For many residents of Switzerland, spring time is not only about warmer weather and longer days. It also marks the start of the travel season, which will see many people holidaying in foreign countries.
There are a number of important things to pay attention to when traveling to other countries. Online comparison service moneyland.ch provides a concise overview of the most important topics related to Internet, insurance, and payments while traveling.
Roaming data bundles instead of mobile plans with roaming included
Most travelers want to be able to use mobile Internet outside of Switzerland. Mobile plans that include roaming allowances for various countries seem to be a practical option. These plans often cost between 50 and 135 francs per month. “Plans that include roaming are primarily suited to travelers who prioritize convenience. But they are not the cheapest solution,” explains moneyland.ch telecom expert Ralf Beyeler. “There are relatively cheap plans that include between 2 and 20 gigabytes of roaming data. Such plans are available from Digital Republic, Galaxus Mobile, Gomo und Spusu for less than 20 francs per month, and can be a viable alternative.”
In many cases though, using roaming data bundles is cheaper. That is especially true for people who only travel to foreign countries occasionally on holiday. Bundles that can be used in all EU countries and remain valid for one year can cost less than 10 francs, depending on the carrier. For example, Sunrise offers a one-gigabyte bundle for 7.90 francs, and Swisscom charges 9.90 francs. Larger data bundles have a lower per-gigabyte cost, but any data that is not used by the end of the validity period will expire.
Spusu currently has the cheapest carrier data roaming offer. Instead of offering a data bundle, Spusu uses exceptionally low pricing for its standard roaming rates. The standard rate for roaming in European countries is just 4 francs per gigabyte. But Spusu is an exception in this regard, as roaming at standard rates is typically very expensive.
eSims for low-cost Internet while traveling
A simple and affordable alternative to roaming is to get a travel eSIM that gives you affordable Internet access in your destination countries. Travel eSIMs with 5 gigabytes of roaming data for many European countries are available for less than 5 francs. Unfortunately, the huge number of different travel eSIM products on the market makes it difficult to compare offers.
Important: When looking at eSIM offers, it is not just the amount of data included that matters, but also how long the data remains valid. “Many travel eSIM offers are only valid for a few days,” notes Ralf Beyeler. You should also be aware that many phones do not support eSIMs. While all Apple iPhones have eSIM capabilities, many Android-powered phones do not.
Long-term travel insurance is often cheaper for frequent travelers
Travel insurance helps protect you financially against accidents, illnesses, and certain other risks that could prevent you from using your travel bookings. But many consumers spend money on travel insurance that they do not need. “Before buying travel insurance, you should check whether your credit card already includes adequate travel insurance cover,” recommends moneyland.ch insurance expert Daniel Dreier. The general requirement is that you pay all or part of the trip using the credit card.
If you do need to buy travel insurance, this rule of thumb applies: The more trips you make, the more you spend on travel bookings, and the more people travel with you, the bigger the likelihood is that using a long-term travel insurance will work out cheaper than insuring each booking individually. “If you travel more than twice a year, using long-term travel insurance is often cheaper,” says Dreier.
Rental car insurance may be included in your travel insurance
Rental car companies typically make you pay a high deductible out of your own pocket when you damage the car you rent. For that reason, it is important to be properly insured. Most rental car companies offer collision and loss waivers that reduce or eliminate your financial liability – for an additional fee.
“But this liability is already covered by many long-term and single-trip travel insurance offers, and many credit cards also include it as a complimentary benefit,” says Daniel Dreier. For that reason, it is beneficial to check whether your travel insurance already includes rental car insurance. In that case, buying insurance from the car rental company is usually unnecessary.
When checking your credit card’s rental car insurance benefits, it is also worth checking whether your credit card entitles you to discounts for car rentals.
Using the right card to pay while traveling can save you money
Using the wrong debit card or credit card to pay outside of Switzerland can be a costly mistake. Depending on which card you use, the transaction and currency exchange costs can be very high. Some cards generate costs of just a few francs, while others have fees of up to 180 francs. Credit cards are usually the more expensive option, especially for making cash withdrawals. You can find detailed information in the moneyland.ch travel payments study.
More on this topic:
Find the best mobile roaming solution now
Compare Swiss mobile plans now
Compare long-term travel insurance offers now
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