The Drawbacks and Benefits of Having 2 Phones When Traveling Solo

When you’re packing for solo travel, the one-phone-or-two question might not even cross your mind. For some travelers, though, carrying two is non-negotiable—three of my solo female travel friends swear by having 2 phones. For others, like me, a secondary phone doesn’t seem like a big deal…until it SUDDENLY is.

Is a secondary phone a smart travel move?

Two phones mean extra weight, extra cables, and, sometimes, extra hassle. I’ve been both: a single-phone traveler and a two-phone skeptic. But the more I travel and work abroad, the more I see there are real factors that can tip the scale.

In this post, I cover the benefits of having two phones, the downsides, and a simple decision-making checklist to help you figure out if having 2 phones is worth it—for the cost, the convenience, and the added phone management required.

First, the drawbacks of having 2 phones

Travel, particularly perpetual travel, isn’t just about what you pack—it’s also about what you carry every day, everywhere. And while a second phone can be a lifesaver in certain situations, it can also be an anchor that weighs you down in ways you don’t anticipate. Before you commit to traveling with two phones, it’s worth understanding where the trade-offs lie.

• Extra bulk and weight — even slim devices add up when you’re trying to pack light. Add a case and you’ve got more heft in your bag or pocket. My personal experience: I thought my secondary phone—an older, iPhone model—would be perfect for workouts or on long runs. But in practice, I always carried my newer iPhone because it had my most reliable apps, making the backup feel like wasted space in my sling bag.

• More charging requirements — two phones mean more cables, more outlets, and more charging time. In modern hotels this may not matter, but in older guesthouses, hostels, rural stays, or during long-haul transits, finding enough outlets or keeping everything topped up becomes a real juggling act.

  
  

• Potential account lockout — if both phones are tied to the same accounts, and one is hacked or locked, you could lose access to both. To reduce this risk, keep some accounts, passwords, or two-factor authentication methods on only one phone. This ensures a true backup rather than a mirrored vulnerability.

  
  

• Device management fatigue — every update, security patch, and password change has to be done twice. On the road with spotty Wi-Fi, it’s tempting to skip updating your backup phone—until an emergency hits and you find you’re locked out of the very apps you need. If two-factor authentication is tied to your primary phone and that phone’s gone or dead, you could be stuck without access when it matters most.

• Underuse — if you rarely need the second phone, it can sit idle for weeks. That’s not just dead weight in your bag—it’s also wasted money if you’re paying for a second data plan or extra services you barely use.

The benefits of having two phones In the right circumstances, a second phone can be more than just a backup—it can be a lifeline. Here’s how having two phones during travel can work in your favor.

• Built-in backup — if one phone is lost, stolen, or damaged, you’re not cut off from communication. On a solo trip, this isn’t just about convenience—it’s about safety. A second phone means you can still reach emergency services, access digital boarding passes, or log into your accounts without scrambling for a public computer or borrowing a stranger’s phone.

  
  

• Separate SIM/eSIM use — keep a local number and your home-country number active on the same phone (if your device supports it) or split them between two phones. This avoids the constant SIM-swapping that can lead to lost or damaged cards. It’s especially useful if you need to receive banking verification codes on your home number while using local data for navigation, ride-hailing apps, or work calls.

• Task and battery management — dedicate one phone to high-drain tasks like hotspotting, GPS navigation, or filming, while the other stays fully charged for essential calls, messages, and security codes. This split also reduces performance lag on your main phone and minimizes the chance of both phones running out of power at the same time.

• Work and personal separation — for remote workers, a second phone creates a clean boundary between professional and personal life. Keep work-related messaging, video calls, and productivity apps on one device, and personal communication, photos, and entertainment on the other. At the end of your workday, you can literally put the “office” phone away and focus on your trip without distraction.

Factors you might be overlooking

Travel style changes the math. I’m a slow traveler—often in one country for three months or more—and I work remotely. That combination shifts “two phones” from “nice to have” to “possibly essential.” Here’s why:

• Remote work reliability — Client calls, 2FA codes, calendar alerts, and file transfers can’t pause because a single device fails. A second phone gives you an always-on line and a clean way to separate work from everything else.

  
  

• Multi-device power strain — Laptops, tablets, and wearables all draining the same hotspot can tank your day. Splitting hotspotting/navigation to one phone keeps the other ready for calls, messaging, and verification codes.

  
  

• Home + local numbers — Banking and some platforms insist on your home number. Keeping that line active while running a local data plan is simpler (and safer) with two phones than constant SIM juggling.

  
  

• Repair + replacement delays — In smaller cities or beach towns, getting a modern phone fixed or replaced can take days. A backup prevents full downtime.

  
  

• Boundaries you can feel — A dedicated “work phone” you can put away at the end of the day protects focus and energy—critical on long stays.

So, is having 2 phones worth it?

Whether two phones are worth carrying depends on how much you rely on tech, how often you move, and how disruptive it would be if your main device failed. For some travelers, a second phone is nothing but dead weight. For others, it turns a potential travel disaster into a minor hiccup.

If your trip is short and your activities are predictable—say, a meditation retreat—one reliable phone might be all you need. Just keep track of it, and please don’t store it in your back pocket while wandering around.

Your two-phone decision checklist

Before you commit to carrying—and managing—two phones, why not pause and map it to your reality: how you travel, how you work, and how you stay connected. What’s a no-brainer for one traveler can be pointless weight for another.

Like I said earlier, I was a two-phone skeptic, so I built this simple checklist from real solo-travel and remote-work scenarios to help others decide if having two phones makes sense.

Screenshot it to use while planning your next trip.

For each FACTOR mark “Yes” if it applies to your travel style, work needs, or tech habits. The more “Yes” answers you have, the more likely carrying two phones will be worth it for you.

Mostly “No” answers? You can probably optimize a single phone and travel lighter.

If your checklist points to “yes,” give the second phone a job. A defined role prevents duplication and cuts friction.

The role of a secondary phone when traveling solo

A second phone works best when it’s not just a duplicate of your main one. Assigning it a clear purpose keeps you organized, reduces confusion on the road, and ensures you’ll actually use it when it matters. Here are a few smart ways to put it to work:

• Dedicated hotspot + nav — Keep this phone running the hotspot and GPS so your primary stays fast and charged for comms and 2FA.

  
  

• Travel ops hub — Load transport, booking, translation, and local messaging here; keep personal/social on the primary.

  
  

• Offline vault — Store passport scans, visas, insurance, tickets, and offline maps for immediate access even without data.

  
  

• Creator mode — Use it for video, time-lapse, voice notes, and B-roll so filming never blocks directions or incoming calls.

A secondary phone with a defined job is a tool, not a duplicate.

My verdict on the second phone question . . . As a slow traveler who works remotely—often in out-of-the-way places—the benefits of having two phones outweigh the drawbacks, especially now that I’ve defined a specific role for my secondary phone. I also have greater peace of mind knowing I can protect my primary phone by carrying a backup—like last night, when I did impromptu yoga on the beach and for a moment worried that sand had damaged my phone.

What's your take on traveling with two phones?

If you’re on the fence, I can help with the heavy lifting—researching the right devices, comparing costs, finding SIM/eSIM plans, and helping you with technical setup before you leave. That’s exactly what my support service is for: removing the tech and logistics stress so you can just focus on your trip.