Not long ago, keeping in touch while traveling abroad seemed like a Herculean affair. Wi-Fi was often difficult to find, different phones had different standards, and high roaming fees ensured that photo upload to Facebook would cost you dearly. Unless you really needed it, it seemed best to turn the phone off completely.

Simple ways to avoid roaming fees while abroad:

But staying connected is big business: According to a February 2015 report by Amba Hotels, travelers racked up more than $7 billion in fees when overseas, and that’s just looking at business travel. And with smartphones being incredibly handy for travel, whether it’s looking for directions or finding places to eat, it’s silly not to utilize your phone. The European Commission plans to abolish roaming charges on travelers to E.U. nations, by 2017, and while this is progress, there will still be some fees levied.

Hurdles still exist, but keeping in touch with loved ones back home or colleagues at the office is now far easier. New products and services have made it cheaper or practically free. If you travel abroad infrequently, you could rent a phone when you land at a destination, or purchase an international plan package from your existing carrier. For frequent travelers, there are plenty options at your disposal – you just need to know how. Here are a few of our favorite options that not only could help you keep costs down, but you may already have some installed on your phone.

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