Unless your travel plans include a hardcore digital detox, you’re probably going to be using the internet while traveling. Whether it be scrolling through social media, booking flights, or even streaming your favorite shows, using a VPN for travel is vital to your online safety and overall facility of your trip.

Today we’ll give you 5 solid reasons why you should be using a VPN while traveling, as well as sharing our top pick for the best travel VPN. Read on to learn how to use a VPN to find cheaper flights, protect yourself from public WiFi and more!

What is a Travel VPN?

A common misconception we get from movies is that VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are only used by tech geniuses and hackers. But in reality, people from all walks of life use VPNs—including 47% of international travelers!

Travel VPNs have features that are crafted towards the far and wide situations travelers can be faced with. Think using public Wi-Fi, banking, booking flights, streaming, etc. Read on to learn why a VPN is the best travel buddy you’ve ever had!

Use a VPN to Find Cheaper Flights

No, it’s not just a myth—you really can find cheaper flights with a VPN! This is due to airlines using location-based pricing, meaning they adjust flight prices based on the location of the user’s IP address.

By using a VPN to change your virtual location to another country or region, you can potentially access lower prices than the ones shown in their actual location (and yes – it’s legal!)

Does this travel hack sound too good to be true? Try it for yourself! According to recent research by CyberNews, these are the best VPN locations to find cheap flights in 2024:

• Mexico
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• India
• Sri Lanka
• New Zealand
• Hong Kong

Use a VPN to Access Blocked Websites

If you’re a frequent traveler or an expat, you’ll know that your physical location can sometimes clash with what you’re trying to do online. Having to jump through hoops when your accounts realize you’re traveling abroad can be extremely tedious (or downright impossible) to deal with.

Sites you might have trouble accessing abroad without a VPN are streaming platforms, banking websites, and even social media or news outlets (if your destination limits free speech).

While most U.S. government websites are accessible from abroad, there are some exceptions due to security and privacy concerns. Generally, websites that involve sensitive information or services restricted to U.S. citizens or residents may not be accessible outside the U.S..

It’s 2024, why struggle when you solve all your online issues with the same VPN? The list of benefits continues…

VPN for Streaming Service While Traveling

Obviously if you’re on a short vacation, I’m not suggesting you should stay in your hotel room watching Netflix! But if you’re traveling longterm or living abroad, you have to be able to access your favorite streaming sites!

I personally have subscriptions to Netflix and Disney+ (which work in France) but they have completely different content libraries than in the States. Other popular streaming platforms like HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, Sling TV, Paramount+ have limited or no access in Europe.

Thankfully, VPNs come to the rescue, allowing you to bypass location-based restrictions, gaining access to streaming platforms from your preferred country. You can even use this to your advantage to open up your content libraries to watch more foreign films or learn foreign languages. VPNs open up a world of entertainment possibilities!

VPN for Public Wifi Safety & Data Privacy

Free Public Wi-Fi in hotels, airports, cafes, and restaurants might look like a lifesaver when you’re traveling, especially when you don’t have data, but it also lacks proper security, making you extremely vulnerable to cybercriminals.

Free Wi-Fi in hotels, airports, cafes, and restaurants often lacks proper security (hence “free”). Cybercriminals frequently target public Wi-Fi spots because many users are unaware of the risks (and desperate to get online).

Through these unsecured connections, hackers can intercept data and spread malware or viruses to your device. This leaves you open to a flood of ads, relentless spam, and potential botnet attacks.

Using a VPN encrypts your connection, protecting your personal information and ensuring a safer online experience while traveling.

My Favorite Travel VPN: NordVPN

I’ve tried and tested several VPNs over the years and can confidently say NordVPN is the best travel VPN I’ve tried (unsponsored). The biggest reasons my partner and I have stuck with this VPN for the last three years are because:

-it’s affordable (especially when you buy longterm)

-NordVPN is pretty good at bypassing geo-restrictions on different streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and more

-you can choose between from over 6,000 fast servers in 111 countries

-you can share a subscription on up to 6 devices (share with your fam!)

– 24/7 customer service (has gotten back to me within a day whenever I emailed them)

So, now that you know all the benefits of investing in a travel VPN, what are you waiting for? 😉

For more information you can watch this YouTube video I made last year on this topic which includes my cyber horror story that inspired me to get serious about using a VPN in the first place.