The Great Roaming Rinse

New study reveals 10 hidden data drainers costing Brits hundreds abroad - and the holiday hotspots where you could get rinsed the mostThursday 18 June 2026

The Great Roaming Rinse

New data uncovers how everyday phone habits could be quietly draining your data abroad, with popular destinations, Turkey and Thailand, among the most expensive for roaming

Half of 25-34-year-olds (48%) are hit by unexpected costly roaming charges overseas

Maps and navigation rank in the top three biggest data drainers as a fifth of Brits admit that they have no idea which countries are included within their data allowance

Sky Mobile has expanded its global roaming destinations from 55 to 120, so customers can stay connected with ease in destinations covered for just £2 a day*

New research has uncovered the everyday habits that could be quietly rinsing your data abroad, with simple daily phone usage costing Brits hundreds.

From background data syncs to navigating unfamiliar streets, Sky Mobile's Data Roaming Index has lifted the lid on Brits' biggest data drainers. Showing that forgetting to turn off app notifications can land travellers with up to a £20 bill, while streaming just one film trailer can leave Brits up to £120 out of pocket.

The index has been released as Sky Mobile expands its Roaming Passport Plus destinations from 55 to 120 across EU/EEA, the USA, Australia and more. Customers can use their UK data, calls and text allowances as if they were still in the UK while in one of the destinations for just £2 a day - no set-up required and no surprise bill shock.

The research shows that online messaging and accidentally downloading WhatsApp's (56%) are the data drainers most Brits fall foul of abroad, while using maps and navigation tools (52%) and search engines (48%) also rank highly.

Booking restaurants, tours and daytrips (31%) also cause Brits to turn on their data - regardless of the cost. A third of people admit they prioritise posting on social media enough to turn on data to do it

Even minor phone use abroad can trigger hundreds of pounds in charges, with simple tasks quickly becoming data-drainers without the right plan.

UK's Top 10 Hidden Data Drainers Index**

The findings come as new consumer research highlights a clear awareness gap among Brits when it comes to roaming. The average 25-34-year-old is nearly twice as likely (48%) as 55-64-year-olds (26%) to have been stung by unexpected costly roaming charges. Whilst Northern Ireland shows the lowest roaming awareness with over half (51%) never or rarely checking charges, almost double the UK average (28%).

Despite this, reliance on mobile data abroad remains high, with 43% of travellers saying they use more data overseas than at home. Additionally, over a third (34%) of Brits agree that accessibility to data coverage, and avoiding patchier network areas, impacts their choice of holiday destination.

The research from Sky also reveals the Top 10 tourist destinations where Brits are most likely to face costly roaming charges, with long-haul favourites such as Thailand and Turkey dominating the list.*** In these hotspots, everyday mobile use, without the right plan in place, can lead to additional charges.

The research also revealed 67% of travellers aren't aware of data saving hacks, so Sky Mobile has created a practical guide packed with roaming hacks to help people cut data usage abroad. Key tips include downloading maps, playlists and shows before travelling, switching on low data mode, and turning off automatic cloud syncing.

Ben Case, Managing Director of Connectivity at Sky said: According to our research, over half of Brits are afraid to turn on roaming abroad due to potential charges - so Sky Mobile is making it simple. For just £2 a day, our customers can now use their existing data allowance in 120 destinations without any set-up, or surprise bill shock .

With roaming in 120 destinations for just £2 a day, Sky simplifies staying connected wherever you travel. Roaming Passport Plus activates automatically so you can access your UK data, calls, and text allowances without any hassle. To view Sky Mobile's Holiday Hack List visit: https://www.sky.com/hello-sky/mobile/sky-mobile-roaming

For more information, please contact: sky@taylorherring.com

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