The One App Travel Experts Say Everyone Should Download Before Going Abroad

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The One App Travel Experts Say Everyone Should Download Before Going Abroad originally appeared on Parade.
When traveling abroad, especially to many different countries, it can be stressful and difficult to figure out how to get cell service. Many cellular carriers in the United States have international plans; however, they can be a bit expensive, have strict limits on amount of gigabytes used and are difficult to keep track of your usage.
I used to work as a cruise ship performer, and was often traveling to different countries every single day for weeks at a time. I found that although my home cellular carrier, T-Mobile, offered an international plan, it wasn't very reliable or affordable. I would constantly get stuck with the predicament of running out of gigabytes in my cellular plan, and I'd have to roam with incredibly low-speed internet. When trying to use Google Maps to navigate around foreign cities, or attempting to communicate with my family, this became quite a problem.
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On TikTok, @beachykj, also known as the carry-on queen, shares valuable travel tips all over her social media. From packing tips, flying hacks and app recommendations, her page is a great spot for all things travel. Averaging 75 flights a year, KJ knows what she's talking about.
In one video, KJ shares her most-used app while traveling–Airalo. She shares that roaming charges can be incredibly absurd, and that she's come home to expensive phone bills after trips abroad–clearly regretting that mistake. She then introduces Airalo, which is an app that allows users to buy and download eSims onto their phones, allowing them to get cell service to their specific location. This is similar to a physical Sim card that you can place into your phone, but with this app, you can download it straight onto your device without having to insert anything into your phone.
KJ continues to share that having data when she travels is non-negotiable, and she uses it constantly for navigating maps, social platforms, working and communicating with others. It can be deceiving how quickly data gets used up, and Airalo tends to be a cheaper option than any offerings from American cell service lines.
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When getting an eSim through the Airalo app, you can start by choosing the country or region that you are traveling in. There are local eSims, where you can choose one specific country to get your coverage in. Then, there are regional eSims, which give you a more generalized area–like Europe, Caribbean Islands, or Oceania. You can also choose a global eSim, which gives you global service. Within each of these categories, you choose which eSims you want based on gigabytes used. The wider the range of your location, the more expensive the eSim. For example, the local eSims are the cheapest, while the global eSims are the most expensive.
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I've used just about every type of eSim on the Airalo app while traveling, and the type that I've used always depended on how many countries I was visiting within a given amount of time. One thing that I found incredibly useful in the app is that you can easily track how much data you've used. This way, you have an idea of when you'll need to purchase more coverage.
Another great reason to use Airalo is that it finds the best cell service provider in the area that you're in. When I was traveling onboard cruise ships, I would often toggle between my eSim and my home T-Mobile plan, which gave me a small amount of International coverage every month. In the top corner of my phone, I would always see what cell service company my phone would be connected to. Many times, the one that T-Mobile would connect to would be different from the one Airalo connected to, and 9 times out of 10, the service through Airalo was much faster.
Lastly, a great perk with using the Airalo app is that if you share it with a friend, and they download the app using the link that Airalo creates for you, you will get Airmoney added to your account. This is a balance that can go towards future eSims, helping you save money as well. With every referral, Airalo sends $3 to the friend who uses your code, and you get $3 added to your account in return. Ultimately, I find that the Airalo app takes away a lot of stress when it comes to traveling and having access to the internet, and saves me money while doing so.
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https://www.airalo.comThe One App Travel Experts Say Everyone Should Download Before Going Abroad first appeared on Parade on Jun 19, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.