A VPN — Virtual Private Network — is a secure tunnel between two or more devices. Think of it as your online guardian angel: a piece of software installed on your smartphone or laptop that keeps your digital life private, especially when you're hopping between airport lounges, hostel lobbies, and café Wi-Fi networks.
Whether you're trying to access Gmail from behind China's Great Firewall or simply keeping your banking details safe on dodgy public Wi-Fi, a VPN is one of the smartest investments a traveller can make. Here's what you need to know, and the three providers we trust most.
VPN Essentials at a Glance
- Security — Encrypt your data on public Wi-Fi networks
- Censorship — Access blocked sites in China and other restricted regions
- Savings — Avoid geographical pricing on flights and hotels
- Multi-device — Look for 3+ simultaneous connections
- Support — 24/7 customer service accessible without a VPN
- Budget — Expect to pay $5–15 USD per month
Note: Prices were last verified in January 2026. We are not responsible for any errors — please check each provider's website for the latest rates.
Why Use a VPN?
There are three compelling reasons every traveller should use a VPN, and they go well beyond just getting around censorship.
Cybersecurity
Public Wi-Fi is everywhere — and so are the risks that come with it. A VPN encrypts your connection, shielding passwords, banking details, and personal data from prying eyes. We never connect to a café or airport network without one.
Circumventing Censorship
According to Greatfire.org, 172 of the world's top 1,000 domains are currently blocked in China. That includes Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, and most Google services. A VPN lets you bypass these restrictions by routing your traffic through a server in another country. It's not just China either — countries like Iran, Vietnam, and Turkey also restrict access to popular services.
Privacy and Cost Savings
Many travel booking sites use your location to adjust pricing — a practice known as geographical pricing. By masking your IP address, a VPN can prevent companies from inflating prices based on where you're browsing from. We've personally seen flight prices drop by switching server locations before booking.
What to Consider When Choosing a VPN
Not all VPNs are created equal. Here are the six factors we weigh before committing to a provider:
- Server locations close to you — the nearer the server, the faster the connection.
- Multi-platform support — you want apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
- At least 3 simultaneous connections — one for your phone, one for your laptop, one spare.
- 24/7 customer support that's accessible without a VPN (email or chat, not just a website).
- Affordable pricing — expect to pay between $5 and $15 USD per month.
- A free trial or money-back guarantee — so you can test before committing.
The Best VPN Providers for Travellers
We've tested dozens of VPN services across Asia, Europe, and South America. These three consistently delivered the best combination of speed, reliability, and value.
ExpressVPN
Founded in 2009, ExpressVPN has built a strong reputation for speed and reliability. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and supports up to 10 simultaneous connections. Their Hong Kong stealth servers work particularly well in China.
Pros: Fast speeds, user-friendly apps, unlimited bandwidth, excellent 24/7 support, and Hong Kong stealth servers optimised for China.
Cons: Higher price point, and the website is blocked in China (download before you go).
Pricing: $12.95/month | $6.25/month (1-year plan) | $4.99/month (2-year plan).
NordVPN
NordVPN stands out with its generous 10 simultaneous connections and unique Double VPN encryption technology, which routes your traffic through two servers for an extra layer of security.
Pros: Consistent speeds, apps for iOS and Android, unlimited bandwidth, 10 simultaneous connections, Double VPN encryption, and 24/7 support.
Cons: Website is blocked in China.
Pricing: $12.99/month | $4.99/month (1-year plan) | $3.39/month (2-year plan).
VyprVPN
Swiss-based VyprVPN owns and operates its entire server infrastructure — a rare claim in the VPN industry. Their proprietary Chameleon technology is specifically designed to bypass deep packet inspection, making it particularly effective in China.
Pros: Fast streaming speeds, owns its infrastructure, iOS and Android apps, unlimited bandwidth, 5 simultaneous connections, Chameleon technology for China, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Cons: Maintains 30-day connection logs.
Pricing: $10/month | $5/month (1-year plan) | $3/month (2-year plan).
Final Advice
One critical detail: purchase and install your VPN before you arrive in a restricted country. Many VPN provider websites are blocked in China and other censored regions, which means you won't be able to sign up or download the app once you're there.
We also recommend saving your provider's customer support email address before you travel. If your connection drops and you can't access the support website, having that email handy means you can still reach out for help from any email client.
With a reliable VPN in your digital toolkit, you'll browse freely, book smarter, and keep your data safe — no matter where the road takes you. Stay connected, stay secure, and safe travels.
