How To Get The Best Mobile Internet For Travel

Whether you travel full time, for work or just for your annual vacation, you’ll want to stay connected. Fortunately there’s it’s easy to be a digital nomad! Mobile internet is key to staying online while away from home. Read on to learn about your options.

How To Get The Best Mobile Internet For Travel

1. Cellular Service
2. Mobile Hotspot
3. Tethering
4. Wifi Extender
5. Free Wifi Hotspots

One of the biggest hurdles for full-time travelers is figuring out how in the world they are going to make money to live the life they desire. If you have a job that enables you to work remotely, you are ahead of the game.  But the logistics of how to make travel and work a reality can still be overwhelming.

Fulltime travel looks different for everyone. I, for instance, dabble in travel writing for various publications and websites, including TravelingMom and Kelloggshow.com.  We also produce YouTube videos on our two YouTube channels, our family vlog, and our kids’ channel.

However, our family’s income comes by way of my husband’s career as a Software Engineer.  For him, internet service that spans the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe is an absolute must. High-speed data is another requirement, and more difficult to come by, for sure. Mobile internet access is non-negotiable for him

We also homeschool our children. Our family runs the gamut in smartphones, from Android phones like my Samsung to one Apple iPhone. We have a data plan through T-Mobile which enables us to text and piggyback off of local cell towers in different locales. This gives us internet service for homeschool research, Google mapsGoogle translator, tethering and more.

Short of sitting in a coffee shop for eight hours every day, we struggled to find the right combination to make it all work for us.

Below you will find answers to some of the most common questions we receive on our website and social media. Our goal is to take the guesswork out of work and travel and streamline the biggest hurdle … mobile internet.  Here are the very things we use to make work and travel as seamless as possible.

1. Cellular Service

Cell phone service is available nationwide with pretty good 4G LTE network coverage. This means smartphones should work in all but the most remote areas of the US and beyond. In rare situations, we use the option to make wifi calls, particularly where cell service is not available or is unacceptably slow.

T-Mobile has come a long way in regards to its service areas. Today its reach is comparable to the big companies, like Verizon, At&T, and Sprint. We have great service throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In Europe, we have decently responsive service. However, it is not 4G and can be slower on days when there is a huge drain on the networks. But, we do not have to pay extra for international service. And, most Airbnbs and hotels have wifi for when you find yourself actually working.

2. Mobile Hotspot

A mobile hotspot is basically a mobile internet connection that connects to the Internet through a cell provider.  This mobile internet device can provide an Internet connection for up to 15 wifi-enabled devices, like iPads and laptops.

Hotspots are great if you need a reliable connection on the go that supports multiple devices and won’t drain your phone’s batteries.  They are more secure than public wifi that you find in coffee shops and libraries and they are a great backup for data when your cell provider’s network is lacking.

That is exactly why we travel with a Verizon Jetpack, instead of a T-Mobile jetpack. Currently, we travel with a Verizon Jetpack MiFi 8800L for wifie on those rare occasions that we don’t have any cell service using T-Mobile.

3. Tethering

As most of us know, most smartphones have an integrated wireless hotspot. This allows you to connect your computer or your tablet to your cell phone’s data plan and “piggyback” off of it.  These plans typically cost more, but are lifesavers when you don’t have wifi, but need to get some work done or connect with your social media fans.

Tethering isn’t an all-encompassing solution because it drains your phone’s battery, but is great in a pinch or for the occasional usage, when you may have access to charge portals.

4. Wifi Extender

There is little more frustrating these days than not being able to connect to wifi. “No Service” areas are becoming less and less frequent these days, but for the frequent traveler off the beaten path, this is of no consolation. Mobile Internet has become something the majority of us take for granted. After finding ourselves inside Starbucks, or Tim Horton’s, struggling to connect, we almost threw our hands up. Since our ability to travel depends 100% on having a strong mobile internet connection, we had to find a better way.

Enter the Winegard Connect 2.0 wifi extender. This device does exactly what it sounds like. It is designed to take weak wifi signals and boost them for better reception inside your RV. We used it extensively in Canada, where free wifi is almost non-existent. It was a game changer.

5. Free Wifi Hotspots

Even a novice traveler knows to find free wifi in coffee shops, laundromats, Sam’s Club and most fast food restaurants, right? But, did you know that many cities and towns also offer free wifi in downtown areas or parks? This has proven useful for us on many occasions. The kids play, while we knock out some work.

In addition, many campgrounds, like family fun KOAs, hotels, and Airbnbs offer free wifi to renters and provide a good quality signal. Some campgrounds have limited coverage areas where the wifi signals don’t cover the entire campground, so be sure to ask before you reserve a site. Comcast Cable customers can also take advantage of XFINITY Wifi hotspots, which are popping up everywhere that Comcast offers Broadband Internet access.

Read More: How to Find Free Wifi on the Road