Are you an avid traveler or maybe you only travel once or twice a year? If so, a quality VPN should be on your list of things to bring with you. But what exactly is a VPN? You may have heard the term but don’t know what it is and why you need one. This article will help shed some light as to what it is, why you need one, and the best one to use.
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN allows you to surf the web anonymously and securely from anywhere. They work by creating an encrypted tunnel that connects your computer to the internet, Wi‑Fi hotspots and other networks. Basically, when you’re connected to a VPN and you send information through that encrypted tunnel by accessing websites and apps, that information can’t be seen from the prying eyes of anyone outside of that tunnel.
Why Do I Need A VPN?
If you’re traveling, chances are you will be using public WiFi, semi public WiFi (coffee shops) or the WiFi supplied by your hotel or AirBnb. It’s extremely important to have encrypted protection from a VPN when you access these networks. Anyone else connected to that network can sit and wait for unsuspecting people to connect and browse unprotected. Even with hotel WiFi and AirBnb WiFi, you still never know who else may be connected to the network.
Without getting too technical, one way a hacker will exploit this is by connecting to the network and viewing any of the unencrypted data that passes between you and the website you visit, including logins, purchase transactions, financial information, and more, until they find information they can use. Remember, this unencrypted data isn’t in that tunnel we mentioned above, so anyone connected to the network can see it.
A VPN will also help ensure that you access to the same websites and platforms from back home. Sites like Netflix and Youtube will only show certain content in certain countries and may completely restrict content in countries as well. Banking institutions and financial services may also restrict access based on your location (This means you may not be able to log into your bank account from the internet or your phone). Sites like Hulu won’t work at all in some countries.
Furthermore, in certain countries, sites like Google, Twitter, and Facebook may be completely restricted. I’ve come across blocked sites in Thailand, Spain, and many other countries. With a VPN, you can mask your location and “appear” as if you’re accessing the internet from a country of your choosing. This basically allows you to “trick” the website into allowing you access.
What Makes A VPN Service Good?
There are a ton of VPN’s to choose from but all VPN’s are not created equal. There are some things that need to be taken into account before choosing the right VPN.
How Many Servers Do They Have and Where?
Some VPN services offer thousands of servers, while others only have a few hundred. Some have a high concentration of servers in a specific area, while not having any at all in other parts of the world. While there is no hard rule to the number of servers a VPN service should have, it’s important to be sure that the VPN server you select has server options in the countries and regions you want to access it from. If you’re looking to access US media sources like Netflix and YouTube without them blocking content based on your location, then a VPN service with the majority of its servers in Africa and Asia is of very little use to you.
How Many Simultaneous Connections Are Allowed?
You might be thinking” I only need one connect, right?” Well, you will probably need more than that. If you have a laptop, tablet, and cellphone, you’ll probably want to connect each of those devices to your VPN when traveling. Also, will you need to share VPN access with family, friends, and other new travel friends? All this means that you may need multiple concurrent connections to your VPN service. Generally VPN services limit the number of connected devices you can have to the service so this is important to keep in mind when selecting a VPN service. At minimum, you want a service that allows for at least two concurrent connections, but the more the better.
Supported platforms
Before deciding on a VPN, you have to make sure that service is compatible with your platforms and devices. If you have a windows laptop and and Iphone, you’ll want to be sure that the VPN service has a platform and app for both.
Easy Installation, Setup and Use
The technology behind a VPN is very complex but installation and setup shouldn’t be. The best services should offer simple installation procedures and offer a user-friendly platform. If you’re installing on a computer, then you should be able to simply download and run the installer. If installing on an iOS or Android device, you should be able to get the VPN’s app from Play or App Store. Any service that doesn’t provide this easy set up and installation, you’ll want to avoid.
Has Acceptable Speeds
Using a VPN will usually slow down your connection. This is because your data has to travel through another server before reaching it’s final destination, rather than going directly to its destination. There are a variety of factors that can affect the speed, including distance, bandwidth restrictions, and the amount of other traffic on the networks.
Money Back Guarantee
If you happen to choose a VPN but decide it is not the right one for you, getting out of your contract can be a big issue. For this reason, it’s important to select a VPN that promises your money back within a specific amount of time. You don’t want to be obligated to stay with one service provider who you’re not happy with.
Our VPN of Choice
NordVPN is our pick for best travel VPN and is what we use on our travels. They offer over 5400 servers in over 61 countries and even offer special categories for streaming, torrenting, and extra security. They even work very well in China, where they have heavy restrictions on content. The company itself is based in Panama, which is known for its for privacy. NordVPN also support a maximum of 6 devices and provides support on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, Firefox and Chrome.
NordVPN is also one of the best VPNs for streaming, including for bypassing Netflix’s measures on restricting VPN access. I’ve accessed the US Netflix catalog in Colombia, Ecuador, The Dominican Republic, Bali and more. NordVPN also kept me connected when accessing HBO GO so I could watch Game of Thrones while traveling. You know, the important stuff. Using this service will allow you to easily circumvent the restrictions for these platforms and more. They even go the extra route by providing a “how to” on how to watch and access your favorite platforms and channels when connected to NordVPN.
When it comes to set up and installation, NordVPN excels at this as well. I currently have NordVPN installed on my Iphone, Windows PC, and Android tablet. Set up was a breeze on all of these devices. I essentially just had to download and install the app and I was up and running in no time. They also include browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox if you’re interested in those as well. If you’re an advanced user, NordVPN offers plenty of options for manual configurations.
Once installed, the app is very user friendly and intuitive, making it very easy to use. Simply log on if you’re not already logged in, select the country you want, and click “connect” and NordVPN will connect you. That’s it. It’s literally that simple.
When it comes to price, NordVPN excels here as well. They offer three plans, a one month plan at $11.99 a month, a 1 year plan at $6.99 a month and a 3 year plan at an amazingly low $2.99 a month. This is a GREAT deal and no other VPN service will provide this level of service at this amazing price.
Lastly, all of the security in the world won’t mean anything if your VPN is sluggish and unstable. This is why it’s important to know what speeds to expect from the service. I was able to test my connection without my VPN installed and with NordVPN running. I was pleased to see their speeds were among the top when compared with other popular VPNS.
VPNs may not be as exciting as the other aspects of your travel but they’re ultimately very important as they protect you while you’re online and allow you to keep up with your favorite platforms from back home. NordVPN has become an essential part of my travel toolkit and I use it everyday when I’m abroad.
You can check out NordVPN online at www.nordvpn.com
Geron is an avid traveler, entreprenuer and mens style aficionado. He love’s mac and cheese, getting discounts, his momma, and a good whiskey, not particularly in that order. It’s alleged he lives in Miami, but no one really knows anymore.
Follow him on instagram at @geronp
