Staying connected while traveling internationally sounds simple, but small details like how to dial a phone number can quickly become unexpected stress points. We live in a global world and often take for granted how easy it is to communicate across the globe. But there are still little nuances that can trip travelers up. Thankfully, you’ve got a trusty travel advisor here to help.
Not long ago, I got an early morning call from clients who were trying to connect with a local representative for an upcoming activity. They were doing everything right… except their call would not go through. The issue was not the number. Not the provider. Just a small but critical detail in how international dialing works. It is one of those things that feels obvious once you know it, but is not always intuitive in the moment.
If you have ever saved an international number or tried calling one abroad, you have probably seen it written like this: +33 1 23 45 67 89. That “+” symbol actually matters. On a mobile phone, it replaces the international exit code, which varies depending on where you are calling from. Instead of dialing a separate string of numbers to get an international line, the “+” does the work for you. To use it, simply hold down the 0 key until the + symbol appears, then enter the country code and the rest of the number. If you are using a U.S. phone and prefer to dial it manually, you can skip the “+” and use 011 followed by the country code and phone number. It is a simple workaround, but one that can save a lot of frustration when you actually need to reach someone.
Many travelers rely on apps like WhatsApp, which handle formatting automatically. But when you need to call a driver waiting outside the airport, reach a tour operator, or contact a hotel directly, you are suddenly back to traditional dialing rules. And that is often when this catches people off guard.
This client experience is actually what inspired me to put this together. I fully expected to include links to major travel publications like Travel + Leisure or Condé Nast Traveler, but surprisingly, I could not find anything that covered this. While they do a great job talking about roaming plans and apps for staying connected abroad, they do not really get into the specifics of how international dialing actually works. For many Europeans, and of course travel advisors, this is second nature. But for the typical American traveler who may not go abroad often, it is just not something that comes up often enough to feel obvious.
Before you leave on your trip, I recommend saving key contacts with the + country code already included. It is also worth testing one international call if you are unsure your plan supports it, and keeping WhatsApp as a backup (but not your only option). It takes just a couple of minutes and can make a big difference when you are standing in a busy arrivals hall trying to reach someone.
Travel is full of big, beautiful moments, but it is often the smallest details that make everything run smoothly. This is one of those behind-the-scenes things you should not have to think about, but when you do, it is nice to know exactly what to do. Just another small but important nugget of travel advice from your trusted travel advisor!
And I am always curious. What are the little travel “speedbumps” you have run into that seem obvious after the fact? Let me know. We will keep digging.