Gone are the days when you didn't have to worry about going over your mobile data during your holiday.
If you've not got a great deal or are unfortunately signed up to a UK mobile provider who is reinstating data roaming charges, then your next trip away could be an expensive one indeed.
From March, thousands of mobile phone users will have to start paying to use their data abroad as some providers are scrapping their free data roaming.
It means holidaymakers can no longer use their data free of charge when in the EU, or make free calls.
EE, Three and Vodafone are the latest mobile network providers to bring back the data roaming charges but it's not all doom and gloom.
READ MORE: Warning issued to every Three, EE, Vodafone customer in UK
There are ways you can still use your mobile without having to worry about a hefty bill on your return home, I did it and so can you.
During my honeymoon to Mexico in November, I was still able to use my data, texts and calls completely free of charge - this may change this summer but the benefit I used can be done again.
My current phone contract is with EE, and yes it is bringing back charges but there are ways around it.
I used the Smart Benefits Plan.
This plan allowed me to change my add-on each month at no extra cost, and included access to BT Sport Ultimate, Apple TV + and Roam Abroad.
All I needed to do was go into my EE app, and change the service I wanted to use that month to Roam Abroad.
It was usable within 24hrs of choosing it and meant I could then freely use my phone as normal throughout my trip, including during my change-overs in the USA and Paris.
Roam Abroad covers USA, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and as of March 2022, will also include free roaming in 47 EU countries.
You can only change your plan once a month, but it meant the roaming charges would remain totally free until I changed it back to something else, whether that was the next month or not, so I could travel as much as I liked and still carry on getting free roaming, no matter how many countries I travelled to or days I used it.
When I got home, all I needed to do was wait until 30 days had passed and change it back to something else I wanted to use.
The only cap is you'll only be allowed a 'fair use' of 50GB, even if your current contract has more than 50GB of data.
It doesn't matter if the Smart Benefits Plan isn't part of your current contract, you can still add it as a payable extra for £10 per month, and simply remove it the next month when you don't need it.
You can add and remove it as much as you like, as long as you leave one month between removal and re-adding it.
If your contract was set up before July 2021 it will appear as Roam Further, however new contracts and anyone wanting to add it now will see it as Roam Abroad, to include their newly reinstated EU roaming charges.
As well as this benefit with EE, scroll down to see other UK providers who aren't bringing back data roaming charges.
Lebara
Lebara is one provider which has no plans to bring back roaming charges.
If you’re already an existing customer, there’ll be no charges added to your bill next time you visit the EU.
For anyone looking to make a switch, the company runs on a SIM only basis, and has plenty of good deals on its network for new and existing customers.
It even has a 30 day SIM only plan that offers 2GB of data, 1000 minutes and 1000 texts for just 99p per month for the first three months when you use the code LEBARA.
O2
Customers with O2 don’t need to worry - it still won’t be charging you to travel in the EU.
O2 will however cap data usage at 25GB, so even if your usual tariff has more than that, anyone who uses over that amount will incur an additional charge.
However you will still be able to freely use up to 25GB of data and all your free calls and texts as you usually would.
If you have plans to travel outside of Europe, you’ll need to add the Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On to your monthly plan, which will set you back £4.99 a day and provide you with 120 minutes and 120 texts, and no cap on how much data you can use - although speeds may vary.
Smarty
Another provider waiving all EU roaming charges is Smarty.
You can use up to 12GB of data, and your calls and minutes as usual without incurring any additional charges.
If you’re planning on travelling further afield and heading out of the EU, you’ll need to remember to buy an ‘out of plan’ add-on that lets you pay as you go while you’re abroad.
You will also need to do a one-off update to your phone to make sure your SIM card works abroad.
Lycamobile
Customers who have a contract with Lycamobile will also continue to have free access to roaming whenever they travel to the EU.
You don't need to do anything to set it up, as it should automatically start as soon as you land at your destination.
If you are having trouble using it, though, Lycamobile suggests a simple restart of your phone to get it working, so you can continue to use your regular plan throughout your holiday.
Remember, your free roaming doesn't cover countries outside of the EU, and you'll need to check the website to find out how much using your plan in countries further afield will cost you.
BT
BT's Roam Like Home plan allows customers to continue to use their phone in 47 countries without being stung by any extra charges.
The 47 countries includes most of Europe, and lets you carry on using your regular data allowance and minutes without charge.
Travellers visiting Northern Cyprus should double check which carrier they connect to, as sometimes it can connect to a service provider in Turkey, which isn't covered by the Roam Like Home plan.
If you're looking to travel outside of the EU, BT's Travel Pass lets you use your data in other countries at a charge of £6 per day.
Virgin
Virgin is also using its Roam Like Home plan to let customers carry on using their plan in Europe just as they would at home.
The network provider has also sent some of its customers a new SIM card to make sure they can carry on using their services outside of the UK - if you've received one of these SIM cards, make sure you've put it into your phone before you travel to avoid being caught out by charges.
There is also have a handy search guide on Virgin's website that lets you double check the country you're travelling to and see what charges you could incur if it's outside of the EU.
