eSIM vs. Verizon Travel Pass
 

Friends will be on a Viking Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basel in December. They have previously used the $10/Day Verizon Travel Pass when out of the country, but are now thinking of getting eSIMs for better data. I have had no experience with eSIMs so would be very grateful if someone here might have some advice and recommendations for them.

Esims are the way to go, much cheaper, with excellent coverage. Over the last several trips we have used Airalo, Orange, Nomad and SimOptions. Data only starting from $5-10 for 4-10GB for 14 days, $20 for 10-12 GB data plus number for 30 days.

I’m fine with data only as I usually make calls on whatsapp, my husband prefers to have an EU phone number also. So it’s mostly Orange for him as some of the others have only data.

Do a Google search as prices keep changing. I had Orange in May and SimOptions in June/July, service was similar on both. I usually install the esim before travel and activate on arrival in Europe, very easy to do.

Thanks geetika - great information.

I’m not a Verizon customer, but make sure that you have an unlocked phone so that an e-SIM is an option. I used an e-SIM on my last foreign trip and suggested this to my cousin for his upcoming South Pacific trip, but when we installed the Airalo app on his AT&T iPhone, the app told us his phone was not compatible. That’s when I remembered about having to unlock the phone so that you can use other SIM’s, which is a common feature when you buy your phone on a contract with your domestic cell phone provider. This usually requires you to pay off the purchase price balance, which can be a substantial chunk if you are not far into your contract. So, while an e-SIM is not only cheaper, but also may provide you better data coverage, don’t overlook this common hurdle.

I too use data only eSims from airalo. WhatsApp or Facetime or FB messenger for voice or video calls & messages to family and friends.

We are really not very savvy regarding e-sims etc. and although I do have an unlocked Pixel we just do the Verizon plan...if you use it, a lot...like a two week visit or more .., it can be expensive but it's really just another cost of travel, and not too bad considering convenience and dependability.

Yes, I forgot to mention you need an unlocked phone, sorry!

Thanks everyone for your help. It is greatly appreciated!

After decades of researching and trying out data and cell choices abroad, I've found that after Verizon "got with the program" a few years ago and provided actual functional* and realistic travel plans, the search for cheap data is a waste of my time. We now just opt for using my Travel Pass days (I get 12 free for year) and/or buying $100-a-month International Plan. I have come to agree with wildiowa that using one of my Verizon plan perks is just a cost of travel. For what this perk provides in time, convenience, and functionality, it is totality worth it.
*Note: My husband had a horrendous experience with Verizon Pass 6 years ago, and we avoided it like the plague. Travelers like me ripped Verizon online enough that someone, somewhere in the Verizon hierarchy must have listened.

Here are my reasons why we've just used Verizon's international options:

• I never need to unlock a phone (of course, I don't buy locked phones and that's for another discussion) or worry about having a dual sim, etc.
• I never need to buy more data--on the Travel Pass, I get 5GB data per day at 4 or 5G, and then unlimited data at 3G after that runs out. And heck, you are given an instant option to buy more 5G if you really, really need it. Note: If you are connected more than the first 5GB, you probably should be staying home because you are obviously not enjoying your travel.
• All my apps work.

I ward off connection problems as we travel around by turning my phone on and off periodically. Doing that automatically resets everything to the best local network and cell towers. Therefore, the only time I had a problem was during a thunderstorm in Ireland where even the locals couldn't get service. In other words, it was not a Verizon problem.

I have used Orange Travel eSims twice now, once in Italy and than again in France and Switzerland.

Good advice here, but I'd add that you also have to make sure that your phone is eSIM compatible. Recent models shouldn't be a problem, but older phones aren't. If you decide to use Orange's offerings, they have a list of compatible phones on their website.

A dual SIM phone can provide the ultimate flexibility. I had basic coverage from T-Mobile on my French trip, but the data wasn’t great. I got an e-SIM from Orange that I downloaded before the trip, and activated once we landed, at the same time turning off data on my T-Mobile SIM, but leaving the T-Mobile phone and text active. That way, I had local data (and a local phone number), while still be able to receive calls and texts on my US phone number. That was with an iPhone 12 Pro purchased in September of 2021.

I used to try travel phones but stopped some time ago as the esims I had went out of business. One had both US and international numbers and was prepaid. I was sad about it but went with my Verizon locked phone. The travel pass is now $12 a day up from $10 but I like keeping my number as I have it when needed. I don't go over the data allowed and connect to only secure available WiFi. I am only away for 10 days the most and don't mind the bill. I'm like others, its part of the cost to travel.

I use Consumer Cellular as my normal provider. I recently spent a month in Puglia and called them to activate the international roaming. I had my phone number, my messaging accounts, email, internet, gps, etc. My bill was an additional $12 that month!!! I was shocked it was so cheap!

Earlier this spring prior to my trip to japan, I called Verizon to activate the travel pass. Since we were going for 12 days, the $100/m was a better deal than the daily rate. Then they told me about upgrading my current plan to unlimited ultimate at $80/m. My current plan (old plan) was like $50/m with a max of 5GB/m. The unlimited ultimate plan includes unlimited data while traveling internationally. Once I'm done with traveling, I can downgrade myself to Unlimited Welcome, which is $55/m but with unlimited data.

so by switching to unlimited ultimate and paying an extra $30 for one month, I get unlimited data calls texts when traveling internationally. That is way cheaper than their international plan. And when I return, my new plan, while $5 more than my old plan, I now get unlimited data within the US

This saves the trouble of getting an eSIM, I get to keep my phone number and everything else stays the same on my phone.

Yeah, I should have noted the Travel Pass was $12 now.

FYI, I was on the Ultimate Plan--for less than 24 hrs. The problem with going to the Ultimate Plan was the limit on countries. I was visiting three countries, not counting the USA, on my upcoming trip that time, but when I was simply verifying my International Plan/Travel Pass arrangements before our trip, a Verizon rep skipped over that point and somehow talked me into this new plan. She said, "You can always go back to yours."

Ha!

When I came to my senses and realized I was getting LESS data per day than with my current plan or with the Travel Pass plus I could not call the other countries for free besides the designated country and the USA, I was pretty miffed. It took FOREVER for me to find someone in the Verizon to put me back on my legacy unlimited data plan. The Verizon guy who finally helped me out was a gem. He "got" the problem right way (most reps did not!). I told him I felt like an utter fool, and he nicely said, "Hey, it's a Three Card Monte world out here in the cellular universe." What a cutie. It still took quite a bit of coding to get my legacy plan back, but he did it.

A question for those of you with international plans. You have your home number still & can call & receive calls from the US? Can you make & receive local calls where you are? I suspect no, still need a local sim for that? I'm trying to figure out what to do for a long stay in Mexico. I think the least expensive solution might be 2 phones, texts to & from the US with my current prepaid Verizon number plus a local Sim that I can use locally & also to the US.

Yes.

Do you use WhatsApp? If not, check into. It's basically free text and calls, using internet. I was shocked at how many businesses in Europe use it and it's the default for texting/ calling for groups last year. If you don't have access to internet, it's not going to help you as far as "free" calls and texts go, but I imagine most of the time you'll have it nearby - or at your new home.

Add me to the list who uses the Verizon, now T-Mobile, as part of "travel expenses". Their daily plans are easy and reasonable. I love turning my phone as the wheels are touching down and reading the text that welcomes me to the country and tells me I am ready to text and call (per the daily rate of course). That works for me. Local use WhatsApp the majority of the time.

Thanks starrs. I may have to break down & figure out WhatsApp. Woe is me.

Sorry to co-opt the thread.

You don’t need two phones as long as you have an unlocked phone that can handle dual SIMs. Assuming that your domestic provider has a reasonable international roaming plan (if you are over 55, T-Mobile offers international calls for $0.25 per minute and unlimited texts) you would have your home carrier on one SIM, then a local SIM on the other (which could be data only if you can use WiFi calling or WhatsApp). You can turn each SIM off and on from Settings, or perhaps just turn off data only your home SIM (which is what I did). When I was in France, I had two SIMS from which I could make and receive calls, both active at the same time.

No need for a 2nd 'local'/different phone. I use the Verizon plan and I can call and receive Stateside calls as well as local calls in the country I'm in. Calling to the USA, dial +1 and the number including Area Code. Calling within the UK, you dial the country code and the local number.

The Verizon plan may cost a bit more but it is so easy and no dealing with sims/unlocked phones/etc. Its super user friendly.

Same for texts . . .

edit:

I just checked Verizon's instructions for Mexico and this is from the website:

"For calling to the USA, dial +1 and the 10 digit number you are calling. For calls within Mexico, dial +52 and the local number you are calling"

Whether that makes sense for a long term stay in Mexico I don't know. My friend who lives half the year in Baja uses a 916 area code number when down there but I'm not sure which company the account is with . . .

I think the Verizon plan in Mexico or Canada is $6 per day. Might want to check to make sure but that's not bad.

No, not bad for a week or 2 but a lot for 6 months. Not that I'd use it every day. I think it'll be my current prepaid Verizon plan that includes texts, then Nana can call with a Telcel sim that includes calls to the US. My phone is unlocked & I'll investigate whether it can use 2 Sims. Thanks!

AlessandraZoe I'm pretty sure the Ultimate Unlimited plan allows 15gb/m high speed data plus texting in any of those 210 countries, not just a single country each month. The global choice "single country selection" is for free phone calls to one particular country. See this reddit thread https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/comments/1kh3qox/using_unlimited_ultimate_in_italy_question/

also see FAQs here https://www.verizon.com/support/unli...ultimate-faqs/

My understanding is, you get unlimited data (first 15gb high speed) and unlimited texts. But if you want to make phone calls to your global choice country, you get 300 free minutes. Eg, you pick Germany as your global choice country. You can all Germany from the US for free up to 300 minutes. However if you need to also call France, then you have to pay their international calling charges.

But if you are already in Germany and need to call a number within Germany, i believe it is free as well.

I'm also in the camp of using Verizon plans for simplicity, and chalk it up to part of travel costs. However, I have a question as I don't fully understand all this.

A few years ago on a trip to Europe I had a few days of limited cell coverage and no wifi. Coincidentally, right at the start of this time I received a text message from my credit card company asking if I had made a large online purchase. I had not, and I was able to answer the text and even call their international service line to make sure the charge was declined and my card was locked. I used a backup card for the remainder of the trip.

The question is: if I had gotten an eSim instead, would I have not received that text message alerting me to the problem? It was several days later until I checked email, where a message was also waiting. Thanks.

Short answer:
"It Depends...."

Longer answer:
It depends on how your cell phone service company works when it comes to text messages and voice mails.

Some technical background:
Technically, all a SIM (whether its a chip or eSIM, doesn't matter) does is connect your device to the towers/cellular network associated with that SIM. Akin in some ways to connecting to wifi - be it a hotel, or internet cafe, or your home wifi. If your device isn't connected to a network (by SIM or by wifi), then it's a dumb device. Once you are connected you can access emails, internet, live traffic updates on maps, etc.

My own cell service company - US based Spectrum doesn't own or operate their own towers - they contract with other - Verizon, and maybe also T-Mobile, and AT&T to use their infrastructure. With Spectrum, for the most part they don't care how I'm connected. When out the country I have access to texts, and can make phone calls regardless of whether I'm connected to a cell network by SIM, or connected to a wifi network.. Connecting by phone over wifi is also generally known as Voice over IP, or VoIP calling. Not all companies operate the same way.

The devil is in the details.
You may have to toggle some settings on your account and/or on your phone to enable VoIP, and to enable or disable a SIM, or roaming, or set which SIM is primary, etc.....
The challenge of figuring out those details on the fly is one reason for getting a travel package from your home carrier. I've done this enought time that I'm comfortable toggling settings for both Apple & Android devices, so saving $$ to spend on vacation is a benefit.

Thanks J62. I was afraid there might be an "it depends" answer in there. Almost certainly I'll continue to use my Verizon travel plan so I don't have to deal with the "challenge of figuring out those details on the fly".

But I'll ask the question slightly differently: since the text message from my credit card company went to my usual phone number, if I had only a local eSim is it true that I would never see that text message, until I got home and reactivated my normal sim card? If so, then that is a case against using only a local sim card.

I also have a roaming question, but I'll hold off on that one.

Or a good argument in favor of checking email daily.

Very true, but at the time I didn't have an unlimited data plan so was avoiding checking email unless I was on wifi. So we are back to "it depends"! :sob:

"It depends...." similar to phone calls.... Every phone co may be different on how they push text messages, and Android devices may behave differently than iOS devices / settings...

More info about what I do.
Before 2024 I was with Verizon and became familiar with their ins and outs, and did whatever I could to avoid paying the $10 daily fee (per line), simply to connect to the cell network. Traveling with a group that "cost of travel" can add up quickly to be a nice meal, or 3. Since I switched from Verizon to Spectrum a year ago I haven't had to think as much. Same phone, same cell towers, same speed. With Spectrum I pay a flat $30 per phone line fee. No daily $ charge simply to connect to a tower overseas. International send/receive texts are free, and calls are a low pennies per minute rate. Data usage is where the charges can add up, so I'll get a data only eSIM for use with internet, mail, etc - anything that may require more data. Since I use my phone mostly as a smart device, I turn off my home SIM/eSIM, and use the data only eSIM for most of the time. If I need to use my home phone # to make a call, I can turn on the eSIM/SIM, and turn off the other one so I use whatever network Spectrum connects to. I'm not trying to sell Spectrum - it's just that it's been far simpler than Verizon.

The people that may need to text me, I have them contact me on WhatsApp. These days all of my work correspondence is via TEAMS, and that app doesn't care how I'm connected...

Thanks again J62. I understand what you wrote, food for thought at least. Appreciate it.