Travelling abroad without a smartphone

lr1277

You might need to be able to confirm a transaction whilst abroad. In which case how would your bank contact you? I am guessing by text message as you don't have a smartphone.

Do you have a dumbphone that can receive text messages?

There has been a thread on here where somebody took the ferry to Europe and they couldn't buy something on board because they couldn't receive a text message because they hadn't enabled something. Sorry I don't remember the details.

And I am sure people have said receiving texts in Europe is free. You only need a package that covers Europe if your bank wants you to text back something. You need to find out how each financial institution treats transactions abroad for each of the card(s) you are taking with you and by that I mean both debit and credit cards.

IceCreamCone10

I have a dumb phone so the texting should be fine and would definitely give advance warning to the banks on credit card use there. The kindness thing reminds me of the Race across the world show, though granted that was very extreme and for entertainment reasons!

Albermarle

If you check in online ( by phone or laptop) and you have bags to check in, then they usually ask if you want a printed boarding pass. This is still the case if you use automated check in, the machine asks you.

So most airlines ( including low cost ones ) are happy to do this but inevitably Ryanair are the odd one out, although there may be others.

louby40

The whole world is geared up for the digital age. I think it would be tricky (but certainly not impossible) to travel without one. I, personally would feel quite apprehensive about travelling without any sort of mobile phone, smart or not.

Murphybear

I am one of the rare people that doesn’t own a mobile phone.    I’ve travelled abroad without one, haven’t had any problems.  

louby40

I'm a woman with elderly parents. I value my phone for my own safety and to keep in touch with my parents whilst away. 

Phossy

I still travel quite a bit and I always print everything off. I have over the last few years 'learned' to trust my phone a little more, but I am always concerned it will die on me! If you can share where you plan to travel and how then folks maybe able to give more detailed advice.

TELLIT01

Lack of smartphone will certainly be a problem is Ryanair go ahead with their plan to stop accepting printed boarding cards from November this year.  For other airlines you may be able to print outbound and return boarding cards before you travel.

The sad reality is that many organisations aren't interested in those without technology, so you may need to bite the bullet and get the cheapest smartphone you can find.  If you only intend to use it as a phone 99% of the time that will certainly suffice.  The only apps you would need would be those specific to the airline you are using.

I've just looked and the cheapest smartphone Argos do is under 30 quid currently.  Add a cheap pay as you go SIM and you're sorted.

IceCreamCone10

Thanks for all the replies. I did indeed wonder about a one off cheapest smartphone and am on PAYG on my regular phone - didn’t realise they were as low as <£30 though so thanks for looking it up. Northern Europe/Scandinavia (not the rural bits) where I hear they are pretty much cashless and app heavy. I’d avoid RyanAir then if the other airlines are more flexible.

Savvy_Sue

We flirted with £30 handsets at work a few years ago: would not recommend. Slow, clunky, unreliable.

I had a very cheap one myself and struggled. A friend bought one and also hated it.

I don't spend a lot on a new handset, but would now go for a better spec, refurbished.