Want to keep your bill low while travelling? Here are our top tips to help you avoid unexpected roaming charges:

Setting a Bill Cap is the best way to relax while you’re away, knowing you won’t come home to a surprise bill. It acts as a safety buffer, automatically stopping any extra charges once you reach a limit you’ve chosen.

This is especially helpful if you’re travelling outside our inclusive roaming zones, or if you’re visiting an area near a border where your phone might accidentally connect to a more expensive network. It takes seconds to set up in the iD Mobile app, and you can change it whenever you like.

If you are travelling to a Roam Beyond destination (like the USA, Australia, or Canada), standard roaming rates can be expensive. The best way to avoid these costs is to buy a Roam Beyond add-on before you fly.

These start from just £5 and give you a set allowance of data to use, which works out much cheaper than paying per megabyte.

Check if your destination is included in Roam Beyond here.

If you are travelling on a ferry, a cruise ship, or near an international border, your phone might automatically connect to a wildly expensive satellite network or a non-inclusive country's network.

To stop this "Inadvertent Roaming," you should manually select the network you want to use.

I’m using an iPhone:

I’m using a Samsung Galaxy:

I’m using an Android phone:

Map apps use a lot of data. Luckily, both Google Maps and Apple Maps let you download areas to your phone while you are on Wi-Fi, so you can navigate later without using your allowance.

I’m using Google Maps:

1. Open the Google Maps app while connected to Wi-Fi.
2. Search for the city or area you are visiting.
3. Tap the name or address of the place at the bottom.
4. Tap the three dots icon (More) and select Download offline map.

For more help, check out the official Google guide.

I’m using Apple Maps:

1. Search for a location.
2. Tap the Download button (if available) or tap More then Download Map.
3. Adjust the area you want to save and tap Download.

If you have an iPhone, there is a hidden setting called Wi-Fi Assist. This feature automatically uses your mobile data to boost your signal if your Wi-Fi connection is poor. This can lead to unexpected roaming charges even when you think you are using hotel Wi-Fi.

1. Go to Settings > Mobile Services.
2. Scroll right to the bottom of the page.
3. Switch the Wi-Fi Assist toggle OFF.

This feature stops apps from refreshing in the background and using data when you aren't looking.

I’m using an iPhone:

I’m using a Samsung Galaxy:

I’m using an Android phone:

If you are travelling outside of our 50 Inclusive Roaming Destinations and you don't have a Roam Beyond add-on, we highly recommend turning Data Roaming OFF entirely.

I’m using the iD Mobile app:

I’m using an iPhone:

I’m using a Samsung Galaxy:

I’m using an Android phone: