Taking a smartphone is one of the most important parts of traveling. However, you must be careful to ensure you do it right - especially if you are traveling and working abroad.

As a first step, you should make sure you have service at your destination. For this, do due diligence before you leave:

• Contact your carrier to see what types of plans are available for the country you are going to.
• If your phone is unlocked, investigate the prices for buying a SIM for the country you are going to. Keep in mind that if you are traveling to multiple countries, you must have a SIM card for each country. 
• Consider using only WiFi for your calling and data usage. It will be much cheaper. However, it might be difficult to use apps (such as Google maps), if you are tied to WiFi.
• Select the best option for you. 

While traveling, there are several apps that are useful once you get to your destination:

• Google maps makes it easy to get around - whether by car or by foot. 
• Google translate helps you get through the language barrier.
• Whatsapp and Messenger are good for sharing audio, video, messages and photos easily with your contacts. You can also use these apps for calling (they will use data if you are not near WiFi, though).

So - enjoy your trip, with the help of your smartphone!

Read the full article here:
Travel Smart: Using Your Smartphone Abroad