Cut your cell phone bill when you travel abroad, and still be able to stay in touch without breaking the bank!

Here are a few of your options to stay connected with friends and family.

How it works: If your phone is GSM compatible in your destination, reach out to your carrier and inquire about international plans and roaming charges. If your phone isn’t compatible, consider purchasing a phone when you arrive at your destination.

Costs: Some carrier plans start at $20 a month or use your existing plan starting at about $10 a day plus per minute/text charges.  

How it works: Is your phone unlocked? If it is and the cellular technology is compatible in your destination, you can swap out the SIM card for a local one when you arrive. This way, you’ll avoid roaming charges and just pay for the use of the SIM card and the associated calling plan. If your phone isn’t unlocked, call your carrier to unlock your phone and freeze your account for the duration of your trip.

What you'll need: When you arrive, purchase a SIM card at an airport vending machine or local electronics store.

What you'll get and for how much: You'll get a local phone number, calling time and set amount of texting and data.  Costs vary from $6 in Rio de Janiero to around $45 in Europe.

How it works: If you need or want to check social media and email occasionally, the cheapest option is to turn off data altogether and use Wi-Fi instead. Use it at your hotel in the evenings and hot spots during the day.

What you'll need: Email, Facebook, Twitter and other social media work fine on Wi-Fi. For calling and texting, use the same app your friends and loved ones use like Facebook Messenger, FaceTime (iPhone users), Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, Viber and Skype which work on any phone.

Costs: Minimal, but aim to find free Wi-Fi rather than paying for access.

By using these tips as a guideline, you can better organize and prepare for your trip.