If you take a trip to Indonesia, you might not be in one place for too long – and certainly won’t want to travel all that way to spend their entire vacation in the resort. You might spend one morning exploring the water palace in Ubud, a couple of hours later take a ferry to a smaller island, and the next day head out for some snorkelling.
During those trips, relying on hotel Wi-Fi is impossible. And even when you’re there, the connection might be limited to certain areas, slow down when a high number of guests are online, and disappear when you step foot outside the property.
Having a mobile connection that works beyond the resort can make the trip more relaxing and flexible. Here are three ways you and your family can stay connected while moving around and exploring all the country has to offer.
1. Use an eSIM instead of relying on hotel Wi-Fi
An eSIM gives any compatible phone access to a mobile data plan without requiring a physical SIM card that works in Indonesia (or any other particular country). Internet access can be arranged before departure rather than leaving you to search for an electronic store upon your landing.
Parents can use maps while travelling by taxi, check restaurant opening times, message relatives, and message the accommodation without needing to hunt around for a café with good Wi-Fi (public Wi-Fi spots are more prone to security risks, as well).
Before purchasing an eSIM, check that every intended device supports eSIM technology and is unlocked for use with another network. It’s also worth checking how much data the plan provides. A family using Google Maps, having video calls and uploading photos every day will consume considerably more data than travellers who mainly send messages, but many plans offer unlimited data or generous amounts. The Holafly travel eSIM for Indonesia is one option to consider.
2. Give children a plan
If you’re considering options other than eSIMs, some planning might be required. You might decide with the family before leaving the resort what each person or child will use their connection for. Teenagers might want data for messaging, navigation, and social media, for example, but video streaming might be reserved for the hotel’s Wi-Fi so you’re not worrying about data limits too much. Parents could also download films, playlists and games at the hotel – if the speed is good enough – before a long transfer or a day out when you know there might be periods when you have to sit around. That keeps enough mobile data free for practical, essential tasks like finding a driver and checking your boarding passes.
You could agree on one family messaging group and make sure everyone knows how to share their location whenever needed.
3. Keep a backup for days away from the resort
A day trip, boat journey or drive through more rural areas would put the whole family well outside the range of the hotel’s network. Before leaving, download offline maps for the areas you expect to visit. Save accommodation addresses, booking confirmations and any important phone numbers (including emergency numbers – look these up and make sure you all have them saved before leaving).
You might want to carry a power bank or two, especially if the whole family’s using maps apps for much of the day. Then you could all check your phones’ data usage in the evenings, just in case you’re nearing the limits. On an iPhone, this information appears under Mobile Service; on Android phones it’s under Network & Internet; and on Samsung look for Connections. Again, eSIMS might be useful as many offer more data for reasonable fees.
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