Traveling internationally usually means connecting to the internet in places you wouldn’t normally use at home. Airport lounges, hotels, cafés, coworking spaces, restaurants, and even public transport often provide free Wi-Fi, which can be incredibly useful when you’re trying to avoid roaming charges or simply don’t have a strong mobile connection.
However, constantly switching between unfamiliar networks also makes digital security worth considering while you travel. One simple tool many travelers use is a virtual private network (VPN).
A VPN creates an encrypted connection between your device and a VPN server, providing an additional layer of privacy when you’re online. Beyond security, VPNs can also be useful for accessing familiar online services while you’re overseas.
Here are seven reasons you might consider using a VPN on your next international trip.
Public Wi-Fi is one of the biggest conveniences of modern travel. I’ve connected to countless hotel, airport, café, and restaurant networks around the world.
The downside is that you don’t necessarily know who operates every network or how securely it has been configured.
Using a VPN encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN server. It’s an easy additional precaution when you’re regularly relying on networks you don’t control.
If you work while traveling, internet access becomes much more important than simply checking Instagram or looking up directions.
You might be accessing your website, cloud storage, emails, payment platforms, or other important business accounts from a different network every few days.
For digital nomads and remote workers, having a VPN installed before departure means it’s ready whenever you need to connect from a hotel, coworking space, or café.
One frustration of international travel is discovering that websites and online services can behave differently depending on your location.
You may encounter different versions of websites, regional restrictions, or services that aren’t available in the country you’re visiting.
Many VPN providers allow you to choose a server in a particular country. This can be helpful when you need to access services from home while you’re overseas, although individual websites and streaming platforms may have their own rules regarding VPN usage.
A VPN doesn’t require much preparation, but it’s worth installing one before leaving home.
Private Internet Access (PIA), for example, offers applications across several popular devices and operating systems. Mac users can install PIA on your Mac in a few minutes and have everything configured before departure.
Even if you’re primarily using a phone while traveling, setting up the devices you’re taking with you beforehand means you aren’t trying to download software using unreliable hotel Wi-Fi after arriving.
Travel planning doesn’t stop once the trip begins.
I’m constantly checking accommodation, flights, transport options, weather forecasts, maps, and activities while traveling. Sometimes you’re researching the next destination from your hotel room; other times you’re trying to organize something quickly from an airport.
A VPN provides another layer of privacy while doing that research, particularly when you’re connected to shared or public networks.
It’s still important to follow normal online security practices. A VPN shouldn’t replace strong passwords, two-factor authentication, or checking that you’re using legitimate websites.
For frequent travelers, one of the advantages of a VPN is that it isn’t specific to a particular destination.
The same setup can be useful whether you’re spending a month traveling around Southeast Asia, taking a road trip through Europe, or working remotely from an island.
Rather than figuring out your internet security setup every time you enter a new country, you can have your VPN ready before the trip begins and use it whenever necessary.
That’s particularly convenient on longer journeys where you might connect to dozens of different networks.
There are already plenty of things to organize before an international trip: passports, insurance, accommodation, flights, SIM cards, banking, and packing.
Digital security probably isn’t the most exciting item on that list, but it doesn’t require much effort either.
Before leaving, update your devices, enable two-factor authentication on important accounts, back up important files, and make sure you have secure access to anything you’ll need overseas.
Adding a reputable VPN to that checklist can provide an additional layer of privacy when you’re using unfamiliar networks throughout your trip.
For occasional holidaymakers, it might simply be something you switch on when using airport or hotel Wi-Fi. For digital nomads and frequent travelers, it can become a regular part of staying connected while moving between destinations.
Either way, getting everything set up before departure means you can spend less time worrying about your connection and more time enjoying the trip.
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