Disabling iMessage while travelling
Simple answer, yes.
If you want SMS to arrive at your phone there must be no other device left active that can possibly pick up the iMessage.  

Otherwise Apple considers that if any device received the iMessage, it is considered delivered &amp; will not try again as SMS.

Related question - How to tell Messages &quot;I&#39;m not at home&quot;? which remains unanswered, despite the great efforts of one member; but shows promise for Yosemite, if not Mavericks.