How to Stay Connected Anywhere you Travel with Pocket WiFi

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When I went on my first backpacking trip in 2009, finding wifi wasn’t much of a concern. Smartphones weren’t around, and I had to go to internet cafes just to e-mail my parents. Things have changed in the last decade, to say the least. With the advancement of technology, we no longer have to worry about being able to stay connected. With devices such as Keepgo mobile hotspot, we can have wifi right in our pocket.

Keepgo has two different products that can help keep you connected while traveling. The first is a data SIM card for an unlocked phone, and the other is a mobile WIFI hotspot. In this post, I’ll be reviewing the traveling wifi hotspot which I got to try complimentary thanks to the folks at Keepgo. As always, opinions are entirely my own.

If you are interested in purchasing your own traveler wifi or global SIM card you can online right here. You can get 10% off your order by using code EXPLOREWITHLORA. 🙂

Jump Ahead

What is a Mobile Wifi Hotspot?

A mobile wifi hotspot is a device that allows you to connect to wifi anywhere you are. When powered on it uses the surrounding phone networks to get a signal, and then you can simply connect to it like a wifi hotspot. Voila, wifi in your pocket!

Keepgo has become an essential item in my travel pack!

Features I love about the Keepgo Mobile Wifi Hotspot

The Size

The Keepgo mobile hotspot is a small unit (about half the size of my iPhone XR) that fits easily into my pocket. One of the best features of the Keepgo mobile hotspot is that it is so lightweight. It barely takes any space in my bag, at just 3.7 x 2.3 inches wide and 2.64oz. To give you an idea of how small the device is, here is it in my hands (and I have tiny ones).

Power Capability

Once fully charged, the Keepgo travel wifi can give you up to 6 hours of connection time, and 300 hrs of standby time. Plus, it comes with a USB cord that you can use to charge it from a portable charger. So if you’re out and your Keepgo travel wifi dies, you can simply charge it again quickly.

Coverage

Keepgo has a wide range of coverage around the world, covering over 120 countries in total. This includes countries in North and South America, Europe, Oceania, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Check here to see a complete list of countries covered. Keepgo is always expanding to new countries!

Personally, I’ve used the Keepgo device so far in Latvia, England, and Canada and it has worked great.

Speed

The Keepgo mobile wifi hotspot uses unthrottled 4g LTE networks where available, so you can expect similar speeds to what you would get using phone data. I’ve been impressed so far at the speed quality I received while connecting to my Keepgo travel wifi in Europe.

Connects Multiple Devices

Another great feature about the Keepgo mobile hotspot is that it can connect up to 16 devices at once at a 10m range. This means if you are traveling as a family, couple, or with friends, you can all connect to the same wifi network from one device. This is a great way to cut down on data costs by buying it in bulk and sharing between your group.

Secure Network

The Keepgo travel wifi uses password-protected encryption which is secure. This is a great advantage of using your own mobile wifi hotspot vs public wifi networks, which are often questionable at best and may lead to information leaks.

Even if you have access to public wifi, having your own pocket wifi connection gives you the benefit that if you need to do something sensitive such as online banking, you have access to a secure network.

Easy to check balance online and refill

Once the device is activated, you can simply logon to the Keepgo website to check your remaining balance. All Keepgo devices come with 1GB free data, and from there you can easily top-up your pocket wifi on the website.

To give you an idea, 1GB gives you about 1000 page views, 1000 minutes of streaming music, or 130 minutes of streaming video. The cost to refill decreases the more data you buy, and is advertised as follows on the Keepgo website:

The data isn’t super cheap, but it’s certainly more affordable than international roaming charges, and not far off from what we pay for cell phone data in Canada. You probably don’t want to be streaming Netflix while using your pocket wifi, but if you only use it for browsing the web, 1GB can last you a long time.

Keepgo also has a referral program that you can benefit from as soon as you purchase the device. For every friend you refer, you automatically get 300mb of data free.

Setting up your Keepgo Pocket Wifi

Setting up the Keepgo Mobile hotspot is simple, and takes less than two minutes. Once you receive the package in the mail, you’ll unbox the device which comes with a USB to micro USB charging unit, the mobile hotspot unit, a data SIM pre-loaded with 1gb of data (already inside the device), a rechargeable battery, and user/safety guides.

After unboxing the device, here’s how to quickly set it up:

Insert the battery into the mobile hotspot (the SIM is already inside)
Plug it in to charge with the included USB cord
Activate it on the Keepgo website (keepgo.com/activate)
Once charged, press the power button for 3 seconds and wait for the green light by the signal icon
Open the cover to retrieve the SSID and Wifi Key (located on the inside cover of the hotspot)
Connect to the WiFi network on your device (should be Huawei followed by a number)
Enjoy the freedom of being online anywhere you go!

Sounds great, but how much does traveler wifi cost?

The Keepgo mobile Wifi hotspot costs $99 USD which includes 1GB of data. You can also can get 10% off your order by using promo code EXPLOREWITHLORA. Traveler wifi is also a great Christmas gift for travelers!

How to get a Keepgo mobile wifi hotspot

You can order the Keepgo traveler wifi online here, and they even have free worldwide shipping.

Why not just use a local SIM or public wifi?

Although I usually buy a local SIM card in the country I’m traveling, there are still many instances where the Keepgo travel wifi has come in handy. For instance, if you have a locked phone, you cannot use a SIM card from another mobile provider. For anyone with a locked phone, Keepgo is a great alternative.

Even if you’re phone is unlocked, I still find having my own travel wifi useful. In many countries, getting a local SIM can be a huge hassle (I’m looking at your India). For security reasons, they simply don’t want to sell them to foreigners who don’t have an address in the country. In these cases, having a Keepgo mobile hotspot is a perfect solution.

Another thing I love about having wifi in my pocket is that it allows me to be instantly connected when I’m in a new country. So many times I’ve arrived in a new place and haven’t been able to get a SIM card right away (oftentimes they are not available in airports). Having an instant connection on arrival in a new country is so helpful. It means I can easily find the directions to my accommodation, or connect with the people I need to. Having pocket wifi has helped me in a pitch many times!

In other instances, I’m only in a country for a few hours or a short period (layovers/stopovers) and don’t want to go through the hassle and cost of buying a local sim. And honestly, I don’t have the best sense of direction. Knowing that I can connect to wifi at any time while I’m traveling to get directions is a huge stress reliever.

Click here to buy the Keepgo Mobile Hotspot!

If you’re worried about staying connected while traveling, pocket wifi is the perfect companion to bring on your trip. It allows you to stay in touch with loved ones, find directions easily, and even share data with other people. I didn’t think I’d be using my mobile wifi hotspot as much as I have – and now it’s always in my bag when I go traveling.