As millions of Brits prepare to travel abroad for summer holidays, experts say it's time to double-check mobile providers' roaming policies.

This simple step could help travellers avoid unexpected and costly charges upon their return.

Data from Uswitch reveals that over 6 million Brits don’t realise their mobile plan may not cover every country in Europe and other popular short-haul destinations.

Countries including Switzerland, Turkey and Albania are often not included in standard EU roaming plans. 

Nearly a quarter (22%) of Brits have been caught out by unexpected roaming charges, receiving higher-than-expected phone bills after travelling abroad in the last two years. Nearly one in ten (8%) have received a £20 additional charge on top of their usual monthly bill.

Simrat Sharma, Uswitch mobiles expert, shares tips for mobile users to avoid unexpected roaming charges: "It’s important to be aware of potential roaming charges when using your phone on holiday, even if you have free EU roaming included. While it’s great that many providers do offer free roaming in certain countries, there are usually exclusions, so it’s always worth double-checking. 

“You can avoid running up expensive roaming bills by checking with your provider on their respective terms and rates for travel to varying countries. Rates can vary between users on the same network, so it’s essential to review your plan and understand your own personal data allowances and usage limits before you travel. 

“If you’re unsure, we recommend you contact your provider directly to discuss roaming caps, your current deal’s coverage, and potential costs associated with roaming abroad.”

How to avoid hefty holiday roaming bills

Know before you go

Even if you have roaming included as part of your mobile plan, it’s always worth double-checking that the country you’re visiting is included.
 

Check the cap fits

Even if you pay for a bundle to roam abroad, you may not have the same data allowances as you do in the UK. Check your provider’s fair usage policy to govern how much data you can use before you incur extra charges. You can also set up a spend cap with your provider to avoid surprise bills when you return.

Keep it SIM-ple

If you’re with a provider that has roaming charges, it’s worth considering buying a one-month SIM-only or a travel eSIM deal that will cover you for your time away. 

Wi-Fi wins

Use secure and trusted hotel Wi-Fi connections whenever possible. You can also enable Wi-Fi calling or use services such as WhatsApp to make audio calls without using your minutes. Ensure access points are safe and secure before logging on and avoid activities like online banking on public networks.

Take care with data passes

If you choose to purchase a data, call, and/or text top-up pass, remember to check the terms and conditions carefully. These may have an expiration time of midnight UK time, which could leave you caught out depending on your time zone.

It is also worth remembering that once you opt into a paid-for pass, you also may be automatically opted out of your provider spending cap.

If in doubt, engage flight mode

Flight mode is not just for when you’re up in the air - turning it on while abroad, particularly in countries with high roaming charges, can prevent accidental roaming charges for calls, texts, or data. This simple step ensures that your phone doesn’t automatically connect to expensive networks. You can turn it back off when you’re ready to use Wi-Fi or if you need to make a call.
 

Switch off voicemail

When overseas, you can expect to pay the same per-minute rate for checking your messages as you do for making calls. Yet sometimes even receiving a voicemail on holiday can cost you. Before traveling, call your provider to ask them to temporarily switch off voicemail services to avoid these charges.
 

Recommended reading:

Expert reveals how to avoid being charged for listening to voicemails abroad 

Downloading an eSIM and disabling your primary SIM can help minimise fees and enable efficient roaming. 

With major UK network providers charging up to £2.34 to receive and a further £2.34 a minute to listen to a voicemail, it can become expensive—especially if you receive multiple voicemails or ones that are several minutes long on your travels.

For those who want to use their mobile abroad and need to pick up voicemails, but avoid high costs, experts at eSIM travel company, Airalo advise: “Travellers should be mindful of background data usage on their devices, as it can quickly lead to costly charges. 

"Simply disabling voicemail while abroad helps avoid unnecessary fees, but a more effective solution is downloading an eSIM and turning off your primary SIM.

"This allows you to use your phone as usual while significantly reducing roaming costs.

"eSIMs offer a cost-effective alternative to major UK network providers, helping customers stay connected abroad without the risk of excessive charges. By opting for an eSIM, travellers can enjoy cheaper and more efficient data usage while avoiding hefty bills.”