I am planning on buying data via an airalo esim. On this page: How To Make a Phone Call With a Data-Only eSIM it says:
The easiest way to make a phone call with a data-only eSIM is with an
internet-based calling app like Whatsapp ...
The only catch is that the person you're trying to reach must also
have the calling app downloaded.
I'm ok with that for calling friends/family, but what about if we need to call any places in Italy (our apartment or some service)? Any thoughts?
My experience in Europe is that most hosts on Booking.com, and I suppose AirBnB or VRBO, prefer WhatsApp, as it avoids them having to call an international number. With Family, as long as you work out the logistics, both parties need to have Whatsapp installed and an account, it is fine. Whatsapp also works well as a text option.
What is your style of travel? Do you often call hotels?
We were in Italy, and have T-mobile, but never called one single time. We have all hotels set before the trip, and do whatever last-minute contacts using email. We always have email in the hotel to contact the next hotel. So we needed no phone minutes.
We never call the US. We did in 2019 need to make a collect call to free up our card to access. For that, we were able to borrow the hotel phone. The call was collect and cost us nothing.
If your contacts give you their WhatsApp number it will be enough. If you need to call a landline or a mobile number it won’t work. For that you will need Skype or an international SIM card. I’m not familiar with eSIM but I thought you could make calls to landlines with that, but I guess you can’t with data only plans.
I used thee arialo esim this past May for 3 weeks in Italy. Most of the places we had to call has What'sApp. As a back-up, i had registered for the AT&T Day Pass which was $10/day. I only had to use that once on my trip. I went to Venice, Florence, Tuscan Countryside, Rome, Sorrento, and Amalfi Coast.
