When we lived in Qatar, staying in touch with family and using online services abroad led us to try a VPN. Our original article made claims that were too broad. Here is a more practical guide, updated on 6 November 2026, to what a VPN can and cannot do while travelling.

1. Understand what it changes

A VPN routes traffic through a provider’s server and can encrypt the connection between your device and that server. It also changes the internet address websites see. You are trusting that provider with information about your connection, so its privacy policy matters.

2. It does not make you anonymous

Logging into an account still identifies you to that service. Cookies, account details and other signals can also connect activity to you. A VPN does not make you invisible to websites, governments or every type of tracking.

3. Keep ordinary security habits

Use current software, strong unique passwords and multifactor authentication. Be cautious about unexpected messages and downloads. A VPN does not prevent phishing, malware or someone tricking you into revealing a password.

4. Check the connection before entering private details

Modern HTTPS websites already encrypt traffic to the site. A VPN can add a layer for traffic routed through it, but it is not a substitute for checking the address and using a legitimate service. Read the FTC’s public Wi-Fi guidance for everyday precautions.

5. Research the provider

Look at independent assessments, permissions, data retention, ownership and cancellation terms. Free and paid services both deserve scrutiny. The FTC’s VPN guidance explains why changing who handles your traffic is a privacy decision.

6. Check current plan details

We used ExpressVPN during our earlier time in Qatar. That is a historical account, not a new test of its current service. Device limits, locations, prices and performance change, so the old numbers and blanket “best VPN” claim have been removed.

7. Do not assume a service will work abroad

Streaming providers and calling apps can restrict availability. A VPN does not guarantee access, and services may have terms that limit its use. Check the rules in your destination and the terms of the service you want to use. Middle Eastern countries do not all have the same laws.

8. Do not budget on guaranteed booking savings

A different connection location does not guarantee cheaper flights or hotels. Compare the final price in the same currency, with the same baggage, cancellation terms and payment charges. We have removed the earlier suggestion that a VPN reliably delivers travel discounts.

9. Have another way to stay in touch

Before travelling, test a calling method that is available and permitted at your destination. Keep useful phone numbers offline. The old article recommended Skype, but Microsoft retired consumer Skype in May 2025. Check the current options rather than relying on that advice.

You can read more about our experience of living in Qatar or visit our About page to see where family life has taken us since.