Why I Actually Use a VPN While Traveling (And It's Not About Security)

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Let me be honest about something that might surprise you: I don't use ExpressVPN because I'm worried about hackers or government surveillance. While those are valid concerns for many people, my reasons for using a VPN during our family's travels across 20+ countries are far more practical and, frankly, annoying to deal with without one.

We've been worldschooling our three daughters and traveling full-time since May 2022, and I've learned that geography-based restrictions create more headaches for traveling families than most people realize. Here's why ExpressVPN has become as essential as our passports.

The Real Problem: Apps That Think They Know Where You Should Be

The most frustrating part of international travel isn't jet lag or packing efficiently - it's discovering that half your digital life suddenly stops working the moment you cross a border. We learned this the hard way during our extended stay in Vietnam, where perfectly innocent apps would simply refuse to function.

Banking apps are the worst offenders. Try logging into your US bank account from Da Nang, and you'll be greeted with security warnings, frozen accounts, and the delightful experience of explaining to customer service that yes, you really are in Vietnam, and no, you're not trying to commit fraud. Even when you notify your bank about travel, their apps often have separate restrictions that nobody mentions.

Then there are the streaming services. We pay for Netflix, Disney+, and other platforms specifically so our daughters can have some familiar entertainment during long travel days or when they need downtime. But these services show completely different content libraries (or don't work at all) depending on your location. Trying to finish a series we started in Thailand while staying in Europe becomes impossible when that show isn't available in the European catalog.

The Vietnam Wake-Up Call

Our six-month stay in Da Nang, Vietnam, was when we really understood how essential a VPN had become for modern travelers. It wasn't about accessing blocked social media or news sites - it was about using the digital tools our family business depends on.

YouTube's Creator Studio would randomly restrict certain features based on our Vietnamese IP address. Our accounting software would trigger security warnings and sometimes lock us out entirely. Even Google Workspace would occasionally behave strangely, asking for additional verification steps that weren't required when accessing from US locations.

The most ridiculous situation was when our daughters' online learning platform decided we were accessing from an "unsupported region" and temporarily suspended access to lessons we'd already paid for. These weren't government restrictions or censorship issues - just overzealous geo-blocking by companies trying to manage licensing agreements.

ExpressVPN: The Solution That Actually Works

ExpressVPN solves these problems by making our internet connection appear to originate from locations where all our apps and services work normally. When I connect to a US server, our bank apps work flawlessly, streaming services show the content we expect, and business tools function without triggering security alerts.

The key advantages we've found with ExpressVPN specifically:

Speed that doesn't slow us down - We need fast connections for video calls with clients, uploading YouTube content, and streaming educational videos for the girls. ExpressVPN's servers consistently deliver speeds that make us forget we're using a VPN.

Server locations where we need them - With servers in 105 countries, we can virtually "be" anywhere our apps expect us to be. US servers for banking, UK servers for certain streaming content, or local servers for better speed when we just need unrestricted browsing.

Reliability during important moments - Nothing's more frustrating than a VPN that cuts out during a client call or when you're trying to access urgent banking information. ExpressVPN maintains stable connections even when switching between hotel WiFi, mobile data, and coworking spaces.

Beyond App Access: The Practical Benefits

Using ExpressVPN has revealed benefits we hadn't anticipated. Hotel WiFi networks, especially in budget accommodations, often have restrictions on certain types of traffic or bandwidth limits that affect video calls and file uploads. Connecting through ExpressVPN's servers often bypasses these limitations entirely.

Public WiFi security is actually a legitimate concern when you're frequently working from airports, cafes, and shared spaces. While security wasn't my primary motivation for using a VPN, the encryption provides peace of mind when handling business communications and accessing financial accounts on unfamiliar networks.

Price comparison websites and booking platforms sometimes show different rates based on your apparent location. While I don't advocate for anything unethical, being able to see prices from multiple geographic perspectives helps ensure we're finding the best legitimate deals for flights and accommodations.

The Educational Component

Our daughters are learning about digital literacy and internet freedom through our VPN usage. They understand that companies create artificial barriers based on geography, and that technology can level those playing fields. It's become a practical lesson in how the internet actually works versus how we often assume it works.

When Lily couldn't access her favorite educational YouTube channel from Vietnam, and then could immediately access it when connected through ExpressVPN's Singapore server, she began understanding how arbitrary many online restrictions really are.

Real-World Usage Patterns

We typically stay connected to ExpressVPN servers most of the time, switching locations based on what we need to access. Morning banking and business tasks usually mean connecting to a US server. Evening entertainment might require a UK or Canadian server depending on content availability. When we need maximum speed for large file uploads, we'll connect to the geographically closest server.

The ExpressVPN mobile apps make switching between server locations effortless, which is crucial when you're managing multiple tasks throughout the day. The one-click connection feature means the girls can easily reconnect if the VPN drops while they're doing online schoolwork.

The Cost-Benefit Reality

At $6.67 per month with our annual plan, ExpressVPN costs less than a single international roaming day with most US cellular carriers. When you consider that it enables full access to services you're already paying for, prevents travel-related banking complications, and eliminates the frustration of geo-restricted content, the value proposition is straightforward.

For traveling families specifically, a reliable VPN isn't optional technology - it's essential infrastructure. The stress of dealing with blocked services, frozen accounts, and restricted access adds unnecessary complications to an already complex lifestyle.

Setup Tips for Traveling Families

Getting ExpressVPN working optimally for family travel requires some initial setup. Install the apps on all devices before you travel, since some app stores have geographic restrictions on VPN downloads. Test different server locations from your home internet to understand speed variations.

Create a simple system for remembering which server locations work best for different needs. We keep a note on our phones: US East Coast for banking and business, UK for BBC content, Canada for certain Netflix shows, and local servers for general browsing.

Don't forget to whitelist VPN traffic if you're using any parental control or security software. Nothing's more frustrating than troubleshooting connection issues in a Vietnamese hotel room when the problem is your own security software blocking the VPN.

Looking Forward

As we plan our upcoming travels through China, Central Europe, and potentially Morocco, ExpressVPN will become even more critical. Each destination brings new restrictions and different challenges for accessing the digital tools our family depends on.

The internet was supposed to make the world smaller and more connected. In many ways it has, but arbitrary geographic restrictions often make it feel more fragmented than necessary. A reliable VPN bridges those artificial gaps and lets us focus on experiencing new places rather than troubleshooting digital access issues.

Getting Started with ExpressVPN

Ready to eliminate geographic restrictions from your travel planning? Get ExpressVPN with our link and receive 4 extra months free on 2-year plans. The setup process takes less than five minutes, and you'll wonder how you ever traveled without it.

For families planning extended international travel, invest in reliable internet freedom before you need it. Your future self, trying to access banking apps from a cafe in Chiang Mai, will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is using a VPN legal while traveling? Yes, VPN usage is legal in most countries we've visited. However, check local laws for your specific destinations, as some countries have restrictions.

Does ExpressVPN work with all streaming services? ExpressVPN works with major streaming platforms including Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video, though streaming services continuously update their detection methods.

Can the whole family use one ExpressVPN account? Yes, ExpressVPN allows up to 8 simultaneous connections, which covers our phones, laptops, and the girls' iPads.

What happens if ExpressVPN stops working in a country we're visiting? ExpressVPN's 24/7 customer support can recommend alternative servers or protocols. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is ExpressVPN safe for kids to use? Yes, ExpressVPN adds an extra layer of privacy protection, which is especially valuable when kids are using public WiFi networks in hotels or cafes.

We earn commissions from purchases via the links in this post, at no extra cost to you. This post contains affiliate links to ExpressVPN. When you sign up through our links, we may earn a fee that helps fund our family's travels and keeps our content free. We only recommend services we genuinely use and believe in. All opinions are based on our real experiences across 20+ countries of full-time travel.