4 Ways to Stay in Touch While You’re on Vacation

By Alison Stanton –

Going away on vacation is an exciting time, but chances are you’ll miss your family and friends while you’re gone. From sharing photos of the amazing sites and scenes you are experiencing to checking in with loved ones at home, it’s important to find ways to keep in touch. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to do just that. Here are a few ideas.

Harness the Power of Social Media

One way to stay in touch with friends and family is through social media. If you’re a Facebook user, use the app to send instant messages to your fellow Facebook friends. And if you feel comfortable doing so, share photos of your travel adventures by uploading them to a photo album. If you are not sure about letting the whole world know that you are away on vacation, reserve these posts until after you return.

If you are traveling to a relatively remote location, you might need help finding Wi-Fi to access the Internet. To make this easier, download a Wi-Fi finder app on your smartphone. Most apps use your phone’s GPS to point you to the nearest Wi-FI location — some can even find hotspots while you’re offline.

Utilize Your Smartphone

If using social media to communicate isn’t for you, download a messaging app on your smartphone. For example, WhatsApp is a free mobile messaging app that lets users message each other without paying for SMS. As long as you have a data plan for email and browsing the Internet on your phone, you can use WhatsApp while you’re away.

The app also lets you share photos and videos with other users for free. While travelers from yesteryear had to carry a clunky camera that screamed “tourist!” on their vacations, many smartphones are capable of taking photo gallery-worthy pics. For instance, the LG G4 from T-Mobile features a state-of-the-art camera that captures images even in low light.

When it comes to staying in touch, it’s hard to beat Skype. The communication app is free and reliable, and you can use it to send instant messages along with voice or video calls.

Go Old School

If you’re only interested in letting your family and friends know you’re safe and having fun, consider going the old-school route by sending out postcards along the way. Unless you are in a remote location, you shouldn’t have trouble finding access to a post office of some kind — many hotel lobbies provide a postal box to drop mail in, or you can leave your postcards with the front desk staff. Purchase some fun postcards at the local gift shop and jot down some quick “wish you were here” messages. Not only is this a great option if you are not in the mood for long phone or email conversations, but it gives your recipients a fun surprise in the mail.

Alison Stanton has been a freelance writer for the past 15 years. She enjoys writing about a wide variety of topics, and always looks for opportunities to learn about new subjects.