Life in a bordertown on the Canadian and American border is fantastic. Truly. It’s the best of both worlds: apple pie with a drizzle of maple syrup. From the west coast to the east coast, the north and south cross-border connection offers much to enjoy. Y’all can enjoy it all, eh?
However, amidst the joys of dual-country living, one persistent challenge is navigating border roaming charges. These fees can unexpectedly accrue when your mobile device connects to a foreign network, even if you haven’t physically crossed the border. This can lead to significant costs if not managed carefully, impacting your ability to stay connected seamlessly across both sides of the border.
Returning to the top perks of living in a bordertown:
- Shopping
Watch the exchange rate and shop accordingly. Take advantage of double the sales. Plus, have access to products that are exclusively available in each individual region. Hit up Bulk Barn in Canada for Canadian candy and treats or stock up on everything else at everyone’s favourite American “everything” store: Target.
- Cuisine
Food is life’s greatest joy and getting to indulge in regional cuisines is one of the most beloved benefits of a bordertown existence. The culinary diversity is astounding. You can enjoy Nanaimo bars, Timbits, and butter tarts from Canada, and then switch to American delights like Twinkies, corn dogs, and clam chowder. And let’s not forget the cross-border foodie fusions—think maple-bacon donuts and BBQ poutine!
- Dual-country lifestyles
Experience the culture of both countries. Indulge in doubled the access to concerts or sporting events. Football in the States and hockey in Canada.
Not to mention, there’s an interesting international camaraderie that develops through the proximity. Case in point: Each year, citizens of Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan can gather on either side of the Detroit river to watch a spectacular fireworks display for a combined mega celebration of Canada Day and Independence Day.
- Friendly rivalries
Living on the border definitely invites good-natured debates with your friends about which country has the best sports teams (Canada, We The North, obviously), the superior coffee chain (Are Munchkins from Dunkin Donuts better than Timbits from Tim Hortons?), or the better fast food (A&W vs. A&W… yes, they’re actually different!).
Despite the good…
Unfortunately, one of the bordertown downsides worth mentioning is the constant threat of border roaming charges. Imagine simply sitting on the porch, scrolling through socials, when you get an alert from your mobile provider that you’re outside the country and will incur border roaming charges—only you haven’t so much as moved a muscle.
To remedy this you might look to getting yourself an overpriced mobile plan to cover international roaming, which also poses the risk of constant switching between networks and subsequent connectivity issues. Alternatively, you might hope to catch WiFi and stick to that (before realizing how unreliable that strategy truly is). Fortunately, there’s an easier and less expensive solution to this problem: a North American aloSIM eSIM.
Cheap to purchase, simple to set up, and instant to activate, an eSIM package for North America starts at only $8 and guarantees connections that allow you to talk, text, surf, and stream comfortably. Hit up Niagara Falls or cross the border to get to…Niagara Falls with 4G (sometimes 5G) or LTE equivalent network to capture the fun in each “international” destination.
