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International phone use while traveling abroad: how to use your phone internationally

You’ve prepared your passport, double-checked that you have the proper vaccinations and medical care, and converted some cash to the local currency — so why not take some extra measures to prepare your phone as well?

Prior to setting foot in an airport, be sure to check with your carrier to ensure that your phone can be used outside the US, and look into Verizon’s current international travel plans, like TravelPass or an International Monthly Plan. This guide will provide advice on completing each of these steps, keeping you connected while you explore.

Adding an international travel plan

Speak to your cell service provider about the best way to stay in touch when travelling internationally. Different mobile providers offer varying degrees of coverage in different countries, and it’s important to determine whether your current plan and device will be compatible with the network wherever you’re going. In most cases, it’s best to have a plan on your own line or lines, as it offers the best value, allowing you to use your device without worrying about running up additional costs.

Choose the best plan for your trip.

International travel plans allow you to utilize your phone’s apps, texting, maps, and other features while abroad. An international plan is a service that lets you use your phone in other countries. For instance, while most Verizon phones are global devices, some are not. If you have a Verizon plan, you can use the international TripPlanner tool . The TripPlanner will recommend the plan that is best for your trip, allowing you to check to see if the country you are visiting is covered by any current international plan you can add.

International travel plans don’t have to be complicated, though. The process can be as simple as adding TravelPass– TravelPass is the easiest way to stay connected to everything that matters while traveling in 210+ countries and destinations with your 4G or 5G phone. Remember, roaming in Canada and Mexico, may already be included in your domestic plan.

Adding TravelPass.

TravelPass, Verizon’s go-to international plan, is the perfect option for customers who want to use their cell phone without worrying about added costs. For a set fee of just $10 a day per line, you can access your domestic voice, text and data allowance while traveling in over 210 countries and destinations worldwide. It’s only $5 per line in Mexico and Canada for customers whose domestic plans don't cover those countries. And either way, you’ll only be charged on the days you use your phone outside the US.

TravelPass is simple to activate. To add it to your line, simply text the word TRAVEL to 4004 or on My Verizon. You’ll then receive a welcome text message explaining the daily fee when you arrive in a TravelPass destination. The first time you use your phone to make a call, send a text or use data, the daily fee will begin. Use your phone as much as you want for the next 24 hours; you’ll only get another TravelPass charge if you use your device after the time elapses. You can add TravelPass to a 4G or 5G world device with a qualifying domestic plan. What’s more, TravelPass offers 2GB of high speed data and unlimited 3G data thereafter per 24 hour session in 210+ countries and destinations.

Just remember that your minutes, texts and data will count toward your regular plan. So if you have an unlimited plan - you also have unlimited talk, text, and data abroad.

Options for International monthly plans.

The $100 International Monthly Plan includes 250 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data for 30 days and is ideal for trips of 10 days or more.

You can also add a data plan on select cruise ships and airplanes for just $20 and get 50 MB of data for browsing the web or using your email. If service is available on board, Verizon will automatically send you a text message with the option to add the plan.

Check the TripPlanner for participating cruise ships and contact your airline for details of on board service.

Pay as you go.

We always recommend adding a plan if you’re traveling in one of the 210+ countries and destinations covered by TravelPass and the $100 International Monthly Plan. However, if your destination is not covered by these plans or you choose not to add a plan then you will be charged pay-as-you-go rates by the minute, message or MB of data used.

You don’t need to worry about an international SIM card anymore

A SIM (subscriber identity module) card is a tiny memory chip that stores data about your cell phone use. A SIM card also stores data on its country of origin and the mobile carrier you use. Some people think that you still need to swap out your SIM card with a local card to use local services, but this is no longer necessary. In fact, most modern phones no longer have a removable SIM card anymore - they have embedded cards or eSIMs. If you have a 4G or 5G phone, you can simply use it without opening up your phone or swapping a SIM. (Who wants to open up your phone or risk misplacing a SIM card while abroad anyway?)

Keep your phone charged

Reliable access to the online information and tools you’ll need overseas requires more than just an adequate carrier plan; it also means keeping your phone in working condition. Even the most robust international data plan can be rendered useless if you don’t have methods to actually keep your mobile devices charged.

The first consideration at hand is finding the right electrical plug adapter for your travel destination. There are 15 different plug types , and different countries use varying combinations of these types. Invest in appropriate adapters so that you can reliably charge your mobile devices during your travels. You can find international wall charger kits that can make this a substantially easier process.

Another point to consider is the possibility of bringing an external battery pack to keep your phone charged when you don’t have access to an electrical outlet. Battery accessories come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, including portable power banks and even phone cases with built-in batteries. Keeping one of these on hand can be a lifesaver during your travels.

In case of an emergency

A phone emergency may not be as urgent as a medical emergency, but it can certainly put a damper on your travel plans all the same. There are measures you can take to mitigate your chances of experiencing a phone emergency, as well as to be prepared to react quickly when one occurs.

What to do if you lose your cell phone while traveling abroad

Know what to do if your phone is lost or stolen while traveling outside of your country. If this situation happens to you, do the following:

Use Your Device’s “Find My Phone” Feature: Many devices now come with features that leverage GPS technology to help you find your phone from another device, should it be misplaced or stolen. If your phone is still on, this may be an effective way of quickly locating it.

Call or Text your Phone From Another Line: If another person has your phone, they may respond to a call or text. If you forgot your phone in the hotel lobby, for instance, this tactic may help hotel staff return your property to you. If the person with your phone answers your calls or texts by making demands, report the situation to the local authorities.

Contact Your Mobile Carrier: A representative from your service provider may be able to guide you through the process of getting your phone back — or at least locking down your device and account so that it cannot be used for unauthorized purposes.

Check Your Financial Accounts & Change Passwords: If you no longer have access to your phone, someone else might. Your phone might be used to access your accounts, from social media profiles to online banking. Take time to change the passwords for each of your accounts. Further, review your financial accounts to determine if your phone has been used to conduct any fraudulent purchases. While this is a time-intensive step, it is a vital method of preventing identity theft.

Remotely Erase Your Phone: Another common feature of modern smartphones is the ability to remotely erase your phone’s memory. This is a last resort, as erasing your phone prevents you from tracking it down through some of the other methods listed above. If you won’t be able to get your smartphone back, doing this step will at least prevent your personal information from being accessed by unscrupulous individuals.

To prevent your phone from being lost or stolen in the first place, be sure to take the following actions before you set off on your travels:

Be sure to secure your phone with a lock code. You can access the security settings of your phone to add this. Your lock options and the process for applying them differ from device to device, so it’s important to take some time to familiarize yourself with this process. Doing so can prevent thieves from accessing your personal information.

Update your settings to make full use of any “find my phone” or “lost mode” options. While it’s easy to overlook the usefulness of these features, they can be a great help during a phone emergency of this nature.

Don’t forget to back up your phone. You may be able to back up your phone’s data on your desktop computer or back up your phone on the cloud .

Invest in a wireless phone protection plan . These can help you get a new device quickly and affordably. Contact your mobile carrier to explore your options in this regard.

Who to call during an emergency while traveling abroad

One preparatory step you absolutely can’t skip is putting together a list of emergency contacts. Each contact should be saved in your phone’s address book, but you should also keep a physical copy of this list in case you are left without access to your own phone.

This list should include family members, friends, your house sitter, and more. If you need guidance when crafting your list of emergency contacts, consider including the following as a minimum:

Emergency lines — “911” won’t work abroad, and many countries have unique numbers for different types of emergency services. You can find a list of emergency numbers for different countries online ;

Your nearest U.S. Embassy ;

The local police’s phone number;

Your doctor — if you experience urgent medical needs or lose vital medications, you must be able to quickly get in touch with your healthcare provider.

Note that your phone may not be able to make calls to every number on this list. In some instances, you may need to use a local SIM card to make calls to essential contacts. If this is true for you, strongly consider investing in a second line for local use during your travels.

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Verizon International Phone Plans — Countries, Coverage, Rates, and More

Andrew Kunesh

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Verizon International Phone Plans — Countries, Coverage, Rates, and More

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Travelpass℠, monthly travel plan, free north american roaming, which verizon data package is right for you, how to sign up for an international data package, verizon’s supported countries, pros of verizon’s international data plans:, cons of verizon’s international data plans:, final thoughts.

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Being at the forefront of the move to 5G connectivity, Verizon is often referred to as one of the best carriers in the U.S. But how does the carrier compare to competitors like AT&T , T-Mobile , and newcomer Google Fi when traveling abroad?

That’s a good question, and it’s an important one to ask if you find yourself out of the country often. So in this article, we’re going to dive deep and take a look at how Verizon’s U.S. phone plans work abroad. We’ll start out by looking at the company’s international plans and their respective pricing. Then, we’ll look at the supported countries and compare the pros and cons of using Verizon abroad.

Spoiler alert: like AT&T, the international options are pretty limited on Verizon. You’ll want to study this article if you’re a current Verizon customer who’s about to travel abroad, or if you’re a traveler that’s considering a switch to Verizon.

Breaking Down Verizon’s International Data Plans

As teased in the intro, Verizon has a limited (and expensive) set of international plans. There are 3 different plans available, ranging from a monthly international data allowance to a plan that lets you use your U.S. data plan while traveling abroad.

Here’s a look at all of the available options:

All Verizon customers are automatically enrolled in pay as you go international data, texting, and calling. If you don’t enroll in another plan on this list and take your phone out of airplane mode when abroad, you’ll automatically be charged at the following rates:

Talk: $0.99-$2.99 per minute, depending on the country
Text: $0.50 to send, $0.05 to receive
MMS: $0.25 to send or receive
Data: $2.05 per megabyte

There’s no doubt that these prices are absolutely astronomical, hence why we don’t recommend relying on pay as you go international data — it can get very expensive very quickly.

For example, sending a 3 MB picture message on Facebook Messenger would cost a whopping $6.15! And since modern smartphones use data in the background to fetch email, notifications, and more, you may end up being charged just for taking your phone out of airplane mode.

Hot Tip: Thankfully, you can call Verizon to have pay as you go international data disabled on your account. We highly recommend doing this so that you can protect yourself from an astronomical bill on your next trip.

Verizon’s TravelPass plan is nearly identical to AT&T’s International Day Pass plan. This plan lets you use your U.S. data, talk, and text plan abroad for a daily fee.

This plan costs $10 per day per line, and — once enrolled — you’ll only be charged for the days you actually use your phone abroad. This means you can set the plan and forget it. Then, instead of worrying about pay as you go data, you’ll be charged a flat-rate fee for your international phone usage.

Note that you’re billed in 24-hour increments, so if you fly to Brazil and connect to data at 5 p.m. on a Monday, your single $10 fee will be valid until 5 p.m. on Tuesday. You’ll be billed for another 24-hour increment if you continue using your phone after this initial period.

Further, this plan still pulls from your U.S. data, text, and calling allowance, so make sure to keep an eye on how much you use your phone. Otherwise, you might come back home with overage fees.

You can use this plan in any of Verizon’s 185+ supported countries and if needed, you can roam in multiple countries on the same day without paying extra. Don’t worry — we’ll discuss supported countries later in the article.

Finally, you can enroll in a Verizon Monthly Travel Plan. This gives you a set amount of data, calls, and texts to use when you travel abroad. However, the amount of data, calls, and texts included with each plan is limited at best.

Here’s a look at what’s included with Verizon’s 2 Monthly Travel Plans:

If you exceed your data, talk, or text allowance, you’ll be charged at the following rates:

$0.35 per minute of talk
$0.05 per text message sent
$25 per 0.5 GB of data used

Like the TravelPass, this plan works in 185+ countries and can be used across multiple countries if needed. Note that — also like TravelPass — this plan is billed per line, so multiple lines can’t share the same Monthly Travel Plan.

A handful of Verizon plans come with free data, call, and text roaming within North America. This means that when traveling within Canada or Mexico you can continue to use your phone as you would as if you were in the U.S. The plans that include this type of roaming are:

All Unlimited plans

If you’re subscribed to one of Verizon’s other plans, you can add North American roaming for $5 per day. This works the same as the TravelPass plan we mentioned earlier — you’re charged per day, but only when you actually use your phone in Canada or Mexico.

So, there are 3 different options for international mobile data on Verizon, but which is the best for you? Here’s why you might pick 1 plan over another.

Stick With Pay as You Go Data If You

Don’t plan on using your smartphone or will purchase a local SIM card upon arrival. In our opinion, this option is just too risky to be justified.

Subscribe to TravelPass If You

Are only traveling for a few days at a time — $10 per day can add up quickly!
Need access to your full data plan and U.S. phone number when traveling abroad.
Have a data plan with a high (or unlimited) data limit.

Buy a Monthly Travel Plan If You

Plan to travel for an extended period of time.
Don’t need to use your phone constantly — unfortunately, the data, text, and call limits are low.

Bottom Line: Think about how much you need to use your phone when traveling and pick a plan based on that info. Note that you may be better off buying a local SIM card if you need to use your phone extensively for multiple days — this will save you money in the long-run.

Thankfully, enrolling in both the TravelPass and Monthly Travel Plan is simple.

You can enroll in TravelPass by texting “Travel” to 4004 from the phone whose line you’d like to enroll in TravelPass. Then, a new TravelPass will be added every time you use your phone abroad. We recommend doing this before your trip to avoid possible pay as you go charges. Alternatively, you can enroll using this page on the Verizon website.

Further, you can enroll in a Monthly Data Plan by going here . After you log in, you’ll be prompted to choose between the 0.5 GB or 2 GB plan. You can cancel this plan at any time by navigating to the same web page.

Like many carriers, Verizon has international coverage in most parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. However, it’s always wise to check that the country you’re visiting is covered by your carrier before you depart — otherwise, you could have a hard time finding a ride out of the airport once you land.

Verizon posts its full list of supported countries on its website. The carrier boasts that it supports “185+ countries” and while this is less than T-Mobile’s “210+ countries,” we’re unable to find any notable exclusions on the Verizon website. Every tourist destination we could think of was listed on the Verizon website, so you likely won’t have any issue connecting during your travels.

However, this could cause pose problems for those who partake in adventure travel by visiting off-the-beaten-path locations.

Pros and Cons of Verizon’s International Data Plans

There’s no doubting that Verizon isn’t the best plan for most travelers. For the most part, it offers a very limited set of expensive international plans, and none of its plans offer free international roaming like T-Mobile or Google Fi.

However, it’s still important that we run through the carrier’s international data pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision on if Verizon is right for your travel needs.

Free international roaming within North America on most plans
Monthly international plans include calling
TravelPass is automatically enabled once you enroll
Expensive monthly international plans with small data allowances
TravelPass can get expensive on long trips
Likewise, TravelPass pulls data from your domestic data, call, and text allowance
Less supported countries than T-Mobile, Google Fi, and others

Being frank, we recommend that people who travel often steer clear of Verizon.

Its international data plans are too expensive to be deemed practical, so if you have the choice, we recommend checking out T-Mobile or Google Fi instead. Both of these plans offer free international roaming and more supported countries, giving you a smaller bill and more places to bring your connection.

However, we do understand why one would pick Verizon when traveling within the U.S. The carrier has industry-leading coverage at home and has been shown to offer some of the best speeds. It’s unfortunate that these perks don’t carry over to the carrier’s international coverage.

But now we want to hear from you. Do you use Verizon when traveling abroad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my smartphone work abroad.

Most modern smartphones are properly equipped to work internationally. However, you should refer to your smartphone’s manual or call Verizon to check if your smartphone is properly configured.

Do any Verizon plans come with free international data roaming?

The Start, Play, Do, and all Unlimited plans come with complimentary international roaming within North America. However, none of Verizon’s international plans come with free data roaming outside of this region.

Where can I see the full list of Verizon's supported countries?

You can view a full list of supported countries on Verizon’s website .

Can I bring my phone if I switch to Verizon?

You may be able to bring your device to Verizon — use this tool on Verizon’s website to check if your phone, tablet, or smartwatch is compatible with the Verizon network.

Where can I find more info on buying a local SIM card?

You can use the Prepaid SIM Card Wiki to find more info on buying a local SIM card in most countries. Buying local SIM cards is often cheaper than roaming on U.S. carriers like Verizon.

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About Andrew Kunesh

Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.

He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 25 countries, 10 business class products, and 2 airline statuses (United and Alaska) under his belt. Andrew formerly worked for The Points Guy and is now Senior Money Editor at CNN Underscored.

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Best international phone plans in 2024 — what travelers need to know

Heading overseas? Find out what your cellphone provider charges if you use your phone

T-Mobile phone plans
Verizon phone plans
AT&T phone plans
Google Fi plans
Other options
Device compatibility and eSims
5G coverage when traveling

Before your summer travels overseas, you should look into whether you've got one of the best international phone plans for staying connected during your upcoming adventures. In the U.S., all the major wireless carriers offer some kind of travel benefit with their best cell phone plans , but they also have supplementary packages for travelers to augment the data plan you already have in place. The trick is to make sure those options keep you covered around the globe.

1. T-Mobile : Best choice for travelers 2. Verizon : TravelPass options 3. AT&T : Best for travel in Latin and Central America 4. Google Fi : An underrated traveling companion 5. Other options : Other international phone plans to consider

The best international phone plans will let you make calls and browse the web when you're in another country (though there might be a fee on top of your normal monthly rate, depending on which carrier you use). Different plans might cover different countries, and how long you plan on traveling could also impact your choice of plans. Your method of travel — be it by plane or cruise ship — also affects which plan is best for you.

All of these are things for globetrotters to consider when shopping for wireless coverage. You're going to want one of the best unlimited data plans since they tend to offer the most travel-related perks. If you haven't travelled internationally in a while, it's smart to double-check what options are out there since the best phone carriers have overhauled their plans and packages available to travelers.

Here’s a look at the travel policies and perks for the three top U.S carriers along with information on Google Fi, which offers a plan that definitely appeals to frequent travelers.

T-Mobile international phone plans

best international phone plans: T-Mobile

T-Mobile offers an expanded array of plans, though most of its unlimited data plan options have some benefits for overseas travel. Subscribe to Magenta, Magenta Max, Go5G, Go5G Plus or Go5G Next, and you enjoy unlimited data and texting in more than 215 countries around the world. If you want to place or receive calls, you’ll be subject to the local rate depending on where you want to go. You don’t need to notify T-Mobile of your travel for your overseas benefits to kick in.

T-Mobile Go5G Plus Plan | Unlimited Data | $90/month T-Mobile's Go5G Plus plan has the edge over Magenta Max for world travelers, even if the latter plan is $5 cheaper for a single line. That's because Go5G Plus customers get more data when traveling in Mexico and Canada (15GB vs. 10GB for Magenta Max) and 10GB more hotspot data. Otherwise, the two plans are identical: You can use your data in 215-plus countries at no extra cost. The first 5GB of data you use use will be high-speed data (with 5G speeds supported where available). The cheaper Go5G and Magenta plans ($75/month and $70/month, respectively) also feature travel benefits, including high-speed data in 11 European countries. Otherwise, data speeds are capped at 256 kbps.

Travel perks in current plans: As part of T-Mobile's Beyond Connected program, data speeds now reach 256 kbps when you're overseas. If you subscribe to either the standard Magenta or Go5G plans and you're in one of 11 European countries, you can enjoy 5GB of high-speed data every month, thanks to a partnership with T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telecom.

The perk gets better when you upgrade to either Magenta Max or Go5G Plus, both of which cost $15 more a month than their respective base plans. In that case, you can benefit from 5GB of high-speed data in 215 countries.

Go5G Next, T-Mobile's most expensive plan at $100/month for a single line, has the same travel benefits as Go5G Plus, but adds the ability to upgrade your phone every year. If that's not important to you, stick with Go5G Plus and pay $10 less each month on your wireless bill.

T-Mobile customers can take advantage of free Wi-Fi on American, Delta, Alaska Airlines and United flights. Magenta Max and Go5G Plus subscribers get full texting and Wi-Fi with streaming during flights, where wireless is available. If you go with the standard Magenta or Go5G option, you're covered on four flights per year with full streaming, plus unlimited texting; after those four flights, you can stream one hour of video. Delta SkyMiles members also get free Wi-Fi on domestic U.S. flights courtesy of T-Mobile — even if they get their wireless service from another carrier.

In Mexico and Canada, T-Mobile allows you to use up to 5GB of data whether you've got Magenta or Magenta Max; speeds are slowed to 2G after that. Go5G customers get 10GB of data in those two countries, while Go5G Plus members enjoy 15GB.

T-Mobile includes travel benefits in two of its remaining senior plans, with identical travel perks between the $100 Go5G Plus 55 option and the $120 Go5G Next 55 plan. (Note that those monthly prices cover two lines of data; one line of either Plus or Next cost $70 and $80, respectively.) Travel perks include high-speed data and text when you travel abroad, plus unlimited in-flight connectivity. When you travel to Canada or Mexico, you get 15GB of high-speed data. Both plans also include a year's membership to AAA for road travel in the U.S.

If you opt for T-Mobile's lower cost Essentials unlimited plan, you'll get 2G roaming in Canada and Mexico, but have to pay for data elsewhere.

Trip-specific passes: T-Mobile offers International Pass options for travelers who want high-speed data during lengthier stays overseas. A 5GB International Pass gives you that much high-speed data along with unlimited calling for 10 days. It costs $35. T-Mobile's $50 International Pass increases high-speed data to 15GB and extends the length of the pass to 30 days. The carrier also offers a $5 daily pass that gives you 512MB of high-speed data, and unlimited calling between the 215 or so Simple Global destinations.

Cruise rates: Pricing on cruises will vary according to which cruise you’re taking. You can check T-Mobile’s site to see what your pricing will be.

Verizon international phone plans

Verizon phones generally work all over the world, especially if you've got a phone built in the last few years. But where you travel significantly influences how much you’ll have to pay. As for which is the best Verizon phone plan for travelers, that all depends on how frequently you go overseas. There's a clear choice for regular globetrotters, but Verizon's less expensive offerings allow you to tack on travel benefits, too.

Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | Unlimited Data | $90/month Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan offers the most benefits for world travelers. Verizon promises "full international connectivity," meaning you'll be able to use talk and text for free when overseas; you also get 10GB of high-speed data every month that you can use in other countries. Unlimited Ultimate is Verizon's most expensive plan, so unless you take frequent trips, you may be better served by Unlimited Plus ($80/month for one line) or Unlimited Welcome ($65/month). Those two plans can add on a $10/month Travel Pass options that provides three days of talk, text and data when you're overseas. You can drop the Travel Pass add-on from your plan in months were you don't need it. Verizon lets family plans mix and match lines so one person can get Unlimited Ultimate, while the others subscribe to the cheaper options.

Travel perks in current plans: Of Verizon's three unlimited plans, the best for frequent travelers is the Unlimited Ultimate option, which lets you use talk and text in other countries just like you would in the U.S. You also get 10GB of high-speed data to use overseas every month.

Unfortunately, Unlimited Ultimate is Verizon's most expensive plan, costing $90 a month for one line. (And that's after a discount for enrolling autopay.) There are cheaper options — Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus — that include travel perks. Both plans let you text internationally to 200-plus countries. You can also use LTE data when traveling in Mexico and Canada. You're limited to 0.5GB of data consumption per day in those two countries before your speeds are slowed to 2G, and you can't use more than half of your talk, text and data in those countries over a 60-day period.

In addition to the base Welcome Unlimited and Unlimited Plus packages, you can opt for $10 monthly add-ons for your Verizon plan — some covering streaming services, another providing hotspot data and so on. The relevant package is Verizon's $10/month 3 TravelPass Days add-on, which saves you $20 a month on travel benefits as you pick up three passes during monthly billing cycles. You can accrue up to 36 passes for using talk, text and data when traveling overseas.

Unlimited Welcome starts at $65/month for one line, while Unlimited Plus is $80. If you have a family plan, you can mix and match so that different lines of data subscribe to different plans — helpful if there's one person in the family who travels a lot and would benefit from the Unlimited Ultimate perks.

Trip-specific passes: Let's talk a little bit more about the TravelPass . It's Verizon's daily option for international coverage, and it’ll cost you $5 per day per device for each day you’re out of the country if you travel to Mexico or Canada and don't have an unlimited plan. In 185 other countries — including China, France and Germany — Verizon charges $10 per device per day. TravelPass gets you 2GB of 5G data, and unlimited data at 3G speeds after that; the passes also come with unlimited talk and text.

If you know you’ll be traveling for a bit more time, consider Verizon’s monthly option, which the carrier recommends for trips lasting at least 10 days. International Monthly Plans at Verizon cost $100/month, but in exchange, you get 250 minutes of talk, unlimited texts and 20GB of high-speed data. (Use that, and you get unlimited data at 3G speeds.)

Verizon also offers pay-as-you-go pricing for international travel. You’ll pay 99 cents per minute in Canada and Mexico, Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands. Rates go up to $1.79 in 130-plus countries and $2.99 in 80 other places. Each text message you send will cost you 50 cents, and each received text will set you back 5 cents. Your data will be charged at a rate of $2.05 per megabyte no matter where you are.

Cruise rates: Pay-as-you go rates on cruise ships cost $1.99 for each minute of talk and 50 cents for every sent text message. You’ll pay 5 cents per message received. Verizon has a data plan for cruise passengers, too, with $30/day giving you 500MB of data plus unlimited texting and 50 minutes of talk time. For in-flight connectivity, you can opt for the same pay-as-you-go rates for cruise trips or you can pay $20 per day for unlimited data.

AT&T international phone plans

AT&T also comes with varied international pricing depending on where you want to go. Canada and Mexico travel is covered in many top AT&T plans, and if you pay up for the Unlimited Premium option, you can use your plan in many Central and South American countries. Traveling elsewhere? Then you had best look into AT&T's travel passes.

AT&T Unlimited Premium| Unlimited Data | $85.99/month It's AT&T's most expensive unlimited plan, but Unlimited Premium has the best perk for travelers — you can use your talk, text and data at no extra cost in 20 Latin American countries. As with other AT&T unlimited options, you also enjoy talk, text and data coverage when traveling in Canada and Mexico.

Travel perks in current plans: If you’re heading to Mexico or Canada, AT&T already covers all of your voice, data and text with its four different unlimited plans — Starter, Extra, Premium and the entry-level Value Plus option. AT&T offers a lone tiered data plan with 4GB of data that you can use in Canada and Mexico (though roaming may be at 2G speeds). Both unlimited and tiered data plans feature unlimited texting to 120-plus countries.

The Unlimited Premium plan is the best option for travelers headed to the Americas, as you'll be able to enjoy unlimited text, talk and data at no additional cost in 20 Central and South American countries.

If you do a lot of international calling from home, AT&T offers unlimited calling to 85-plus countries from the U.S. for $15 per month for each line. Calls to another 140-plus countries get discounted rates under this plan.

Trip-specific passes: For anyone off to Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America or the Asia Pacific region on a short jaunt, AT&T recommends its $10-a-day International Day Pass, which comes with unlimited talk and text and data governed by your plan. (Note that each device you take overseas will need its own Day Pass.) That service is available in 210-plus countries, and you can add extra phones for just $5 a day.

You'll never have to pay for more than 10 days of day passes on any one bill, even if your trip lasts longer. International Day Passes also kick in automatically when you use your phone abroad — you get a text message letting you know you're covered.

Cruise rates: On cruises , AT&T offers a $60/month Cruise Basic plan that covers 100 minutes of talk and unlimited texting while also offering 100MB of data. Need more of everything? Then try the Cruise Plus plan ($100/month), which includes 1GB of data on top of unlimited talk and text.

Google Fi international phone plans

best international phone plan: Google Fi

If you do a lot of international traveling, don't ignore Google Fi Wireless , the wireless service set up by Google that uses cellular towers of T-Mobile and US Cellular to provide coverage. International travel is built into two of Google Fi's plans — the Unlimited Plus and Flexible options.

Google Unlimited Plus| Unlimited Data | $65/month The Unlimited Plus plan is the way to go with Google Fi, as you can use your data at no extra cost when traveling overseas. Google Fi customers who pay by the gigabyte of data used are also eligible for this perk.

Travel perks in current plans: You've got two options with Google Fi — tiered data through the company's Flexible plan or a pair of unlimited data options. Flexible coverage costs $20 a month for talk and text plus $10 for each GB of data you use. (Data usage is rounded off to the nearest megabyte so you only pay for the data you consume.) Google stops charging you after you use 6GB a month, meaning you'll never pay more than $80.

If you find unlimited data plans more appealing, Google has you covered there, too — it also offers a $65 Unlimited Plus option that rolls in unlimited talk, text and data. Unlimited Plus subscribers now get a year of YouTube Premium as a perk.

The real benefit to either Unlimited Plus or Flexible is that those plans cover you when you're traveling in 200-plus countries. When you're overseas, Google Fi charges the same rate for data usage, whether you're on an unlimited data plan or paying by the gigabyte. Voice calls cost 20 cents (though calls placed over Wi-Fi are free) and you get unlimited SMS messaging.

Alas, Google's $50/month Simply Unlimited plan is not eligible for the free data perk when traveling. That said, all three of Google Fi's plans let you use talk, text and data in Mexico and Canada.

Google Fi is even more appealing now that Google has opened up service to all phones, including iPhones. Note that phones optimized for Google Fi — Google's Pixel phones (currently the Pixel 8 , Pixel 8 Pro , Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a ) along with a selection of Samsung phones and Motorola budget devices — can switch seamlessly between cellular networks and Google's Wi-Fi hotspots, while other phones cannot.

Trip-specific passes: Unlike the other carriers here, Google Fi doesn't offer travel passes for extended trips. Your only option is to get coverage through the Flexible and Unlimited Plus plans.

Cruise rates: Google Fi is not available when you're at sea — only when you're on land in one of the 200-plus countries covered by the carrier.

Other international phone plan options

Discount carriers typically don't provide much in the way of benefits for travelers, but there are some exceptions. The most noteworthy alternative is Visible , which has expanded the travel perks for subscribers to its $45/month Visible Plus plan .

Visible is owned by Verizon and uses its parent company's network for coverage. The Visible Plus plan features unlimited data, including access to Verizon's high-speed 5G network. Travelers will be particularly interested in the unlimited talk, text and 2GB of daily data available through Visible Plus when traveling in Canada and Mexico. Visible Plus customers are also eligible for one free Global Pass day per month, in which they can use talk, text and data at no charge in 140 countries. Globla Passes normally cost $10.

Best international phone plan: Device compatibility and eSims

Traveling overseas used to mean checking to see if your phone would be compatible once you set foot in another country. But those days are drawing to a close now that 3G networks are shutting down, eliminating much of the distinction between phones that work on either GSM and CDMA. If you've got a recent smartphone that connects to LTE, chances are strong it's going to work just fine in other countries. (You still might want to confirm that your phone works on the LTE bands available in the country you're heading to prior to your trip, just to avoid any unpleasant surprises.)

Many phones now support electronic SIM cards or eSIM technology, where you no longer need to swap in a local SIM card to make your smartphone work with an overseas network. (Since the iPhone 14 , Apple devices sold in the U.S. only feature eSIM support — that includes the newer iPhone 15 models.) One of our editors took an international trip using an eSIM for her phone and found it easy to setup and use with a local network — in fact, she plans to use the eSIM approach on all future travel.

That said, not every country supports eSIM. And depending on your phone carrier in the U.S., you might already have options that cover your phone use in other countries.

International phone plans: What about 5G?

As noted above, many of the plans that offer international travel either have you connect at whatever speed is available locally or at a reduced speed in cases where you're drawing from your own data plan. But what if you've got a 5G phone that can connect to faster networks overseas?

For the most part, we'd expect your phone to operate as before, either at whatever speed the local network offers or a capped speed if that's part of your carrier's travel plans. However, in a few instances, U.S. phone carriers have started making deals with overseas wireless providers that allow their customers to access 5G speeds when roaming. You should check with your carrier for information about the country you're going to travel in.

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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

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Article updated on April 5, 2024 at 6:00 AM PDT

Best Travel Phone Plans in April: How to Choose and What to Consider

Using your phone abroad for isn't always as simple as popping in a SIM card. Here are a few tips to keep in mind and plans to consider if you're looking to use your phone internationally.

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Traveling with your phone has gotten better in recent years, but it can still get costly. While roaming in Canada and Mexico is included by all three major US carriers, going beyond North America can be expensive, particularly if you want faster than 3G or 2G speeds that aren't helpful for much more than light messaging, navigation and email checks.

The rise of the eSIM has also made the need to hunt down a physical SIM card a thing of the past, as most modern phones can get you a local SIM card in seconds through an app. Though with the increased length of installment plans, you may save money by paying the roaming fees and keeping your trade-in credits for more valuable things than paying to unlock your phone.

Using your phone internationally is no longer is as simple as just popping in a different SIM card.

Sound confusing? Let's clear things up.

What are the best phone plans with international roaming?

While we're going to focus this section on US carriers, many of the other tips could be applied to those traveling in from other countries.

In the US, my pick for the best plan for frequent globe-trotters is Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate. The carrier's latest, most premium unlimited plan takes a page from T-Mobile's playbook and includes international texting and data in over 210 countries (neither includes voice, though you can get around that by using WhatsApp, FaceTime or other messaging apps' voice-calling features).

Verizon, unlike T-Mobile, lets you "mix and match" plans for different lines on your account, which could be helpful for those on family plans. This means that you can have one line on Ultimate for the month when you'll be traveling while keeping the other lines on more affordable Unlimited Plus or Welcome options. You can also lower the line on an Ultimate plan down to a more affordable one when you aren't traveling, though if you also get an upgrade during this time, moving away from the Ultimate plan could affect any new phone deals you may have taken advantage of (Verizon's best upgrade offers are generally now tied to its priciest unlimited plans).

Best plan for frequent international travelers

Verizon unlimited ultimate.

In addition to international talk, text and data, Unlimited Ultimate also includes 60GB of mobile hotspot use in the US and Verizon's highest discounts on new devices. There's also unlimited talk and text from the US to Canada, Mexico and "one additional country of your choice." There are no streaming services included, though you can add a number of options, including the Disney bundle and Apple One for $10 per month, per "perk."

Verizon, unlike T-Mobile, lets you "mix and match" which plans are for which lines on your account. So you can have one line on Ultimate for the month when you'll be traveling, while keeping the other lines on more affordable Unlimited Plus or Welcome options. You can also lower the Ultimate line down to a more affordable plan when you aren't traveling.

Runner up for international plans

T-mobile magenta max and go5g plus.

In addition to international data, T-Mobile's plans also include plenty of high-speed hotspot data in the US (40GB on Magenta Max, 50GB on Go5G Plus), in-flight texting and Wi-Fi, as well as subscriptions to Netflix and Apple TV Plus. T-Mobile's plans also include taxes and fees in their prices.

Some additional notes: T-Mobile requires all plans on an account to be on the same plan. If only one line needs international data, you should consider Magenta (if you only have one or two lines) or Go5G (if you need three or more lines), with the MaxUp or PlusUp $15 per line add-on. This will let your other lines get a cheaper rate while allowing you to bolster your international data to tap into the Go5G Plus or Magenta Max offerings for the lines that need it.

And as mentioned, T-Mobile's plans for one or two lines are cheaper under the Magenta option while promotions have made the Go5G plans better for those looking for three or more lines.

Best for Latin America

At&t unlimited premium pl.

AT&T's top unlimited plan also includes 50GB of high-speed hotspot data. Like Verizon, the carrier also lets you put each line of your account on different unlimited plans. So if only one line out for your four is traveling to a Latin American country, you can put them on Premium PL and the rest on more affordable options like Unlimited Starter SL.

Factors to consider: Know your area

As we covered in our other wireless guides, to get the best deal, you need to make sure you have the coverage that you need abroad but also at home. This makes it hard to give a blanket recommendation of any one carrier. T-Mobile's service in New York may be excellent, but if you're in rural Iowa, Verizon is more reliable.

While your mileage may vary, the good news is that these networks are growing and improving all the time, particularly as the three major players race to blanket the US with 5G. It's quite possible that you left a network complaining about its sparse service a decade ago, but it's since beefed itself up because of that race to acquire customers.

If you know any friends or family in your area that already use the carrier you're considering, ask about their experience. You could also go to a carrier's store and see if they offer any free ways to try out the service before switching over, such as T-Mobile's Network Pass . Verizon offers a similar 30-day "Test Drive" program, while the Cricket prepaid service has its own trial program that lets you sample parent AT&T's network.

How we test

Picking a wireless plan and carrier is an individualized process. What works for you and your family's needs may be vastly different from your friends or neighbors. Even geographically, some areas have better AT&T coverage while others work best on Verizon or T-Mobile (and vice versa). The picks we make are based on over a decade of covering and evaluating the wireless carriers, their offerings and their performance.

Since choosing a provider is unique, we focus on larger plans and the value they provide -- as well as calling out ways you can test the different networks in your area for yourself so you can make the best pick.

Travel phone plan FAQs

What if i don't want to change my plan.

While T-Mobile has long included even slow international data in its plans, AT&T and Verizon largely haven't. For most plans, adding this functionality will cost extra. The good news is that both have gotten a lot better on roaming rates, and depending on your trip, it could make sense to do this rather than going through the process of unlocking, finding a local SIM card and playing that game (we'll get more into this in a moment).

In the past, roaming was charged on a per-megabyte or -gigabyte used system, which could quickly lead to bills worth hundreds of dollars (or more). Today, both Verizon and AT&T allow you to roam with unlimited talk, text and high-speed data for $10 per day on many of their respective unlimited plans.

If you're traveling with a family plan, AT&T will only charge that $10 to one of the lines with other members being billed at $5 per day -- and it'll only bill you for 10 days, per line per billing cycle. So if you have one line with AT&T and are traveling for two weeks, you could only end up paying $100 instead of $140 for international roaming (though if your AT&T bill resets during that window, you'd be on the hook for those days since the clock starts each billing cycle).

Verizon doesn't cap the number of days it will charge you, but it does offer a couple of different options. One is its TravelPass perk, something that is offered as part of its latest unlimited plans . With this, you can get three days of international roaming for $10 per month. If you don't use those days, you could roll them over (and bank up to 36 of them). You can similarly add it for the month you're traveling, save a little there and then get rid of the perk for all the other months you wouldn't be using it.

Verizon also offers a $100 monthly plan option that lets you get unlimited texts and data as well as 250 minutes for traditional calling (as opposed to using a messaging app like WhatsApp or FaceTime). Of the data, 20GB will be at "high speed" and the rest at "3G speeds." Note that with this plan you will need to remove it manually or else risk it being a recurring charge on your bill every month.

T-Mobile similarly offers the option to buy high-speed data "international passes." It has a few options here, including a 15GB of high-speed data option (to be used "up to 30 days") running $50 for the month.

Roaming vs. local SIM cards

The big reason we're focusing on roaming is because one of the most common ways US consumers still buy their phones is through wireless carriers and installment plans. To keep people from taking advantage of subsidized phones and then leaving for other providers, the carriers "lock" their phones to their networks until you finish the 24- or 36-month installment plans.

Each carrier has different policies on when they unlock. Verizon's is the best and it will automatically unlock your phone after 60 days. T-Mobile will automatically unlock phones after their installment plans are paid off, which normally is two years at the carrier. AT&T is the worst: Like Verizon, its installment plans are 36 months, and even after that period, you will still need to actually reach out to the carrier to have it unlock your device. We covered all of this here .

You could pay off the balance owed on your device to get your carrier to unlock it sooner, but doing so would forfeit the bill credits and the deal you likely got when you upgraded or switched. For example, if you purchased an iPhone 14 at AT&T last year and took advantage of its trade-in deal, paying off that phone early to unlock it would require you to shell out hundreds of dollars now and give up the deal you were given. And then you would still need to go out and get international service on top of that while still keeping your local service for when you return home.

Depending on your situation, this could make sense. If, for instance, you're traveling abroad for a couple of months and only have a month or two left on your installment plan, paying the $50 or so to your carrier to unlock your phone early so you can get a cheaper phone plan while away could make sense. But you'll want to check what you owe by heading into your account on your carrier's website and do the math before rushing to pay everything down and unlocking.

What if I have an unlocked phone?

If you have an unlocked device, looking at a local SIM card could be much cheaper. eSIM options, which allow you to virtually add a SIM card to your phone, mean you could load up a local provider's SIM card into your phone through apps like Airalo or Ubigi before you even leave home, so you'll be good to go once you reach your destination.

While Apple has made eSIM more commonplace after ditching the physical SIM card slot in US iPhones with the iPhone 14 line, it has actually included the technology in iPhones dating back to 2018's iPhone XS and XR devices. A number of Samsung, Google and other Android phones have also long supported eSIMs as well.

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Another question ...

Another question about ESims vs International Travel Plans from Verizon

I have been reading a lot in the forum about the use of Esims and international travel plans and am still not sure what I want to do or what I should do, or what the best option is.

I will be traveling to Europe next month and visiting 8 countries over a period of 81 days. I will not be in any real out of the way places, at least I don't think so. I have Verizon and an unlocked Iphone 14 with esim space available. I am not interested in switching my cell provider for this purpose, so let's just rule out that option now. Not having data and relying on hotels and public WiFi is also not an option.

All the countries I am visiting are covered by the Verizon International Plans and the Europe plans for both Orange and Airalo.

At this point I am thinking about using Airalo with and using a free service like Google to get a free Europe phone number. Maybe I supplement that with a couple of $10 travel days from Verizon that way I can make calls if needed and check my texts. What does everyone think about the coverage, reliability and speed of Airalo vs Orange? How about the reliability and clarity of Google Voice or has anyone tried the service that is being recommended by Airalo on their website?

Below are some of my musings/concerns about this subject. I would appreciate any thoughts as to what I may not have considered or if I am being overly concerned about being reachable.

I am not to concerned about sending texts and those that I might send texts to also have Iphones, so I believe I can use IMessage with them. I AM concerned about receiving texts, specifically verification and authentication texts from banks and other financial institutions.

I am not really concerned about being able to call back to the US to talk to anyone except maybe my bank(s) or credit card company(s) and maybe my international insurance carrier. I may have a need to use Microsoft Teams to attend a couple of community meetings. I would like to be reachable by phone for various hotels that I have booked. I also would like to be able to call these hotels, I have at least two that have requested a phone call when I arrive in town. I have already installed the whatsapp on my phone so that I can communicate using that app, but not all of my hotels have indicated that would be a form of communication.

Option 1: Pay Verizon $300 for an international plan, expensive but provides unlimited data and enough text and phone minutes to meet my need. It does throttle you down to 3G after using 20GB per month and or 2GB per day. I think that would probably be ok.

Option 2: Buy Orange with a foreign phone number and top it off, don't remember the costs but probably a bit more expensive then Airalo but less expensive than Verizon.

Option 3: Buy something else like Airalo and buy an internet based calling app. $100 for 90 days. This is probably the least expensive option and I do not need to worry about topping it off, but does the international calling app make it more complicated?

If I do not go with Verizon I will need to communicate new phone number to hotels and banks. Not a big deal to communicate to family/friends. Will not be able to receive calls or texts from anyone else on my US number, ie banks, financial institutions but I can call/text them. So, can I limit my interaction with them by using apps on my phone?

Personally, in your case, I'd probably go with the Verizon international roaming. Is it really worth saving $200 (vs. option 3) to have to hassle with telling everyone a new US phone number plus who knows what other hassles?

In my case, I use a cheap prepaid service in the US that costs me only about $10/month - and when I go overseas, I use my Dutch Vodafone SIM (in Europe anyway) - cost me 14 euros for 4GB of data for my last trip, which was much more than I needed. And I already use my Google Voice number at home for almost all calls and texts, so when I go to Europe, I can make and receive calls with the Google Voice app like I do at home, so I don't have to give anyone a new number.

If I had service with Verizon, it would cost me hundreds of dollars a year more even if I never traveled to Europe. But if I were spending the extra money for Verizon already, a few hundred more for international roaming is not much more in the scheme of things. I consider the cost of my mobile phone including home use and travel use together.

Hi- I think I have a 4th option for you. I do a lot of traveling as a freelance consultant based in the US and I came across an eSIM hack that works for me that combines the best of both worlds and gives you an Option #4 - whereby you use an eSIM provider for your data connection and keep your Verizon number active the entire time without paying Verizon roaming fees. In the US I am an AT&T subscriber and have done this dozens of times on my trips to Europe. Here's how you do it:

1) Purchase a data plan from an eSIM data provider - I prefer to use GigSky ( www.gigsky.com)- they are a US company, are the only ones I know of that have live customer support and operate a global cellular network (vs. just an eSIM reseller like Airalo) so they have good packages if you are visiting a number of countries during your trip. Make sure your eSIM from your preferred provider is installed and the plan activated before you take off from home (this is my night before my flight routine).

2) Make sure that you have Wifi calling set up on your Verizon account (this is important for when you arrive in country)

3) Before you leave, tell Verizon customer service that you want international roaming turned off . For this, you have to contact customer service and tell them that you do NOT want to get an offer for their roaming service while you are overseas, that you want a zero% chance that you will get charged for roaming. If you do this, your Verizon SIM will not attach to a network when you land in Europe (and that's a good thing).

4) As you're taxing to the gate in your destination country - turn on your eSIM in cellular settings and set "Cellular Data" to GigSky (or whichever provider you chose) and set the "Default Voice Line" to Verizon. (These are the instructions for iOS - I'm sure they're similar for Android but I haven't tested on an Android device tbh).

5) Because you are overseas AND your Verizon SIM is 1) Configured for WiFi calling &2) has no connection outside of the US, iOS will try to fall back on the WiFi calling feature. It turns out that a cellular connection over the eSIM works exactly the same way!

So you'll see in the status screen (what you see when you swipe up on an iPhone) Top SIM: GigSky LTE & Bottom SIM: Verizon using cellular data. For all intents and purposes you can continue to use your phone as if you were in the USA... Verizon treats it as WiFi calling from a billing standpoint; you can send SMS, make voice calls, get your voicemail etc. at no additional cost because Verizon thinks you're at home using WiFi calling even though you're in Europe!

Calls to European numbers are still long distance for Verizon so you might want to get a Google Voice number to make calls within Europe but that is a fairly small incremental cost. GigSky's network for voice calls in Europe is excellent; I don't know about other providers although I've heard some horror stories about Airalo because they just resell other operators SIMs and therefore they can't do anything if there is a problem.

Hopefully this 4th option helps - I hope you have a good trip and find a way to save on those international data roaming costs!

Sam, are you saying that if your phone had WiFi calling enabled and there is no WiFi connection but there is data via the eSIM that it will use data from the eSIM for the WiFi call? If so, that would be a great hack.

I agree - it definitely would be!

Checked out gigsky, 90 days $175. Does the hack that you mentioned also work for text messages?

Yes - that is correct. I have been doing it since 2019. Works like a charm. Will also work for SMS (which you still receive when you are at home on your Wifi connection. Remember - Wifi calling (and SMSing) was created to help people who had poor cellular coverage at home but had Wifi. I lived in the Bay Area CA for a while at that was certainly the case with AT&T.

This funny wrinkle in iOS makes this possible. I used it at the end of June while in Eastern Europe and it worked fine.

sam, FYI, if you want to quote a post upthread, just click on the quote marks in the icons above and copy and paste what you want to quote in there.

This funny wrinkle in iOS makes this possible

If it's a wrinkle in IOS, does that mean Android users can't use it? I have an iPhone, but I know others might want to know that.

Thanks Mardee! I hope you're enjoying the lovely summer up there in Duluth!

sam, it's been wonderful here. Today is the first day we've had to turn on the A/C and the only reason we did that is because of my grandson, who has special needs that come with some respiratory issues. I do feel bad for other parts of the country, though.

I chose your option 2 in April for a trip to Italy, topped it up in late June for a trip to Scandinavia and will do that again for two weeks in Ireland coming up. The selling points for me were the French phone number (useful for restaurant reservations and taxi apps), tethering so I can use my iPad mini, and loads of data to use for Google maps, etc., while wandering. I have Verizon plan and have used its $10/day foreign roaming in the past. I like this much better.

I just made another independent post on this topic as I didn't see yours but I would suggest getting a free google number (internet-based) and have your Verizon number forwarded to that while you are abroad. I would use e-sims. Verizon was not a great option for my family and I in Europe in June. It was expensive and unreliable. Just make sure you have the travel pass off and roaming turned off so they don't charge you anyway.

You can forward your Verizon calls to your Google number, but keep in mind that when you sign up for Google Voice, they will USE your Verizon number (if that's your service) as the forwarding/verification number! Google Voice gives you a new number only if you already have phone service. Many people will choose to forward their Google incoming calls to their regular phone number e.g. Verizoneven if they don't quite understand what that means.

So if you then choose to forward your Verizon calls to the Google number, you have to make sure you don't have that Google forwarding set to forward the other way! Otherwise, you would get into a loop. It's easy to turn off the Google-to-your-regular-phone forwarding, though, just a setting in the app, but you have to be aware of it.

I can get incoming Google calls in Europe with my Dutch Vodafone SIM, but I'm not sure incoming calls will work with an eSIM with no voice service?

@sam, this "hack" sounds really intriguing. I have an Android phone and would love to know if anyone has tried anything like this with their Android phone. Also, with gigsky being a US company, can one test it out in the US before departing? That would be a big bonus for us.

@Sam: This post is so helpful. Thank you! My daughter is off to college in a few weeks and studying abroad her first semester. She has an iPhone XR which can take an eSIM. If I'm understanding this right, we can keep her US number with Verizon and also add an eSIM for her study abroad destination with a local number? I could even add the verizon international plan to cover any areas that her local eSIM may not if she travels to other european destinations on her free time.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

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7 of the best all-inclusive experiences to book this year, from a travel planner

As a travel planner, my clients seem to be increasingly interested in all-inclusive trips .
Some of my favorite luxury resorts are in Costa Rica, the Maldives, and Isla Mujeres.
Cruises, group tours, and adults-only lodgings can also come with all-inclusive options.

As a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels , I know vacations are expensive — especially if you're looking to go somewhere this summer . But all-inclusive travel is often a great way to get the most value out of a luxury experience.

I've been on several all-inclusive vacations with my family, friends, and work, and I've helped other people book them in destinations around the world .

Here are some of the best all-inclusive experiences I'm recommending to my clients this year.

Try a split-stay vacation to see the best of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is one of the most sought-after vacations , and for good reason. It's great for both relaxation and adventure.

I recommend booking a split stay, starting at an all-inclusive resort in Guanacaste near the beach for some fun in the sun and moving to a resort near the famous Arenal Volcano for a jungle adventure.

Some of my favorite resorts in Costa Rica are the Westin Reserva Conchal and the Dreams Las Mareas. And if you're looking for an even more unique experience, check out the glorious swim-out suites with private pools at Dreams.

Baglioni Maldives is one of my favorite all-inclusive resorts.

The Maldives, a remote set of islands in the Indian Ocean, offers a plethora of resort options for couples and families, but Baglioni Maldives is my favorite.

For many in the US, getting to the islands can be daunting — there are very few direct commercial flights, and it can take almost an entire day. But it's hard to beat the country's luxury accommodations and gorgeous landscape.

The Maldives also has some of the most beautiful marine life and coveted spots for snorkeling and scuba diving.

No matter where you go, overwater bungalows are the ultimate all-inclusive splurge.

Overwater bungalows — villas standing on poles over open ocean water — are prevalent at all-inclusive resorts in destinations like the Maldives, Fiji, and Bali.

But I've also come across the luxurious accommodations at select adults-only Sandals Resorts throughout the Caribbean.

I think having a private villa on the water is the perfect way to unwind and relax.

Adults-only vacations are on the rise.

Traveling with kids can be a blast, but I also think it's important for adults to take a much-needed break on their own.

Adults-only resorts have been a total respite for me and my husband after hectic months of juggling work with our kids' school and sports schedules.

If you're looking to unwind with a partner, relax on a girls' trip, or even connect with your adult children, there are countless adults-only, all-inclusive resorts to choose from, depending on where you're looking to visit.

Some properties, including Sandals and Beaches Resorts, also offer butler service. Designated staff members can help with anything from room requests and dining reservations to cabana rentals and transportation coordination.

I upgraded to the service at my favorite adults-only spot, Le Blanc Los Cabos, and I felt totally pampered.

Isla Mujeres is pure luxury.

Isla Mujeres, a small island off the coast of Cancún, is known for its crystal-clear, turquoise water and peaceful vibe. It's also home to Playa Norte, one of the best beaches in Mexico .

Impressions Isla Mujeres by Secrets is a gorgeous all-inclusive resort on the island. It offers luxury at its finest, but with only 125 rooms, it has a boutique feel.

One of my favorite features of the resort is the waterslide that leads right into the beautiful ocean.

There are plenty of all-inclusive packages at sea.

Cruising is one of the most popular vacations , whether it's an epic adventure on a Royal Caribbean Cruise, a couples-only journey on Virgin Voyages, or a regal tour of Europe on Viking River Cruises.

Although cruises aren't traditionally considered all-inclusive, with the right booking, they can have the same feel as a luxury resort.

Most cruise bookings include food, nonalcoholic drinks, and live entertainment. If you add beverage packages and excursions in advance, your trip should be fully paid for before you depart.

Book a small-group or private tour if you're looking for adventure.

Group travel is a great way to explore new places while soaking up culture and history.

Popular destinations include Italy, Japan, Costa Rica, and Alaska, and many travel companies take care of everything for you, essentially making it all-inclusive.

I like Adventures by Disney , which offers small-group travel all over the world facilitated by seasoned guides. All the trip details are taken care of, including experiences, food, lodging, and transportation.

Additionally, Kensington Tours offers luxury private travel where every facet of the trip is meticulously planned for you.

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Plan your trip overseas with our travel planner
International. trip planner. Find the best International plan for your trip. Whether you're staying close and traveling to Mexico or Canada, going overseas or taking a cruise, we'll help you find the best plan to keep you connected.
International phone plans and travel services
My Verizon website: On your International Plan page, go to Use our Trip Planner. My Verizon app: In your account, select Plans & Services. Choose a line. In Additional Services, scroll to International Plans and then add new plan. Text: Add TravelPass anytime, anywhere by texting Travel to 4004. Note: We offer data plans for select flights and ...
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If you have a Verizon plan, you can use the international TripPlanner tool. The TripPlanner will recommend the plan that is best for your trip, allowing you to check to see if the country you are visiting is covered by any current international plan you can add. International travel plans don't have to be complicated, though. The process can ...
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All Verizon customers are automatically enrolled in pay as you go international data, texting, and calling. If you don't enroll in another plan on this list and take your phone out of airplane mode when abroad, you'll automatically be charged at the following rates: Talk: $0.99-$2.99 per minute, depending on the country.
What Is Verizon's TravelPass?
The easiest way to add TravelPass to your Verizon plan is by texting "Travel" to 4004 from your Verizon phone. You can also activate TravelPass using the My Verizon app by taking these steps:. Tap Account and select Manage plans and services.; Choose the line you want to manage and press on International Plans.; Pick Add new plan and follow the prompts. ...
Verizon International Travel Plans: Connectivity Without Borders
This section addresses common inquiries regarding Verizon's international travel services, detailing costs, plan features, and activation protocols. What are the costs associated with Verizon Travel Pass? The Verizon TravelPass allows customers to use their talk, text, and data allowances in over 210 countries for a daily fee. This fee is ...
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The Verizon Wireless Trip Planner gives customers information they can use to plan their travels, including details about global calling and data plans, country-specific coverage and pricing, and ...
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International Travel Plan required. International travel charges apply. These Coverage Locator maps depict predicted and approximate wireless coverage. The coverage areas shown do not guarantee service availability, and may include locations with limited or no coverage.
Verizon Wireless Travel Add-Ons Add-ons
Verizon Travel Add-On Options. If you want to enhance your travel experience, you can add any of the following international perks to your phone plan: $10/day TravelPass: Unlimited talk and text and .5GB/day of 4G data (then reduced to 2G speeds) $5 Unlimited Together North America: Unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada.
Best Travel Phone Plans in April: How to Choose and What to Consider
T-Mobile Magenta Max and Go5G Plus. In addition to international data, T-Mobile's plans also include plenty of high-speed hotspot data in the US (40GB on Magenta Max, 50GB on Go5G Plus), in-flight ...
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The table below demonstrates that choosing the US Mobile unlimited data plan would save you $594 per year compared to buying an unlimited data plan from Verizon directly. Verizon. Verizon coverage at a fraction of the cost. See at Twigby. *$5/mo for 1st 3 Mths. See at US Mobile.
Best Verizon International Plans In 2024
The Verizon Monthly International Travel Plan allows you to pay per month and comes in two tiers with their own limits on call, text, and data. However, with both tiers you will be able to receive unlimited text messages. The first tier is $70, which gets you 100 minutes, 100 text messages and 0.5 GB of data.
Is Verizon's TravelPass Worth It?
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Another question about ESims vs International Travel Plans from Verizon
Option 1: Pay Verizon $300 for an international plan, expensive but provides unlimited data and enough text and phone minutes to meet my need. It does throttle you down to 3G after using 20GB per month and or 2GB per day. I think that would probably be ok.
Phone compatibility for international travel
When I go to my Verizon account and launch the Trip Planner, it tells me: "Unable to verify compatibility. We are unable to guarantee compatibility for this device with networks outside the U.S." When I go to the next step, it allows me to choose an international plan (a choice of Travel Pass, International Travel Plan, or Pay As You Go).
Community Forums
I've read in these forums that the international plan doesn't cover calling landlines, only other mobile numbers. Someone also reported that if you call between 2 different countries internationally (for example, say you're in France and call someone in the United Kingdom on your Verizon phone), it's not covered either for whatever reason.
Best All-Inclusive Vacations to Book This Year, From a Travel Planner
As a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels, I know vacations are expensive — especially if you're looking to go somewhere this summer. But all-inclusive travel is often a great way to get ...