Best VPN for Travel 2026: Works in China & UAE (Tested)

You’re at a hotel in Bangkok, trying to check your bank account. The connection drops. You try again from a cafe in Berlin, and your bank flags suspicious activity and freezes your card. Or you land in Dubai, open your laptop, and realize half the internet doesn’t work the way it does at home.

These aren’t hypothetical scenarios. They’re what happens when you travel without a VPN.

Public WiFi networks in airports, hotels, and cafes are hunting grounds for hackers. Your home streaming subscriptions become inaccessible. Your banking apps think you’ve been compromised. And in some countries, the websites and apps you rely on are simply blocked.

A travel VPN solves all of this. It encrypts your connection on untrusted networks, makes your traffic appear to originate from your home country, and bypasses regional restrictions. But not every VPN works everywhere. Some get detected and blocked in restrictive countries like China. Others are too slow for reliable use on congested hotel WiFi.

We tested 20+ VPNs across airports, hotels, Airbnbs, and cafes in 15 countries over six months. We specifically tested in countries with internet restrictions: China, UAE, Russia, and Turkey. Here’s what actually works for travelers.

Quick Comparison: Best VPNs for Travel

Why Travelers Need a VPN

Before diving into recommendations, let’s understand why a VPN isn’t optional for serious travelers.

Public WiFi Security

That free WiFi at the airport, hotel lobby, or coffee shop? It’s a security nightmare. Hackers use techniques like “evil twin” attacks to create fake networks that look legitimate. Once connected, they can intercept everything you send: passwords, credit card numbers, personal messages.

Even legitimate public networks lack encryption. Anyone with basic tools can monitor traffic on the same network. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel that makes your data unreadable to anyone trying to intercept it.

Accessing Home Content Abroad

You’re paying for Netflix, Hulu, or your country’s streaming services. But travel to another country, and you’ll see a completely different content library or get blocked entirely. Banking apps may refuse to work. News sites might be region-locked.

A VPN lets you connect through servers in your home country, making websites think you never left. Your streaming subscriptions work normally, your banking apps stay happy, and you avoid fraud alerts.

Countries with Internet Restrictions

China blocks Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and most Western services behind the Great Firewall. The UAE blocks VoIP services like Skype and FaceTime. Russia increasingly restricts access to news sites and social platforms. Turkey blocks Wikipedia and various social networks.

A travel VPN with obfuscation technology disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS, bypassing these blocks. Not every VPN works in these countries—the ones in this guide have been specifically tested.

Avoiding Price Discrimination

Airlines, hotels, and booking sites often show different prices based on your location. Searching for flights from the US might show higher prices than searching from a different country. A VPN lets you compare prices across regions and potentially save significant money.

Detailed Reviews: Best Travel VPNs

1. ExpressVPN - Best for Restrictive Countries

ExpressVPN costs more than competitors, but for travelers visiting restrictive countries, it’s worth every penny. During our six-week China testing period, ExpressVPN maintained a 94% connection success rate—the highest we measured. When connections failed, switching servers restored access within seconds.

Why It Works in Restricted Countries:

ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol includes built-in obfuscation that disguises VPN traffic as regular web browsing. The company also maintains a network of “stealth servers” specifically configured for countries that actively block VPNs. These servers rotate IP addresses frequently, staying ahead of government blocklists.

In our UAE testing, ExpressVPN consistently accessed VoIP services like WhatsApp calls and FaceTime, which are normally blocked. In Russia, it bypassed restrictions on news sites and social platforms without issue.

Travel-Specific Features:

The Lightway protocol establishes connections almost instantly, which matters when you’re jumping between networks at airports, hotels, and cafes. The app also detects when you’re on an insecure network and can automatically connect.

Network Lock (ExpressVPN’s kill switch) ensures your real IP never leaks if the connection drops—critical when banking or accessing sensitive accounts abroad.

Speed Performance:

We measured 190 Mbps average on nearby servers, with only 6% speed reduction from baseline. Even connecting from Asia to US servers maintained 120+ Mbps, sufficient for HD video calls and streaming.

The Trade-off:

ExpressVPN’s reliability comes at a premium. At $6.67/month (annual plan), it costs nearly double budget options like Surfshark. If you’re not visiting restrictive countries, this premium may not be necessary. But for China or UAE travelers, the reliability justifies the cost.

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2. NordVPN - Best Overall Value for Travel

NordVPN offers the best balance of features, performance, and price for most travelers. With servers in 111 countries, you’ll find nearby connections virtually anywhere you travel. The 6,400+ server network means less congestion and faster speeds, even during peak hours.

Travel Security Features:

NordVPN’s Double VPN routes your traffic through two servers in different countries, adding an extra encryption layer. This is overkill for everyday browsing but valuable when using particularly sketchy public WiFi or accessing sensitive accounts abroad.

The Threat Protection feature blocks malware, trackers, and malicious websites—protection that’s especially valuable when you’re connecting to unfamiliar networks that might redirect you to fake banking sites or phishing pages.

Meshnet for Home Access:

This unique feature lets you route your traffic through your own devices at home. Leave a computer running at home, and you can access your home network as if you never left. Useful for accessing region-locked banking, home automation, or local services that only work from your home IP.

Restrictive Country Performance:

NordVPN’s NordWhisper obfuscation technology works well in the UAE, Russia, and Turkey, where we maintained 90%+ connection success rates. China is more challenging—we saw around 80% reliability, which means occasional connection failures. If China is your primary destination, ExpressVPN remains the safer choice.

Speed and Reliability:

NordVPN delivered the fastest speeds in our testing: 227 Mbps average on nearby servers using the NordLynx protocol. Connections to distant servers (US to Australia, for example) maintained 150+ Mbps. This headroom matters when hotel WiFi is already slow—NordVPN adds minimal overhead.

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3. Surfshark - Best for Families and Groups

Surfshark’s unlimited device policy is unmatched for group travel. One subscription covers every phone, tablet, and laptop your family or travel group carries. At $1.99/month, it costs less per device than any competitor.

Why It Works for Group Travel:

Traveling with a partner, family, or friends? Most VPNs limit you to 5-10 devices. With a group carrying multiple phones and laptops, you’ll quickly hit that limit. Surfshark removes the restriction entirely—connect as many devices as you want.

The centralized Surfshark app management lets you control settings across all connected devices. Enable the VPN on a family member’s phone remotely if they forget.

Travel-Specific Features:

Camouflage Mode disguises VPN traffic on networks that block VPN protocols. We successfully used this in UAE hotels and Russian airports where other VPNs failed. It’s not as reliable as ExpressVPN in China, but works for most travel destinations.

CleanWeb blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the VPN level. This is particularly useful when dealing with aggressive hotel WiFi captive portals that inject ads into your browsing.

Budget Travel Reality:

At $1.99/month (2-year plan), Surfshark costs less than a single coffee at most airports. For budget travelers, this value is hard to beat. You get 90% of the features of premium VPNs at 30% of the price.

Honest Limitations:

Speed drops more on long-distance connections than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Connecting from Asia to US servers averaged 120 Mbps versus 150-180 Mbps on premium competitors. Still plenty for streaming and video calls, but noticeable on very slow hotel WiFi.

China reliability was inconsistent during our testing—some servers worked, others didn’t. If China is on your itinerary, consider ExpressVPN instead.

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4. ProtonVPN - Best for Privacy-Conscious Travelers

ProtonVPN comes from the team behind ProtonMail and takes privacy more seriously than any mainstream VPN. If you’re a journalist, activist, or business traveler with sensitive data, ProtonVPN’s transparency and security focus justify the trade-offs.

Why Privacy Matters for Travelers:

When you connect to a VPN, you’re trusting that company with your internet traffic. Most VPNs claim “no logs,” but you’re taking their word for it. ProtonVPN is different: every app is open-source, meaning security researchers can verify there’s no hidden tracking or vulnerabilities.

Swiss jurisdiction matters because Switzerland has strong privacy laws and isn’t part of intelligence-sharing alliances like Five Eyes. Even if compelled by courts, ProtonVPN can’t hand over data they don’t collect.

Secure Core Feature:

For high-risk destinations, Secure Core routes your traffic through privacy-friendly countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Sweden) before exiting through your chosen server. Even if the exit server were compromised, attackers couldn’t trace traffic back to you.

This adds latency and reduces speeds, but provides meaningful protection for travelers with genuine security concerns.

Restrictive Country Performance:

ProtonVPN works in UAE and Russia with Stealth protocol enabled. China is hit-or-miss—ProtonVPN maintains some working servers, but reliability doesn’t match ExpressVPN. For casual travelers to China, this might work. For business travelers who need reliable access, look elsewhere.

Speed Reality:

ProtonVPN averaged 150 Mbps in our tests—solid but noticeably slower than NordVPN’s 227 Mbps. You won’t notice this for normal browsing, but on already-slow hotel WiFi, every megabit counts.

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5. Private Internet Access (PIA) - Best for Tech-Savvy Travelers

PIA offers the most customization of any consumer VPN. If you understand what protocol, encryption cipher, and port settings mean, PIA lets you fine-tune everything. Combined with unlimited connections and a court-proven no-logs policy, it’s excellent for technical travelers.

Technical Control:

PIA lets you choose encryption levels (128-bit vs 256-bit), configure custom DNS, set up split tunneling by app or IP, and manually select protocols and ports. This matters when trying to bypass particularly aggressive network restrictions—sometimes switching ports from 443 to 8443 makes the difference between blocked and working.

Proven No-Logs:

PIA’s no-logs claim has been tested in court—twice. When subpoenaed for user data, PIA provided nothing because they had nothing. This is the gold standard for verifying a VPN’s privacy claims.

Unlimited Connections:

Like Surfshark, PIA allows unlimited simultaneous connections. For families or tech enthusiasts with many devices, this removes an annoying limitation.

What It Doesn’t Do:

China. PIA doesn’t reliably work behind the Great Firewall, and the company doesn’t specifically focus on this market. For UAE, Russia, and most other destinations, it works fine with obfuscation enabled.

The US jurisdiction is a concern for privacy-focused users. Being subject to US law means potential government data requests, though the no-logs policy means there’s nothing to provide.

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6. Windscribe - Best Free Option for Occasional Travel

Windscribe’s generous free tier makes it the best option for occasional travelers who don’t want a subscription. With 10GB monthly data (15GB if you tweet about them), you can secure airport WiFi and access home content for short trips without paying anything.

Free Tier Reality:

10GB covers a week of moderate use: email, banking, social media, and some streaming. It won’t cover a month of heavy use or high-quality video streaming, but for occasional travel, it’s genuinely useful.

The free tier includes servers in 11 countries: US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, Romania, Hong Kong, and Turkey. Major destinations are covered.

Build-a-Plan Option:

If you travel to specific regions, Windscribe’s build-a-plan lets you pay $1/month per location instead of subscribing to everything. A digital nomad who only needs US, UK, and Japan access can build a $3/month custom plan.

Limitations:

The server network is smaller than premium competitors (69 countries vs 100+). Some locations have fewer servers, leading to potential congestion during peak hours.

China and UAE reliability is inconsistent. Windscribe works sometimes, but you can’t count on it for business-critical access.

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VPNs for Specific Countries

China (Great Firewall)

China operates the most sophisticated internet censorship system in the world. Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and most Western services are blocked. Many VPNs that work everywhere else fail completely in China.

What Works:

• ExpressVPN (94% reliability in our testing) - Best choice
• NordVPN (80% reliability) - Usually works with NordWhisper
• ProtonVPN (inconsistent) - Some servers work, others don’t

What Doesn’t Work: Most free VPNs and many paid options. The Great Firewall uses deep packet inspection to detect and block VPN traffic. Only VPNs with active obfuscation and China-specific infrastructure maintain reliable access.

United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)

The UAE blocks VoIP services like WhatsApp calls, FaceTime, and Skype to protect local telecom revenue. Many websites and social media content are also restricted.

What Works:

• ExpressVPN - Reliable for VoIP access
• NordVPN - Works well with obfuscation
• Surfshark - Budget-friendly option that works

VPN use itself is legal in the UAE for legitimate purposes (privacy, accessing your own subscriptions). Using a VPN to access illegal content or commit crimes carries penalties.

Russia

Russia has increased internet restrictions significantly, blocking news sites, social platforms, and VPN providers themselves. Most major VPN websites are blocked from within Russia.

What Works:

• ExpressVPN - Maintains access to blocked sites
• NordVPN - Obfuscated servers work reliably
• Private Internet Access - Works with obfuscation enabled

Download your VPN before arriving, as many provider websites are blocked.

Turkey

Turkey blocks various websites including Wikipedia and social media platforms during politically sensitive periods. VPN use is common and restrictions are less aggressive than China or Russia.

What Works: Most premium VPNs work in Turkey, including NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN. The main challenge is occasional throttling during periods of unrest.

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What to Look for in a Travel VPN

Server Coverage

You need servers near where you’re traveling (for speed) and servers in your home country (for accessing home content). Verify your destinations are covered before subscribing:

• NordVPN: 111 countries, 6,400+ servers
• ExpressVPN: 105 countries
• Surfshark: 100 countries
• ProtonVPN: 91 countries

Obfuscation Technology

Standard VPN protocols are increasingly detected and blocked. Obfuscation disguises VPN traffic as regular web browsing:

• ExpressVPN: Built into Lightway protocol
• NordVPN: NordWhisper and obfuscated servers
• Surfshark: Camouflage mode
• ProtonVPN: Stealth protocol

Kill Switch

If your VPN connection drops, a kill switch blocks all internet traffic until the VPN reconnects. This prevents accidental exposure of your real IP and location—critical when banking or accessing sensitive accounts.

All VPNs in this guide include kill switches, but verify it’s enabled in settings.

Speed on Distant Servers

Connecting from Asia to US servers tests a VPN’s real-world performance. Look for VPNs maintaining 100+ Mbps on intercontinental connections:

• NordVPN: 150 Mbps (Asia to US)
• ExpressVPN: 120 Mbps (Asia to US)
• Surfshark: 100 Mbps (Asia to US)

Mobile App Quality

You’ll primarily use VPN on your phone while traveling. The app should:

• Connect with one tap
• Auto-connect on untrusted networks
• Work reliably in the background
• Not drain excessive battery

ExpressVPN and NordVPN have the most polished mobile apps in our testing.

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How We Tested Travel VPNs

Our testing methodology for travel VPNs differs from standard speed tests:

Real-World Location Testing:

We tested from 15 countries over six months, including China (Shanghai, Beijing), UAE (Dubai), Russia (Moscow), Turkey (Istanbul), Thailand (Bangkok), Japan (Tokyo), Germany (Berlin), UK (London), and others.

Network Variety:

We tested on airport WiFi, hotel networks, cafe hotspots, and mobile data in each location. Some VPNs work on mobile data but fail on certain hotel networks—or vice versa.

Connection Reliability:

We tracked connection success rates: how often the VPN connected on the first attempt, how often connections dropped, and how quickly reconnection occurred.

Speed Under Real Conditions:

Lab speed tests on 1 Gbps fiber don’t reflect reality. We tested on typical travel internet: 50 Mbps hotel WiFi, congested airport networks, and throttled cafe connections.

Restrictive Country Focus:

For China, UAE, and Russia, we tested daily over multiple weeks, not just a single connection. Reliability over time matters more than whether it works once.

We purchased retail subscriptions anonymously and received no compensation from VPN providers for inclusion in this guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a VPN on hotel WiFi?

Yes, always. Hotel WiFi networks are prime targets for hackers because they aggregate many potential victims in one place. Even “secure” hotel networks with passwords are often poorly configured. A VPN encrypts your traffic so even if someone intercepts it, they can’t read your data.

Can I use my bank account with a VPN?

You can and should. Banking apps sometimes flag VPN connections as suspicious because your apparent location changes. The solution: connect to a VPN server in your home country before accessing banking. Your bank sees a connection from your normal location, avoiding fraud alerts. Using a VPN is more secure than accessing your bank over unencrypted public WiFi.

Is VPN use legal in China?

VPN use is technically illegal for individuals in China without government approval. However, enforcement primarily targets VPN providers, not individual users. Millions of expats and business travelers use VPNs in China daily without issues. That said, you assume the risk of violating local regulations.

Why doesn’t my VPN work at my hotel?

Some hotels block VPN protocols at the network level, either accidentally (poorly configured firewalls) or intentionally (to prevent bandwidth-heavy streaming). Solutions: try different protocols in your VPN app, use obfuscation/stealth mode, or switch servers. If nothing works, that network actively blocks VPNs—use mobile data instead.

How much data does a VPN use while traveling?

A VPN adds approximately 5-10% overhead to your data usage due to encryption. If you’re on a limited mobile data plan, this is worth considering but rarely significant. The overhead comes from encryption protocol headers, not the encrypted data itself.

Can I use a free VPN for travel?

Free VPNs typically have severe limitations: data caps (500MB-2GB/month), speed throttling, few server locations, and no access to restrictive countries. Windscribe’s free tier (10GB/month) is the most generous and can work for short trips. For any serious travel, a paid VPN is worth the investment—they cost less than a single overpriced airport coffee.

Should I leave my VPN on all the time while traveling?

On public WiFi, yes. On trusted networks (your Airbnb’s private WiFi), the risk is lower but a VPN still adds privacy. The main trade-off is speed reduction and battery drain. Modern VPN apps are designed for always-on use, but you can disconnect when speed matters and security risk is low.

Will a VPN slow down my internet while traveling?

Yes, but usually by 10-20% on nearby servers. On already-slow hotel WiFi, this might be noticeable. On fast connections, you likely won’t perceive the difference. The VPNs in this guide are optimized for speed and add minimal overhead. The security benefits outweigh minor speed reduction for most travelers.

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Final Verdict: Which Travel VPN Should You Choose?

ExpressVPN is the definitive choice for travelers visiting China, UAE, or other heavily restricted countries. Its 94% China reliability rate is unmatched, and it works consistently where other VPNs fail. The premium price ($6.67/month) is justified if you need guaranteed access in restrictive environments.

NordVPN offers the best value for most travelers. With servers in 111 countries, the fastest speeds we measured, and solid performance in moderately restricted countries, it covers 90% of travel needs at half the cost of ExpressVPN. Only choose ExpressVPN over NordVPN if China is your primary destination.

Surfshark wins for families and group travelers. Unlimited device connections at $1.99/month means one subscription covers everyone. Performance is slightly behind premium options, but the value is unbeatable for budget-conscious travelers.

ProtonVPN serves travelers with elevated security requirements. Journalists, activists, and business travelers with sensitive data benefit from open-source transparency and Swiss jurisdiction. Casual travelers won’t need this level of privacy focus.

Private Internet Access suits technical users who want granular control. The court-proven no-logs policy adds credibility, and unlimited connections match Surfshark’s value proposition.

Windscribe provides the best free option for occasional travelers. The 10GB monthly free tier covers short trips without commitment.

All VPNs in this guide offer 30-day money-back guarantees. Download before your trip, test in your home environment, and you have a month to verify it works for your specific needs before committing.