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Staying connected online has been an essential aspect in my travels. I think it’s my ego going lazy and my brain finding the lame excuse to avoid planning my trips in detail. I guess every traveller goes through that stage. First you start out as a budget traveller but as time goes by, you realize that you don’t have to scrimp all the time. That it is fine to just relax as you travel and visit each destination without the need to hurry and see everything. To keep your calm and slow down. Before, I always see to it that my trips are planned out up to the tiniest detail to avoid missing on vital information that could jeopardise the whole thing. But lately, with the availability of mobile Internet access, I realized I don’t have to stress too much with the planning stage of my trips. So long as I can access the internet anywhere I go, I’ll be fine.
In the Philippines, you can access the internet within cities and small towns . You only pay a minimal fee to stay connected. Being that the country is the social media capital of the world, a percentage of Filipinos have been accustomed to keeping different social media platforms to share their latest whereabouts. I belong to that percentage. Whenever I travel within the country, I update my social sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. One of the main reasons for the updates is to let my family know where I am.
However, when travelling abroad, keeping up with the updates might be difficult considering that you have to pay a hefty sum to get access to international roaming. During my trip to Thailand way back in 2012, I got billed 36k for using the roaming data on my mobile phone. That was one nightmare I didn’t want to repeat. When I went to Japan last 2014, I kind of struggled with the navigation due to the language barrier and the fact that we didn’t get one of those pocket wifis for rent. So the next time I decided to travel out of the country, I made sure I came prepared. And it was a good thing that I discovered Flytpack on my most recent trip to Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan.
What is Flytpack
Flytpack is a personal wireless modem that connects any WiFi-enabled devices to the internet with a secure network connection. It’s basically a roaming pocket wifi that you can rent if you live in the Philippines and it serves as your travel buddy as it allows you to stay connected online when you are traveling overseas.
Why do you need to have Flytpack when travelling abroad
The Philippines is known to be one of the few countries in the world which has strong family ties. So staying in touch with your family back home is a must and can be done via text messaging and calls with WhatsApp® or Viber®.
Navigating and finding your way around a foreign place with Google Maps® is made easy when you have access to the internet all the time. Although it’s quite fun to get lost and discover new places, you still want to have that peace of mind knowing where you are and where you’re supposed to go. Staying online also offers you unlimited access to information on the places you want to go such as opening hours for attractions, public train schedules, and more.
For travellers who bring their work with them, having access to a stable internet connection at all times when you are out of the country is a must. This allows you to check your emails and work-related stuff.
I’ve been leading a digital nomad’s life for the last 6 years so Flytpack was really heaven-sent as it allowed me to stay connected during my trip abroad. Since I’m also active on social media, I get to share my travel adventures and add a few travel tips on each update.
One of the best features of Flytpack is its ability to share the connection with up to 5-6 mobile devices so you can all enjoy internet access for your social media updates.
How Flytpack works
Flytpack is already pre configured. So you do not need to go through the hassle of buying a sim card and inserting it in the device. Once you rent the device, Flytpack’s operations team will configure the settings of your WiFi router to match that of the country you are travelling to. All you need to do is press the power button and as soon as you key in the wifi’s password on your mobile device, you’re all set. It’s that simple.
How to rent the Flytpack device
Renting the device is easy. You can visit their website and fill up your travel details to reserve online. It is recommended to do this at least 5 days before you leave the country. You will be asked to fill in your particulars and indicate how you will claim and return the device. You can choose to pickup the device from their head office or request to have it deliver in your place. The same goes when returning the device. Once this is set, you will go to the payment section and choose your mode of payment. The rental fee per day depends on the country you are visiting. Thailand costs P180 per day while renting for an Australian trip will cost you P450 per day. On top of the rental fee, you will also be required to pay a Php2,800 deposit, which will be refunded to you within 7-14 working days after the travel WiFi is returned back.
My Flytpack Experience
I decided to travel to Thaland and Malaysia at the last quarter of 2016. Then an unexpected trip allowed me to include Taiwan in my itinerary. I was to go on a backpacking trip abroad for 3 weeks. As a digital nomad, I couldn’t afford to stay on vacation for too long without having constant internet access. With Flytpack’s Cross Country Package, I enjoyed stable internet connection when I availed of their Asia Package. For only Php 300.00 per day, I get to have hassle-free connection while traveling within those three countries. I even discovered that Flytpack’s connection is more stable than the internet connection from the hostels and hotels I stayed during that adventure.
The device also acts as a power bank and it became a life saver for my mobile phone when I almost ran out of battery while trying to work from my phone at one point. Probably the best experience I have was when I rode a sleeper train from Bangkok to Padang Basar on my way to Malaysia. While on the train, the signal was amazing that I was able to finish my work.
Navigating Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei have never been easier all thanks to my instant wifi travel buddy.
Book your Flytpack pocket wifi router for your next trip abroad! For more information, visit www.flytpack.com
Flytpack was good in MY but it does not work in Maldives. We rented it for a week in Maldives last Nov 2016, only to find out when we were there, that it doesn’t work. 🙁 They have removed Maldives in their list after we provided feedback that it doesn’t work there.
I am traveling again soon, will rent Flytpack again and hope it will be a better experience.