traveling to europe with a smart phone...how exactly?

[El Chupacabra]

dcpnz had some questions above.

el chup - still need an unblocked phone for a cheap eSim though, correct?

Correct - need an unlocked, preferably quad band phone.

I've had mixed results with getting a carrier to unlock a phone by chatting with CS telling them I have an upcoming overseas trip, and want to use an international Sim card. It's been several years though - haven't had a carrier locked phone in awhile.

[dcpnz]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]]iPhone. Unlocked. Her tmobile works over there but the local eSIM is much less expensive. It just seems to be configured incorrectly somehow so her texting is limited

Double check instructions from wherever you got the eSim …..But a few suggestions:

Go to settings / cellular
Under SIMs click on the esim and check it is both turned on and data roaming enabled
Go back to settings / cellular
At top Cellular Data - make sure the eSIM is selected; turn off cellular data switching
Go to settings / apps and scroll down to messages
Make sure cellular data is enabled

[dcpnz]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]]]Shouldn’t her UK eSIM come w a UK number?

Not necessarily
If she/you bought a data only esim it won’t come with a phone number

Even if it did come with a number (e.g. my Hong Kong esim did) you shouldn’t have to activate or use the number at all to use data

[mcski]

Thx I’ll chk with her and see what she got

Should she turn off data roaming on the US eSIM or is is selecting the UK esim sufficient. I’d think the latter but there’s some weird conflict going on. I think she has got our apple accounts conflicting and now both our phones are under her Apple ID. Super weird and annoying

[dcpnz]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]][emoji639]]Thx I’ll chk with her and see what she got

Should she turn off data roaming on the US eSIM or is is selecting the UK esim sufficient. I’d think the latter but there’s some weird conflict going on.

Edited my earlier response to add Turn off Cellular data switching.
If you do this shouldn’t matter but I do have roaming turned off on my primary sim .


Sent from my iPad using [emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]][emoji640][emoji638][emoji638][emoji638]]TGR Forums

[singlesline]

Yeah, I think just paying your current carrier is quickly becoming the way in my mind. No faffing around with sims/esims, you keep your phone number so people from home can still reach you / you still get "auth code" texts (which you'll probably get more of when you suddenly start logging into things from abroad), it just works as soon as you get off the plane.

Sucks that AT&T raised the day pass rate from 10 to 12 though as that means an extra $20 if you max it out...

[dcpnz]

Glad there’s an option that suits everyone.

I for one will continue to use eSims and save ~$100. Data and text works seamlessly everywhere I’ve travelled.
Heck, I use a Hong Kong based eSim here in US now for data too. All the data I can possibly dream of using and alot cheaper than an unlimited plan. Seamlessly bounces between Verizon ATT and TMobile whichever has best signal.

I agree with El Chup - only reason to use Verizon or ATT day pass overseas is if you make or receive a lot of phone calls. With a cheap eSim I pay per minute for a voice call.

[Peruvian]

How about when you need to receive text messages for secondary security codes? Use WhatsApp?

[m2711c]

everyone else in the world loves whatsapp. main way local folks have kept in touch with me on my last trips to japan,(rv company, hotels, resturants and rental cars) and chile ( car rental, hotels, condo rental, weed). app definitely worth having setup on yer phone.

[dcpnz]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]]How about when you need to receive text messages for secondary security codes? Use WhatsApp?

Primary line can remain active for voice and text so you’ll get it but it might cost you a whopping ten cents for an SMS text

If you’re in Apple ecosystem most iMessages use data so free; I think android RCS messages do same

But yeah - use whatsapp if you can for voice calls as well

[Peruvian]

I found this generally helpful and while he uses Airolo, it seems like most of the info would likely apply for other eSims as well.



Based on this vid, the 2 factor authentication may be a little tricky and require changing contact info in the various accounts that will require it.

[TexasGortex]

I leave my home sim active but set cellular data to only use the travel sim. This way I still receive important texts like 2-step authentication. You can receive text messages without charge and also aren’t charged for incoming calls unless you answer them.

This requires having a dual-sim phone but as far as I know most are these days. I’ve been running two carriers at once for many years on iPhones.

The other alternative is to switch to your home sim when you need a code. Just make sure you are on wifi and turn off cellular data.

[Yukonrider]

I don't remember if I posted this or not, but Verizon unlimited plans:

Its $20/month (or $10 depending on which plan you're on) to upgrade to their fanciest one which includes 10GB monthly of highspeed data internationally, and you can swap back and forth. I swapped up for a month, and the data worked great until I could get a local sim. Then I set it up so the local sim did all my data, and left the Verizon sim active for calls and texts. Worked great on an S24.

[singlecross]

PeruvianI ended up with adding International Day Pass to myATT service. $12 per day capped at $120 per billing cycle. Phone, text, roaming, web, whatever will all work as normal with seamless integration. I will see if that is true. Off to Switzerland

[phongkhamdkhoancau]

Physical SIM swaps can be inconvenient, especially if you need a new number, but an eSIM lets you keep your regular number active while using a dedicated plan for mobile data. I’ve used an eSIM on trips before, and it’s super easy to set up. Just scan a QR code, and you’re good to go.

For travel, I prefer using eSIM Plus since it gives me unlimited data without the hassle of switching physical SIM cards. Makes staying connected way smoother.