Do You Need a VPN When Traveling?

As Megan and I were planning our first international trip, one of my friends reached out and said, “hey, here’s a valuable travel tip that I wish I had known before traveling internationally, invest in a VPN.”

If you’re like us, this might have sparked a few questions, such as; What is a VPN? Do I need a VPN when traveling? Which VPN is the best? How much does a VPN cost?

I’m going to answer those questions, plus I’ll share our favorite VPN to use abroad.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network.” So what does that mean? Essentially a VPN creates a secure network connection when using public networks, such as free wifi at hotels, airports, coffee shops, etc.

Often hundreds if not thousands of other people join those same public networks. By simply using a software VPN, you’re able to surf the web worry free as all of your personal data is now encrypted.

Do I Need a VPN While Traveling?

The short answer is, YES, absolutely. Think about how often we check our phone per day or log onto the computer to check our banking information, crypto wallets, email, social media accounts, browsers, to make a purchase, etc. Just because we’re traveling doesn’t mean we all of a sudden stop doing those things. However, since we’re traveling this means we’re probably checking all of those things on open networks such as airports, cafes, train stations, or hotels. 

And if we’re not using a VPN to protect our data, this opens us up to potential threats. There are people who literally scour these open networks looking for connections that aren’t private, in order to steal people’s information.

How often are people’s information stolen?

We often think, what are the chances this will happen to me? In today’s world, it’s not a matter of “if” it’s a matter of “when”. In 2020 9 out of 10 Americans experienced a fraud attempt! This is why it’s so important to be proactive when it comes to protecting your passwords, banking information, crypto assets, browser data, personal information, credit card numbers and more!

 What should I look for in a VPN?

There’s thousands of VPN’s to choose from, so which one is the right choice for you? When shopping for a VPN, here’s a few features that I recommend checking for:

1) Is it compatible with all my devices?

Do you have an Android, Windows, or an Apple smartphone, tablet or computer? You’ll want to make sure the VPN has an app and software that is compatible across all your devices.

2) How many devices can I connect?

While some VPNs allow you to connect an unlimited number of devices, others may restrict you to 5 devices, or even charge you to add extra ones.

3) What countries does it work in?

There’s a few countries that block certain VPN’s. Before investing in a VPN, you’ll want to make sure it will work in the country that you’re traveling to.

4) How fast is it?

Want to stream your favorite Netflix show? Unfortunately, this is not possible on all VPNs, so check that your VPN boasts fast speeds and allows streaming services. In saying that, it’s important to note that with any VPN, you may experience slower speeds. However, the enhanced security and being able to access your services is worth it in my opinion.

5) Is the VPN easy to install and use?

While some VPNs claim they have easy to use apps or software downloads, many of them can appear out of date and require multiple steps to use. You’ll want to find a VPN that is easy to navigate and offers great support!

6) Does it connect automatically?

This is so important. In the past I used a VPN that didn’t connect automatically when logging onto the internet. I was in Thailand and carelessly logged into my crypto wallet from the Airbnb wifi, forgetting to first login to my VPN. My crypto wallet detected a login from Thailand and assumed I was being hacked. It then required a long list of verification steps that I was unable to perform until we returned back to the states months later.

7) Should I get a free VPN?

My father always said, “you get what you pay for”. And this holds true for softwares, especially when it comes to VPN’s. When you check the list above, you’ll see that the free VPN’s don’t match the criteria, however, there are some very reasonably priced VPNs.

What’s the best VPN?

After a lot of research and trialling, we finally landed on a VPN that works best for us and we feel comfortable sharing with others.

If you’re looking for a VPN that meets all of our criteria; easy to use, allows streaming services, offers 24/7 support, unlimited devices, available in multiple countries, and is very affordable, then we recommend the Surfshark VPN.

Here’s why we recommend Surfshark:

Surfshark is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, and Firefox. You can even connect an Amazon Fire stick, Apple TV or gaming consoles such as Xbox or PlayStation. With an unlimited device policy, you’ll be able to install it on all of your devices.

Are you planning on traveling to a country with internet restrictions? Surfshark has servers located in over 65 countries. So it’s safe to say that no matter where you are in the world, you’ll most likely be able to access your VPN.

Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for streaming services. It allows you to stream services like Netflix, on all major desktop systems as well as your mobile devices, through it’s easy to use app. Want to hear something that takes this up a notch?! When you use a VPN, like Surfshark, you can access even more shows on Netflix and other streaming services! Simply by changing your country, you get access to different streaming databases.

Not only is the app easy to use, getting Surfshark setup on a computer and connecting it is easy to complete in a few steps. Once initially set up then it’ll automatically connect when there is a wifi connection, so your personal information is always secure and private.

And the good news is that even with all of these features, they’ve managed to offer some of the lowest rates of any VPN service on the market.

Get Surfshark here <<<

And if for any reason you’re not satisfied, they offer a 100% money-back guarantee for your first 30 days of service.

When we travel we protect ourselves with travel insurance and our vehicles with rental insurance, it’s time we start protecting our personal information as well!

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