Traveling is great. Traveling with your phone is expensive. Roaming fees add up quickly, and before you know it you’ll be hit with a $100+ cellphone bill. There are various solutions to this problem. You can simply shut off your phone. You can connect only when using WiFi. Or, you can rent a hotspot.



Renting a hotspot is a relatively new concept that makes a lot of sense for a lot of people. For a few dollars per day (usually around $20), you can connect all you want to. There are few companies that rent out hotspots. Some of these companies offer great benefits while others are just too expensive. If you like the idea of renting a hotspot, here’s how renting a hotspot works.

XCom Global International Leads the Way

XCom Global International is probably the best-known hotspot rental company. This company rents a device called a MiFi. Technically, a MiFi stands for “My WiFi,” and that’s pretty much what this device is, a portable WiFi connection. XCom’s MiFi rental will run you around $15 per day, and it works in 44 different European countries. The small MiFi device can be easily transported and will allow you to stay connected to the Internet no matter where you roam. You simply sign up for a MiFi, enter your credit card information, and the MiFi is sent to you one day before takeoff. When tested, XCom’s MiFi could run for four hours when turned off while not in use.

Basically, all other hotspot rental companies operate the way that XCom Global does. You rent a MiFi or USB device and you connect wherever you are. Sure, you have to lug around an extra device, but it definitely beats looking for a WiFi connection or trying to pay that roaming bill. XCom Global International also makes sure that your MiFi connection is a secure one, so there’s no need to worry about identity theft. If lugging around an extra device isn’t for you, there’s one other (good) way to avoid a roaming fee.

Use an International SIM Card

SIM cards have been around for a long time. Well-seasoned travelers know that the SIM card is one of the simplest ways to avoid roaming. But, with the invention of the smartphone, switching your SIM card isn’t as simple as it once was. The other problem with purchasing an international SIM card is that you have to figure out how to install it, and this could prove to be tough if you don’t speak a particular native language. There’s always the off chance that you might find an Apple, Android, or other store, though, and those folks might be able to help you. Of course, you could just disconnect altogether while traveling – the horror!

Really though, renting a hotspot is the best way to go if you plan to travel for business and you absolutely need a secure and solid connection. Otherwise, you might be playing the “find a WiFi connection” game, and that’s no fun for anyone.