Plenty of frequent travellers carry two phones, or two numbers on one phone. One line is for everyday life, the other is a backup: a US number that stays active between trips, a spare handset in the suitcase in case the main one is lost, or a line kept for bookings and verification codes. The backup does not need a big allowance. What it needs is a prepaid plan for a second phone with low running costs, no contract and enough data to step in when it matters.
Why Travellers Keep a Second Line
- A safety net for lost or broken phones. If your main phone goes missing at an airport or slips into a hotel pool, a spare with an active line means you can still call your airline, your bank and your family.
- A US number between visits. Regular visitors keep a US line active all year, so friends, relatives and hotels always reach the same number.
- A separate line for bookings. Keeping hotel, car hire and tour bookings on one number keeps confirmation texts out of your personal messages.
- A phone for a travelling family member. A teenager on a school trip or a grandparent visiting relatives can carry a low-cost line for calls and maps.
Four Low-Data Options
$15 Plan 1GB, 12 Months
- 1GB of data per month with unlimited national calls and texts
- Calls and texts to 100 countries
- Sold on long term terms only; the 12 month term lists at $180 and is now $96, around $8 a month in effect
- Best for: a backup line you want to keep active all year without thinking about it
$15 Plan 1GB, 3 Months
- The same 1GB allowance with unlimited national calls and texts
- Calls and texts to 100 countries
- Lists at $45 and is now $18 for three months, or $6 a month in effect
- Best for: a spare line for a single season of travel
$19 Unlimited International Plan 5GB
- 5GB of data with unlimited nationwide talk and text
- Unlimited international talk and text to 100 countries
- Lists at $19 and is now $10 per 30 days for 12 months
- Best for: a second line that might become your main line on a trip
$23 Unlimited International Plan 8GB
- 8GB of data, all of which can be used as hotspot data
- Unlimited nationwide and international talk and text to 100 countries
- Lists at $23 and is currently $15 per 30 days
- Best for: a backup that can also keep a laptop or tablet online
Which Term Suits a Backup?
The question with a second line is how often you will actually use it. If it sits in a drawer most of the time and only needs to stay active, the 1GB long term options are the most efficient, because one payment keeps the number alive for three months or a year. If the backup becomes your main phone on trips, the 5GB or 8GB plans give you enough data for maps, ride apps and messaging, with international calling included. Both routes are second line prepaid plans with no credit check, so a family member can carry one too.
One more thing to weigh is how long your trips last. A backup that only travels with you for a long weekend twice a year sits comfortably on a long term 1GB plan. A second phone that comes on month-long trips, or gets handed to a travelling relative, is better on a 30 day plan with more data, renewed only for the months it is in use.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Charge the backup phone and switch it on every few weeks, so it is ready when you need it.
- Store your most important numbers in the backup phone as well as the main one.
- Write the backup number on a card in your wallet or passport holder, so you can share it if your main phone is lost.
- Use eSIM activation if your main phone supports two lines, so both numbers live on one handset.
- Note the renewal or end date of your plan, so the backup line never lapses between trips.
Final Word
A backup line is a small cost that protects a whole trip, and it does not need much data. The 1GB long term plans keep a number active for months at a time, while the 5GB and 8GB plans step up when the second phone does real work on the road. Pick the term that fits and set up a travel phone plan with low data before your next departure.
These plans are offered by Lyca Mobile. Got a trip coming up? Explore travel inspiration and destination guides on Onthevacation.
