HOW TO USE YOUR PHONE WHILE TRAVELING! (International Phone Plans) - MUST WATCH!!!

This video will tell you how to use your phone while traveling! First, we will go over all the different options to use your phone abroad/internationally. Starting with some American-based phone company's international options(Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Google Fi), moving onto a new app that lets you purchase and install sim cards directly on your phone, and finally going over the local sim card options if you plan on staying in a country for an extended period.

Airhub Esim

$20 OFF GOOGLE FI
Referral code: T77TP6

$3 OFF first Airalo sim
Referral code: KYLE813

T-mobile is one of the best options for international travelers; they offer free unlimited 2g data and texting in over 200 countries, included with all of their plans except for the essentials plan. This is more than sufficient to run some essential apps such as navigation and to make calls through Skype if needed!

Verizon offers some international options such as a travel pass that works in 185+ countries for $10/day or a monthly travel pass for $100/month that includes 250 minutes/1k SMS/ and 5GB of data. Unfortunately, both these options are outrageously overpriced, and you would be much better just going with the E-sim option that we will cover shortly.

AT&T offers a similar day pass for $10/day to receive service in 200+ countries, but in my opinion, this is still way too expensive unless you are traveling for business and can expense it to your company.

Google-Fi is by far the best American phone plan for international travelers! Its plans include unlimited texting and data in 200+ countries (LTE when available 3g when not), and calling at 20 cents a minute! This can be especially helpful when you need a dedicated number or want to receive verification codes easily while abroad.
Google Fi offers two plans that include international coverage the flexible and unlimited plus; the flexible plan starts at $20/month for unlimited texting and domestic calling+$10/GB after 6GB of data. Any additional data will be free of charge bringing the total bill to $80/month+taxes/fees! The unlimited plan offers unlimited texting/domestic calling+unlimited data for $70/month. Both plans also go down in cost if you add more people to them, so if your a family or group of friends, it can be even cheaper!

These plans can be great for frequent travelers who want their phone to work when they land at the airport and not have to hassle with getting service! If you decide to use Google Fi, I would appreciate you using my referral code "T77TP6" to help support the channel and receive $20 off your first bill! This plan is zero commitment which is why I love it; you can cancel anytime or even pause anytime if the plan doesn't make sense based on life circumstances. Then resume the plan when you're ready to come back! I love using the E-sim option, so if I'm traveling in a place for a while, I can still have an empty sim card tray just in case I want to put in a local sim card.

Now that we've covered some basic US carrier international plans, let's talk about what I think is the best option for cost and simplicity while traveling abroad. The app is called Airalo and allows you to purchase local or regional sim cards directly on your phone and install them using Esim technology within 2 minutes; you can even use apple pay which simplifies the process even more. E-sim is a technology that allows you to add a sim card to your phone without having a physical sim. Esim is built into any iPhone past to XR and is most new android phones, but you'll have to do your research since there are so many different android models!

Simply select what country or region you're going to, then choose your very affordable data package. These are data-only packages, so you will not get a dedicated number for texting/calling, but you can always continue using WhatsApp/iMessage/FaceTime, and I recommend loading a few $ in Skype credits for external calls! If you decide to sign up, please use my referral code "Kyle813" link in the description to support the channel and get $3 off your first sim!

The final option to get service while traveling is to buy a local sim card. This can be great if you stay in one country or plan to stay in a country for an extended period! The price will vary, but you should avoid buying them in an airport, find a phone store in the city and ask for a sim card. They can even help you install it! This is one of the cheapest options, but I still prefer to use google fi for convince since I travel so frequently!

[thomasj]

We are just ending our 2 week vacation in Germany, Austria, and Slovenia. This app worked flawlessly once we set it up at the airport. 10 gbs per person was enough data for us and we were able to stay connected to each other via Signal. Appreciate the video and thorough explanation. 👍 🇩🇪

[reklovjj]

You failed to mention Google voice to keep your US phone number as it’s crucial for 2-steps verification!

[dylanfisher]

Definitely going to get Google Fi whenever I leave the US again. Thanks Kyle!

[philip]

Lovely hand movements! Makes a lot more sense with it !

[balleman]

Google FI cuts off data after 3 months out of the USA

[coachab]

I usually use the Verizon Travel Pass but this trip I got the $100 monthly International plan. The monthly plan is a ripoff. At home in the USA I only use about 2 GB a month at most. In Croatia I used 5 GB in 2 weeks. That is crazy! And hard to find out how much data you have used until it was too late! Use a SIM card or some other plan! I could have bought a new phone here for what I needed. Live and learn!

[leoluv]

Having a working phone number can be important when traveling abroad. You might need to call the hotel or the hotel may need to call you or something like that. Otherwise, just using data would be great. I’m considering using orange because you also get a phone number to use unlimited within the region and then make a few calls back home as well.

[johnnypastrana]

Hi Kyle, my nephew gave me a google fi physical sim as I travel from time to time. Thanks for the pep talk and I am going to give it a try soon. Great info...!!!

[meaversand]

nice job, very informational and clear language thy

[BeinKian]

Hey Kyle, ill be your friend! Also probably gonna use googlefi if I can with an iphone

[richvarela]

Good info Kyle.. i have an xr iphone.. so il stick with google fi… thanks again ….

[MorrowPlays]

I heard you could get an unlocked phone and just pop in a local sim card at airport where you get like a month plan

[kelvindean]

Unfortunately, newer Galaxy devices sold in the US only work with SIM cards in the US and Puerto Rico. You'll either have to get an international plan and keep your current device, or buy a device made for that region and use a local SIM card.

[denissevenegas]

Thanks for this great video ! I just used your link for Airalo. 👍

[melbastephenhigbee]

Could you do new video to update this information? GoogleFi now suspends your plan if you stay abroad too long, but keeps right on billing you 😮. Any new options for long term travelers who need US phone specially texting while abroad? Whats currently the best option ?

[MrsMeliDeli]

Hi Kyle. Excellent updated presentation. I currently use Verizon with an iPhone 7 . Will be traveling for 6 weeks to 4 countries in Europe. My data usage is for maps and navigation mostly. I do conduct biz while abroad, need to have access to incoming texts & call & authentication codes that go to my Verizon number. EU SIM card sounds great. In 2019 tried Vodaphone, bought it in Germany but had trouble using it in France. Have you a preferred alternative today? Also, with new SIM card, how do I access my Verizon calls and texts? Google -Fi sounds very cool, but a bit confusing. If it's paused when I'm not traveling, does this mean my phone has access to both providers simultaneously?... or does one replace the other?

[philbertshevitz]

I have an android with Verizon as my carrier. If I travel internationally, can I use Google fi for just 1 month? And then simply switch back to Verizon when I get back home?

[callmeNeno]

Awesome tips ; just applied for Global Entry

[illidelphian]

Hey Kyle. Great video. I love the way you clearly explain things. I do have some questions though and I’m hoping you wouldn’t mind helping me. Let me give you some info of my situation and I would love your opinions/thoughts. I am going to Asia with my mother to see family and I will have other family remaining in America that I will need to speak to via phone/text. It is also imperative that we have unlimited data for Internet usage/apps. We currently share a Verizon family plan. What is the most reliable plan for my mom and I that is affordable? Wondering if we should have our phone ready when we arrive or get a local Sim card. Also would that mean I can make local calls within that country? That e sim sounds appealing. If we have the unlimited data on that plan can we call whenever we want over FaceTime (w/o Wi-Fi- just double checking)? Also meanwhile would I have to put a hold on my Verizon plan or can I simply shut off my cellular data in settings so that the call doesn’t hop over and charge me? Also is the Wi-Fi the same all over the world? Can my iPhone hook up to Wi-Fi in a coffee shop over there? (Prob a dumb quotation). Just want to be sure. If you could help me out it would mean so much to me really. I really appreciate your time and thoughts!! ✈️ oh also… Do you know if some kind of Verizon international service would be good for us? 💖

[SaadonAksah]

Nice one! Thanks for sharing the info 👍