Netflix has become part of my daily routine. I’m enamored by shows like Stranger Things and big-budget tentpole movies such as Rebel Ridge and even a recent cheesefest called Don’t Move. I never want to miss anything. That’s why a virtual private network (VPN) can be so helpful when I travel.

Netflix has different streaming rules for different countries, and you might find your favorite show is not available while you’re trying to stream it to your personal device while at a hotel in some other country.

Using a VPN service is a great way to eliminate that frustration. With a VPN, you’re essentially creating a connection in whatever country you want by choosing a VPN server located within that country. When I travel overseas, I can connect to a server in the US to watch Netflix without being told by the streamer that my favorite show is not available in the country I’m visiting. This workaround is particularly useful if you subscribe to Netflix in the US but you frequently travel abroad.

It works in the reverse scenario as well. Let’s say you want to watch some BBC programming, but the BBC makes its service streamable only in the UK. I can use a VPN to create a connection in the UK by routing my traffic through a server there. ExpressVPN, one of the most popular options, has servers in 105 countries. I can use ExpressVPN to connect to a server in London from my home in Minneapolis, and when I go to stream a TV show or news report on the BBC One app, it works because the streaming service thinks I’m in London.

There are plenty of security benefits to using a VPN, like protecting your device from virus attacks and offering peace of mind when it comes to privacy. (I’d rather my ISP didn’t know how many times I visited BabylonBee.com each week.) But because I travel to Europe so often, the main benefit I get from using a VPN is never missing a show or movie on a streaming media app.

Installing and Using the VPN

What may surprise you is how easy a VPN is to install and use, especially on your phone. I tested ExpressVPN the last time I was in Europe and watched an entire season of Stranger Things with only one slight issue I’ll explain in a moment. It’s slick, fast, and painless. Here’s how it all works.

A VPN provides a secure connection over the internet. Traveling to Germany for work? Without a VPN, the local server in the country you are visiting knows where you are and blocks access. A VPN lets you choose a server in Chicago instead, so you can access Netflix and any other US-based services.

The first step is to register for the VPN service you like. I used ExpressVPN when I was in Austria a few months ago, but NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost are all good options. ExpressVPN is a bit pricier than some, costing around $10 per month if you sign up for a six-month plan. Surfshark costs as little as $2.49 per month if you sign up for two years at once. However, they all require that you register for the service before you can get started. After that, you download the app on your computer, phone, or tablet and log in.

This is the point where it becomes obvious how a VPN client makes life easier. There are really only two steps to follow. The first one is to select the server. On an iPhone using ExpressVPN, there’s a prompt for Current Location. I selected that and picked the United States, then Chicago. I then clicked the big red Connect button and watched it turn green. That means I was connected to the Chicago server and was ready to watch a Netflix show. Every VPN app works about the same: Select the country and city, then click the big connect button.

In my case, once I was connected to that Chicago server, I could then go to Netflix.com to watch Stranger Things without any problems. It also works with Netflix’s apps on your smartphone or your tablet, as long as your VPN app is also running on that device.

In case you are wondering, this is perfectly legal. As long as you are using your own paid account, a VPN merely allows you to access a streaming service from remote places.

Troubleshooting

A VPN client is not always perfect. There may be times when you select a server in another country and you still can’t connect or can’t watch a Netflix show.

I was in a slight panic once when I wanted to watch the season four finale of Stranger Things. No spoilers here, but let’s just say I knew there would be an epic battle. I used ExpressVPN while I was in that small town in Austria on vacation, and while it normally all worked fine, on a Sunday afternoon, the server I wanted to use in Chicago was just not cooperating. I chatted with the online support, which was available right within the iOS app on my iPhone, and the tech representative suggested using a server in New York City instead. That solved my problem.

What happens on occasion is that the server might be overloaded with too many connections, or it might be down for maintenance, but selecting a different server solves that issue. You can even do a quick Google search like “which VPN server works best in the United States for Netflix” and check Reddit forums and other sites for help. Apparently, a lot of people know you can connect to a VPN when you travel, and they might even be hooked on the same shows. Also, Netflix can detect when there are too many people using the service through one VPN server. You’ll find you have to select a different one in that case (e.g., Netflix has blocked the server).

Also, a few caveats: I used the full, ad-free, 4K version of Netflix. The ad-supported version might not work correctly over a VPN when you travel overseas. The VPN workaround may also not work if you’re trying to stream a live event on Netflix. There may also be restrictions on which VPN clients you can use in countries like Russia and China.

Netflix is also more likely to block VPN access when you use the mobile app. If you are using your phone or tablet, it’s better to use Netflix.com in your browser and make sure your browser is set to “desktop” mode. With desktop mode on, Netflix won’t detect that you’re on a mobile device and redirect you to the mobile app.

The good news is that a VPN app tends to work smoothly most of the time. I finally did watch that final epic battle in Stranger Things, and I kept up on BBC reports as well using the BBC One website. I never missed a show and, truth be told, that final battle was amazing.