The Cheapest (and Best) Way To Get Cell Phone Service Internationally

One of the first issues to arise when traveling internationally is phone connectivity. As someone who works remotely and travels frequently, I’m regularly looking for the most cost-efficient and seamless phone connection.

As I started traveling more, I discovered eSIMS, which are electronic SIM cards that can be downloaded remotely. This is far different from physical SIM cards, which you insert into your phone. In the past, you needed to find a store that sold physical SIM cards.

Here was my experience purchasing and installing an eSIM, and how to protect your phone in the process.

How eSIMS Work

To get an eSIM, your phone must be unlocked. This means that your phone is no longer tied to a specific carrier, and you can switch carriers as you see fit. Your phone will be locked if you haven’t paid off the phone itself. This was the situation I found myself in.

The easiest way to see if your phone is locked or unlocked is to use the carrier’s website to plug in your International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI, number. I used AT&T’s website and quickly found my phone was locked, as I’ve been paying it off monthly. From there, I paid off my phone in full to unlock it. I used the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature^® Credit Card, as I’m trying to earn the welcome bonus offer.

Once I paid off the phone, I requested the phone to be unlocked. AT&T said it could take up to 48 hours, but roughly 1 hour later, I received a notification that my phone was unlocked. At this point, I was able to install an eSIM.

I downloaded the Airalo app and was able to purchase an eSIM. I found the cheapest way was to buy a local eSIM that covered the countries I was visiting (Iceland, Ireland, Germany, and Portugal). The eSIM was $37 for 10 GB of data, good for up to 30 days. This didn’t cover phone calls or traditional text messages. So, since it was limited, it was helpful to connect to Wi-Fi when I could to save data.

This solution for me was much cheaper than AT&T’s international plan, which costs $12 per day. A 10-day trip could cost a whopping $120, on top of my cell phone bill at home. For 21 days in Europe, my total bill will be $72.

The price varies depending on the country and provider you purchase from. For example, in Thailand, an eSIM with unlimited data and calling for 15 days costs $20.

How To Protect Your Phone While Traveling

Just like at home, your phone can be damaged or stolen, or you can simply lose it. It can be frustrating, but depending on the credit card you use to pay for your cell phone bill at home, you could have cell phone protection and travel insurance.

However, you must use an eligible credit card to pay your cell phone service bill at home — not just for the eSIM. So if you have a traditional carrier at home, pay your bill with a card with cell phone protection to ensure your phone is covered.

I’m on a family plan with my brother, and he uses the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to pay the monthly bill. This card gives up to $800 per approved claim or the retail value of your phone (the lesser amount applies), with a $50 deductible for each claim. You can submit up to 2 claims for every rolling 12-month period.

So before your next trip, consider grabbing a travel credit card with cell phone protection. Here are a few:

• Platinum Card^® from American Express
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

Final Thoughts

International travel can be expensive, but there are subtle ways to save money without sacrificing much. Before your next international trip, look into your cell phone plan to see what it does or doesn’t include, and consider using an eSIM to save.