The mobile data / international roaming thread

[Tracey]

My £11 a month O2 SIM only deal surprisingly gave me free data in Canada. OH’s 3 network wanted X per day. Cue Airalo to the rescue. Very easy to buy the eSIM on my phone/ account and for him to scan the QR code with his phone that downloaded the eSIM directly on his phone without the need to install the airalo app. It also meant I could top up the eSIM, again without him needing the app.

[Kuestrian]

For anyone needing a US eSIM…

I was looking specifically for a Verizon eSIM to provide additional coverage in some of the more rural parts for the US where the usual T-Mobile/AT&T ones used by Nomad, Airalo et al didn’t cover, and came across a fantastic deal in a post on another forum.

By downloading the Verizon Trial app you can sign up for a free 30-day trial giving you 100GB of data and unlimited minutes & texts:

https://m.vzw.com/dpkgPgsi

The only hurdle is that you need to provide a non-Verizon US cell number during sign-up, that hasn’t been used for the trial in the last 6 months. If you have one from a previous trip then you may be able to use that and get the trial without doing anything else.

However if you don’t have one available then you can download the T-Mobile Prepaid SIM app to get a US number that can be used to unlock the Verizon trial:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/t-mobile-prepaid-esim/id1437014693

I ended up doing this and bought the cheapest option (5GB) for £13, giving me 2 US eSIMs on different networks which came in very handy whenever one dropped out. Having a US cell number for reservations and contact details was also extremely useful.

[davefl]

@Kuestrian Great tips, thanks for passing them on.

I went for Airalo and a US Skype number on my recent trip and it was a disaster. SMS wouldn’t send on Skype although I could receive them. Got double charged by Google play for the skype number and complaints to Google, MS, Paypal and a chargeback on Amex all failed.

I did look previously for a Tmobile esim option but couldn’t find it. Having a US number is so useful for Uber/Lyft/takeout ordering and tour contacts.

[Optimus Prime]

mzb wrote:

I am also looking at getting an eSIM in the US with a US phone number. I looked quickly at the Tello site, @Optimus Prime, did you have to sign up to a monthly plan or is there a PAYG option as well that I can’t seem to find?

Sorry, was on holidays and haven’t logged in for a while 🙂

There’s no PAYG but you can cancel at anytime. Can also be activated from the UK.

[Kuestrian]

davefl wrote:

@Kuestrian Great tips, thanks for passing them on.

I went for Airalo and a US Skype number on my recent trip and it was a disaster. SMS wouldn’t send on Skype although I could receive them. Got double charged by Google play for the skype number and complaints to Google, MS, Paypal and a chargeback on Amex all failed.

I did look previously for a Tmobile esim option but couldn’t find it. Having a US number is so useful for Uber/Lyft/takeout ordering and tour contacts.

The US number has been invaluable on this trip, especially for walk-ups where they take your number and text you when your table is ready. I also used it to register for Lyft and got a free trial month of their Lyft Pink sub, which includes priority pickups and 20% off rides.

The other nice thing is getting 5G Ultra Wide, even in the sticks. I ran a speedtest in a semi-remote part and got 850Mbps on download!