Traveling abroad with a cell phone

[+ jeezopete]

On 2/19/2022 at 5:35 PM, nycman said:

Once I was passing through Heathrow and bringing an Italian sausage home to the USA.

Well you could've been a little creative:

 

[+ nycman]

3 hours ago, jeezopete said:

Well you could've been a little creative:

 

Comedic genius at it’s best. 

[DickHunter]

On 2/18/2022 at 7:45 PM, xyz48B said:

In a few months, I’m taking a provider on vacation with me. We’re looking forward to it. He’s someone I vibe with and it’ll be fun. Sex and sites. All around.

 I want to take my own phone along. Who’s done that? What’s entailed in getting an international “plan?” We’re travelling over April into May. Will it require two months of an upgraded plan? It seems like a lot to pay for a week…How has that worked for any of you who’ve travelled abroad. The last time I was abroad, I lived in Germany for months so I just got a phone plan. This will just be a week…I’ll need a phone, but can’t fathom getting a local “plan” for a week.

 

I just found out about something called an e-sim. It's an electronic sim card. I downloaded the Airalo app, and then purchased my e-sim for a week, then renewed it. They have plans for 190 countries or something like that. Originally, I had a local sim installed in an old phone, but that all fell apart when I ran the update on the phone. From now on, I'm using the e-sim.

[cany10011]

On 7/9/2022 at 8:47 PM, DickHunter said:

I just found out about something called an e-sim. It's an electronic sim card. I downloaded the Airalo app, and then purchased my e-sim for a week, then renewed it. They have plans for 190 countries or something like that. Originally, I had a local sim installed in an old phone, but that all fell apart when I ran the update on the phone. From now on, I'm using the e-sim.

Much easier than fumbling with a sim card!

[MikeBiDude]

On 7/9/2022 at 5:47 PM, DickHunter said:

I just found out about something called an e-sim. It's an electronic sim card. I downloaded the Airalo app, and then purchased my e-sim for a week, then renewed it. They have plans for 190 countries or something like that. Originally, I had a local sim installed in an old phone, but that all fell apart when I ran the update on the phone. From now on, I'm using the e-sim.

Never heard of the e-sim? I’m with ATT and I’ve always just bought one of their 30 day international 30 days plans when I’ve travelled before.

So I’m headed to Greece in September for two weeks, this sounds like an option.

Is it voice and text messaging?

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

e-sim has been around for a bit (since 2016), with US carriers finally adopting it over the last year or so.

Newer iPhones are capable of a dual-SIM setup, using e-sim specifically.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209044

I wouldn't say it's easier or tougher than finding a suitable international plan with your own carrier.  It's just another option, as well as a whole other line for those who want to work two mobile numbers from one cellular device.

[DickHunter]

4 hours ago, MikeBiDude said:

Never heard of the e-sim? I’m with ATT and I’ve always just bought one of their 30 day international 30 days plans when I’ve travelled before.

So I’m headed to Greece in September for two weeks, this sounds like an option.

Is it voice and text messaging?

The one I had was only data, but it worked because people I was communicating with used WhatsApp. I have a cheapie cell plan with MetroPCS and they didn't have an international option. I would have had to change to T-Mobile, which was twice the price. This was a great option for me. Sounds like you have two options now, but if you want voice, then better to go with ATT.

[MikeBiDude]

15 hours ago, DickHunter said:

The one I had was only data, but it worked because people I was communicating with used WhatsApp. I have a cheapie cell plan with MetroPCS and they didn't have an international option. I would have had to change to T-Mobile, which was twice the price. This was a great option for me. Sounds like you have two options now, but if you want voice, then better to go with ATT.

I think data/SMS messaging would be enough for me that trip. I’ll probably get my usual 30 day  ATT plan, but I need a simple plan like e-sim for a friend I’m flying in and joining me mid-trip.

[DickHunter]

On 7/15/2022 at 10:17 AM, MikeBiDude said:

I think data/SMS messaging would be enough for me that trip. I’ll probably get my usual 30 day  ATT plan, but I need a simple plan like e-sim for a friend I’m flying in and joining me mid-trip.

I just checked Airlo to see what they had for Greece - 7 day, 1 GB for $5, 30 day 3 GB for $9, 30 day 5 GB for $13, 30 day 10 GB for $25 (all US $)

I'm heading to Mexico next week. I'll purchase my e-sim before I leave and have it all set up and then just turn it on when I land. Going to see if I can get an Uber from the airport instead of a taxi. This is going to make travel a lot easier for me.

[Jim_n_NYC]

I was just farting around the site and found this thread.  We went to Spain and Portugal and got sims while we where there (and had to switch when we changed countries), but it was great having regular phone service while we were there.

Now that I'm about to go to Germany for 3 weeks, T-mobile has 5 gigs of high speed data that I can use on my trip (I think they added it this year), but just in case I might get a sim.  Then I saw this e-sim thing you guys are talking about.  That would be so great to not have to do the physical sim card thing again.

edit: well, bummer.  I have an LG phone that's about 5 years old and it doesn't support e-sim.  I'll remember this for my next phone.

Edited August 17, 2022 by Jim_n_NYC

[MikeBiDude]

So I tried Airalo, and it won’t install on my iPhone 11 Pro. After a few very quick/friendly emails with their support team….turns out my ATT iPhone is still on an installment plan, ATT won’t unlock SIM or allow additional SIM’s until phone paid off. I do this installment thing because I can change to new phones frequently.

I’ll use my ATT international-by-day plan at $10/day but tops out at $100/month. I have a seeking buddy meeting me in Santorini, (he’s very nervous it’s his first international travel) so I fired up an extra iPhone I keep active, added international plan to that and mailed to him this morning.

Airalo happily refunded my $25 for the plan I’d set up and couldn’t use.

[menaughty]

What is the e-sim app name?

[Islesguy]

On 2/20/2022 at 4:10 PM, Lucky said:

Once in Tijuana I went right up to the border fence and held my cellphone facing the US, thinking surely I would get a signal. I didn't. I was amazed they could control it down to the inch!

Maybe it doesn't work in Mexico, but it definitely does in Canada. Whenever I am on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, my cell phone isn't roaming.

[+ José Soplanucas]

Frequent travelers, take a look at Google Fi.

I had been planning for some time to get a second phone for my trips, and decided for this service. I would have preferred to get it with an iPhone, but following their recommendations I closed on a contract with a Pixel 7.

I had not used an Android in a while, and it is interesting to note that apps that I used intensively (IG and Twitter) do not show the same features in on OS or the other. I do prefer iPhone, but I may keep the two platforms to balance pros and cons.

[CJK]

2 hours ago, Islesguy said:

Maybe it doesn't work in Mexico, but it definitely does in Canada. Whenever I am on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, my cell phone isn't roaming.

You're lucky. Mine always flips over to Rogers when I am in Niagara Falls. I have Verizon. 

[Islesguy]

54 minutes ago, CJK said:

You're lucky. Mine always flips over to Rogers when I am in Niagara Falls. I have Verizon. 

Weird since I also have Verizon. Last April, I was staying in a B&B across the street from the Niagara River and it still worked. It doesn't really matter since I have a plan that gives me free data and calls in Canada.

[CJK]

1 hour ago, Islesguy said:

Weird since I also have Verizon. Last April, I was staying in a B&B across the street from the Niagara River and it still worked. It doesn't really matter since I have a plan that gives me free data and calls in Canada.

I have gone to Fallsview Casino many times and stayed at the Marriott a few times and mine has always flipped service.