Using a VPN when you travel: what to know before you go

A VPN is one of the most useful apps to have on a trip. It protects you on hotel and airport Wi-Fi, and it can make your phone look like it’s at home when home services act strangely abroad. A bit of preparation makes it much more useful.

Before you leave

1. Install the app at home. In some places app stores or VPN websites are hard to reach, so install before you go.
2. Test it once so you know how it works and Android’s one-time VPN permission is already granted.
3. Check local laws. A few countries restrict VPNs. Look up every country you’ll visit or pass through.
4. Consider a pass for the trip. A 7-day or 30-day pass covers most trips, so you only pay for the time you’re away.

On the trip

• Connect on every public network: airports, hotels, cafés, trains.
• Use a home-country server for banking apps and home services that are confused by foreign logins.
• Use a local server for local sites, maps and services that expect a local visitor.
• Leave it off for apps that block VPNs, such as some streaming or payment apps, and turn it back on afterwards.

Common travel problems

Hotel Wi-Fi blocks the VPN. Try another server or country, or use mobile data briefly.

Slow connection. Choose a server geographically close to where you are, not where home is, unless you need home services.

Roaming data costs. A VPN uses slightly more data than going without, because of encryption overhead. It’s small, but worth knowing on expensive roaming.

The bottom line

Install and test before you go, check the local rules, and connect whenever you’re on a network you don’t control. That covers the vast majority of travel situations.

Berry VPN is our own app.