If you're traveling, you can download an app to call your family members back home for free, buy local data at a lower cost, and evade international roaming charges.

With the return of international travel, close attention to potential delays and changing health requirements has become a new reality for those deciding to travel abroad, which requires constant communication throughout the journey.

In a report published by the Wall Street Journal, author Nicole Nguyen provided the most important tips that can be followed for using your phone while traveling abroad.

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It is common for carriers to charge fees for international travel, and carriers have different rules about usage rules to activate the service, so before you take off we advise you to disable calling data in the settings on your device if you don't want to incur additional fees for your unintended use of cellular data.

And since you may still be able to receive text messages and phone calls, which some carriers charge for, it's safer to turn on airplane mode and stick to Wi-Fi.

Some telecommunications companies offer the passport service for international calling with certain amounts, and start deducting the fees if you make or receive a call, send a text message or use any data.

There are international companies operating in more than one country, allowing their customers in the countries where they are located to use the international roaming service without paying additional fees.

Solutions to avoid expensive calls

There are steps you can take to avoid making expensive phone calls, and free calling apps like WhatsApp and Facetime are good for keeping in touch with family and friends abroad.

In order to connect to landlines via data or Wi-Fi, you will need to use an Internet-based phone service, and you can use these applications to make or receive calls and text messages.

It should be noted that Internet phone service cannot usually be used to make emergency calls, and some banks do not support these applications.

After downloading the app, to avoid using the cellular network for calls, open the app and tap the menu icon, go to settings, then choose “Make and receive calls” and then “Prefer Wi-Fi & Mobile Data.”

(Make sure to turn off data roaming on your phone to avoid charges).

Microsoft's Skype app can be used, where you can get 10 local Skype numbers in 25 countries for $6.50 per month or $52 per year, which is usually less expensive than getting a local SIM card.

Prepaid local SIM

In many countries, you can go into any carrier store and buy a cheap SIM card that gives you a local number and data for a certain number of days, and airports often have cellular kiosks, allowing you to enjoy the service right after you cross customs.

First, you need to make sure that your phone is unlocked, as some telecom companies lock their phones and limit them to its SIM, which means that the phone only works on that company's communication network.

So insert a SIM card from another carrier, and if your device shows you 'Card not supported' then it's locked, in which case you need to ask your carrier to unlock the device or sign up for an international plan with your service provider.

If you are a frequent traveler and want to use your local number, you can choose a travel-friendly carrier (Getty Images)

For frequent and long-term travelers

If you are a frequent traveler or plan to stay abroad for an extended period and would like to use your local number, you can choose a travel-friendly plan or carrier.

Google Fi is a company that offers international coverage in over 200 countries on both pay-as-you-go plans ($20 per month plus $10 per gigabyte) and unlimited data plans ($65 per month). Like most carriers, the cost is lower. The more lines you add.

It is usually easier and better to enjoy calling services on Android phones, as iPhones cannot make Wi-Fi calls through the Google V application.