When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.

Alternatively, if youre more adventurous, you might be looking forward to a winter vacation.

Its handy, right?

A woman holds a pretzel and uses a smart phone while on the train

However, these free hotspots are notoriously insecure, putting your privacy and personal data at risk.

Keep reading, and Ill walk you through how a VPN is a must-have travel companion.

You open up your phone and see theres a free Wi-Fi data pipe available and you connect to it.

Abstract illustration of a young adult using a laptop on a 5 star rating bar, next to a blue shield and padlock representing a VPN

Nothing out of the ordinary here, right?

Unfortunately, despite how convenient these hotspots are, theyre often unsecured hotbeds of cybercriminal activity.

Free Wi-Fi connections dont usually have the same security measures as the Wi-Fi you use back home.

1. NordVPNThe best VPN overall

This could be devastating to your overall online security and privacy.

There are a few ways that bad actors take advantage of the vulnerability of free Wi-Fi hotspots.

Wondering which VPNs really, seriously, prioritize your digital privacy?

2. SurfsharkThe best cheap VPN (and also the fastest)

Check out our round-up of today’sbest secure VPNs.

A VPN gives you the power to hop these restrictions, however, and its as easy as pie.

Check it out today and enjoy a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. ExpressVPNThe best VPN for beginners

Check out a 2-year plan and youll be covered by a handy 30-day money-back guarantee.

3.ExpressVPN from $6.67 per monthThe best VPN for beginnersExpressVPNis my favoriteVPN for beginners.

Servers in 94 countries also mean you could spoof your location anywhere around the globe.

ExpressVPNs 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to take it for a test drive in your own time, too.