Why You Need a VPN as an International Traveler

For international travelers, many things need to be put on the checklist before each trip. However, have you considered putting a VPN on your checklist? Do you know that VPN is something will help you with your international traveling? 

What Is VPN?

Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a private network connection between your computer and any application or website. Setting up a VPN allows you to encrypt your data, change your IP location, and gives you access to apps and websites that are otherwise not available for you.

VPN is a service that you can buy from its provider at set prices for a specified time in terms of months or years. It will: 

• Provide you with safe, private, and secure access to the internet
• Allow you to access the internet as if you're in your own country
• Encrypt all your data so that no hacker can grab your communications on the airwaves to steal your usernames, passwords, and other identifying information such as credit card numbers.

There are many reasons to use a VPN both at home and when you're traveling. It adds an extra security layer to your computer. It secures your data from potential threats such as hackers. Here are five reasons why you should use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when you're traveling:

Better Online Safety

With the current advancement in technology, vacation no longer means shutting down communication and logging off at work when you take some days off. The Internet is now so easy to access while you are traveling, making it possible for you to remain in constant communication.

While traveling, the most important thing is to be aware of your online safety. When you are traveling, you are likely to connect to public and semi-public WiFi in train stations, airports, hotels, and cafes. A public WiFi that does not require a name and a password to use it is not secure. When you are using such a network, your usernames, passwords, credit card details, bank information, and emails sent have the rick of being stolen by hackers.

Using a VPN encrypts all your online data making it impossible for hackers to steal your data. 

Find Better Prices for Hotels and Airlines

Do you know you can get better flight and accommodation deals when you are booking from another country? To determine the flight prices, the algorithms of your booking site take your location into account. It is worth checking the price in a few different locations to see whether you can get a better deal. 

How to change your virtual location while surfing the Internet? The answer is to use a VPN. With a VPN, you only need to switch your IP address. Many VPN services offer different IP addresses for you to choose from. By switching to an IP address that belongs to a different country, you will appear as a visitor from that country to travel sites and you might be able to get a better deal.

Access Blocked Websites

Due to government censoring, some countries block websites such as YouTube, Facebook, Google, Gmail, and online news outlet. This practice is particularly common in countries such as China. 

While traveling in those countries, to access blocked websites, you can use a VPN to bypass the censorship. With a VPN, you are hiding your online activities from the local government. Without knowing which website you are visiting, they can’t block you.

However, you need to choose a good VPN service for this purpose. For example, China is known for blocking VPN connections and only a few VPNs work well in China. 

Watch TV Abroad

Services such as Hulu, Starzplay, and BBC News are only available to particular countries. If you are watching a series on Hulu and you're planning to travel to a country where Hulu isn't available, VPN will make it possible to access it as if you're in your home country. Using a VPN with an IP address that belongs to your home country, you will appear as a normal domestic viewer even if you are in another country.

Also, services such as Netflix show different content for viewers in different countries. When you are traveling to another country, you might find that your favorite shows are not available in that country. How to solve this problem? Again, using a VPN!

Prevent Frozen Bank Accounts

One of the worst nightmares, when you're traveling overseas, is having your bank account frozen. If you're doing online banking on your laptop or smartphone, you should use a VPN, especially when you are in a remote location. 

If your bank notices that you are logging into your account from a foreign country, they may freeze or flag your account. If this happens to you, you have to call the bank to rectify the situation.

You can also avoid such nightmares by informing your bank before traveling. The bank will need to know the location and the specifics dates you expect to be there.

Conclusion:

We have shown some good reasons for you to bring a VPN to your next international trip. With a reliable VPN service, not only you can enjoy better online safety, but it can also make your trip more enjoyable!