feature for the entirety of their stay abroad.