m1 travel overseas

roaming rates

Keep in touch with your family and friends no matter where you are with our flexible data services and rates.

Take us along your next trip!

From the moment you touch down, the M Card makes sure you’re connected wherever you are.

• Postpaid Roaming
• Prepaid Roaming

For Data Roaming  

Roaming Packs

2GB Data + 10 mins Calls 10 days validity

$15 for use in 12 countries $28 for use in 17 countries

Pay per Use

Spend less on your calls and texts overseas

Each SMS sent is chargeable at $1.50. All SMS received are non-chargeable.

Available networks on your fingertips

Let’s get started.

Step 1: Insert SIM. Download M1 Prepaid App or login to   M1 Prepaid Portal.

Step 2: Activate your preferred Data Pack or Roaming Pack (only for selected countries)

Step 3: Activate Data Roaming

• Go to M1 Prepaid App or M1 Prepaid Portal Settings. Turn “ON” Local Data, Data Roaming and Network Lock OR Dial #100*8*1# on your phone and select "Enable data roaming" • Turn “ON” Mobile Data and Data Roaming in phone settings. Tip: The Network Lock feature will connect you automatically to our preferred roaming partners’ network upon arrival.

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TERMS & CONDITIONS

• Fri. Apr 26th, 2024

M1 SIM-Only and Roaming Plans for your holiday travels

By Mary Alavanza

SINGAPORE: As the travel season approaches, M1, a telecommunications provider, is gearing up to ensure its customers stay connected effortlessly during their holidays. Offering a range of user-friendly roaming plans,

M1 aims to cater to diverse travel needs while introducing enticing deals on their True 5G SIM-Only plans. Check out these M1 SIM-Only and Roaming Plans for your holiday travels:

Roaming Plans

M1 presents a trio of roaming plans designed to provide flexibility and affordability for travellers.

M1 Daily Passport

The M1 Daily Passport stands out with its pocket-friendly rates, offering 3GB of overseas mobile data for as low as S$2.95. Covering 74 destinations, including popular countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, this plan ensures travellers can stay connected without breaking the bank.

• Bespoke Flexi, Bespoke Contract, Bespoke SIM-only, Bespoke Family
• 74 destinations, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, South Korea, UK, and more
• S$2.95 – S$7.95 per day
• Tap on, tap off activation
• Massive 3GB data for 24 hours
• Affordable rates starting from S$2.95

M1 Data Passport

For those seeking flexibility, the M1 Data Passport allows users to utilise their local data overseas. With plans starting from S$15 per destination and available in over 70 locations worldwide, this option caters to diverse travel preferences. The plan comes with easy activation, network lock protection to prevent bill shocks, and the ability to track usage via the My M1+ App.

• Available in over 70 destinations
• Monthly, starting from S$15 per destination
• Easy activation before or during the trip
• Network Lock to prevent bill shocks
• Usage tracking via My M1+ App
• S$15, S$35 (including USA, excluding Alaska and Guam)
• S$35 ASEAN, $65 ASIA, $65 Europe Data Passport

M1 Unlimited Data Roaming

If looking for unlimited data, M1’s Unlimited Data Roaming plan offers users the freedom to roam without fretting over data limits. Priced at $15 per day, travellers can enjoy unlimited data in selected destinations, providing convenience, peace of mind, and protection from bill shocks.

• As low as S$15 per day
• Convenient activation
• No bill shock, unlimited data roaming
• Protected by Network Lock
• S$15 – Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, USA, and more
• S$25 – Philippines, Japan, South Korea, UAE, Aircraft Satellite

SIM-Only Plans

M1 sim-only plans.

In anticipation of the upcoming year, M1 has revealed mega deals on its True 5G SIM-Only plans, empowering users to do more while paying less. New sign-ups can now enjoy an additional 50GB of data, enhancing their connectivity at competitive rates:

• True 5G connectivity, affordable
• 150GB for S$15.95/mth, 200GB for S$18.95/mth (limited time offer)
• Unlimited Weekend Data, 1,100 mins talk time, 1,100 SMS
• Exclusive Promotion: Free 12 months of FoneCare+ Lite with 200GB plan

Maxx SIM-Only Plans

M1 also introduces the Maxx SIM-Only Plan, offering up to 200GB of local data, 2GB of roaming data to select countries and a complimentary 60-day Viu Premium subscription for as low as S$14 a month. This plan ensures users have abundant data for their local and international needs, coupled with entertainment perks for an enhanced user experience.

• Plans: No contracts, abundant data and minutes
• S$14 – 200GB Local & 2GB Roaming (limited time offer)
• S$18 – 200GB Local & 4GB Roaming (limited time offer)
• S$10 – 20GB Local Data
• Free Caller Number Display, Auto-renews every 30 days
• Complimentary Viu Premium and Eazie TV
• IDD and Roaming add-ons are available

Explore M1’s SIM-Only and roaming plans to find the deal that suits you best. / TISG

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Mobile Data without borders? A Review of M1 Data Passport

Singaporean travelers using M1 mobile services: did you know you can enjoy overseas data roaming from just S$12/month? Here’s how M1 Data Passport works and how it compares to portable Wifi routers or prepaid data SIM cards.

What is M1 Data Passport?

I’ve been a loyal M1 customer for close to 20 years, so when M1 launched Data Passport in 2015, I immediately tried it out on my next trip overseas.  M1 Data Passport lets you use your mobile plan’s local data bundle for surfing overseas, starting from $10 per month (+$2 per activation). For a typical holiday, that’s $12 , which easily beats most local data SIM cards (~$15/day) or portable WiFi router rentals (~$8-$25/day)!

For a few more expensive countries or multiple-country usage (e.g. across Asia, Europe) prices range from SGD 25-50 a month.  Updated October 2018:  M1 has increased the prices of Data Passport for several popular countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. As such, I tried StarHub’s Happy Roam prepaid data roaming SIM and now recommend it over Data Passport.

M1 Data Passport promises the highest speeds available on its overseas partner networks. But of course, I had to test M1’s claims in the perfect scenario: 3 weeks in Bali.

Ease of use: activating data roaming powers

(If you’re already overseas, you can dial 123# to activate via USSD code – it’s free.)

Connectivity: YMMV

The moment I touched down at Ngurah Rai International Airport, I excitedly switched on my phone and connected to the XL Axiata partner network. I enabled data roaming and waited for the connection.

I waited…and waited. Two hours later, checked in to my homestay in Canggu, I was still waiting. Eventually I had to call M1’s customer service line to report the problem and 10 minutes later, it was fixed…or so I thought.

Frustratingly, my problems with data connectivity didn’t end there. I’m not sure if it was XL’s fault or M1’s – my phone would show a 3.5G (HSDPA) connection in populated areas like Seminyak and Ubud and yet fail to load Facebook, Instagram, Maps, or Uber. The data roaming only worked when I was in Denpasar or Canggu. I ended up relying mostly on the WiFi in cafes and convenience stores.

That said, I’ve had no issues with connectivity when using M1 Data Passport in Hong Kong, Indonesia (Bali), South Korea , and Taiwan. If they could add more countries like Canada and Mongolia , it’d be a dream come true!

Bill shock: any hidden charges?

Service validity:  When I received my bill, I found I’d been charged $2+$20 instead of $10! Turns out the service was charged per billing cycle (or calendar month) rather than every 30 days from activation. Since I was in Bali from November through December, I got billed for both months.

However ,  M1 has since changed the service billing policy. Now, Data Passport only charges you $10 for every 30 days from the date of activation.

Network Lock: This service is really handy, as it only lets your phone connect to M1’s data roaming partner networks. This way, you won’t end up on a different network with hefty data roaming rates.

Data limit:  Do note that your data usage for M1 Data Passport is deducted from your usual postpaid plan’s limit. There’s no additional data given, but if you run out, you’ll be charged just $10.70/GB of data, with a monthly data bill cap of $188.32.

Reminder:  Don’t forget to deactivate the service after you return from your trip!

A Quiet Guide to Solo Travel for Introverts

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Customer service makes all the difference

I know people love to hate on telcos for poor customer service, but I’ve only had pleasant experiences with M1 in all my years as a subscriber. Really!

The first time I used Data Passport and got charged twice because of the billing cycle confusion, I called M1 to give my feedback and request for the unexpected charges to be waived. Guess what?

M1’s customer service rep readily agreed to refund the extra $10, as well as the charge for the overseas call to M1. What’s more, he reminded that my M1 Home Fibre Broadband plan was expiring and that I should renew it before I was charged a non-contract rate!

The second time I had to call and ask for charges to be waived was when I used the USSD code to activate Data Passport, and accidentally chose the Asia Data Passport when I only wanted coverage in Taiwan.  I discovered my mistake immediately and deactivated it within 10 minutes,  but I’m glad M1’s customer service rep was accommodating enough to waive the charges without hassle.

So, is M1 Data Passport the best bargain for data roaming?

Maybe.  For shorter trips within a calendar month, M1 Data Passport is clearly the most affordable option. With this, daily data roaming rates should become a thing of the past! However, if you’re travelling with a close group of friends, a portable WiFi router might still work out to be cheaper per person since multiple devices can connect to the same router.

If you’re traveling over a longer period of time, like my 3 weeks in Bali, then choosing Data Passport would depend on the availability of local SIM cards. While a prepaid SIM can be cheaper and more reliable, registering to use one can be quite troublesome in some countries.

Have any questions or comments on M1 Data Passport? Leave a comment to let me know.

Hi! Any luck with accessing the usual Gmail and Whatsapp when one visits China with m1 data passport?

Great question! Yes, I was able to access those services while in China last year so it should work for you too (M1 uses China Mobile/China Unicom). Usually, any overseas SIM cards on roaming will not be restricted.

Hi, if we activate data passort and use it overseas e.g korea, will i still be able to receive sms from like banks? And will i be charged if someone sends me sms?

Thank you!!

Hi Shane, I believe you’ll need to have phone roaming for that but for M1, receiving SMS is free whether you use a roaming subscription or pay-per-use roaming.

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M1 rolls out new travel data plan

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SINGAPORE — M1 has introduced two new travel data plans that offers users who will be travelling abroad the option to use their local data bundle overseas for a flat fee.

An M1 store in Paragon, Singapore. TODAY file photo

These plans can be used in 22 selected countries in the Asia-Pacific.

The M1 Asean Data Passport, which will cost S$25 per month, will enable customers to use their local data bundle in nine Asean destinations including Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The Asia Data Passport, at S$50 per month, will cover customers’ data roaming needs across 22 Asian tourist and business destinations, including China, Hong Kong, Japan and India.

Customers who need larger data bundles during their travels will be able to boost their data bundles with the Upsized Data programme, with bundles available from S$5.90 (up to 12GB more data) to S$17.70 (up to 36GB).

In addition to their travel plans, M1 also launched three new 4G mobile broadband plans for use on tablets and other devices, which range from 1GB of local data at S$10.70, to 11GB of local data for S$50.90. As with the Data Passport plans, customers can also “upsize” their 4G broadband plans.

M1 is the latest telco to offers such data plans for travellers. StarHub’s DataTravel plan, launched last December, allows travellers to use up to 3GB of data overseas.

Customers can pay S$15 (for 2GB of data) and S$20 (for 3GB) over a period of 30 days, with their phones automatically connected to the strongest available mobile network signal when overseas.

Singtel’s ReadyRoam plan charges travellers S$20 for 1GB of data for use in 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

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10 Data Roaming Plans in Singapore—Which is Most Worth It? (2024)

Going on holiday can seem like an endless hunt for free wifi. After all, how else are you going to contact your Airbnb host or check for directions on Google Maps?

Having data roaming on your phone can save you from having to sneakily stand outside Starbucks or McDonald’s to leech off their wifi.

Many phone plans nowadays give you the option of signing up for a data roaming package so you can access the internet overseas without having to change your SIM card. But how much does roaming cost? Let’s find out.

10 Data Roaming Plans in Singapore—Which is Most Worth It?

• Data roaming plans from Singapore telcos—Which is best?
• Starhub DataTravel
• Singtel ReadyRoam
• M1 Data Passport
• Starhub’s GigaRoam
• Singtel’s GOMO Roaming
• Circles Life Roam Boost
• MyRepublic Roam Like Home
• SIMBA Roaming
• Zero1 Data Roaming
• Or…you could get a prepaid SIM card

1. Data roaming plans from Singapore telcos—Which is best?

Most telcos offer 3 to 10 different permutations of data roaming plans, so it’s impossible to compare them apple-to-apple. What I’ve done instead is to look at 3 common Singaporean holidays and quote the relevant data roaming plan.

• Short getaway to  Thailand
• Week-long trip to  Japan
• Multi-country trip in  Europe

* M1 Data Passport is unique: Instead of giving you a separate overseas data quota, you just pay to use your local data bundle overseas.

The result? For a trip to Thailand , the best value plans is SIMBA offering $4 for 1GB. However, bust that 1GB by even just 10MB and you’ll be billed another $4 for a full extra gigabyte of data. After SIMBA, several plans tie for second place: Singtel ReadyRoam, GigaRoam, Zero1, and VIVIFI all offer $5 for 1GB.

For a trip to Japan, go with SIMBA Roaming, GigaRoam, or Starhub DataTravel . These will cost you $4, $5, and $6 respectively for 1GB of data. Do note that the Starhub plan is valid for only 3 days though.

Finally for a European holiday , SIMBA Roaming, Gomo Roaming and GigaRoam are the cheapest options. These give you 1GB of data for $4, $12, and $15 respectively.

However, if you are a data guzzler even when on holiday,  M1 Data Passport  is a better choice as it simply lets you use your local data quota overseas with a one-time payment. Assuming you have one of their SIM-only plans, that’s enough data for you to stream Netflix on the Tokyo Metro.

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2. Starhub DataTravel

Of the big 3 telcos’ data roaming plans,  Starhub DataTravel  data roaming options are among the simplest because there are only 2 main destination tiers—either Asia Pacific and Global. There is a third tier for everywhere else not included in these 2 tiers, but the vast majority of tourists will not need it as these are mainly more exotic destinations and regions.

Asia Pacific:  Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar (currently unavailable), New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Global:  Asia Pacific + Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jersey, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA

Everywhere : Asia Pacific + Global + Anguilla (Caribbean), Antigua and Barbuda (Caribbean), Aruba (Caribbean), Azerbaijan, Barbados (Caribbean), Bermuda (Caribbean), Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands (Caribbean), Colombia, Congo (Democratic Republic), Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominica (Caribbean), Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Greenland, Grenada (Caribbean), Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti (Caribbean), Honduras, Jamaica (Caribbean), Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mongolia, Montserrat (Caribbean), Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, South Africa, St Kitts and Nevis (Caribbean), St Lucia (Caribbean), St Vincent (Caribbean), Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Tonga, Turks and Caicos (Caribbean), Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bahamas, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands (Caribbean), Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Cyprus, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gambia, Georgia, Guadeloupe, Guinea, Iraq, Isle of Man, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Maldives, Mali, Martinique, Mauritius, Republic of Moldova, Morocco, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Island, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Swaziland, Tunisia, Zimbabw​e

Starhub Data Travel’s $6 for 1GB option is competitive if you’re just going to Bali for the weekend or JB for the day. Assuming 1GB is sufficient for your usage, this might actually be cheaper than buying a local SIM card when you land.

My main gripe is that the Global and Everywhere roaming plans are very expensive, so if you’re travelling outside the APAC countries you might want to look for alternatives.

3. Singtel ReadyRoam

Singtel customers should be pretty familiar with  Singtel ReadyRoam , which, like Starhub DataTravel, is a selection of add-ons to your existing plan.

They have a $5 for 1GB option, but it’s only for Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand. If you’re going to any other nearby destination for the weekend, it’ll set you back at least $18. Take careful note of the countries included in the 18 Asia Pacific destinations: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar (currently unavailable), New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

81 destinations: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar (currently unavailable), Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic (Slovakia), South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan and Vietnam

Starhub used to be cheaper than Singtel, but the latter have since made their offerings more attractive. For example, if you’re going to Japan, you’ll pay $18 for 4GB with Singtel, whereas Starhub costs $20 for only 3GB.

If you’re travelling to far-flung places and need more than 1 or 2GB of data, Singtel has probably the best global roaming bundle. This used to cost $35 for 3GB, but it’s now revised to a very worthwhile $40 for 6GB.

What’s more it covers practically every country in the world: There are a whopping 81 destinations! If you’re globe-trotting to faraway destinations like Argentina and Iceland, Singtel’s data roaming offers the most value.

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4. M1 Data Passport

If you use a lot of data even while on holiday,  M1 Data Passport  is probably the best value of the 3 big telcos since it allows you to use your existing data bundle overseas—so you don’t get restricted by the measly 1GB or 2GB with the other plans. Note that for SIM-only plans, usage is capped at 10GB, which is still very generous. When you do exceed this 10GB, you will be subsequently charged $11.99/GB on top of your data passport plan charges. 

$15 Data Passport countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Isle of Man, Laos, Macau, Malaysia (5G), Saudi Arabia (5G), Sri Lanka, Taiwan (5G), Thailand (5G)

$35 Data Passport countries:   Australia (5G), Bahrain, Brazil, Canada (5G), China (5G), Germany (5G), India, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mauritius (5G), Mongolia, Netherlands (5G), New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, South Korea (5G), Spain, United Arab Emirates (5G), United Kingdom, USA (5G)—includes Hawaii, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands but excludes Alaska and Guam.

For multiple destinations, M1 also has a $35 ASEAN Data Passport , $65 Asia Data Passport , and  $65 Europe Data Passport .

A $5 one-time activation fee applies for every Data Passport, and it’s valid for a month. Note that they are for single country use only; if you are going to multiple destinations, you have to opt for one of the expensive ASEAN / Asia / Europe Data Passports.

M1 also has this thing called  Unlimited Data Roaming  where you pay $15 to $25 per day for unlimited data overseas, but I’m not going to talk about that because it’s too crazy and unlikely to be worth your money unless you guzzle data like nobody’s business.

5. Starhub’s GigaRoam

Starhub’s GigaRoam  clearly has one of the best data roaming plans for all kinds of travel. There are 2 types of plans to choose from: gigaRoam APAC (Asia Pacific), which supports 14 destinations, and gigaRoam ROTW (Rest of the World), which supports 34 destinations.

They cost $5 and $15 respectively for 1GB of data. It’s not a lot, but if you just need a teensy bit of data in case of emergencies, these prices are unbeatable. You can add on more if you run out.

gigaRoam APAC:  Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

gigaRoam ROTW:  Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and United States of America

6. Singtel’s GOMO Roaming Data Pump

Compared to Starhub’s gigaRoam, Singtel’s rival GOMO Roaming is actually quite competitive.

GOMO’s data-only roaming plans cover up to 50 destinations including Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan and South Korea.

The price you pay depends on whether your destination qualifies for their cheaper Asia Pack (15 countries), or requires you to purchase the Worldwide Pack (50 countries). For example,  $6 gets you 1GB for 5 days in Indonesia and the Philippines, but if you go to Japan or France you’ll need to pay  $12 for 1GB for 7 days .

Comparing GOMO and Giga, GOMO’s roaming pass has the advantage of letting you upsize your package on longer trips.

7. Circles Life Roam Boost

For Circles Life base plan subscribers, activating data roaming overseas is a simple matter of choosing a “ Roam Boost ” in your usual app.

Each boost is 1GB and is valid for 7 days. You can add boosts if you run out of data. The price of each boost is either $8, $16 or $40, depending on which set of countries your destination falls under.

The list of  countries covered is less extensive  compared to what’s offered by other telcos, with no coverage available for common destinations like the US and UK. So in this sense, Circles Life may fall short.

You can also opt for recurring add-ons (called SuperRoam ) that cost $12 to $35 extra per month, but the cost isn’t exactly justified unless you literally travel every single month.

8. MyRepublic Roam Like Home

MyRepublic  has a whopping 7 tiers, so the cost of roaming can vary drastically depending on which country you’re going to. Here they are, listed in order of price.

Prices are not exactly competitive for some of the countries. For example, it’s probably a lot more worthwhile to buy a SIM card when you land in “Emerging Asia” than to pay $15 for a measly 500MB of data.

For places like Japan or China, $55 for 1GB is also exorbitant considering you can get several times the data for the same price on many other plans.

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9. SIMBA Roaming (formerly TPG)

SIMBA (formerly TPG) doesn’t have the brand history and reputation that other telcos have, but that’s no reason to dismiss it. SIMBA Roaming offers attractive pay-as-you-go rates, with 4 different plans on offer.

On top of that, if you’re already on SIMBA’s mobile plan, you might already get free roaming data that covers some 60 destinations.

The downside to SIMBA’s plans are the fact that they are billed per 10MB. That is to say, if you used 11MB of data on your travel, you will be billed twice as much for the additional 1MB.

10. Zero1 Data Roaming

Zero1 Data Roam  offers 2 categories of plans. Comparing prices across the board, Zero1 Data might not be the most price competitive. Its redeeming quality however is that it offers roaming in an extensive list of countries and a generous limit of up to 30 days for you to use up your data.

You can also opt for $5 plans that give you 1 GB of data to our closest neighbours—Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Perfect for weekend trips!

11. VIVIFI Go

Since we’re on the topic of smaller, lesser-known telcos, Vivifi also has a bunch of roaming plans, categorised according to destination, much like MyRepublic’s.

If you’re travelling to Malaysia, Thailand, or Indonesia on a short trip, Vivifi offers the same deal as Zero1—$5 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days.

They also have roaming plans for households with plans shared amongst multiple people.

Their prices for Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are pretty competitive, although Singtel ReadyRoam still offers better value. However, if you’re going further afield, the plans are not worth it at all—forget about using roaming if you need to go to Europe or the Americas as you’ll be slapped with an exorbitant $63 for a measly 1GB.

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12. Or… you could get a prepaid SIM card

If it’s not economical for you to add a data roaming plan to your current plan, you may want to consider getting a prepaid travel SIM card instead. 

Destination-specific ones are widely available on sites like  Klook ,  Changi Recommends  and even  Qoo10 , and they can be REALLY, REALLY cheap, depending on which country you’re going to.

For example, an 8-day unlimited data SIM card for Thailand costs under $10, where one for Japan costs about $10 to $15, also for unlimited data. (This is a good way to check if your data roaming plan is worth paying for.)

For multi-destination trips, there are also prepaid travel SIM cards which can save you the hassle and cost of getting a separate SIM for each leg. For example, M1 offers data roaming packs to 12 to 17 countries with their M card:

If you really want to break things down, getting a data roaming add-on for your regular postpaid data plan may not really be that worth it. 

For example, you might have to pay $15 for 1GB of roaming data with your telco—whereas you can get 2GB for the same price with a prepaid SIM. But I think most Singaporeans don’t mind paying a premium for the convenience of not having to pick up and change SIM cards.

Do you know someone who’s travelling soon? Share this article with them. 

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• Product Guide

M1's new pre-paid roaming plans makes it easy to stay connected overseas

• Page 1 of 1 - M1's new pre-paid roaming plans makes it easy to stay connected overseas Page 1 of 1 - M1's new pre-paid roaming plans makes it easy to stay connected overseas Page 1 of 1 Page 1 of 1 - M1's new pre-paid roaming plans makes it easy to stay connected overseas

Note: This article was first published on 13th June 2017.

M1 has announced two new prepaid roaming plans today, which will help travelers stay connected without the hassle of buying a local prepaid card upon arrival. 

The new prepaid roaming plans offer 2GB of data and 10 voice minutes, with the S$15 plan usable across 12 destinations, and the S$28 option usable in 17 destinations, including Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and the United States – the widest selection of destinations of any prepaid roaming plan. Travelers will first have to purchase an M Card locally, and then activate prepaid roaming through M1's Prepaid Account page . The 2GB data and 10 voice minutes are valid for 10 days from the activation date.

“Every holiday should be fun and worry free – and that’s what we aim to do with our new prepaid roaming plans. With M1’s new travel buddy, travelers can enjoy data roaming, alongside the flexibility and convenience of making voice calls, during their travels abroad,” said Mr P. Subramaniam, Chief Marketing Officer, M1.

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Travel hack: Should I buy a SIM card overseas or pay for data roaming?

Staying connected through internet connection becomes as important as the food we eat and the air we breathe. This is especially so when travelling, with the need to update our social media feeds or to do a quick Google search on the most recommended place to dine or places to visit.

Stories of travellers being slapped with huge phone bills after forgetting to turn off their data roaming are no strangers to Singaporeans. Spending a huge chunk of your fortune just for data access is definitely not a smart way to end a getaway. There are definitely ways to get cheaper data when travelling, depending on your personal preference and convenience.

WHAT ARE YOUR BEST OPTIONS FOR DATA ROAMING FROM SINGAPORE?

Wi-fi Router - S$5-S$12 Daily

If you do not find carrying an external device for data access a hassle, renting a Wi-fi Router from Changi Airport can be a solution. You will get unlimited data at a fixed price every day, depending on your destination. Price ranges from S$5 daily for countries like Thailand and Taiwan, to S$12 per day for destinations such as Europe and US.

The additional benefit of renting a Wi-fi router is that if you are travelling in a group, everyone can come together to split the bills for the rental.

Tip: Make sure you check online for promo codes before making your booking. Changi Recommends has partnerships and promo codes with numerous banks and merchants, plus they offer their own promo codes too.

Overseas Prepaid SIM Card

Purchasing a SIM card from the country you are travelling to is an easy option for many of us. Prepaid SIM cards packages are usually limited by either number of days or data usage.

Once you land at your destination's airport, you'll see many shops selling tourist SIM cards. Do your research online prior to arriving to know which telcos are good. Based on experience, when travelling places like Bangkok, Malaysia, or Cambodia, these SIM cards are really affordable and come with really attractive bundle plans.

There are a few things you need to take note of when purchasing SIM card overseas:

• Get the SIM card that fits your phone-be it the nano or micro SIM card.
• Keep your local SIM card in a safe and secure place and remember where you put it. If you misplace the original SIM card, you can't transfer it back when you return!
• If you are an iPhone user, remember to bring your SIM card tray removal pin. I always attach it to my keychain and keys, so that I constantly have it with me. That said, with iPhones being so common, the shop that sells you the SIM card will usually have their own pin.
• Lastly, be prepared to queue when purchasing SIM card at the airport since most of the tourists will be crowding around the SIM card vendor to get themselves a SIM card too.

If you are travelling to a single country, this option is often the cheapest.

Data Roaming Plans from local telcos

M1: Data Passport

M1 allows their user to deduct from their local data from their mobile plan when travelling. With Data Passport, M1 users can pay a single fee for your Data Passport and use mobile data overseas like he would, locally.

The monthly fee for Data Passport ranges from S$10 for countries such as Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, to S$25 for places such as China or Japan.

If you travelling in Europe, you can purchase the $50 Europe Data passport, which let you roam in 29 countries within Europe. There are also packages such as the ASEAN and Asia Data Passport according to user's needs.

There will be a $2 activation charge to connect to M1's official partners when abroad. Connecting to non-partners of M1 can result in additional charges.

StarHub Postpaid customers can use DataTravel plan, which works for destinations such as Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, China, Japan, Macau, New Zealand and Australia.

If you need more data, consider using StarHub's DataTravel Unlimited. Over 120 destinations are supported, you can save yourself the hassle of changing SIM cards or manually selecting the network. For that convenience, prices are understandably more expensive.

For non-StarHub customers, there is a prepaid option available-Happy Roam Data Plan.

To use the Happy Roam Data Plan, you need to first purchase a Happy Prepaid SIM at S$15, S$32 or S$50. This prepaid SIM card comes included with credits and local data. Next, download the Happy Prepaid App and purchase additional data plans through the app. Prices are as follows:

Travellers should check to see if the country you are travelling to is one of the Happy Roam Destinations before purchasing it.

Singtel users can look at DataRoam Unlimited Daily for unlimited data roaming each day. Charges range from $19 to $29 daily, depending on your destination.

Singtel ReadyRoam offers 1GB of data over 30 days from S$12 and can be used across multiple eligible destinations. This is useful if you're on a backpacking trip and don't foresee yourself using a lot of data, but will be travelling to multiple countries. Should you need more data, the each subsequent GB is charged at the same rate as the initial 1 GB.

Singtel also provides 100MB for $10, DataRoam 100MB Daily Plans which makes little sense for our modern day data usage.

A version of this article first appeared in blog.seedly.sg .

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Americans who have traveled internationally stand out in their views and knowledge of foreign affairs

Do people who travel think differently about the world? A new Pew Research Center survey suggests they do.

Americans who have traveled internationally are more interested in and knowledgeable about foreign affairs, feel closer to others around the world, and favor a more active foreign policy, according to the survey of 3,576 U.S. adults conducted in spring 2023. We also surveyed people in 23 other countries about their international travel habits.

This analysis examines international travel with a focus on Americans’ travel, including which Americans travel abroad and how their interest in the world and views of international affairs differ from others.

For this analysis, we surveyed 3,576 U.S. adults from March 20 to March 26, 2023; 3,581 U.S. adults from March 21 to March 27, 2022; and 10,606 U.S. adults from June 14 to June 27, 2021. Everyone who took part in these surveys is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

For non-U.S. data, this report draws on nationally representative surveys of 27,285 adults conducted from Feb. 20 to May 22, 2023. All surveys were conducted over the phone with adults in Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Surveys were conducted face-to-face in Hungary, Poland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. In Australia, we used a mixed-mode probability-based online panel.

Here are the June 2021 survey questions and responses used in this analysis. Those for the March 2022 survey may be found here , as well as those for the March 2023 survey .

How many Americans have traveled internationally?

Roughly three-quarters of Americans (76%) have visited at least one other country, including 26% who have been to five or more. About a quarter (23%) have not traveled internationally, though most in this group say they would if they had the opportunity.

Related:  How experience with international travel varies across 24 countries

To analyze how Americans’ travel experiences relate to their attitudes on other questions, we placed people into three categories:

• Globe-trotters have traveled to at least five other countries. About a quarter of the U.S. public (26%) falls into this category.
• Casual travelers have traveled to between one and four other countries. Half of Americans fall into this category.
• Nontravelers have never left the United States. This category includes 23% of Americans.

Compared with Americans, people in many European nations are more likely to have traveled to five or more other countries. For instance, 88% of Swedes have done so.

However, international travel is much less common in many middle-income nations. It is strongly correlated with a nation’s gross domestic product per capita. (For more on international travel and views about global engagement, read “Attitudes on an Interconnected World.” )

Who travels internationally?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, older people are more likely than younger people to have traveled internationally. Americans ages 65 and older are more than twice as likely as adults under 30 to fall into our globe-trotter category (37% vs. 17%).

Income is even more strongly related to travel than age. Two-thirds of upper-income Americans have traveled to at least five countries, compared with 9% of Americans with lower incomes.

Similarly, Americans with a postgraduate degree are far more likely to be globe-trotters than those with a high school education or less (59% vs. 10%).

Residents of suburban and urban areas generally have more international travel experience than people who live in rural areas.

There are no significant partisan differences when it comes to international travel: 26% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents qualify as globe-trotters, as do 28% of Republicans and GOP leaners.

Do travelers know more about the world?

Globe-trotters are especially likely to say they are interested in foreign affairs and follow international news. Casual travelers, in turn, are more likely than nontravelers to do so.

Globe-trotters are also the most knowledgeable about international affairs. In 2022, we conducted an international affairs quiz , asking Americans 12 questions related to international news. On average, globe-trotters got 8.2 of the 12 questions correct, compared with 6.4 for casual travelers and 4.2 for nontravelers.

Is international travel related to views of global engagement?

International travel experience is also linked to Americans’ views about international affairs and their feelings of connection to other people around the world.

When asked which comes closest to their view, 57% of globe-trotters say the U.S. should be active in world affairs, while 43% say the U.S. should pay less attention to problems in other countries and concentrate on problems at home. In contrast, most casual travelers and nontravelers say the U.S. should focus on problems at home.

In all three groups, at least half of respondents say that when the U.S. is making foreign policy, it should take other countries’ interests into account – even if that means making compromises. But globe-trotters are especially likely to hold that view.

Globe-trotters are also particularly likely to say they feel close to people around the world, with 42% saying so. By comparison, 34% of casual travelers and 30% of nontravelers say this.

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Richard Wike is director of global attitudes research at Pew Research Center

Janell Fetterolf is a senior researcher focusing on global attitudes at Pew Research Center

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Looking for cheaper Eras Tour tickets? See Taylor Swift at these 10 international cities.

Swifties who want to snag tickets to Taylor Swift’s colossal Eras Tour know the experience won’t come cheap.  

This year, the billionaire will only visit three U.S. cities – Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis – and prices for the in-demand shows are astronomical . For the Oct. 18 show in Miami, for example, cost of a single ticket ranged between $1,615 and $8,524 on StubHub.com as of Wednesday afternoon.

So, how else can fans see one of the world’s biggest singers? Go abroad .

In the past 30 days, searches for ‘Taylor Swift Europe tour 2024 tickets’ have increased by 300% in the U.S., indicating that some people are ready to take a long-haul flight to see the wildly popular artist live, according to travel website Islands.com .

Concert-goers who head to Europe for their Swift experience may actually save more money in the long-run . Not only are ticket prices across the pond cheaper, but many European cities, like Warsaw and Lisbon, are also budget-friendly, offering inexpensive food and lodging. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Was the travel worth it? Beyoncé and Taylor Swift's summer concerts drew fans from afar

To determine the most affordable Eras Tour stops, Islands.com researchers compared the cost of a two-night trip, including one cheap ticket on StubHub.com, two nights at a four-star hotel, six inexpensive meals, two five-mile taxi rides, and one domestic beer. However, researchers didn’t account for airline tickets or concert merchandise.

With safety at the top of travelers' minds, the researchers also factored in the city’s safety rating out of 100. 

To stay extra safe, the State Department encourages travelers to register with the U.S. embassy in the country they're visiting any time they travel abroad. That can be done at step.state.gov .

10 cheapest destinations for the Eras Tour in 2024

10. Vienna, Austria - total average cost: $1,089, safety score: 69.72

9. Cardiff, U.K. - total average cost: $1,061, safety score: 61.83

8. Lyon, France - total average cost: $1,047, safety score: 44.3

7. Lisbon, Portugal - total average cost: $1,028, safety score: 70.15

6. Munich, Germany - total average cost: $1,000, safety score: 78.88

5. Paris, France - total average cost: $971, safety score: 41.83

4. Stockholm, Sweden - total average cost: $935, safety score: 53.86

3. Hamburg, Germany - total average cost: $903, safety score: 57.51

2. Gelsenkirchen, Germany - total average cost: $749, safety score: 51.33

1. Warsaw, Poland - total average cost: $712, safety score: 72.98

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When Danish police pulled a woman over, she locked herself in her car and refused to talk

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A routine traffic stop on a highway south of Denmark’s capital turned into an unusual standoff as a 26-year-old woman locked her car and refused to speak to the police officer who had pulled her over, authorities said Thursday.

The Central and West Zealand Police said in its daily report that the woman, who was not identified, was originally pulled over near the town of Koege on Wednesday for talking on a handheld cell phone while driving and not wearing a seat belt.

Police also noted that the tires on her car were worn out, there was no rear window and the vehicle’s insurance had expired, the report said.

To open the car, the officers had to call a mechanic. Once that was done, they detained the woman and took her to a nearby hospital for a blood test.

Inside the car, police found two folding knives, leading to additional charges, they said. In Denmark, police can search a vehicle when they pull it over for a traffic violation.

No other details were given.

The Central and West Zealand Police covers the area south and west of Copenhagen.

Hilton lifts profit forecast on international travel demand

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Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Milla Nissi

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US ban on worker noncompetes faces uphill legal battle

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's ban on "noncompete" agreements commonly signed by workers is likely vulnerable to legal challenges, experts said, as some courts have grown increasingly skeptical of federal agencies' power to adopt broad rules.