Why I Always Use A VPN For Travel: Securing My Vacation

The TikTok buzz about using a VPN to book cheap flight tickets holds no ground for me.

However, a foreign VPN is always my companion when traveling to another country and even within the country. It’s just about traveling safely and ensuring my digital security!

Unwanted attention, especially from hackers and crooks monitoring my digital activities, online transactions, and more, is the last thing I want while traveling.

However, I also have to use the public Wi-Fi connections at hotels, cafes, and airports to stay connected and sail through the long traveling and waiting times.

These public Wi-Fi connections are a boon for hackers, who steal our data whenever we try to access any unencrypted app or website.

Now, when I use a VPN, it protects my internet traffic and activities as all these pass through an encrypted tunnel. So, the Wi-Fi monitors and hackers cannot access my online activities or data.

However, using a VPN for travel has many other benefits. Especially while traveling to another country, a VPN works like your digital security personnel, protecting your data and helping you access any content you want.

Want to know more about securing your vacation by using a VPN for travel? We have you covered in this Dream and Travel Guide.

Why I Always Use A VPN For Travel?

Many years ago, I was traveling solo, and it was a long flight with multiple stops. At that time, I was naive, and I had plans to binge-watch my favorite Netflix shows at the airport.

And I could not do that! At that time, I had little to no idea about Netflix having country-specific content libraries or how Geo-restriction works. So, it was like a nightmare.

So, I learned about the utility of a VPN for travel the hard way, and here are the reasons why I always use a VPN during travel.

1. To Avoid The Risks Of Using Public Wi-Fi Networks

The threats associated with using public Wi-Fi networks are numerous. As I mentioned earlier, these networks serve as free playgrounds for cybercriminals who want to eavesdrop on your online activities.

Additionally, hackers sometimes set up malicious Wi-Fi hotspots with names similar to legitimate public Wi-Fi networks. You connect to those networks, and your data is gone.

So, to avoid these problems, I use a VPN for travel. Having said that, here is a detailed understanding of how using a public Wi-Fi network without VPN protection can pose risks to your online activities, data, and identity.

Threats of Using Public Wi-Fi Networks	How The Threats Function
On-path attacks	Catching or stopping communication among websites and devices. Collecting confidential information such as passwords, credit card details, and user names
Malware and Cyber Threats	Malware infections Phishing attacks to steal sensitive information

2. To Bypass Geo-Restrictions

Streaming platforms and websites choose country-specific or location-specific access thanks to factors such as:

Regional Regulations
Copyright Laws
Licensing Agreements

A VPN for travel will cloak your IP address. So, you can virtually show your location to be in London when you are actually in Norway. This is how you can avoid a fragmented online experience for entertainment and content access.

3. To Avoid Censorship

Social media platforms such as TikTok are banned in certain countries. Also, there can be a ban on certain websites and apps that are allowed in your country.

Now, this censorship violates the following rights of us as human beings.

Free communication
Engaging in online activities
Freedom of expression
Using essential banking services

Using a VPN for travel can help you hide your online identity and geographical location. So, with a VPN, you can easily bypass censorship.

However, you must not use a VPN to bypass censorship during travel, only if it’s absolutely necessary. It’s unethical, and this practice may expose you to legal risks.

4. To Avoid Location Tracking

When we are using mobile phones, our locations get shared constantly through Wi-Fi connections, GPS, and cellular networks.

Also, location tracking has become essential these days as we become more reliant on app-based cab services and food-delivery apps.

Nevertheless, many government agencies or cybercriminals can use this location tracking feature to steal your sensitive data and information.

Now, a VPN shields your online identity and cloaks your IP address so that your actual location cannot be tracked.

What Are The Benefits Of Using A VPN For Travel?

Of course, securing my data and bypassing Geo-restrictions are the main reasons why I use a VPN for travel.

However, you can also use a VPN to optimize your travel experience in many other ways.

1. Saying No To Slow Internet Speeds

I connect to a new network, and it takes forever to load a page or access an app!

How many of you have faced this issue?

Bandwidth throttling is a common problem whenever we connect to a new network. Lack of security measures and too many users using the network at the same time are the main reasons behind this problem.

Now, any trusted VPN for travel will have a network of servers to offer you a stable internet connection.

These servers are located across various locations in a country or worldwide. So, no server becomes over-busy or over-trafficked.

2. Accessing My Home Network

I need to stay connected to my home network so that I can stay in touch with my aging parents constantly, book rides for them, or make online payments.

A VPN helps me to stay connected to the home network service provider so that I can travel worry-free.

Pros And Cons Of Using A VPN For Travel

Here are the pros and cons of using a VPN for travel.

Pros	Cons
‣ Maintaining digital anonymity ‣ Preventing bandwidth throttling by the internet service provider and too many users logging in to the same network. ‣ Complete digital freedom and access. ‣ Data protection through strong encryption standards	‣ Speed deterioration occurs when you connect to a faraway server of the VPN ‣ Free VPNs can compromise data safety and lack in security encryption standards in the name of free services. ‣ Using a VPN to bypass Geo-restrictions and censorship is not beyond ethical or legal concerns.

Can I Save Money On Booking Flight Tickets And Hotels Using A VPN For Travel?

Now, here I have to be honest! Many say that booking flight tickets becomes cheaper with a VPN.

With the VPN cloaking your IP address, you can avail of the special discounts or offers available to the people of a particular country.

However, it didn’t work for me. Instead, after traveling for all these years, the following hacks work for me.

Booking flight tickets midweek
Flight tickets are the cheapest on Wednesdays.
I prefer to book flight tickets at least one month before the travel date.
Google Flights helps you find the airport from which you can book the cheapest flight tickets. (It works when a city has multiple airports.).
Check out OTAs or online travel agencies offering secret deals.

However, booking flight tickets becomes easier and secure with a VPN protecting your online traffic and activity.