International Calling Plans

Ha! I had been using the same type of plan only with AT&T. In October of 2018 it was $40.00 for the month. In February of this year, the exact same plan was$60.00. It seems the phone companies are taking advantage of the increase of international travelers.

The excuse was the increase in technology (5G) and the associated costs. Having spent 20 years in the wireless industry and having a husband that has been in it for 35 years, I can tell you that this may be legitimate.......if the plan utilized 5G. With .50g of data that is not the case. Voice and text have gotten cheaper. The international plan should be going down, not up, except in the case of data plans that utilize 5G.

The prices have gotten out of hand. But, if you want your phone number, others to reach you seamlessly, not to have to be limited to WiFi only areas, you are a prisoner of these providers. When I saw the 0.5 GB for that plan at $70 I opted for the $10 per day option. It may prove to be more expensive but I know with the low data allowance on the monthly plan I’ll certainly rack up excess fees.

April, what are you actual phone needs while traveling? If you don't need regular access to your Verizon number, then just buy a local SIM card when you get to your destination. Because EU roaming fees have mostly been eliminated, you can probably use the same SIM in several countries for no extra cost. SIM cards are cheap - maybe 20 or 30 euros for enough data to last your entire trip, assuming it's less than a month.

If you really need a US number for people to reach you just occasionally, get a Google Voice number. It's free - you get a US number people can call you on and even leave voicemail. The Google Voice app now includes the ability to receive calls on WiFi or mobile data, plus you can make calls that way too. I have only used their older app, Google Hangouts, overseas, but I assume Google Voice works about the same way in Europe. You can call any phone with the Google Voice app, and calls to US numbers are free, even to landlines. (The other person does not need to have Google Voice.)

There are other VOIP apps like WhatsApp that are more popular in Europe, but the other person has to have the app too.

The last few trips to Europe, I've used my Dutch Vodafone SIM for mobile service. I bought it on eBay (never actually used it in the Netherlands) but have used it in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Slovenia without issue. Last year when I went to Portugal, I added 10 euros to the SIM so I could get 2GB of data, plenty for my 10 day trip. Because I use my Google Voice number as my main phone number, I still got incoming calls on the same number I do at home.

But have you considered alternatives to Verizon for your regular phone service? You might consider Google Fi, which is now supported on many phones. I don't need that level of phone service at home as my phone needs are pretty minimal, but Google Fi sounds like a good idea for many people.

Thanks Andrew. Yes, I do need my regular US number and the conveniences of it. I guess I will just have to chalk this up to price gouging.

You could always go with Verizon's Travel Pass. It's $10/day for each day that you use it, but only if you use it. It uses your existing US plan (calls, texts & data) and uses those limits to determine what you can and can't do.

You have to activate it on your phone before you go. You can do it through the app if you have that installed. Be sure to check the list of countries available. It covers the bulk of Europe, I believe, but it's always best to check first.

When you first use it, you'll receive a free text. You'll receive another free text just before your 24 hour period is up (it's based on 24 hours from when your first used it). If you don't need it for another day, you can switch to WiFi only until you need it again.

My T-mobile plan allows unlimited texts and data when traveling out of the US. This is supposedly provided at a slower speed, but I didn’t notice a problem when I was recently in Rome. This plan also allows calls for 25 cents per minute which I consider fair for the rare occasions that I want to make an actual phone call.

I switched from Verizon to T-Mobil years ago because I travel frequently to the EU and because Verizon(at that time could never get the billing straight). Experience is the same as Renee's has been and even used it in Israel and Jordon this past month with the same costs. Candidly, their coverage is better in the EU than the U.S., so would urge anyone thinking to do the same check their coverage map in there area before switching.

I use ATT's International Day Pass plan--$10 per day, follows my existing plan and I can call my elderly parents as much and talk as long as needed, plus texting and data. I've used it twice on 2 week trips and generally keep the cost to $70 as I use wi-fi whenever possible. Prior to that using their old int'l plan my phone bill averaged $120 or so.

Candidly, their coverage is better in the EU than the U.S., so would urge anyone thinking to do the same check their coverage map in there area before switching.

Well, T-Mobile US has no coverage at all outside the US - they have roaming partners in the rest of the world, just like Verizon does. (T-Mobile US is owned by a German company that operates T-Mobile in other countries, so one of the roaming partners might be another T-Mobile.)

It's true that T-Mobile's coverage is not as great as Verizon's in some areas - especially rural areas. I had T-Mobile for years and had few issues with coverage in the US, but I mostly use my phone in urban areas. I dumped T-Mobile only because of the cost - my daily mobile needs just don't require paying more than about $20/month for service, at most. To me, all of the "big four" US mobile companies are much too expensive for my phone needs. Right now I'm on Mint Mobile (uses T-Mobile's network) but will probably switch back to Tello (uses Sprint) soon.

Google Fi seems to be cheaper than T-Mobile depending on your data usage. It would be $40/month if you use 2GB, which is about my current usage. Tello is only $19/month for 2GB; Mint is $15/month for 3GB if you prepay for a year, so I'll probably stick with one of them. If I traveled overseas more than 1X a year, it might be worth it to have a phone that works easily all over the world, but using a SIM once a year isn't an issue for me.

I stopped buying calling plans and SIM cards a while ago. When I have wifi access, I'll send texts, use Facetime/Skype to call or video chat, and read email. Otherwise, if I'm offline, I'll continue to enjoy myself as I did when I traveled pre-mobile phone era. I like it better that way as being offline is liberating.

April,
I have Verizon Travel Pass and just went to Israel for about 10 days. I kept my phone in Airplane mode the entire time and only once did I activate it, accidentally. So I will be charged $10 for that day.
Can you have people text you when they need to talk on the phone with you. Then you can activate the Travel Pass for $10.

What’s App is a good suggestion as well.

I have Verizon Travel Pass and just went to Israel for about 10 days.
I kept my phone in Airplane mode the entire time and only once did I
activate it, accidentally. So I will be charged $10 for that day.

Judy, I have the Verizon Travel Pass on my phone too; there was no charge to add it and I thought in case of emergency, it's good to have.

I've never used it but I have accidentally activated it like you did. When you get the bill, contact Verizon and tell them it was turned on by mistake. They'll see that too and remove the $10 charge.

For many on this forum, the T-Mobile 55+ plan which is 2 lines unlimited everything plus international text and data for $70/month is hands down the best deal in phones. Be aware that you have to have and use the phone at home for several months before you take it abroad.

Judy, how did you get those text messages if the phone was in airplane mode? Are you referring to when you’re on WiFi in the hotel? I basically need my phone for emergencies only. If the dog sitter or a family member needs to contact me, then I need to have that ability. If my phone is in airplane mode I won’t receive those messages.

April, you can enable WiFi even while in AIrplane Mode, so you can use many functions of the phone.

You should also be able to send/receive text messages in Airplane Mode with WiFi turned on:

https://community.verizonwireless.com/t5/My-Verizon/Airplane-mode-text-messages/td-p/601117

You may also be able to make free calls home that way, too, using the WiFi Calling feature of the phone. Can't help you with that, but you can just try it right now at home. If you can make it work at home, it will work in Europe, too.

If you can't use your phone to make free calls in Airplane Mode with WiFi on, install Google Voice and use that instead to make free calls to US numbers while on WiFi. E.g. your pet sitter texts you with a question. You call them (even a landline) with Google Voice while still on WiFI. All free. (Google Hangouts will work too for now but is being retired later this year.)

Andrew, yes, I understand what you are saying about airplane and WiFi. As I said, I spent some years in the wireless industry and understand. 😊😊

My point is, say I’m wine tasting at a vineyard in Piedmont or lying on a beach in CT and back in the US one of my parents becomes gravely ill, or my dog is rushed to the vet, or someone has broken into my house and someone from the US needs to be able to get ahold of me. I don’t want to have to wait until I am somewhere that WiFi is available. I want my phone to ring or receive a text message when I need it. I don’t want to have to activate a daily pass, connect to WiFi, mess with an app, etc. I want my phone and my phone number to ring. To my knowledge that requires a cell tower and associated services. Am I wrong? If not then, the $70 plan sounds like my only option. If I’m wrong, please correct me, because I would love a way to circumvent VZW.

Yes, April, if you want your Verizon number to ring anywhere while you are overseas, not just on WiFi, you need Verizon's travel pass most likely. It sounded like you were asking the other poster if they could still get text messages on WiFi while in Airplane Mode, as if that might somehow work for you. I guess not. We all have different phone needs.

Where/how did someone get a $40 or $60 plan for AT&T in Europe? I have never ran across that option either in the store, online or talking to someone on the phone.

douglasjmeyer (and others), the AT&T $60 plan is called "Passport" see here: https://www.att.com/offers/international-plans/passport.html For a 30 day plan, it is 1 GB data, 35 cents per minute calls, and unlimited text messages (including pictures) using your regular messaging app (not WhatsApp or iMessage). Though it would certainly be cheaper to get a SIM card, I've found it more convenient to keep my own phone number (as April is wanting to do). I've used it in Europe and South America and it worked great - I set it up to activate the day I arrive and make sure it does not auto-renew after 30 days.

Does anyone have a suggestion for phone service if you will be in Europe for three months?

If you live in the US, port your US phone number to Google Voice - a one-time $20 fee. Then you can make and receive calls with the Google Voice app, from WiFi or on some other mobile service (even in Europe), using your old phone number. Get a European SIM when you get there, so you'll have a European number over there too, but you can still use the US number for US calls (free). When you get back to the US, port your number back from Google to some other service again (don't have to - just get some other phone service and use Google Voice with it; that's what I've done for years).

US services like T-Mobile, Sprint, and Google Fi that provide good international roaming plans aren't intended for anything but occasional travel; try to use them overseas for three months and they might cut you off.

If you live in the US, port your US phone number to Google Voice - a one-time $20 fee. Then you can make and receive calls with the Google Voice app, from WiFi or on some other mobile service (even in Europe), using your old phone number. Get a European SIM when you get there, so you'll have a European number over there too, but you can still use the US number for US calls (free).

Really? Can you explain this in English? That’s why most of us use the overpriced plans from our wireless provider. I have no clue as to what “porting” my number means and how this will effect the folks in the US who need to reach me right away.

Porting a number refers to the process of moving your phone number from one cellular service provider to another or to in this case google voice. This article is a little dated but probably still pretty accurate.

https://www.howtogeek.com/92075/how-to-port-your-phone-number-to-google-voice/

I believe that Andrew suggested that to wjpete so that he could avoid having to pay for 3 months of US service charges while away. Service that would just sit around unused.. Also by porting to google voice and downloading the google voice and or hangouts apps anyone who calls his US number would be able to reach him while he is in Europe. It would also allow wjpete to call back to the US for free.

Upon returning to the US he could then port his number over to a newly established account. Or just sign up for new service and have google voice just forward calls to his new number. These steps allow your contacts to keep in touch with you using the same old US phone number throughout the whole process.

BTW porting to GV is also a practice used by many price sensitive US consumers. Once your number is at google you can easily change carriers at whim without having to port it all the time. Just have GV forward calls to you new number.

Apologies to Andrew if I have misinterpreted or misstated his intentions.

Thanks Rocket. Many “gothchas” for me including being in a contract, the delay in text messaging, etc. But thanks. I will swallow hard and get my $10 a day plan from Verizon.

My point is, say I’m wine tasting at a vineyard in Piedmont or lying
on a beach in CT and back in the US one of my parents becomes gravely
ill, or my dog is rushed to the vet, or someone has broken into my
house and someone from the US needs to be able to get ahold of me. I
don’t want to have to wait until I am somewhere that WiFi is
available. I want my phone to ring or receive a text message when I
need it. I don’t want to have to activate a daily pass, connect to
WiFi, mess with an app, etc. I want my phone and my phone number to
ring. To my knowledge that requires a cell tower and associated
services. Am I wrong? If not then, the $70 plan sounds like my only
option. If I’m wrong, please correct me, because I would love a way to
circumvent VZW.

You never have to active Verizon's Travel Pass. Once you add it to your plan as it costs nothing to do so, it is there to be used whenever you travel to a country that is part of the travel pass.

That said, for Verizon's Travel Pass to work, you have to turn off airplane mode and have cellular service activated. So in your example of being offline enjoying yourself at a vineyard or beach, no one will be able to reach you in case of an emergency using Verizon's Travel Pass if you are on airplane mode. So for emergencies when you want people to be able to reach you, this Verizon product is not the answer.

FYI....your mobile will probably work on a beach in Connecticut. :-)

Thanks, Rocket. Yes, I meant to respond specifically to wjpete's question about using his US number overseas for three months. My friend who moved to Germany did this same thing so he could keep his US mobile number while over there and still receive calls on the same number he'd had for years, without any extra costs.

I've used my Google Voice number as my primary phone number for ten years. I've never given anyone my current mobile number - only my Google number. Google forwards my calls to it. I can cancel my mobile service at any time and throw away the number and not worry about keeping it, etc. And I can use my regular number in Europe (including getting text messages as fast as anyone else gets theirs).

But, yes, I understand what I've described might seem too confusing for some people. Sorry.

April,
Yes, I was on WiFi at the hotels and on our bus with super WiFi! I was able to get & send iMessages with other iPhone users. I should have been more precise but I did not get or send texts only iMessages. I could send/receive emails, too. And post on FB.
Airplane mode & WiFi is key to not activating the Vz Travel Pass. I don't need phone calling but if I did, I think I could arrange it through the WhatsApp as long as my people were also on it.

Continental,
I just might contact VZ, good idea.