Verizon International Plan or SIM cards

It really depends on what and how much you expect to consume between voice, text
and data, and, whether you need multiple phones to be active or if you can survive
with one phone. Also, since a SIM will give you a different phone #, how much you
need to be able to access your US #.

However, you should be able to purchase a SIM card that will work in all 3 countries.

But different plans give you different quantities of voice minutes, # of texts, and amt of
data. So you need to decide what you will consume before you purchase.

If you plan to visit these countries again in the not-so-distant future, then buying a larger
capacity SIM will be cheaper and be usable on future trips.

We’re doing the same 8 weeks in March/April to Spain & Portugal. I have the same question. I also have Verizon, We mainly will just need for contacting our rentals using phone, and texting. I have heard if you have an iPhone Orange is a good company and you can do an eSIM card to add to your phone. I also heard of an app called Airalo, but I’m not sure if it has talk. I’ll be following your post to see what others have to say.

I’ve used the Verizon International Plan, WhatsApp, SIM card, and eSIM. The Verizon International Plan is very convenient but the cost, data limits, and voice minutes could be a barrier. Airalo offers (eSIM technology) global talk, text and data plans which often connect faster than my cellular plan. That of course eliminates access to my none iPhone contacts. WhatsApp requires that your targeted contact has the app also. Country specific SIM cards can be beneficial and very economical. I’ve even used my cellular plan and an eSIM or SIM card plan at the same time. I used an Orange Plan only once and was not disappointed. Essentially it depends on which product best fits your needs. During my last few trips I’ve combined my home cellular plan with an Airola talk, text and data plan. That fit works great for me.

I have the Verizon plan and a Telecom sim card.

With Verizon I get great service, and that includes trips to Portugal, and everyone who has my number in the States (including telemarketers) calls just like normal. I have to remind them of the time difference. This covers calls, texts, zoom, etc.

The esim is just for calls (etc) within the EU.

I have used the Orange Holiday Europe esim in Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. We were pleased with how well it worked.

Sorry to say I have Verizon and used an Orange sim with zero success last year. Two different Orange offices were of no help. I'm thinking Airolo this time or maybe even T-mobile.

Verizon has a new plan called Unlimited Ultimate that allows data, calls and texts from wherever you are when you travel internationally. Check your plan and see if switching will work for you. I switched last year when I went to the UK and then again just used it in the Philippines and it was seamless. No more messing around with physical sims or esims or pay for their costly international plans. I don't miss those days lol.