Protect Your Money and Identity Abroad

Travel Insurance

Most travelers think of insurance as trip cancellation protection. That's the least important part. The real value is medical coverage. A broken ankle in Paris can cost $15,000. An ambulance ride in Tokyo runs $3,000+. A medical evacuation flight from Southeast Asia to the US averages $50,000 to $100,000.

Your US health insurance almost certainly won't cover you abroad. Medicare covers nothing outside the country. Even plans that offer some international coverage typically require you to pay upfront and file for reimbursement later, which means you need thousands of dollars available on a credit card during an emergency.

What to Look for in a Policy

Not all travel insurance is equal. When comparing policies, focus on these four things:

Medical coverage limit. Aim for at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage. Some destinations with expensive healthcare (Japan, Switzerland, the US for inbound travelers) warrant $250,000 or more. Policies below $50,000 are almost never worth buying.

Emergency evacuation. This covers transport to the nearest adequate medical facility or back to your home country. Look for at least $250,000 in evacuation coverage. This is the single most expensive thing that can happen to you abroad.

Pre-existing condition coverage. Many policies exclude pre-existing conditions unless you buy within 14 to 21 days of your first trip payment. If you have any ongoing medical conditions, buy early.

Adventure activity coverage. Standard policies often exclude scuba diving, skiing, motorbike riding, and other common travel activities. If your trip involves any of these, confirm they're covered before you buy.

VPN for Travel

Every time you connect to hotel Wi-Fi, airport Wi-Fi, or a cafe network, your internet traffic is visible to anyone on that network. That includes your banking sessions, card numbers you type into websites, and login credentials. A VPN encrypts all of that traffic so it can't be intercepted.

But security is only half the reason travelers need a VPN. The other half is access. Many banks flag or block logins from foreign IP addresses. If your bank sees you suddenly logging in from Thailand, it may lock your account as a fraud precaution, right when you need it most. A VPN lets you connect through a US server so your bank sees a familiar location.

When a VPN Is Essential vs. Optional

Essential: If you'll be doing any online banking, checking credit card statements, making purchases, or logging into financial accounts from public networks. Also essential in countries that restrict internet access (China, Iran, Russia, UAE) where you may not be able to reach your bank's website at all without a VPN.

Optional: If you're staying at a private rental with a secure Wi-Fi network and don't plan to use public Wi-Fi. If you only use mobile data (not Wi-Fi), your connection is already encrypted by your carrier.

Identity Protection

Travel exposes your personal information in ways that daily life at home doesn't. You hand your passport to hotel front desks for photocopying. You use ATMs in unfamiliar locations where skimmers are more common. You connect to dozens of unsecured networks. You type card numbers into foreign websites to book local tours and transport.

The danger isn't just losing money from your account (your bank will usually reverse fraudulent charges). The real risk is someone opening new accounts in your name. A stolen passport number plus a stolen credit card number is enough to apply for credit, file fake tax returns, or create synthetic identities that take months to untangle.

What ID Protection Actually Does

Credit monitoring. Alerts you within 24 hours if anyone opens a new account, runs a credit inquiry, or changes your address with a credit bureau. This is the most valuable feature for travelers because you'll catch fraud early, even from a different time zone.

Dark web scanning. Monitors underground marketplaces where stolen data is sold. If your passport number, Social Security number, or card details show up, you'll get an alert so you can act before the data is used.

Identity theft insurance. Covers the cost of restoring your identity if it's stolen: legal fees, lost wages, and administrative costs. Most policies cover $25,000 to $1,000,000.

International Phone and Data

Staying connected abroad isn't just about posting photos. It's about being able to pull up your bank's app for two-factor authentication, check exchange rates before withdrawing cash, look up ATM locations, and call your card issuer if something goes wrong. Without data, you lose access to the tools that help you manage money on the road.

International roaming through your US carrier works, but it's expensive. AT&T's International Day Pass costs $12/day. T-Mobile includes free international data but at slow 2G speeds. Verizon's TravelPass is $10/day. On a two-week trip, carrier roaming can add $140 to $170 to your phone bill.

Your Options, Compared

eSIM (best for most travelers). An eSIM is a digital SIM card you activate before your trip. No physical card to swap, no store to visit. Holafly offers unlimited data plans starting around $6/day for most countries, and you activate it from your phone in minutes. Your US number stays active for calls and texts on your primary SIM. Works with iPhone XS and newer, most Samsung Galaxy S20+, Google Pixel 3+, and other recent phones.

Local SIM card. Cheaper than eSIMs in many countries ($5 to $15 for a week of data in Southeast Asia, for example), but you need an unlocked phone. You also lose your US number while the local SIM is active, unless your phone supports dual SIM. Good for longer trips or budget travelers who don't mind buying a card at the airport.

Carrier international plan. The most convenient option since there's nothing to set up. But at $10 to $12/day, the cost adds up fast. Best for short trips of 3 days or less where the convenience outweighs the price.

Portable Wi-Fi hotspot. Rental hotspots provide a private Wi-Fi network you carry with you. Useful if you're traveling with a group (connect 5+ devices) or if your phone doesn't support eSIM. The downside is carrying an extra device that needs daily charging. Available for rental at most international airports.

How These Services Work Together

Each of these services covers a different layer of risk. Travel insurance handles the big, rare emergencies (a hospital stay, an evacuation). A VPN handles the daily, invisible risk of someone intercepting your data on shared networks. ID protection monitors for damage after the fact and helps you recover. And staying connected with an eSIM or data plan makes sure you can actually use your banking tools, check rates, and respond to fraud alerts in real time.

You don't necessarily need all four. Here's a quick way to decide: