No Wi-Fi, no worries: How three travellers stay effortlessly connected while abroad

Jessica Quek still remembers the relief that set in when she landed in Korea for a girls’ trip. Between navigating the language barrier, finding her way through the bustling streets of Seoul, and keeping in touch with family back home, she knew staying connected was non-negotiable. 

“From the moment I stepped off the plane, it almost felt like I was back in Singapore,” recalls the 40-year-old business director and mother of one. “I had access to my one-time passwords (OTPs), my family could reach me, and I didn’t have to scramble for a SIM card or public Wi-Fi.”

This is just one example of why reliable connectivity doesn’t just make travel more convenient – it also makes it more secure and stress-free. Recognising that different travellers have different needs, Singtel offers more roaming options to suit diverse travel styles – from affordable ReadyRoam plans starting at $5 to flexible UnlimitedRoam 14 Days plans for fuss-free connectivity.

Plus, until March 31, Singtel is giving users a chance to win 100,000 KrisFlyer miles to make every trip even more rewarding. 

Whether it’s ensuring safe navigation on a family road trip through Australia, taking a spontaneous flight to Bangkok, or a couple’s trip to China, here’s how Jessica and two other travellers make use of Singtel’s roaming solutions for their unique travel styles. 

For the working mum: Peace of mind on the go

Balancing the multiple responsibilities of work, family and travel is second nature to Jessica. Whether she’s travelling with her family or heading on a much-needed girls’ trip, staying connected is essential. 

With Singtel’s ReadyRoam’s coverage across 157 destinations, Jessica enjoys the convenience and flexibility of using one plan across multiple countries and trips.

Last year, she took two separate trips to Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur and Singtel’s ReadyRoam Neighbours plan covered both seamlessly, without her needing to reactivate a new plan. ReadyRoam plans start from just $5, and the 30-day validity period gives her ample flexibility for extended family travels.

During her family road trip to Perth, having hassle-free connectivity – Singtel partners with reliable local networks abroad – was essential for navigating remote areas like Margaret River. Similarly, during her girls’ trip to Korea, staying connected allowed her to research places to visit on the go and keep in touch with family back home. 

She also never worries about unexpected roaming charges, as Singtel automatically renews the same plan if you run out of data, so there’s no pay-per-use charges. 

Pro tip for fellow travellers: If you tend to forget about activating roaming plans before trips, turn on AutoReadyRoam in your Singtel app settings. It automatically activates the most affordable roaming plan when you’re abroad, so you’ll never be caught without connectivity.

“Don’t take chances when it comes to connection, especially when you are in a foreign land,” says Jessica. “Being connected makes me feel very safe and that I am in control of my travel plans.”

For the independent free spirit: Freedom to explore safely 

For frequent traveller Lai Jing Ying, 42, spontaneous trips are a way of life, especially now that she is between jobs. Whether hopping across the border to Johor Bahru for a day trip or planning a last-minute getaway to Bangkok, she thrives on spontaneity. Having a plan that is always ready to go makes all the difference.

After experiencing the frustration of unreliable public Wi-Fi in Bangkok, she now relies on Singtel ReadyRoam for instant connectivity upon arrival. The ReadyRoam Neighbours Plan – which covers Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand – aligns perfectly with her travel style, ensuring she has instant connectivity as soon as she arrives. 

She no longer wastes time searching for Wi-Fi or dealing with patchy hotel networks – nor does she have to risk unsecured public connections that could expose personal data. With Singtel Roaming, she can safely access data, navigate the city, book rides and stay in touch with friends, all without disruption.

Recalling a trip where she travelled with a group of six: “With the ReadyRoam plan, I didn’t have to worry about not having mobile data when our travel plans changed on the go. I could navigate my way to places of interest, find food options with great reviews online and also buy tickets instantaneously so that everyone in the group was taken care of.”

Jing Ying appreciates how easy it is to activate and monitor use of the Singtel plan. “I don’t have to keep activating different data plans for different countries that I am travelling to; it is one plan for all, within the period stipulated.”

For quick regional escapes, plans like ReadyRoam Neighbours make hopping between nearby countries seamless and hassle-free.

“No more worries about losing the activation QR code for roaming data, or misplacing the physical SIM card while overseas,” she adds.

For travelling couples: Shared adventures with unlimited connection

For 32-year-old data scientist Phang Ye Sheng and his girlfriend Law Xin Ye, Singtel Roaming helped them stay seamlessly connected on a trip to Guangzhou last year. 

On previous trips, they experienced dropped connections with international eSIMs – right when they needed to use map or ride-hailing apps, or make restaurant bookings. This time, they decided to switch to using Singtel’s UnlimitedRoam Asia 14 Days plan, which offers unlimited data* across 18 destinations across Asia, including China. 

The plan proved especially valuable in China, as they could continue to access social media and sites like Google, WhatsApp and YouTube. This reliable coverage, which is available for all Singtel roaming plans, meant they could focus on enjoying their time together rather than worrying about staying connected – whether sharing travel moments on social media or planning their next romantic dinner spot.

Their travel tip? “Start exploring the plans early,” says Ye Sheng. “There are many options to choose from based on destinations and data needs. Being able to purchase in advance and activate the plan only when required through the Singtel app is quite convenient as well.”

There’s always more for you, with Singtel. Find the ideal plan for your next trip here. 

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