Family travel usually starts with a list of practical jobs. Check the passports, book the accommodation, work out the journey and make sure everyone has what they need.
For dads and mums, there is often another list running alongside that one. Keep the kids moving through the airport, find the right platform, check the booking confirmation and work out where the hotel is once the family arrives.
A phone can take care of quite a few of those jobs. It can hold boarding passes, provide directions, show restaurant opening times and keep the family in touch with people at home. It is worth making sure it will work properly before leaving the UK.
Get Mobile Connectivity Sorted Before You Go
Mobile arrangements are easy to overlook when there are so many other things to organise before a family trip.
An eSIM is one option worth considering. It is a digital SIM that can be installed on a compatible phone without removing the physical SIM already in the device.
Services such as eSIM Plus can be used to arrange travel data before departure. That means the family does not have to start looking for a local SIM immediately after arriving, when everyone is more interested in finding the hotel and getting something to eat.
An eSIM can also work alongside an existing SIM on phones that support dual SIM functionality. A parent may be able to keep their usual number active while using the travel eSIM for data. The exact setup depends on the phone and mobile plans being used, so check compatibility before buying anything.
For a family trip, it is also worth deciding whose phone actually needs mobile data. There may be no reason for every family member to have a separate plan.
Check Your Roaming Arrangements
Roaming is another job that can easily get pushed down the pre-holiday list.
Do not assume that a UK mobile plan will cost the same abroad as it does at home. Charges and allowances depend on the provider and destination, particularly outside Europe.
Check the current plan before travelling. Look at the price of mobile data, calls and texts, along with any daily charges or usage limits.
Data can disappear quickly on a family holiday. A child watches something during a taxi journey, a parent checks a map, someone searches for a nearby restaurant and another person uses social media while waiting for a train.
Wi-Fi at the hotel can reduce mobile data use, but families will not necessarily have access to it when they are out for the day. Having a suitable travel data option can make those journeys easier to manage.
Think About Calls and Messages
Data is only part of the picture.
There may be occasions when a parent needs to call the hotel, an airline, a tour company or someone back home. A local number can also be useful during a longer stay.
Virtual phone numbers offer another option. They work over an internet connection and can support calls or messages, depending on the service.
This can suit people who travel regularly or spend several weeks abroad. It can also keep travel-related communications separate from a main UK number.
Check what a particular service actually provides before signing up. Some numbers focus on calls, some support SMS, and not every virtual number will work with every verification service.
Do Not Forget the Children’s Devices
Family holidays often involve more devices than anyone planned to pack.
Older children may have their own phones, while younger ones might have a tablet loaded with films, games and audiobooks. Those devices can be useful during a long flight, a train journey or a delayed transfer.
They can also consume a lot of data.
Download films, music and games before leaving home where possible. It gives the children something to do without relying on mobile data every time the journey takes longer than expected.
It is also worth agreeing some basic rules about data use before the trip. Streaming on several devices can use a surprisingly large amount of data. Nobody wants to discover the problem halfway through a holiday.
Keep Maps Available
Being the person responsible for finding the hotel is easier when the map actually works.
Maps can provide directions, public transport information and locations for supermarkets, petrol stations, restaurants and other useful places. Mobile data means they can be checked while the family is out rather than searching for Wi-Fi whenever someone asks where to go next.
Offline maps are still worth downloading before a trip, particularly for rural areas and long drives. Coverage is not guaranteed everywhere.
Save the address of the hotel, villa or campsite too. Having it available offline can be useful if the phone loses reception or the battery starts running low.
For families hiring a car, it is also sensible to save the route or important addresses before setting off. It is much easier to deal with a wrong turn when the information is already on the phone.
Sort Out the Less Exciting Details
The holiday itself is the fun part. Phone settings, charging cables and travel adapters are not.
They still deserve attention before departure.
Check that phones are unlocked if a different SIM or eSIM will be used. Update the apps needed for travel and back up important photos and information.
Take the right charging plugs for the destination and consider bringing a power bank for days spent away from the hotel. Maps, tickets, photos and children’s entertainment can drain a phone faster than expected.
Keep important information available offline too. Hotel details, booking references, travel insurance information and emergency contacts should not depend entirely on having a signal.
If the children have their own phones, make sure they know which number to call if they get separated from the family. A written number in a wallet or pocket is also useful if a phone is lost or runs out of battery.
Make the Phone Part of the Holiday Plan
A phone will not solve every family travel problem. Someone will still forget their sunglasses, get hungry at the wrong moment or ask how much longer the journey is.
It can take care of some of the practical jobs, though.
Getting mobile connectivity sorted before departure means one less thing for parents to deal with after landing. An eSIM can provide travel data without replacing the physical SIM, while a virtual phone number may be useful for calls and messages during a longer trip.
The right choice depends on the destination, length of the holiday and how the family’s phones will be used. Check the coverage, data allowance, roaming arrangements and device compatibility before paying for anything.
Then charge the phones, download the maps and pack the chargers.
The family can deal with the forgotten sunglasses when they get there.
