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popularDaddio1949 posted Nov 12, 2024 04:51 PM
popularDaddio1949 posted Nov 12, 2024 04:51 PM

Verizon Wireless, Lowering your Cell Phone Cost When Traveling Abroad

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This post is for Verizon wireless customers who plan to travel abroad. If you have another wireless service, you may not be interested, except to ridicule Verizon customers.

Verizon wireless service when traveling abroad can be expensive. Currently, Verizon charges $12/day for data, talk, and text for international travel if you have their lower tier plans (Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus). Verizon calls this extra charge TravelPass. However, under their Unlimited Ultimate plan data, talk, and text are included in the monthly plan charge. The Unlimited Ultimate has the highest monthly fixed charge. Note, there is no roaming charge for Canada and Mexico for the lower tier plans.
TravelPass [verizon.com]
Verizon plans [verizon.com]

But, Verizon allows you to temporarily switch plans even within a billing cycle, and by switching plans you can beat the $12/day TravelPass charge.

We recently made 1-week trip to Europe and my daughter also made another 2-week trip to Europe in past few months. The day before we left, I switched the phones from Unlimited Welcome to Unlimited Ultimate. The day after the trip I switched the phone back to Unlimited Welcome. For the 1-week trip to Europe we were under the Unlimited Ultimate plan for just over a week. I did the same for my daughter's 2-week trip to Europe. Also, I could have switched plans on the days we left and returned because when I called Verizon, they switched us during the call.

The additional cost for Unlimited Ultimate is $25/line for the entire month, but Verizon prorates the cost for just the time spent under the Unlimited Ultimate. Consequently, for the 7-day trip to Europe the total increase in cost per phone was $10. If we kept the less expensive plan, Unlimited Welcome, the increase would have been $70 (7 times $10/day). For my daughter the total additional cost was $25 for 3-weeks in Europe, If she stayed under the cheaper plan the increased cost would have been $210 (21 days time $10/day).

Note, Verizon has now increased the TravelPass cost from $10/day to $12/day.
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About the Poster
This post is for Verizon wireless customers who plan to travel abroad. If you have another wireless service, you may not be interested, except to ridicule Verizon customers.

Verizon wireless service when traveling abroad can be expensive. Currently, Verizon charges $12/day for data, talk, and text for international travel if you have their lower tier plans (Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus). Verizon calls this extra charge TravelPass. However, under their Unlimited Ultimate plan data, talk, and text are included in the monthly plan charge. The Unlimited Ultimate has the highest monthly fixed charge. Note, there is no roaming charge for Canada and Mexico for the lower tier plans.
TravelPass [verizon.com]
Verizon plans [verizon.com]

But, Verizon allows you to temporarily switch plans even within a billing cycle, and by switching plans you can beat the $12/day TravelPass charge.

We recently made 1-week trip to Europe and my daughter also made another 2-week trip to Europe in past few months. The day before we left, I switched the phones from Unlimited Welcome to Unlimited Ultimate. The day after the trip I switched the phone back to Unlimited Welcome. For the 1-week trip to Europe we were under the Unlimited Ultimate plan for just over a week. I did the same for my daughter's 2-week trip to Europe. Also, I could have switched plans on the days we left and returned because when I called Verizon, they switched us during the call.

The additional cost for Unlimited Ultimate is $25/line for the entire month, but Verizon prorates the cost for just the time spent under the Unlimited Ultimate. Consequently, for the 7-day trip to Europe the total increase in cost per phone was $10. If we kept the less expensive plan, Unlimited Welcome, the increase would have been $70 (7 times $10/day). For my daughter the total additional cost was $25 for 3-weeks in Europe, If she stayed under the cheaper plan the increased cost would have been $210 (21 days time $10/day).

Note, Verizon has now increased the TravelPass cost from $10/day to $12/day.

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Nov 14, 2024 02:16 PM
24 Posts
Joined May 2006
zzhangzNov 14, 2024 02:16 PM
24 Posts
Quote from CharlesBarkley :
Not a bad setup, unless you are under the old plans and can't "go back" to them. For my trip overseas I just got a cheap unlimited data eSIM online and used that
I guess data only is your 2nd sim. can you do wi-fi call from primary sim with data only 2nd esim?
Nov 14, 2024 02:25 PM
1,545 Posts
Joined May 2012
CharlesBarkleyNov 14, 2024 02:25 PM
1,545 Posts
Quote from zzhangz :
I guess data only is your 2nd sim. can you do wi-fi call from primary sim with data only 2nd esim?
I'm not sure, I never tried making a call, I stuck to iMessage, FaceTime, and WhatsApp for communication.
Nov 14, 2024 06:29 PM
101 Posts
Joined Feb 2009
nerdvanaNov 14, 2024 06:29 PM
101 Posts
Quote from zzhangz :
I guess data only is your 2nd sim. can you do wi-fi call from primary sim with data only 2nd esim?

It's a little complicated, but it can be done. See here for details:

WiFi Calling Using Travel eSIMs: Is it supported? | Nomad
https://www.getnomad.app/blog/wif...ravel-esim

How I use a dual-SIM phone to save on international roaming - The Points Guy
https://thepointsguy.com/news/avo...g-charges/
Nov 14, 2024 09:13 PM
1,016 Posts
Joined Jul 2005
stuff4daveNov 14, 2024 09:13 PM
1,016 Posts
Fyi: If you buy your phones from Verizon, they lock the sims to Verizon for 60 days, and it automatically unlocks after that. So if you just got a new phone, and don't have an old one to use, you won't be able to use a third party provider for international cell coverage.
Nov 16, 2024 04:52 AM
599 Posts
Joined Mar 2011
msavy11Nov 16, 2024 04:52 AM
599 Posts
Quote from CharlesBarkley :
Not a bad setup, unless you are under the old plans and can't "go back" to them. For my trip overseas I just got a cheap unlimited data eSIM online and used that
Can you explain how exactly that works? From my understanding, you have to use the WhatsApp to make phone calls only to people who use WhatsApp so it's extremely limiting.
Nov 16, 2024 06:00 AM
1,545 Posts
Joined May 2012
CharlesBarkleyNov 16, 2024 06:00 AM
1,545 Posts
Quote from msavy11 :
Can you explain how exactly that works? From my understanding, you have to use the WhatsApp to make phone calls only to people who use WhatsApp so it's extremely limiting.
Yeah, but I guess it's more common for businesses in UK to have WhatsApp numbers. At least the one I needed to call (private car) was available that way. Everyone else I just iMessaged
Nov 16, 2024 02:34 PM
2,339 Posts
Joined Oct 2008
aneuwishNov 16, 2024 02:34 PM
2,339 Posts
For anyone to care for the costs resulting from use of this known neurotoxin please know I am here to assist in providing the information that is not supplied by the industry as it is against their vested interests. I too, enjoy technology but have learned that my health issues were due to the adverse biological effects of technology that is more aggressively out of tune with natural energy of the body (e.g. heart, gut, brain pacemaker cells etc.). This is only meant in care, no disrespect intended; the industry would rather this information not be known or be questioned... the scientists and doctors and hard evidence victims of injury are not only concerned they are valid resources of information for all to make informed (democratic) decisions about the tech they choose to connect to others with. I personally am all hard wired here, as the health costs resulting from wireless are just in my opinion, not worth any savings the advertisers claim on communications. ty for allowing me to speak on this relevant aspect of technology sales and consumption.
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Nov 16, 2024 05:21 PM
146 Posts
Joined Nov 2019
LordChodNov 16, 2024 05:21 PM
146 Posts
I went to Mumbai, India recently and had switched from Red Pocket to Verizon Ultimate Unlimited and could not have been more happier. I had blazing fast internet there along with free local and US phone calls. I had previously tired T-Mobile there and had lousy service where I could not catch the fastest network in Mumbai since they are not tied up with Jio. T-Mo seems is tied up with Vodaphone and Airtel which has spotty services in a number of deadzones due to lack of towers. Hope this helps.
Nov 18, 2024 03:15 AM
807 Posts
Joined Mar 2007
BG101Nov 18, 2024 03:15 AM
807 Posts
All,
Travel pass used to $10, now $12 a day.
Or $100 a month.. not many people are aware that's there is that $100 monthly option that auto expires in 30 days after start
1
Nov 18, 2024 02:24 PM
129 Posts
Joined Aug 2008
mdnberryNov 18, 2024 02:24 PM
129 Posts
Yes, we did this exact thing in July.

The difference between the two that the travel pass gives you a certain amount of data per day. Switching to the Ultimate you'll have your data allowance for the month. Can't remember the amounts off the top of my head but if one's gonna be on the road for an extended time with no wifi, and use a LOT of data, travel pass may be a better option.
Nov 18, 2024 03:13 PM
90 Posts
Joined Apr 2012
ThePoopsmithNov 18, 2024 03:13 PM
90 Posts
Quote from YCG :
OP is correct, but keep in mind that you only get 10 GB of international data at 5G speed per billing cycle. After that, you get reduced speeds of 2G. The cost to get more 5G speed is $10 for 2GB more. You'll get texts in the foreign country telling you this, and giving you the option to buy 2 GB more when the 10 GB has been used.
Sorry to be a pain, but do you have a link to where it says this? I was trying to find something online showing where it says you can buy more data when you get capped but I couldn't see anything referencing unlimited ultimate having this option.
Nov 18, 2024 04:28 PM
2,714 Posts
Joined Aug 2006
YCGNov 18, 2024 04:28 PM
2,714 Posts
Quote from ThePoopsmith :
Sorry to be a pain, but do you have a link to where it says this? I was trying to find something online showing where it says you can buy more data when you get capped but I couldn't see anything referencing unlimited ultimate having this option.
I just got back from an international trip a week ago, so I wrote it based on my own experience (I switched to unlimited ultimate before my trip, used the full 10GB, was offered the "boost" of 2GB more for an additional $10). Tried googling and the best I could find was some reddit threads like this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/...onal_data/

https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/...over_10gb/
Nov 18, 2024 10:42 PM
90 Posts
Joined Apr 2012
ThePoopsmithNov 18, 2024 10:42 PM
90 Posts
Quote from YCG :
I just got back from an international trip a week ago, so I wrote it based on my own experience (I switched to unlimited ultimate before my trip, used the full 10GB, was offered the "boost" of 2GB more for an additional $10). Tried googling and the best I could find was some reddit threads like this:https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/...onal_data/https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/...over_10gb/
Ah ok awesome; thanks for the context. If it's what you experienced firsthand then that's as good as any article. Just wanted some conformation. People probably think I'm nuts but I've always maintained a separate Fi number that I keep as dormant as possible until I take a trip because it's a number that gets very few spam texts. It's not cheap to keep it though and I'd like to get rid of it but wasn't sure how Verizon handled more than 10gb until your reply.
Nov 18, 2024 10:45 PM
506 Posts
Joined Apr 2024
RelaxedPencil532Nov 18, 2024 10:45 PM
506 Posts
whoever upvoted this must be an idiot! There are literally esims available at every major international airport and it is a lot simpler than calling or dealing with verizon. $30 at the airport will save you so much headache with roaming and other fees verizon will charge!
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Nov 18, 2024 10:48 PM
506 Posts
Joined Apr 2024
RelaxedPencil532Nov 18, 2024 10:48 PM
506 Posts
Quote from Jeff_In_Louisville :
My two sons and I took a sixteen day trip, eastern france, the alsace region, this past summer. We were tracing their great grandfather's world war two track, so internet was critical because of the google pinpoints of each battle location. I paid for a one month international plan from verizon to use on my samsung galaxyS24 ultra. I cannot tell you how much it sucked. It would not connect half the time throughout the entire region, from the french riviera to munich. My son's iphones, on the other hand had no problem connecting to the international service at the exact same locations. I spent hours upon hours upon hours with technical support to no avail.They were completely useless and could not help me at any time. Verizon, did refund my fees for the trip, but it was still a very frustrating experience.
exactly why you should get a local esim versus going thru verizon. we need to downvote junk threads like this so people aren't stuck overseas with no service or really poor service!

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