Airalo in England

Others are more knowledgeable than I am, but standard texts (as opposed to WhatsApp messages and iMessages within the Apple Universe) require a telephone number, which run-of-the-mill eSIMs do not provide. You can get an eSIM that includes a phone number for more money. You'd then need to share that new number with friends and relatives who might need to contact you.

Many people use WhatsApp, which is Wi-Fi-based, in your situation.

My Google Fi telephone plan includes free texting but is very expensive for data, so when I'm outside the US and need a lot of data, I buy an eSIM, but my text messaging still works via my Fi telephone number.

I'm sure you'll soon receive more helpful advice from others.

In addition to the difficulties you've already experienced, sometimes financial transactions require a text-based confirmation. For example, Marriott always wants to text me a confirmation number when I try to sign in to my account before making a reservation even though I'm not trying to use points

So I don’t know if this is the answer, but sometimes my device will tell me I have wifi - but in actuality I do not. One of the first things I notice is that something like Facebook or Google search results don’t load. Occasionally it will even happen at home and I have to reset my modem. In this case, I turn off wifi and everything works fine using data (which I always have via an eSIM). This isn’t a common occurrence, but it has happened often enough that I now recognize it as a possibility.

If this had happened to me, your crummy wifi would be my first suspect. Your phone/tablet defaults to wifi, which it thinks you have - so messages are not coming in via cell data. The only way I know of to determine if this is the culprit is to do a test run - have someone at home message and see if it comes via wifi at your bnb. If not, turn off wifi and see if it comes via data.

acraven is right about regular SMS not coming via cell data (except iMessage or apps like WhatsApp). But it doesn’t sound like that was your problem, since you got them the next day when you were without wifi.

I think TTM is probably on to something with the crummy wifi issue. Since you did ultimately get the messages that means something in the background wasn't connecting. My phone will sometimes keep trying to connect to bad wifi unless I forget the network or turn off wifi altogether.

As for texting, if the security service doesn't use texting that is compatible with your iMessages (I think you have iPhones, yes?) then you might not get those at all using the eSIM since regular old SMS (not iMessage) for your home number would need to use your Verizon service.

And, thank goodness for your son being able to address your situation for you! I'm not sure I would have thought to plan for that situation to occur :)

So much good advice, thank you. During the day I used mostly Verizon since I paid for it. I noted both Verizon and Airalo were great for Apple and Google maps. I did notice that sometimes internet searches were really slow and I even had dead spots for both Verizon and Airalo. There is an EE in the corner on my phone screen for both Verizon and the eSIM, so maybe they are using the same towers? We were driving around the beautiful North Moors so that could explain the occasional loss of service.

I think TTM and CL, you are right about the late texts, and I understand better what is going on with the texts. My whole family uses iPhones. One odd thing is that all my messages are coming with phone numbers instead of name, regardless if I’m on WiFi or cell.

Yes, I think there was something odd with my service and the bad wifi. So now, when I have wifi I’m turning off cell service, and the wifi is better tonight.

Yes, somehow I ended up with really good kids. It just bothered me that he had to drive across the metro area to fix the issue. He has the same security we do, so that helps. I told him I was upset I didn’t get the messages and he was bothered, his comment was it made no difference whether I got the messages or not. It wasn’t like I would have been able to do anything from England.

I think it will be easier when we get to London and I think that is where having the eSIM is really going to be helpful.

One odd thing is that all my messages are coming with phone numbers
instead of name, regardless if I’m on WiFi or cell.

I've had this issue as well with my Android phone. I did a quick Google search and it suggested several remedies for the iPhone, I won't repeat them here but it suggested about 6 different things to try. It may just be a syncing issue.

"EE" is a large cellular network in the UK, pretty good chance Verizon and Airalo use it. And FWIW, remember your Verizon day pass is 24 hours from the time you first used it, so remember to turn it off before you hit that limit or else you'll get charged another day. Probably too late for this advice as it's wee hours in the UK now but I'm throwing it out there for tomorrow ;)

There are four mobile network providers in the UK: EE, 02, Vodaphone and Three.

Verizon and Airlo, any other operator, will be using one of the above networks. If you're out and about in rural areas, you may not always get a signal.

Wifi is what you find in buildings - so were you using the B&B's wifi? Once out and about, you'll use data from your mobile provider - either Verizon or Airlo. If both use one of the four networks, you'll get similar connectivity.

if people want to text me, can they use the same phone number when I only have the Airalo ESIM?

to receive texts on your regular phone number, you'll need to have your Verizon SIM on for SMS messaging only. Airlo will only give you data.