Traveling sans phone?

Hi Susan, we’ve had some lodging correspond with the WhatsApp, and they had a keyless entry where we needed to download an app to use as our key to enter our place.

I spend months planning a trip and am extremely organized, so you would think I have no spontaneity. Instead, almost all of the activities are just ideas loaded into my trip planner app. I review them on the train to the next city, and decide what sounds fun that day. Or, if I see something that looks interesting, I am able to be very flexible.

Some places do require reservations even months ahead. If you’re going to a popular city (sounds like you’re heading to Paris) and wanting to see a very popular museum or site, that’s reality now. Many are timed entry, so not only a specific day, but a specific half hour to be at the entrance to go into it.

But, there are also a lot of beautiful places in Paris that don’t need reservations. Jacquemart-André Museum Is just one example.

One of my biggest concerns if I lost my phone is that I use it as my camera. My only souvenirs are often photos and great memories! I would really miss not any having those treasured photos!

Whatever or however you are planning to use a phone, practice at home, so it’s very familiar and comfortable for you.

Honestly, I don’t know that I could travel without my phone anymore and if you read the post on here about the person who lost their money, a lot of problems could’ve been overcome if they had had Apple Pay or other things like that on their phone so that’s something to consider. Additionally, some places have audio tours and stuff you can download your phone. For example, I’m doing the special exhibit at the Orsay next month and I have paid for a guide that’s downloaded to my phone.

Unfortunately, Paris, and the surrounding sites like Versailles are no longer just show up. You really are going to have to book ahead if you want a good experience. For example, the Louvre limits the number of visitors every day now and on some days especially during the busy season it’s just full. You can be standing online for standby for hours and I’m not exaggerating, What I do is book one thing a day and that leaves you a lot of spontaneity for the rest of the day.

If you do want to not do reservations, I think you really are going to need to have a phone and be prepared to deal with some data roaming because you can kind of work around it. For example, when we were in Paris, last year, we decided we wanted to go to Saint Chapelle the next day and we were able to book it that night on our phone But you need a phone or a computer or something to make those last-minute adjustments now

As for credit card risks. I work in cyber security and all I can tell you is it’s probably already compromised. Sorry if that sounds really negative (and I’m sure somebody will tell me I’m being snarky.:)). But it’s true. There’s practically no credit cards out there that have not been compromised at this point you just need to keep an eye on it. But I’ve never been able to see any problem with any of my cards for any of these sites in Paris As a matter fact, the European Union has better data protection and privacy regulations than the United States so your credit cards are probably not at any more risk on those sites than they are anywhere else (like target or Walmart)

My bet is your granddaughter can help you. Let her be the technical genius behind your trip together. It’ll help her get involved and you’ll probably both enjoy it.

Just curious, what season are you going?
And how would you know if your return flights were canceled or delayed? Phones are pretty necessary now. Safe travels!

We were dinosaurs with respect to cellphones until a couple of years ago when we started traveling during the tail end of covid restrictions. The cell phone got us out of a jam on more than one occasion. We use it mainly for “emergency” situations. You never know when you are going to need it. We don’t rely on apps so far but did just upload our cc’s to Google Wallet as a backup if our cc’s are lost or stolen. We will probably use the Google Wallet for cc transactions overseas if available as they are more secure than the plastic card transactions. We may look at and load other apps as we go along. Frankly, I don’t know how we traveled without a cell phone before. It gives us an extra layer of protection when we are far from home and need help. Edited to add that I have the airline apps on my phone and have used them.

I have, and still do, traveled for many years without any apps on my phone (I just do not use them ever). I carry my phone to get messages or calls from my children in case there is an emergency and as my alarm clock. I have T-Mobil so no problems with the phone number. Once in awhile I may use it to make a restaurant reservation. Also, it gives the tour leader a means of contacting me if necessary and vice versa.

I don’t take a phone and almost never use one at home. I do things with wifi on my ipad

I can relate, Susan. I remember going to internet cafes to keep up with email and such. Then an unlocked cheap phone with a local SIM for calls home, plus my tablet with wifi for other uses. (Actually, I remember going to American Express to get forwarded mail, but that's truly the dinosaur age.) I got the smartphone two years ago and it's been a big help with travel as well as otherwise. (Not being a teenager I manage to look up from the screen many times in a typical day.) The T-Mobile Magenta 55+ plan includes internet and texting pretty much worldwide, plus voice free from Canada and Mexico and 25 cents/minute from elsewhere. (My wife and I text to set up Zooms every couple of days.) So you might want to consider taking the plunge, especially with the help of your daughter.

But, to answer your question, yes it's possible to travel without a phone. You just have to plan more carefully, allow time to wait in lines, look for those ever-rarer internet cafes, bring a wifi-enabled tablet, or otherwise adapt. There are still paper tickets, places not requiring reservations, and other certainties. Things don't usually go that far south, so to speak, that often. Spontaneity isn't out the window either -- though a smartphone with a good plan makes spontaneity easier by letting you make decisions or changes on the fly, so to speak.

Now carefully step back through the window, off the ledge. Pay no attention to the firefighters below holding that big round thing. And talk with your daughter about this technological stuff. Maybe she can use her smartphone and you can tag along with her!

EDIT -- It's a rare hotel without a computer or two, plus printer, for guest use -- easier than finding an internet cafe these days.

I don’t know why you would travel without a phone.

Just got back from 3 weeks in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and had my phone the whole time for photos, navigation, tickets I had bought in advance, reservations, additional information about sites I visited, Apple Pay, etc. Left my phone in airplane mode except when I needed it for navigation.

Everyone uses their phones differently and travels differently (has different interests, priorities, pace, etc.), however, I can’t envision a vacation without a phone for the reasons I mentioned. I’m not a social media person and I didn’t check email or make a single call but I had it for the above reasons and it was an extremely helpful resource.

Susan, thank you for posting. I share your questions and concerns and am reading with interest.

Debbie

There was a similar discussion last fall that might interest you: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland/last-person-in-america-without-a-cell-phone-visiting-switzerland-this-summer

You really do have to pre-book some sites, things really have changed that much (some of it due to pandemic, some of it just the times we live in). It sounds like you want to visit Paris? Will you be going this summer? The Olympics are causing a bit of a crowd there so pre-booking would be a must for anything that you consider essential to visit (and you might already be too late, depending on your dates).

A smart phone does not have to break the bank. Many carriers offer perfectly acceptable devices for free or low cost. Just make sure they have an international plan and you understand the costs for it. Your flip phone will probably be obsolete in the not too distant future, so you'll be faced with an upgrade regardless.

I used to go abroad with a bag of books and a stack of paper maps, and carefully compiled lists of places to eat, see, and visit. A stack of public transit schedules, or careful directions copied into a pocket notebook, a laminated fold out map for street level orienteering, a bulky SLR and extra film…..

It is one of the absolute JOYS of modern life that my phone can replace all of that stuff. I travel with an iPad, too…..so I’ve got a near endless supply of reading material and all the guidebooks I want.
—Saving places with notes to a Google map lets me be far more spontaneous, as I can look for attractions/food/shops etc that I’ve pinned in advance near whatever main thing I’ve planned for the day.
—FaceTiming with my very elderly parents to show them a spectacular view, object, or place that they will never get to see in person
—e tickets for transport and attractions are easier to use and no worries about losing them when saved to an online wallet in the cloud
—staying connected to others in your group via text or WhatsApp if you go off on your own
—photos are geotagged, so you’ll know exactly where X shot was taken, and easily backed up into the cloud and shared/edited
—downloading an audio tour and listening via phone instead of using the headsets touched by 100000 other people

I’ve wandered, lost in the freezing rain, in tangled medieval streets, trying to find my way by dead reckoning and poorly translated directions. The magic blue tracking dot of Google Maps would have saved me much misery. It works even when you’re not using cell data.

I’d buy a secondhand unlocked iPhone for a couple hundred bucks on BackMarket, and get a prepaid international plan for the duration of your trip. You can resell the phone when you return, or gift it to your daughter, who can continue to use it on a prepaid basis if she wants. Or buy the secondhand phone and get a local SIM card with data for a flat fee in the airport or at a phone store when you go to the city center from the airport.

But there is ZERO chance I’m traveling without a smartphone in 2024.

Why don't you see how much you can do from home with a computer and printouts? Organize one thing a day and wing it for the rest (if that's your style). Prebook what is absolutely necessary to bemprebooked. Again, you most likely can print your confirmation.
Know, however, things may be slower once there, or take more time trying to find a place with computer access, or to stand in line. If traveling right after grad, and/or the Olympics, is going to make Paris very busy so there may be disappointments if your 'must see's' aren't booked ahead.
A thought, do you have family or friends who have a spare unlocked smartphone you can borrow for the time you are there? Buy a local sim card that will give you local phoning and data. You can send your repurchased items to your email (assuming one of you has this) and you can access these with data to present any e-ticket.
I wouldn't encourage you to buy a new smart phone just for this trip.
For what it is worth, I do all my travel planning and purchasing on my computer. Even on my phone, I use the internet websites rather than apps (except a few, like my airline or Booking)

I think we were the last people on earth to get cell phones and for years it was flip phones. We made the decision after my husband didn't show up for a dinner reservation (we only go out to dinner once a week or so and this was a splurge). And I had no idea what to do. I knew he wouldn't blow it off and so I am thinking -- now what. If I got to the police if he doesn't show up what would I be able to tell them? I have no idea. When real concern was taking hold he walked in with his head bandaged. He had managed to cut it badly at the Musee d'Orsay, their first aid person couldn't stop the bleeding and so the pompier hauled him to the ER which patched him up. And so we decided having phones was a matter of safety.

These days you need a phone or computer to book tickets to museums, train tickets, check in for your flight -- and keep in touch with others in your group. It is possible to do all these things in person -- e.g. buy tickets at FNAC and the train station etc -- but it sure makes life easier to have one.

I think TracFone is just the provider of the cell service. If your daughter has a smart phone that is unlocked (she owns it and she isn’t paying trac for it) then you could take it and just get a sim card in Paris

That would give you a cell phone number in Europe and depending on what you work out with the cell phone vendor access to data while you’re in your up to do things like book reservations, look at maps, etc. another option is that it could be used just on Wi-Fi. So when you’re at your hotel or at a café that has Wi-Fi, you can access things with your phone. Here’s a link to another thread where people talk about using that exact phone vendor. It’s kind of old, but it might have some good information.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/buy-prepaid-phone-in-europe

I can’t imagine traveling without smartphones these days - and I was not a first adopter.

My observation is that, yes, today it assumed that travelers have a smart phone. This is also becoming the case in the US, but seems even more ubiquitous abroad. (My observations with 6 trips to different Asian and European countries as well as multiple states in the past 18 months. Others are free to observe differently.)

In addition to nikkui’s particularly detailed list of uses, I have had to use the phone in three situations within the last 12 months to reschedule a canceled flight home, a canceled flight within Europe, and a cancelled train cross European borders. Additionally, I have had immediate notification via text of multiple flight status changes. An Ipad without cell service would not have given me the flexibilty to react immediately. In one case I needed to speak with the airlines as their rescheduling was not acceptable. 15 minutes of conversation on my phone and we were set.

On my phone, I was informed of a serious accident of a relative several months ago while in Europe. I could easily talk with caregivers and physicians until I could return home.

The world has changed! I do sometimes long for the days of travel when last minute decisions could be made and spur of the moment changes in itinerary were possible, but the only way I can approximate that today is to have all the info as to availability, directions, transport, etc right at my finger tips.

I don't adopt technology without weighing the pros and cons.
No interest in Alexa or a ring camera, but a smartphone, for travel especially, is almost all pros for me.

I agree with a previous post that smartphones are even more ubiquitous in Europe.

I travel with an iPhone in Europe because I've been using an iPhone here at home since 2010. If it wasn't for my love of the iPhone camera I wouldn't truly have any direct need to carry an iPhone for any other feature. I've been using Apple Pay since 2016, but could just as easily use the physical card to Tap.

I never book elaborate trips so no need for the 15-minute calendar to keep my travel plan on track for my next planned event. I don't use maps because I never have any specific place to be. This is too say that I don't believe a smartphone is a requirement to travel.

That being said, I do believe as an alternative you should carry say a tablet either with cellular or without that can put you in the know at days end should something of magnitude occur in your life BUT a hotel computer for guests can just as easily cover that "need" off.

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Geez, I backpacked across Australia for 3+ months when I was a youngster without any attachment to home, beyond a once in a while collect call to my family. Life has become more complicated / controlled today because we believe we need it all in our lives to survive.

Is it possible to travel without a phone these days?

Yes. It might not be as easy as traveling with one, but it can be done. As someone above suggested, a lot of good planning before the trip will eliminate the "need" for a smart phone. On the other hand, getting her an inexpensive smart phone and having her become well versed using it, would not be a bad idea. You might be surprised at how quickly she (and you, with the help of her young friends) will become adept at using it for those things for which it is "needed".

I think it might be possible, but why would you make travel harder for yourself? You could use an IPad for many tasks, but it is large to carry and use as you mention.

I use my phone from the minute I step out of my house. The City mapper App tells me how long until next bus. At the airport, I scan my boarding pass from my phone and go through security. I use my digital Priority Pass card to get a meal prior to heading to the gate. My phone alerts me through the airline apps of any gate changes or delays so I know up to the minute what is happening with my flight.

Upon arrival, I have my entire itinerary and reservation numbers, as well as electronic copies of all key documents filed on my phone with my Trip-It App. I change the city to my new location and City Mapper works for me on public transportation. Any advance e-tickets are readily available.

I have credit cards stored in Apple Wallet as an emergency back up to my physical cards.

I can get up to date weather, transit, opening hours, etc information with just a touch of a button. If I feel the need, I can call an Uber to get me where I need to go completely in English and payment settled in advance.

My guess, DinoSue, is that you are younger than most of us that are using this technology daily. If we can do it, you can do it.

Don't cave to pressure. If you are happily living your life without one now, you can adjust when traveling. I assume this is a conscious lifestyle decision, and it doesn't have to change for a short trip. Yes things could be easier but you already know that.
There are some countries that are cashless societies and even a physical credit card aren't used. Those are the places that would be almost impossible to visit without a smartphone. Thankfully there are plenty of alternatives.

I've been pondering how to answer this question, because I didn't take a smart phone for quite a while, but I used an iPod and then iPad on wifi. So If you bring your iPad you are in pretty good shape as most places have some form of public wifi; ie, airport...but maybe get a VPN. I then took my smart phone along with a mini iPad for the best of both worlds. On my last trip, as I was walking the Camino I only took my cell and used it completely for my computer. That being said, what I needed to use on my iphone was not much. I used Apple Pay because I think it is the safest and most convenient solution. I checked in to my return flight on my iPhone. I used google maps to find the hotel off the Camino, but I wasn't so hot at following the dots (much prefer a good look at a paper map). I used the trail map once or twice. So if you are not walking on the camino and have your iPad with you, you can be pretty comfortable. You just need to print out your boarding pass, tickets, etc., which I do anyway incase the computer world is down if I need to use it. So you don't have to use a cell phone...but it is nice, as in how Carol... of Lynwood indicated.
1. The nice thing about a smart phone is you can leave your iPad home. The smart phone is your computer, and so much lighter.
2. With a cell phone you can prebook an hour ahead of time...if there is an opening (but if you are in your hotel, you can do it on the iPad). That's pretty spontaneous. You certainly don't have to do so, there are many sites open without mandatory rebooking...but as a first trip with daughter, you might want to see those sites.
3. It might be a nice bonding experience to learn the technology with your daughter, who will likely scoot ahead of you or already be ahead of you...so you can let her teach and manage the tech for you.
4. You can't go forever without a smart phone so why not make this the time you start learning to use one. Again, it is just a smaller iPad, but it has service available 24/7.
5. You are worried about inputting your credit card into multiple sites. The only site I have my credit cards in is my Apple Wallet/Apple Pay. And that is quite secure. In fact, Apple Pay is more secure than using my credit card on its own...as I understand it.
So think about it. Certainly you can go with just your iPad, but sometime you are going to have to keep up with tech. It will be easier to catch up now than later. IMO, YMMV Or go with your iPad and think about a smart phone for the next trip when you have a learning curve for certain sites?

Regardless, I'm sure you will have a wonderful, memorable trip.

Yes, you can travel without a smart phone as long as you have access to the internet when needed, bringing a computer, ipad, using a hotel computer (do they even offer them) etc.

Personally, I would not travel without my iphone. I've been in enough situations where that phone got me out of a potentially bad situation. I'm a timid traveler and my phone is what gave me the courage to get out and see the world. I have no sense of direction, very easily lost. But if I've got my phone, that concern is gone. Once when arriving in Florence at night in winter, we could not get into our apartment. Panicked for a few minutes, then that handy phone gave me the ability to get in contact with the owner. And if the owner was not available, then that phone would give me that ability to find a place close by to spend the night and out of the cold. I've used my phone to translate signs so that I know the bus I plan to ride to the next town is now leaving at another location. And when riding a bus, I know when to get off since the map future tells me I am close to where I need to exit when there is no indicator on the bus that would tell me. And if I happen to get off the wrong stop, that phone will get my back to where I need to be

Thanks to everyone for all your helpful insights!

The OP asks an excellent question, and there have been numerous excellent responses.

With that being said, I have realized that I would no sooner travel without my smartphone than I would without footwear. This perhaps is not a complimentary view of myself, but there it is. I am as reliant on my smartphone as I am on any other single possession. Of course, my wife remains even more indispensable.

If, after you consider the responses to your query, you decide move up from a flip phone to get a smart phone calling plan, get it now for a June trip. You will want to be familiar with it and to start using ApplePay or GooglePay at your local grocery stores/pharmacies/Target.

I was a resister to even getting an international calling plan until in Oct 2021 some of the restaurants in France were using only QR codes for their menus - they did not have paper menus any more due to Covid. I was stuck and just randomly had to order something from their chalkboard specials. That seems to have waned a bit and paper menus are back but still, at that point I realized I needed to come into the 2020's!!

Navigating with a smart phone is now indispensable for me in Europe!

Editing to add: Do read this thread from last week about a forum member who lost all her cash and CCs. If she'd had had CCs in her Apple or googlepay wallets she might have been able to have an easier time until her husband could wire transfer her some cash.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/disaster-has-struck-lost-all-money-and-credit-cards

I lived in Italy for 2 years 19 years ago and we only had the normal "top up" phones, my brain explodes on how I got around and did stuff without relying on maps/schedules/things to get around......I have been back to Italy twice since then, in 2015 and 2019, and I took my US phone just on wifi usage (I was able to download maps and such ahead of time) and got a TIM/Vodafone pay as you go SIM card for the old timey nokia like phones, just for communication with hosts and restaurants. This time I am jumping in and doing the AT&T international plan (but sincerely pondering the Orange 50 euro talk/text/data plan, is convenience worth 50 euro? I will have to decide that in a bit) just for how much EASIER it will be to do things.....I would at LEAST have some way to communicate (once in Rome I dropped the apartment keys down the sewer under the door to the front door of the building and had to call the host for assistance) with people, if even a old school only talk/text pay as you go phone, especially for emergencies.

I was in Milan and accidentally left my phone recharging in the hotel room when I went out for the day. I considered returning to the hotel to retrieve it, but decided that it wouldn’t be a problem to live without it. That’s when I discovered how dependent I’ve (we’ve?) become.

Disoriented after emerging from the subway and needing a map and directions? No phone! The restaurant’s English menu is only available online? No phone! Need to translate the Italian menu? No phone! What’s the time? No phone! Photo opportunities? No phone!

I was a pretty late adopter in getting a smart phone, but it’s certainly made life easier!

Renee, maybe you've hit on a good compromise. Bring that smartphone for sure, because it's essential these days, especially when problems occur. I've been traveling to Europe for 30 years am now 59 years old (OK, 60 in July), so I've been around for every type of tech or lack thereof -- from mailing letters with money orders to book hostels, to today and doing just about everything on my iPhone. In a jam, it makes such a difference, compared to the old days of trying to find and figure out a payphone or making a dozen phone calls with limited language skills.

But you could "forget" (plan) to leave the phone in your lodging one morning and just do without for a day where you're wandering -- and be free from the urge to document everything, know where you're going, or mindlessly scroll texts -- and just be. :)

CK

I would love to travel without one. At home I use it for so little--texting, occasional phone calls, googling, and very few apps. I kept a flip phone forever and though I now have an I phone, it is a very old model. People laugh when they see it because it is an I Phone 7 and the current one is now what--a 15? I don't know. It takes awful photos, so I always have my regular camera on trips for better photos. Travel abroad-wise I have only used it for Canada and Mexico. Haven't been to Europe with it. There is a lot discussion on the forum about SIM cards in Europe which I can never understand. I am taking the phone to Asia in a couple weeks. I reluctantly started using it for airline e-ticket QR codes instead of printed out tickets just over the last couple years.

The best compromise is to get a cheap phone and call package now with T Mobile since they work well in Europe. When you get home you'll know if you wanted to keep it or not.