Has anyone had recent experience using Consumer Cellular in Italy? I would like to sign up for international roaming with my Consumer Cellular plan for my trip to Italy, however, read reports from several years ago that coverage in Italy was not good through Consumer Cellular. Anyone with recent experience?
Posted by
86 posts
I would not use international roaming because the fees and charges are astronomical. I’m not familiar with that company but if you have a phone with an esim that’s the way to go.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1247 posts
Anyone with recent experience?
Yes - Rome, CT and Lucca Nov 2023, Poland April 2024 and Budapest & Vienna Dec 2024. Coverage was fine in all cases - perhaps occasional dead spots while on the train in less populous areas.
The largest expense was for the two weeks in Poland - it was approx, $28. It's so easy - you just turn on your phone upon arrival and it's there - once you have it activated the first time. Since you pay for minutes and data, I did turn off cellular syncing for photos and backups, and would put it in airplane mode when I didn't need connectivity.
Another advantage is that you keep your phone number active. Install the app on your phone to monitor your account. Download offline maps before the trip. Perform data-intensive tasks when you're on wifi and you should be fine.
Added: Consumer Cellular offers extremely discounted rates for their international roaming - nothing like what the big providers charge.
Posted by
SoCal
1340 posts
Once again I feel compelled to note that using a European phone plan ("eSIM") does not in itself make your home phone number unusable. In fact, a data-only SIM obligates use of one's US number.
Data usage on Consumer Cellular in Europe appears to cost $0.01 per MB. That's equivalent to ~$10 per GB. Pretty expensive IMO. Most eSIMs cost less than $2 per GB. I typically use about 10 GB per month on vacation, more than twice what I use at home. Usage for me includes a fair amount of mapping apps, Google Translate and Lens, and train timetable apps. YMMV.
Posted by
Phoenix🌵
3125 posts
This really doesn't answer your question but hopefully gives you something to consider and rate comparisons:
I have not used Consumer Cellular so I can't help you with recent experience. Friends in Wickenburg AZ (50 miles from Phoenix) gave up on Consumer Cellular and changed to Verizon because the reception was so bad. My hubby has a flip phone through CC, seldom uses it and doesn't travel. I have iPhone 13 Pro Max through Verizon and use their $100 monthly international rate. A combination of Verizon, WhatsApp, and Google Voice work good for me when traveling. I was using the daily rate, but Verizon raised their daily rate so it is a lot more expensive for a month trip. I need to keep my US phone number for my technophobic husband to contact me.
This is from Consumer Cellular's website https://www.consumercellular.com/help/international-travel-and-roaming
You need to call customer service to activate International Roaming. You are then charged for usage. For Italy: voice per minute 5¢, data per MB 1¢, text per SMS 1¢. Other countries have different rates.