The expert gave advice on how to prepare your smartphone for travel

A modern smartphone is not just a means of communication, but a full—fledged travel assistant. It helps you navigate the area, find important information, translate texts, and sometimes becomes a means of payment. However, in order for the smartphone not to fail at a crucial moment, it must be properly configured, especially before a long trip. Anna Kashnitskaya, the founder of the Unisimka project, told Izvestia on March 22 how to do this and what to pay attention to.

"Before traveling, it is important to make sure that you have stable Internet access and the ability to make calls. The choice of the optimal communication method depends on the duration of the trip," she stressed.

According to her, if you plan to spend a month or more abroad, you should consider the tariffs of local operators. It may also be more profitable to rent or buy a mobile router with unlimited Internet during a long trip. For a short trip, you can make do with free Wi-Fi, which is available in most hotels and restaurants, and in some cities just on the streets. "For short-term trips, for example for two weeks, a tourist SIM card, usually in eSIM format, will be a convenient option. This allows you to save the Russian "SIM card" in the device. An additional eSIM can often be issued without visiting the office. If the smartphone does not support this technology, a special module for eSIM will solve the problem, which will allow you to store several Sim cards in one place and easily switch between operators," Kashnitskaya said.

In addition, the expert advised updating the operating systems and applications. If you plan to use chargeable Internet traffic, such as roaming, you should make sure that the update setting is set to "Wi-Fi only" before leaving. To prevent the loss of photos, contacts, and documents, it is recommended to create a backup copy of the device on your computer. Also, by setting up gallery synchronization with the cloud service, you can enable automatic deletion of already saved photos and videos from your phone's memory.

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In addition, the expert recommended installing all the necessary programs on your phone before traveling. It is better to choose a navigator that has the function of accessing the map without the Internet. In addition, you will need a translator, travel guides, currency converter, taxi booking applications and special airline programs for electronic boarding passes.

Kashnitskaya also advised to think about the security of the smartphone.

"Turn on the screen lock (PIN, fingerprint or Face ID) and be sure to install the PIN on the SIM card to protect against fraud: in the smartphone settings, this option is called "SIM Card Lock" or Lock SIM on Android and SIM PIN on iOS. Set up the "Find Device" feature on iOS or Android in advance. Make sure that your smartphone is securely protected from moisture and mechanical damage," she said.

In order not to be left without communication when traveling, you may need a portable battery (10,000-20,000 mAh), an AC adapter with connectors for several devices, an international adapter for sockets, as well as car charging if you plan long car trips.

"The phone number of the Unified Rescue Service in any country is 112. You can quickly contact emergency services from your smartphone or smartwatch. Read the device settings in advance to know how to call for help in an emergency. There are also special applications for emergency communication: 112, Red Cross First Aid. It's good to have health insurance information at hand: take a picture of the policy and save a copy both on your device and in the cloud," the specialist noted.

Additionally, she recommended recording the contacts of the embassy and the emergency services of the host country, as well as saving scans of the passport, visa and other important documents on the smartphone in case of theft or loss.

On March 2, Elena Kosheleva, Director of Sberbank Insurance projects, told Izvestia about how to pack properly before a trip. According to her, we need to start with the documents. Passport, tickets, hotel vouchers and insurance are the main papers without which the trip may not take place. At the same time, it is important not to forget travel insurance: it can cover not only emergency medical expenses, but also cases of baggage loss or flight delays, she noted.