How to Use Your Phone While Traveling: International SIM Cards, Phone Plans, and More!

Are you wondering how to use your phone while traveling internationally? Well, I'm here to help! In this video I go over 5 different options you have for using your phone while you travel like adding an international phone plan to your existing service, prepaid travel SIM cards, E-SIMS, and more!
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00:00 Intro
00:25 Option 1: Add international phone plan
00:52 Option 2: Switch to T-Mobile
01:33 Option 3: Prepaid tourism sim card
02:59 Option 4: E-Sim card
05:18 Option 5: Using WiFi
06:18 Bonus tip
07:00 Don't do this
07:38 Wrap up
08:16 Outro

[@ThePsychicStylist]

The best video I've found explaining options. Thank you.

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Thank you so much, that means a lot to me! Glad you found it helpful ☺️

[@michellekozelka7210]

You can go to settings and slow it down.

[@garyt7232]

I looked at different vlogs about using my mobile phone internally. Your vlog was very clear and precise. Thank you for the information.

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You’re welcome! Happy I could help :)

[@nvqswan]

Good info… Thanks for sharing!

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@kushal809]

Love your videos ❤️

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Thanks so much 🥰

[@kushal809]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

Thanks for your advice.

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You’re welcome! I’m happy to help :)

[@terenceada9140]

Great info! Thank you for the video!

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You’re welcome! Glad you found it helpful :)

[@star-tingwithmyintuition3463]

very helpful thank you

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You’re welcome! Glad I could help :)

[@karencevallos1639]

Great info

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Thank you!

[@stewartistvan5198]

Thanks a lot...so very helpful!!

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful!

[@stewartistvan5198]

@@SheRunTheWorld One more question that you may be able to help with...how do travelers deal with two step authentication if using a new SIM card like I plan to do when in Europe next week? Everything is tied to my local phone #/SIM. Suggestions?

[@shamansupreme9165]

Thank you!

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You’re welcome!

[@bd6259]

Great info thank you! Italy this summer, T-Mobile customer(magenta), turn on data roaming when I arrive, right? Otherwise I’d only be able to use wifi, right?

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You’re welcome!! Yes, turn on data roaming when you arrive and you’ll be good

[@atamo4323]

For security reasons, don’t want to use wifi for banking. Also maintaining home sim is necessary sometimes for otp sent by your bank or payment authorization or logon verification etc because just can’t be done with foreign sim phone # or data only sim with no phone number. So a dual sim slot phone or phone accepts esim are flexible.

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Fair enough! I always use a VPN whenever logging into banking stuff overseas so it’s fine for me to be in the WiFi. But good points, thanks for sharing!

[@CarrieBowen-ey2ux]

Thank you for this informative video! We’ve been struggling with what to do. We have T-Mobile & they mentioned a 10 day international pass…is that necessary? If we also have free texting with them?

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You’re welcome! No I wouldn’t pay the extra for T-Mobile. My husband has had his T-Mobile and been using it abroad for years without additional fees/services, and my sister in law just came last week for 7 days and used her regular T-Mobile service. It’s not the fastest, as it’s just 3G but it works!

[@CarrieBowen-ey2ux]

Great, thank you so much! We’ll be visiting 8 different countries in/near Europe on a cruise. Concerned with being in different ports each day.

[@Desi_Des]

AT&T charges $12 for International services. Please make that correction in your videos. Thank you for your video

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Thanks

[@andrealreeves]

Thanks 🙂 this was really informative! Could you please tell me which of these options mean I get to keep my US phone number? Or do you automatically get a different number when you purchase an international SIM?

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You automatically get a new number if you purchase a physical international SIM, local SIM, or E-SIM. The only way you keep your U.S. number is if you add an international plan to your service which is very expensive!

[@andrealreeves]

​@@SheRunTheWorldthank you :0)

[@DRNewcomb]

T-Mobile has free international texting and data ALMOST everywhere but there are exceptions including some countries, ships and aircraft. Calls in included destinations are cheap but not free. You also can’t use this for extended roaming or you will be cut off.

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Yup there are always exceptions! Nick has been using their international roaming pretty much year round since 2018 and hasn’t had any issues or been cut off

[@DRNewcomb]

@@SheRunTheWorld Experiences with extended roaming vary wildly with some people being cut off after a few months and others going a year at a time. Also, the roaming speed isn't really "2G" or "3G", that's just how it's described. It's actually whatever data is available throttled down to 2G-like or 3G-like speeds.

[@hedger48]

Can you reuse the old tourism SIM card from your last trip and top it off?

[@SheRunTheWorld]

As far as I know, not the physical tourism SIM cards. But you can top up E-SIM’s from your last trip!

[@HomeLoansByCarlosScarpero]

If I do the e sim option, is there a way to get my text messages from home? Can I forward texts to my Google Voice or another method?

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You might be able to forward it through Google voice - I tried it once and couldn’t figure out to be honest. So most likely you wouldn’t get actual text messages while you’re using your e-sim, but if you get wifi messages (iMessage or WhatsApp) you can turn back on your old sim any time you’re on wifi and get it. Then turn the sim off when you leave the WiFi again so you don’t get charged and just use the international e-sim

[@discover_yoursoul]

Is wifi and data using whats app different from your phones "wifi calling" setting because it said on verizons page if we use wifi to make calls well be charged long distance international fees regardless if were on a travel olan or not. 2nd question is when we get an international sim card in the country were in, to clarify, that means we cannot* keep our number, is that correct? I was going to cancel my at home plan and port the number to a Mexican service provider i just dont know if I can yet.

[@SheRunTheWorld]

1. I’m not sure, but if your phone is on airplane mode/cellular service is turned off and you’re only connected to wifi, you will not be charged for any WhatsApp messages/call or iMessages/FaceTimes 2) Correct, you cannot use your current number. It would need to be a local number. Your phone must be unlocked from your current provider in order to do this

[@discover_yoursoul]

@@SheRunTheWorld can you keep your number with an e sim or Amazon one?

[@brielleolson9295]

If you buy the SIM cards in country, do they cover multiple countries? Or only the country you’re visiting? Visiting multiple European countries and debating whether to buy the one off Amazon or in-country once we arrive :)

[@SheRunTheWorld]

It depends! For Europe/UK sims usually cover all of EU & UK both when you buy a sim in-country or online on Amazon (for instance I have a Lyca mobile E-SIM rn that’s good all over UK & EU for £5 a month)

[@oceanblue888]

My phone is still locked with AT&T. Last time I went to Asia, even though I signed up the $10 a day roaming service, I was NOT able to make calls back to the states. I was so upset because I called AT&T right before my trip and followed exactly what they told me to dial(the country code + area code + phone#), but I was still unable to get through. Now I have another trip coming up and wonder if things can get better. If you know what I did wrong, please lmk and give suggestions? Thank you!

[@SheRunTheWorld]

I’m glad you brought this up because I’m pretty sure if you’re phone is locked with AT&T you can’t use it abroad because even on the AT&T international plan or with an international SIM card, you use local service to where you’re at. So when your phone is locked, you can only use AT&T service. That’s why I’ve never been able to take advantage of the good iPhone deals on new iPhones through AT&T because they lock your phone for 3 years if you do it. I’d call them and see when your phone is locked until and explain your situation to see if they can unlock it for your vacation time!

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

Wow! The same thing happened to me. AT&T totally let me down, and me like a dummy tried to use them again on another international trip to Europe and AT&T let me down a second time!!! If I were you I wouldn't use them for your international travel again. I'm headed for a third trip to Europe. This time, I'll just probably buy a SIM card at the airport or use their local WIFi. Good luck.

[@sapphire6107]

I hope you get this before I leave for Greece three days from today. I purchased the Orange Holiday sim card from Amazon but I’m confused because it says I have to turn my phone roaming after I insert the card. I always turn data roaming off every time I travel abroad. Any thoughts? Thanks

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Hi! So you will have to turn on your phone roaming since the SIM needs to search for nearby cell service to use. But as long as your original/home SIM is either removed from the phone or turned off, you won’t get charged for the roaming!

[@sapphire6107]

@@SheRunTheWorld I see. I got it now. Thank you so much.

[@kelvindean]

Unfortunately, international SIM cards are completely blocked from use on the US S23 and future devices. However, US MVNOs and international roaming plans still work. An American who travels frequently will need two separate phones despite the dual SIM functionality.

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Really? I just used an international SIM from Amazon not too long ago. Very interesting. Thanks for the update!

[@kelvindean]

@@SheRunTheWorld For US devices, Samsung used to fully support both North and South America on devices sold between 2013 and 2016 (with limited support in other areas), then made South America support limited in 2017 (with full support for Puerto Rico and the USVI intact). Samsung Galaxy flagships released in 2023 and newer will completely block countries with limited support, making the US S23 series to only support the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. (The initial setup process for US Galaxy devices has drastically changed, forcing users to select their carrier BEFORE inserting the SIM card.)

[@donaldha]

❤❤

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Thanks for watching!😊

[@TheRoadWereOn]

The amount of phone numbers on your contact in my phone is outrageous 😂

[@SheRunTheWorld]

LMAO😂 that international SIM card life

[@patrickleb6690]

Hi I am Patrick Can you help me I am from Canada and will be traveling to usa From the 25 dec to 9 of jan 2024. I will put my phone on airplane mode and data off of course and would like to use an esim card, not sure about t-mobile or airalo ?? I will share with my family some Go probably 10 And probably need 20 Go Or if too much 5/ 10 Go.. So many option I can go to a t-mobile store when i am in us or order on Amazon a mobile physical card or esim at store for 55$ for a month.. Not really sure If I buy airalo That is only data I think And i can i Use my canadian number on wifi call, as i have a us plan included and data from airalo.. Can you make it more simple. ? By the way you're video are excellent and professional Thanks

[@SheRunTheWorld]

I’d definitely do an e-sim or order one on Amazon before you go, not T-Mobile. It’ll save you money! I have a e-sim with Lyca mobile and it’s only £5 a month for 20GB of data - so maybe try them and see what deals they have!!

[@danyoson]

I have t mobile was about to buy a sim for Thailand next month. I thought I had to add a international plan but it's already included in my bill. Great video thanks!

[@SheRunTheWorld]

I’m so glad!! You’re welcome, I’m happy to help :)

[@ukraine244]

What’s App all the way!

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Yeah best app for communicating abroad!

[@johnmccauley7077]

Slow down! You presented excellent information.

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Thanks!

[@donnai.2018]

Thank you! for all the info. TALK SLOWER

[@SheRunTheWorld]

You’re welcome! That’s how I talk :)

[@sueweate1306]

Great info but you talk too fast & give me a headache- slow down

[@SheRunTheWorld]

Just the way I talk. Feel free to watch the video on a slower speed :)

[@sueweate1306]

I didn’t realise I could do that, thank you