iphone 16, Verizon, Rome (and Paris) - best plan?

Verizon International Plan is $100/month or $10 day only on days you use it

More info:
https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Verizon+&utf8=%E2%9C%93

I always get the Verizon monthly international plan. In Europe, my phone works just as it does at home. Just make sure roaming is turned on under settings, cellular, cellular data options.

https://www.verizon.com/plans/international/international-travel/

I also just go for the Verizon International Plan. I just want to have data when I'm out and about and I I don't need the cheapest method. I need something that I feel will be reliable for me. I've got an iPhone 14 and have used the International plan since I returned to travel after the pandemic in 2021.

On several trips I calculated I was going to need my phone for fewer than 10 days so I did the daily plan. Otherwise, I go for the monthly plan, then it rolls over to the daily plan if I'm longer than the 30 days.

The plan has gone up slightly since I used it in October 2024. $12/day for the daily pass but still $100 for the monthly one.

I always take the Verizon Global monthly plan.
I do not think it matters which iPhone you have.....it's a good deal for $100 for a month. Just do not forget to cancel it when you return home.

I can't stomach paying Verizon $12/day for the "privilege" of using data I've already paid for. For my last three trips I have purchased an Airalo eSIM, about $10 for 5GB data, good for 30 days. It has worked flawlessly in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Paris and Portugal. Download the Airalo app, set up an account, select the country (or countries) in which you will be traveling. You will see the options available, ie amount of data and time frame. Select your plan, pay for it, then follow the directions to install. Don't activate it until you land at your first European destination.

The big question if you want to use an eSIM: are your phones unlocked? If not, you are stuck with Verizon's plan.

Thanks, everyone! So we don't need to get e-sim cards? Just set up the international plan and then cancel it when we return?

(Sorry to be so dense about this! People on another forum for parents of study abroad students keeps talking about e-sim cards and such and my head is just spinning!)

Yup, no e-sim needed for the Verizon plan. Just note the monthly plan is $100 on top of your regular monthly charge.

E-sims would be if you decide not to use your Verizon plan options. I like the ease of Verizon even though it costs more. The convenience is money well spent for me.

I always just sign up for a month and it does not automatically renew.

Don’t be afraid of eSIMs. They are not complicated at all. We too have used Airalo (Scotland, Slovenia, Italy, Spain) and they are quite inexpensive and work well. We only ever buy data plans as I can use WhatsApp, Google Meet, Messenger or Skype for phone calls using data.

Purchase, download and activation are explained in detail, sometimes with screen shots of phone menus provided, to guide you. Airalo has eSIMs that cover all of Europe called “ Regional eSIM” which will work seamlessly during the time spent in both Italy and France.

EDIT : You mention “ E sims cards”. With an eSIM there is no physical card. Once you select and pay for the data you want, an email with an activation link or a QR code is sent by email or delivered to the Airalo App if you’ve downloaded it. Follow the instructions provided at the time.

The Verizon Global is great. No dealing with SIM cards. The longer your trip, the better the $100 a month works out to be....(for trips under a month long).

Last year I did not call to cancel and they charged me for the next month....maybe that was unusual, you never know with Verizon! So now I call to cancel when I get home, just to be safe.

I'm not savvy enough to deal with the SIM card stuff...but it seems that it works for many people here...

My 30-day international plan started today. I received a text message from Verizon letting me know the plan had been added and that it would expire on 4/20.

I always schedule it to start the day before I need it, just in case there’s an issue. Although, I have used it 10 times in the last few years with no problems.

They have an international support number (+1-908-559-4899) if you need help when traveling. My sister had to use it once and received good help.

Verizon unlocks new phones after 60 days so purchasing an eSIM for Europe is more economical than Verizon’s international plan. Some eSIMs are data only so if phone calls/texts are needed then one that has calls/text and data is recommended. Link below has recommendations from several carriers and plans. I usually use one from Orange that has calls/texts and data. Very simple instructions to install and setup. Check YouTube videos for help installing an eSIM.

https://www.traveltomtom.net/travel-tips/best-esim-cards-for-europe

Recommend installing WhatsApp for all if going with eSIM.

I have a USA Verizon sim. I use their monthly overseas service. It works great for stateside numbers. Data, phone, etc., no problem. Not cheap, but better than anything else I've tried, and I still have my USA number. I also have a Telecom esim, which is mainly for everywhere in the EU, and that costs @ $40/month, unlimited. For use here it's perfect. For anything less than a couple months I'd just pay Verizon and forget the rest. It's not worth the few extra dollars.

I also use the Verizon monthly $100 plan. Very easy and it doesn't auto renew. It's worked well for me all over Europe and in China and Vietnam too.

For simplicity, the Verizon international plan is the simplest.
If you are looking to save some money, an eSIM would save you around 300 hundred dollars, so here are some considerations.
Start daughter on international plan for first arrival. —everyone will probably be more comfortable with this. Then, if everyone she communicates with has iPhone (FaceTime audio and video, as well as iMessage) all this communication will work on an eSIM over WiFi with an Airalo or equivalent plan-and of course on any available WiFi. WhatsApp also works on WiFi and in our experience is used extensively in Italy.
With the international plan, she can start off daily, then if everyone is comfortable with just WiFi, she can put her phone in airplane mode, keeping WiFi on, and just use the eSIM and public WiFi.
On our 3 week trip in 2023, my husband did the Verizon international plan so that his mom could contact him; I just did an eSIM and saved about $90.
There are some really good YouTube videos that explain how to activate an Airalo eSIM that were very helpful.

Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions.

Savings, over the amount of time you're going to be in the EU, are not going to be much. Certainly not hundreds, more like $20-$40 total. and it's not worth it.

Don't sweat the small stuff. KISS.