I locked myself out of my bank account on my first solo backpacking trip.
First of all, I’d like to put it on record and say I did NOT prepare nearly as much as I should have, in terms of security and tech-y logistics. Let me tell you a little story about the time I locked myself out of my bank account on my first solo backpacking trip.
You know what they say: Make sure your bank knows you’re traveling (especially if you’re leaving the country) and ask all of the important questions. Unfortunately, I underestimated the importance of this step.
Yes, I called my bank to let them know I’d be leaving the country for a month or two, but I still ran into issues after I left. Because I was traveling to Greece and planned to purchase a local SIM card once I landed, I didn’t have a phone number to give to my bank for security purposes regarding future transactions overseas. Thanks to Apple’s hyper-focus on cybersecurity, my phone number is linked to my online banking information, and all security codes and log-in verification texts are sent directly to my iPhone. Once I switched over to my Greek SIM card, I couldn’t access any of the security codes sent by my app because they were associated with my US phone number! It took me about a week to realize I couldn’t even log in to my online banking app to transfer funds and check my balances. Luckily, my mom was able to put money into my checking account and I ended up paying her back upon my return, but I could have avoided this altogether.
Alternatives:
Purchase an international phone plan before you leave. Your phone carrier probably offers various international talk & text and data bundles, such as the Verizon TravelPass, which costs $10/day or the T-Mobile OnePlus, which is $85/month for international coverage. For a short, well-planned trip, this option will prevent any headaches that may come from working with a SIM card. Here’s why I didn’t choose this: I didn’t really have an idea of how long I’d be in each country and didn’t want to commit to an expensive-ish phone plan when I could buy local SIMs on the cheap. I used WhatsApp to communicate with family and friends and really only needed data coverage for things like GPS, web searches, social media, etc.
BUT if you’re a planner and looking to avoid as many speed bumps as possible, an international phone plan may be worth the price. This option also sidesteps having to remove your original SIM from your phone, which is something you seriously don’t want to lose. Once I switched my own SIM with the local Greek SIM, I physically, and I kid you not, strapped it to my body for the remainder of my trip. Check out my post Essential Gear for Backpackers in Southern Europe for recommendations.
Order an international SIM card in advance. I wish I knew global and European SIM cards can be purchased in advance back when I was planning my trip! Do a little research and choose a reputable international SIM card company, decide on the amount of credit to add depending on how much you plan to use your phone while abroad, have it delivered home before you leave, and top up as needed.
Greece offers three network providers: Vodafone, Cosmote, and Wind. I probably paid around $27 for a local SIM card and over a month’s worth of data through a Vodafone kiosk when I landed in Athens. Next time around, I may go for an international SIM because it can be activated prior to leaving the country and can be reused on future trips. You’ll also have access to your new number before you leave, just in case your bank asks.
Grant a trusted family member as a financial power of attorney to help with bank transactions while you’re gone. Being locked out of my account prevented me from transferring money into my checking account so that I could make cash withdrawals. Luckily, my mom was able to go to my bank and assist in transferring funds, but not before I granted her access to my accounts over the phone with the bank teller. This could have been avoided if I named her to act on my behalf before I left. That way, she could update me with my account balance and transfer funds for withdrawal without having to “breech security” and get my permission with the help of a bank teller. I only recommend this step if there’s someone in your circle who you can completely trust with your funds!
Getting cut off from my money on my first solo backpacking trip was unnerving, but I was very fortunate to have family at home to help me along the way. It won’t hurt to ask your bank about these options to help you find a system that will work best for you. Take my sad, yet hilarious experience as a lesson! Doing the research and taking the extra steps beforehand will be well worth it when trying to avoid hiccups while traveling.
Have any other tips or suggestions? Feel free to share in the comments!
