It is becoming increasingly important to stay connected, even when we’re travelling. To some of us, it is especially when we’re travelling. For even the most intrepid of travellers, having access to the internet can mean many things: easier navigation on foot using Google Maps, hailing an Uber if you can’t get a cab, or more interesting things like attempting to converse with the locals.
The big hurdle for all of this is simple: internet access while overseas can be expensive. We’ve all heard of bill shocks amounting to tens of thousands of Ringgit, but even for those who choose to roam, it usually costs in excess of RM30 per day for something like 500MB of data. That’s not enough. What if you don’t have enough data to navigate your way to the Airbnb room you’ve booked?
(Image: Cherrie Liong)
Thankfully, there are a few companies looking to address this by offering a cheaper alternative to roaming. Using MiFi or pocket WiFi devices, travellers and tourists alike can be connected the entire time they’re abroad – and for a much more affordable price than roaming.
One such service is called Travel Recommends. This company specialises in offering pocket WiFi devices and even prepaid SIM cards for foreign countries, letting you save plenty in data roaming charges. These pocket WiFi devices are also pretty tiny: they’re just about the size and weight of a smartphone, making them easy to stash in your handbag or keep in a pocket.
Travel Recommends has pocket WiFi devices that cover most popular destinations in Asia (Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China), as well as virtually the whole of Europe (its European pocket WiFi covers 37 countries), and of course, Australia and also the United States.
For those travelling in a group, a pocket WiFi device offers a huge amount saved: each device supports up to five devices to be connected simultaneously, and here’s a unique Travel Recommends feature: unlimited data when using its pocket WiFi in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and even Europe. There’s a 500MB fair daily usage quota in Australia, Hong Kong, and the US, though once the allocation is used up, you will still be connected, albeit at a slower speed.
For all its Asian countries, Travel Recommends is slashing a huge amount off its regular RM30 rental price per day. Pocket WiFi devices rented in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and China are now on a limited-time offer of just RM19, while the rental price in Singapore will set you back just RM9 per day!
If you’re heading further, rental fees for USA and Australia are RM38 per day, while the Europe rental rates are on a promotional price of RM38 a day as well; its original price is RM70 per day.
Finally, if you’re travelling to multiple countries, Travel Recommends may have a solution as well. There are currently three multi-country packages: the first is the Europe device that covers 37 European countries. The other two are Asia-only: there’s one for China, Hong Kong, and Macau for RM38 a day, while the other covers six Asian countries (Singapore, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea) also for RM38 per day.
On top of that, the company is also offering RM25 off each order placed in May.
Best of all, Travel Recommends makes it extremely convenient to pick up and return your rented pocket WiFi. With its booth strategically located at Level 5, KLIA (the Departure hall) – you can easily pick up the device a few hours before you depart, and return it as soon as you arrive.
Otherwise, Travel Recommends also offers the option of having your rented device delivered to you via courier one day before departure, and be picked up from you the day after you arrive. Both pick up and delivery services are charged RM10, meaning you’ll need to pay RM20 in total (if you choose both delivery and pick up).
But, for a limited time only, Travel Recommends is offering free pick-up and delivery to all West Malaysia addresses.
Renting a pocket WiFi from Travel Recommends is also very straightforward. You’ll need to make a reservation at least four days ahead of your trip, which will allow Travel Recommends to check if there are any available for you. If there is, you’ll receive a confirmation email of your booking, which also contains payment instructions.
Once you’ve received the email, you’ll need to make a payment via bank transfer, and inform Travel Recommends of your payment details. You’ll receive a confirmation email at the end, which you’ll need to present when picking up the pocket WiFi device.
Now that you’ve got the pocket WiFi device, using it is even easier. Simply turn it on, connect to the device network SSID shown on the device, enter the password (which can also be found on the device), and you’re done! Don’t forget to turn off data roaming, just in case.
In fact, all these and more information can be found on its website. You can find dedicated hotline numbers ( +6032-6308313 and +6010-3946177 for fixed and WhatsApp respectively, for greater convenience when abroad), as well as a handy map to find where its booth in KLIA is. And of course, you’ll also find the booking form in the website as well.
(Image: KampungboyCitygal)
With international travel becoming more accessible, it is great to see more effort being placed in solutions to save even more in Internet connectivity – it is no longer a luxury to be connected when you’re overseas.
Disclosure: This article was sponsored by Travel Recommends.
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