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Verizon Travel Pass Review – Is Verizon Travel Pass Worth It

Are you considering Verizon Travel Pass for your next trip but unsure if it’s worth the investment?

With mixed reviews and various options on the market, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.

In this article, we will conduct a comprehensive review of Verizon Travel Pass to help you determine whether this service is the right choice for your travel needs.

verizon travel pass review – is verizon travel pass worth it?

1. User Experiences

Traveler feedback on Verizon TravelPass is mixed. Some users have found the service to be extremely convenient and worth the cost for short trips.

A user noted that the $10 charge is only for days when the pass is actually used, which can be cost-effective for sporadic usage.

Conversely, some users have reported less than satisfactory experiences with the service. A Verizon Community post mentions that the service works fast on LTE for a few minutes but then significantly slows down, even if the user hasn’t reached the 500MB throttle limit.

2. Cost Efficiency

When it comes to cost, the value of Verizon TravelPass can vary depending on the length of your trip. For trips longer than 10 days, a user on Reddit suggests that the $100 international plan might be more cost-efficient than using TravelPass daily.

3. Convenience Factor

The convenience of using your own phone number and data plan while traveling cannot be overstated. For many travelers, the ease of arriving in a new country without the need to purchase a local SIM card or rent a mobile hotspot is a significant benefit.

With Verizon TravelPass, your phone becomes operational the moment you land, allowing you to make calls, send texts, and use data just as you would at home.

This is particularly useful for business travelers who need to stay connected at all times and cannot afford any downtime.

4. Data Speed and Performance

Verizon TravelPass typically allows you to use high-speed data up to 0.5GB per day (speeds reduced after that until the next day). For casual use, such as checking emails, using maps, or updating social media, this is generally sufficient.

However, for those who require more robust data usage, the speed throttling after 0.5GB can be a significant limitation. In such cases, purchasing additional high-speed data or exploring local data solutions might be necessary.

5. Alternatives to Verizon TravelPass

It’s important to consider alternatives to Verizon TravelPass when assessing its value. Local SIM cards can be a cost-effective option, offering a generous amount of data at a lower price point, but they also come with the hassle of changing your phone number temporarily. Additionally, international roaming plans from competitors or international mobile hotspots may provide better value or performance depending on your specific needs.

What Countries are Included in Verizon TravelPass?

Verizon’s TravelPass has become an essential service for many globetrotters who rely on their mobile phones for communication and internet access while traveling.

The service allows Verizon customers to use their existing plan’s talk, text, and data allowances in over 185 countries for a daily fee, making international travel more convenient and connected.

Coverage and Daily Fees

The TravelPass program is straightforward: it’s $5 per day in Mexico and Canada, which are popular destinations for American travelers, and $10 per day in other covered countries.

This pricing allows you to keep your domestic plan and phone number, avoiding the hassle of setting up a temporary international plan.

Included Countries

Verizon’s TravelPass covers a vast array of countries across various continents. Here’s a snapshot of some of the countries where you can use TravelPass:

• Asia : India, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Turkey, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Nepal, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan.
• Africa : Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Mauritius, DR Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Ghana, Madagascar, and Ivory Coast.
• Europe : Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, and Ukraine.
• North America : Mexico, Canada, and the United States (for domestic plan holders).
• South America : Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru.
• Oceania : Countries not specifically listed, but the service spans across various islands and nations in this region as well.

The inclusion of countries like Afghanistan in the TravelPass program is particularly noteworthy, as it indicates Verizon’s commitment to providing service in a wide range of regions, despite the potential challenges.

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Verizon finally upgrades its international travelpass.

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Tourists using digital devices - iphones, tablets, ipads, cameras - photograph the dawn at Angkor ... [+] Wat; waiting to see the light come up over the main temple of Angkor. (Photo by In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images)

Verizon Wireless has officially upgraded its high speed international TravelPass. First launched more than a decade ago, the U.S-carrier’s TravelPass allows customers to use their standard, domestic data, text and calling plans for $10/day overseas or $5/day in Canada and Mexico. However, the service—which previously capped users at just 0.5GB of data per day—has been considered by some to be fool’s gold since widespread usage of LTE became an industry standard in the 2010s.

In 2023, well into the era of 5G high speed data, that marginal amount of data never went far.

Today, Verizon announced that TravelPass plans will feature a more usable 2GB per day threshold for international, high-speed data. In addition, users who exceed that threshold will still be able to access unlimited 3G data speeds. That’s good news for frequent international travelers that are unwilling or unable to purchase a local SIM card on arrival at a destination.

According to wireless analytics company Opensignal, 5G users consume 2.7x more data per day than LTE users. The company also says that 5G users average about 16GB per month.

In the past, Verizon’s pint-sized allotment of data has caused frustration within the carrier’s community of nearly 143 million users. In an era of streaming video and music (not to mention map, lodging and translation services), 0.5GB of data was nearly useless. Often, users found themselves paying a surcharge (usually $15) for another 1GB of data per day, leading to some astronomical sticker shock after extended time overseas. In one instance, a user reported racking up a $5,000 phone bill from Verizon after relying on TravelPass in Saudi Arabia.

Verizon Wireless is America’s largest wireless provider ahead of T-Mobile and AT&T Mobility.

Verizon says TravelPass is compatible with networks in more than 210 countries around the globe. Rival AT&T offers a $10/day International Day Pass that caps data usage to 128kbps after users exceed their domestic data plan allotment. T-Mobile offers a daily international pass at 512MB for $5 alongside two larger data packs: 5GB for $35 or 15GB for $50.

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In an era where staying connected is paramount, Verizon Travel Pass emerges as a valuable solution for globetrotters. This service allows Verizon Wireless customers to use their mobile devices while traveling abroad without incurring exorbitant roaming charges. Let’s delve into the intricacies of how Verizon Travel Pass works and how it can enhance your travel experience.

What is Verizon Travel Pass?

Verizon Travel Pass is a feature offered by Verizon Wireless that enables customers to use their domestic voice, data, and messaging allowances while traveling internationally. Instead of paying per-minute or per-message roaming fees, users can opt for Travel Pass to enjoy a more predictable and cost-effective way to stay connected abroad.

Key Features

1. global coverage.

Travel Pass extends its coverage to more than 185 countries, ensuring that Verizon customers can stay connected across a wide array of destinations. Whether you’re on a business trip or exploring a new corner of the world, Travel Pass has you covered.

2. Affordable Daily Rate

Users are charged a daily rate for the days they use their devices abroad. This daily fee provides access to the same data, talk, and text allowances as their domestic plan. It’s a straightforward and transparent pricing model that eliminates the guesswork associated with traditional roaming charges.

3. Only Pay for Usage

Importantly, Travel Pass only charges you on the days you use your device. If your phone remains dormant on a particular day, you won’t incur any additional charges. This flexibility makes it an attractive option for occasional or short-term travelers .

How to Activate Verizon Travel Pass

Activating Travel Pass is a straightforward process:

• Check Eligibility: Ensure that your Verizon Wireless plan is eligible for Travel Pass. Not all plans automatically include this feature, so it’s essential to verify your plan’s compatibility.
• Activate Before Travel: Activate Travel Pass before embarking on your international journey. This can be done through the My Verizon app, online account management, or by contacting Verizon customer service.
• Select Your Destination: Travel Pass automatically covers you in more than 185 countries. There’s no need to select specific countries or make changes to your plan based on your destination.
• Enjoy Seamless Connectivity: Once activated, Travel Pass seamlessly integrates with your existing plan. You can use your device abroad just as you would at home, making calls, sending texts, and using data without the fear of bill shock.

Considerations and Tips

1. daily fee per device:.

Keep in mind that the daily fee applies to each device using Travel Pass. If you have multiple devices, each one will incur its own daily charge when used abroad.

2. Data Speeds and Limits:

While Travel Pass allows you to use your domestic data allowance, data speeds may be slower compared to what you experience at home. It’s crucial to be mindful of your data usage to avoid potential speed reductions.

3. Check Plan Compatibility:

Before relying on it, double-check that your specific Verizon Wireless plan supports this feature. Some older plans may not include Travel Pass, so it’s wise to confirm compatibility in advance.

In Conclusion

Verizon Travel Pass simplifies the international travel experience for Verizon Wireless customers, offering a practical and cost-effective solution for staying connected across borders. By understanding its features, activation process, and considering essential tips, you can make the most of Verizon Travel Pass on your next journey. Stay connected, explore with ease, and let Verizon Travel Pass be your global communication companion.

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Verizon's TravelPass Lets You Roam Internationally for $10 per Day

If you're a frequent reader of this site, chances are you've managed to take an international trip or two. And you probably stressed about staying connected before, during or after your overseas adventure — perhaps all three, if you came back to a hefty bill. US cell service providers have infamously price gouged travelers for years, but with T-Mobile's free data roaming and services like Google's Project Fi (which I love), the carriers have had to make some adjustments in order to hold on to customers.

This week, that means good news for Verizon subscribers. Verizon Wireless (TPG's carrier of choice) just announced its TravelPass program , allowing roaming customers to utilize the same voice, text and data allowance they have access to back home. That sounds a lot like T-Mobile's free global roaming plan, until you dig a bit deeper.

Unlike T-Mobile's offering, which is free (but with data capped at a paltry 128 Kbps), Verizon's TravelPass requires a daily payment. Still, it's bound to save certain travelers a small fortune — especially those who like to use their phones abroad just as they do when they're back home. TravelPass will cost $2 per 24-hour period when roaming in Canada or Mexico, or $10 for each 24 hours when you use your device in the countries below:

Caribbean and Central and South America: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Eustatius & Saba, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maartin/Saint Martin, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos. Europe and Middle East: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Mann, Israel, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira and Azores, Netherlands, Norway, Palestinian Territories, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vatican City. Asia Pacific: Australia, Singapore, Taiwan.

You do need to activate the service on Verizon's website before you travel, but once you do, you'll only be charged for days that you use your phone. To activate each day, simply make or receive a call, use data or send a text. TravelPass sits dormant on your account when you're not using it, so after you set it up the first time you can leave it be.

You'll still need to be careful, though — If you travel to countries that aren't listed above (but are still covered in the 140+ countries Verizon includes), you'll need to sign up for a Preferred Pricing Plan, in which case you'll be charged $25 for every 100MB of data you use. Though that sure beats Verizon's Pay-as-You-Go pricing , which will run you $2.05 per megabyte (or $205 per 100MB). Ouch!! [card card-name='Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card' card-id='22125056' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']

Best international phone plans in 2024 — what travelers need to know

Heading overseas? Find out what your cellphone provider charges if you use your phone

• T-Mobile phone plans
• Verizon phone plans
• AT&T phone plans
• Google Fi plans
• Other options
• Device compatibility and eSims
• 5G coverage when traveling

Before your summer travels overseas, you should look into whether you've got one of the best international phone plans for staying connected during your upcoming adventures. In the U.S., all the major wireless carriers offer some kind of travel benefit with their best cell phone plans , but they also have supplementary packages for travelers to augment the data plan you already have in place. The trick is to make sure those options keep you covered around the globe.

1. T-Mobile : Best choice for travelers 2. Verizon : TravelPass options 3. AT&T : Best for travel in Latin and Central America 4. Google Fi : An underrated traveling companion 5. Other options : Other international phone plans to consider

The best international phone plans will let you make calls and browse the web when you're in another country (though there might be a fee on top of your normal monthly rate, depending on which carrier you use). Different plans might cover different countries, and how long you plan on traveling could also impact your choice of plans. Your method of travel — be it by plane or cruise ship — also affects which plan is best for you.

All of these are things for globetrotters to consider when shopping for wireless coverage. You're going to want one of the best unlimited data plans since they tend to offer the most travel-related perks. If you haven't travelled internationally in a while, it's smart to double-check what options are out there since the best phone carriers have overhauled their plans and packages available to travelers.

Here’s a look at the travel policies and perks for the three top U.S carriers along with information on Google Fi, which offers a plan that definitely appeals to frequent travelers.

T-Mobile international phone plans

T-Mobile offers an expanded array of plans, though most of its unlimited data plan options have some benefits for overseas travel. Subscribe to Magenta, Magenta Max, Go5G, Go5G Plus or Go5G Next, and you enjoy unlimited data and texting in more than 215 countries around the world. If you want to place or receive calls, you’ll be subject to the local rate depending on where you want to go. You don’t need to notify T-Mobile of your travel for your overseas benefits to kick in.

T-Mobile Go5G Plus Plan | Unlimited Data | $90/month T-Mobile's Go5G Plus plan has the edge over Magenta Max for world travelers, even if the latter plan is $5 cheaper for a single line. That's because Go5G Plus customers get more data when traveling in Mexico and Canada (15GB vs. 10GB for Magenta Max) and 10GB more hotspot data. Otherwise, the two plans are identical: You can use your data in 215-plus countries at no extra cost. The first 5GB of data you use use will be high-speed data (with 5G speeds supported where available). The cheaper Go5G and Magenta plans ($75/month and $70/month, respectively) also feature travel benefits, including high-speed data in 11 European countries. Otherwise, data speeds are capped at 256 kbps.

Travel perks in current plans: As part of T-Mobile's Beyond Connected program, data speeds now reach 256 kbps when you're overseas. If you subscribe to either the standard Magenta or Go5G plans and you're in one of 11 European countries, you can enjoy 5GB of high-speed data every month, thanks to a partnership with T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telecom.

The perk gets better when you upgrade to either Magenta Max or Go5G Plus, both of which cost $15 more a month than their respective base plans. In that case, you can benefit from 5GB of high-speed data in 215 countries.

Go5G Next, T-Mobile's most expensive plan at $100/month for a single line, has the same travel benefits as Go5G Plus, but adds the ability to upgrade your phone every year. If that's not important to you, stick with Go5G Plus and pay $10 less each month on your wireless bill.

T-Mobile customers can take advantage of free Wi-Fi on American, Delta, Alaska Airlines and United flights. Magenta Max and Go5G Plus subscribers get full texting and Wi-Fi with streaming during flights, where wireless is available. If you go with the standard Magenta or Go5G option, you're covered on four flights per year with full streaming, plus unlimited texting; after those four flights, you can stream one hour of video. Delta SkyMiles members also get free Wi-Fi on domestic U.S. flights courtesy of T-Mobile — even if they get their wireless service from another carrier.

In Mexico and Canada, T-Mobile allows you to use up to 5GB of data whether you've got Magenta or Magenta Max; speeds are slowed to 2G after that. Go5G customers get 10GB of data in those two countries, while Go5G Plus members enjoy 15GB.

T-Mobile includes travel benefits in two of its remaining senior plans, with identical travel perks between the $100 Go5G Plus 55 option and the $120 Go5G Next 55 plan. (Note that those monthly prices cover two lines of data; one line of either Plus or Next cost $70 and $80, respectively.) Travel perks include high-speed data and text when you travel abroad, plus unlimited in-flight connectivity. When you travel to Canada or Mexico, you get 15GB of high-speed data. Both plans also include a year's membership to AAA for road travel in the U.S.

If you opt for T-Mobile's lower cost Essentials unlimited plan, you'll get 2G roaming in Canada and Mexico, but have to pay for data elsewhere.

Trip-specific passes: T-Mobile offers International Pass options for travelers who want high-speed data during lengthier stays overseas. A 5GB International Pass gives you that much high-speed data along with unlimited calling for 10 days. It costs $35. T-Mobile's $50 International Pass increases high-speed data to 15GB and extends the length of the pass to 30 days. The carrier also offers a $5 daily pass that gives you 512MB of high-speed data, and unlimited calling between the 215 or so Simple Global destinations. 

Cruise rates: Pricing on cruises will vary according to which cruise you’re taking. You can check T-Mobile’s site to see what your pricing will be.

Verizon international phone plans

Verizon phones generally work all over the world, especially if you've got a phone built in the last few years. But where you travel significantly influences how much you’ll have to pay. As for which is the best Verizon phone plan for travelers, that all depends on how frequently you go overseas. There's a clear choice for regular globetrotters, but Verizon's less expensive offerings allow you to tack on travel benefits, too.

Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | Unlimited Data | $90/month Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan offers the most benefits for world travelers. Verizon promises "full international connectivity," meaning you'll be able to use talk and text for free when overseas; you also get 10GB of high-speed data every month that you can use in other countries. Unlimited Ultimate is Verizon's most expensive plan, so unless you take frequent trips, you may be better served by Unlimited Plus ($80/month for one line) or Unlimited Welcome ($65/month). Those two plans can add on a $10/month Travel Pass options that provides three days of talk, text and data when you're overseas. You can drop the Travel Pass add-on from your plan in months were you don't need it. Verizon lets family plans mix and match lines so one person can get Unlimited Ultimate, while the others subscribe to the cheaper options.

Travel perks in current plans: Of Verizon's three unlimited plans, the best for frequent travelers is the Unlimited Ultimate option, which lets you use talk and text in other countries just like you would in the U.S. You also get 10GB of high-speed data to use overseas every month.

Unfortunately, Unlimited Ultimate is Verizon's most expensive plan, costing $90 a month for one line. (And that's after a discount for enrolling autopay.) There are cheaper options — Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus — that include travel perks. Both plans let you text internationally to 200-plus countries. You can also use LTE data when traveling in Mexico and Canada. You're limited to 0.5GB of data consumption per day in those two countries before your speeds are slowed to 2G, and you can't use more than half of your talk, text and data in those countries over a 60-day period.

In addition to the base Welcome Unlimited and Unlimited Plus packages, you can opt for $10 monthly add-ons for your Verizon plan — some covering streaming services, another providing hotspot data and so on. The relevant package is Verizon's $10/month 3 TravelPass Days add-on, which saves you $20 a month on travel benefits as you pick up three passes during monthly billing cycles. You can accrue up to 36 passes for using talk, text and data when traveling overseas.

Unlimited Welcome starts at $65/month for one line, while Unlimited Plus is $80. If you have a family plan, you can mix and match so that different lines of data subscribe to different plans — helpful if there's one person in the family who travels a lot and would benefit from the Unlimited Ultimate perks.

Trip-specific passes: Let's talk a little bit more about the TravelPass . It's Verizon's daily option for international coverage, and it’ll cost you $5 per day per device for each day you’re out of the country if you travel to Mexico or Canada and don't have an unlimited plan. In 185 other countries — including China, France and Germany — Verizon charges $10 per device per day. TravelPass gets you 2GB of 5G data, and unlimited data at 3G speeds after that; the passes also come with unlimited talk and text.

If you know you’ll be traveling for a bit more time, consider Verizon’s monthly option, which the carrier recommends for trips lasting at least 10 days. International Monthly Plans at Verizon cost $100/month, but in exchange, you get 250 minutes of talk, unlimited texts and 20GB of high-speed data. (Use that, and you get unlimited data at 3G speeds.)

Verizon also offers pay-as-you-go pricing for international travel. You’ll pay 99 cents per minute in Canada and Mexico, Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands. Rates go up to $1.79 in 130-plus countries and $2.99 in 80 other places. Each text message you send will cost you 50 cents, and each received text will set you back 5 cents. Your data will be charged at a rate of $2.05 per megabyte no matter where you are.

Cruise rates: Pay-as-you go rates on cruise ships cost $1.99 for each minute of talk and 50 cents for every sent text message. You’ll pay 5 cents per message received. Verizon has a data plan for cruise passengers, too, with $30/day giving you 500MB of data plus unlimited texting and 50 minutes of talk time. For in-flight connectivity, you can opt for the same pay-as-you-go rates for cruise trips or you can pay $20 per day for unlimited data.

AT&T international phone plans

AT&T also comes with varied international pricing depending on where you want to go. Canada and Mexico travel is covered in many top AT&T plans, and if you pay up for the Unlimited Premium option, you can use your plan in many Central and South American countries. Traveling elsewhere? Then you had best look into AT&T's travel passes.

AT&T Unlimited Premium| Unlimited Data | $85.99/month It's AT&T's most expensive unlimited plan, but Unlimited Premium has the best perk for travelers — you can use your talk, text and data at no extra cost in 20 Latin American countries.  As with other AT&T unlimited options, you also enjoy talk, text and data coverage when traveling in Canada and Mexico.

Travel perks in current plans: If you’re heading to Mexico or Canada, AT&T already covers all of your voice, data and text with its four different unlimited plans — Starter, Extra, Premium and the entry-level Value Plus option. AT&T offers a lone tiered data plan with 4GB of data that you can use in Canada and Mexico (though roaming may be at 2G speeds). Both unlimited and tiered data plans feature unlimited texting to 120-plus countries.

The Unlimited Premium plan is the best option for travelers headed to the Americas, as you'll be able to enjoy unlimited text, talk and data at no additional cost in 20 Central and South American countries. 

If you do a lot of international calling from home, AT&T offers unlimited calling to 85-plus countries from the U.S. for $15 per month for each line. Calls to another 140-plus countries get discounted rates under this plan.

Trip-specific passes: For anyone off to Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America or the Asia Pacific region on a short jaunt, AT&T recommends its $10-a-day International Day Pass, which comes with unlimited talk and text and data governed by your plan. (Note that each device you take overseas will need its own Day Pass.) That service is available in 210-plus countries, and you can add extra phones for just $5 a day.

You'll never have to pay for more than 10 days of day passes on any one bill, even if your trip lasts longer. International Day Passes also kick in automatically when you use your phone abroad — you get a text message letting you know you're covered.

Cruise rates: On cruises , AT&T offers a $60/month Cruise Basic plan that covers 100 minutes of talk and unlimited texting while also offering 100MB of data. Need more of everything? Then try the Cruise Plus plan ($100/month), which includes 1GB of data on top of unlimited talk and text. 

Google Fi international phone plans

If you do a lot of international traveling, don't ignore Google Fi Wireless , the wireless service set up by Google that uses cellular towers of T-Mobile and US Cellular to provide coverage. International travel is built into two of Google Fi's plans — the Unlimited Plus and Flexible options.

Google Unlimited Plus| Unlimited Data | $65/month The Unlimited Plus plan is the way to go with Google Fi, as you can use your data at no extra cost when traveling overseas. Google Fi customers who pay by the gigabyte of data used are also eligible for this perk.

Travel perks in current plans: You've got two options with Google Fi — tiered data through the company's Flexible plan or a pair of unlimited data options. Flexible coverage costs $20 a month for talk and text plus $10 for each GB of data you use. (Data usage is rounded off to the nearest megabyte so you only pay for the data you consume.) Google stops charging you after you use 6GB a month, meaning you'll never pay more than $80. 

If you find unlimited data plans more appealing, Google has you covered there, too — it also offers a $65 Unlimited Plus option that rolls in unlimited talk, text and data. Unlimited Plus subscribers now get a year of YouTube Premium as a perk. 

The real benefit to either Unlimited Plus or Flexible is that those plans cover you when you're traveling in 200-plus countries. When you're overseas, Google Fi charges the same rate for data usage, whether you're on an unlimited data plan or paying by the gigabyte. Voice calls cost 20 cents (though calls placed over Wi-Fi are free) and you get unlimited SMS messaging. 

Alas, Google's $50/month Simply Unlimited plan is not eligible for the free data perk when traveling. That said, all three of Google Fi's plans let you use talk, text and data in Mexico and Canada.

Google Fi is even more appealing now that Google has opened up service to all phones, including iPhones. Note that phones optimized for Google Fi — Google's Pixel phones (currently the Pixel 8 , Pixel 8 Pro , Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a )  along with a selection of Samsung phones and Motorola budget devices — can switch seamlessly between cellular networks and Google's Wi-Fi hotspots, while other phones cannot.

Trip-specific passes: Unlike the other carriers here, Google Fi doesn't offer travel passes for extended trips. Your only option is to get coverage through the Flexible and Unlimited Plus plans.

Cruise rates: Google Fi is not available when you're at sea — only when you're on land in one of the 200-plus countries covered by the carrier.

Other international phone plan options

Discount carriers typically don't provide much in the way of benefits for travelers, but there are some exceptions. The most noteworthy alternative is Visible , which has expanded the travel perks for subscribers to its $45/month Visible Plus plan .

Visible is owned by Verizon and uses its parent company's network for coverage. The Visible Plus plan features unlimited data, including access to Verizon's high-speed 5G network. Travelers will be particularly interested in the unlimited talk, text and 2GB of daily data available through Visible Plus when traveling in Canada and Mexico. Visible Plus customers are also eligible for one free Global Pass day per month, in which they can use talk, text and data at no charge in 140 countries. Globla Passes normally cost $10.

Best international phone plan: Device compatibility and eSims

Traveling overseas used to mean checking to see if your phone would be compatible once you set foot in another country. But those days are drawing to a close now that 3G networks are shutting down, eliminating much of the distinction between phones that work on either GSM and CDMA. If you've got a recent smartphone that connects to LTE, chances are strong it's going to work just fine in other countries. (You still might want to confirm that your phone works on the LTE bands available in the country you're heading to prior to your trip, just to avoid any unpleasant surprises.)

Many phones now support electronic SIM cards or eSIM technology, where you no longer need to swap in a local SIM card to make your smartphone work with an overseas network. (Since the iPhone 14 , Apple devices sold in the U.S. only feature eSIM support — that includes the newer iPhone 15 models.) One of our editors took an international trip using an eSIM for her phone and found it easy to setup and use with a local network — in fact, she plans to use the eSIM approach on all future travel. 

That said, not every country supports eSIM. And depending on your phone carrier in the U.S., you might already have options that cover your phone use in other countries.

International phone plans: What about 5G?

As noted above, many of the plans that offer international travel either have you connect at whatever speed is available locally or at a reduced speed in cases where you're drawing from your own data plan. But what if you've got a 5G phone that can connect to faster networks overseas?

For the most part, we'd expect your phone to operate as before, either at whatever speed the local network offers or a capped speed if that's part of your carrier's travel plans. However, in a few instances, U.S. phone carriers have started making deals with overseas wireless providers that allow their customers to access 5G speeds when roaming. You should check with your carrier for information about the country you're going to travel in.

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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

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Verizon International Phone Plans — Countries, Coverage, Rates, and More

Andrew Kunesh

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Being at the forefront of the move to 5G connectivity, Verizon is often referred to as one of the best carriers in the U.S. But how does the carrier compare to competitors like AT&T , T-Mobile , and newcomer Google Fi when traveling abroad?

That’s a good question, and it’s an important one to ask if you find yourself out of the country often. So in this article, we’re going to dive deep and take a look at how Verizon’s U.S. phone plans work abroad. We’ll start out by looking at the company’s international plans and their respective pricing. Then, we’ll look at the supported countries and compare the pros and cons of using Verizon abroad.

Spoiler alert: like AT&T, the international options are pretty limited on Verizon. You’ll want to study this article if you’re a current Verizon customer who’s about to travel abroad, or if you’re a traveler that’s considering a switch to Verizon.

Breaking Down Verizon’s International Data Plans

As teased in the intro, Verizon has a limited (and expensive) set of international plans. There are 3 different plans available, ranging from a monthly international data allowance to a plan that lets you use your U.S. data plan while traveling abroad.

Here’s a look at all of the available options:

All Verizon customers are automatically enrolled in pay as you go international data, texting, and calling. If you don’t enroll in another plan on this list and take your phone out of airplane mode when abroad, you’ll automatically be charged at the following rates:

• Talk: $0.99-$2.99 per minute, depending on the country
• Text: $0.50 to send, $0.05 to receive
• MMS: $0.25 to send or receive
• Data: $2.05 per megabyte

There’s no doubt that these prices are absolutely astronomical, hence why we don’t recommend relying on pay as you go international data — it can get very expensive very quickly.

For example, sending a 3 MB picture message on Facebook Messenger would cost a whopping $6.15! And since modern smartphones use data in the background to fetch email, notifications, and more, you may end up being charged just for taking your phone out of airplane mode.

Hot Tip: Thankfully, you can call Verizon to have pay as you go international data disabled on your account. We highly recommend doing this so that you can protect yourself from an astronomical bill on your next trip.

Verizon’s TravelPass plan is nearly identical to AT&T’s International Day Pass plan. This plan lets you use your U.S. data, talk, and text plan abroad for a daily fee.

This plan costs $10 per day per line, and — once enrolled — you’ll only be charged for the days you actually use your phone abroad. This means you can set the plan and forget it. Then, instead of worrying about pay as you go data, you’ll be charged a flat-rate fee for your international phone usage.

Note that you’re billed in 24-hour increments, so if you fly to Brazil and connect to data at 5 p.m. on a Monday, your single $10 fee will be valid until 5 p.m. on Tuesday. You’ll be billed for another 24-hour increment if you continue using your phone after this initial period.

Further, this plan still pulls from your U.S. data, text, and calling allowance, so make sure to keep an eye on how much you use your phone. Otherwise, you might come back home with overage fees.

You can use this plan in any of Verizon’s 185+ supported countries and if needed, you can roam in multiple countries on the same day without paying extra. Don’t worry — we’ll discuss supported countries later in the article.

Finally, you can enroll in a Verizon Monthly Travel Plan. This gives you a set amount of data, calls, and texts to use when you travel abroad. However, the amount of data, calls, and texts included with each plan is limited at best.

Here’s a look at what’s included with Verizon’s 2 Monthly Travel Plans:

If you exceed your data, talk, or text allowance, you’ll be charged at the following rates:

• $0.35 per minute of talk
• $0.05 per text message sent
• $25 per 0.5 GB of data used

Like the TravelPass, this plan works in 185+ countries and can be used across multiple countries if needed. Note that — also like TravelPass — this plan is billed per line, so multiple lines can’t share the same Monthly Travel Plan.

A handful of Verizon plans come with free data, call, and text roaming within North America. This means that when traveling within Canada or Mexico you can continue to use your phone as you would as if you were in the U.S. The plans that include this type of roaming are:

• All Unlimited plans

If you’re subscribed to one of Verizon’s other plans, you can add North American roaming for $5 per day. This works the same as the TravelPass plan we mentioned earlier — you’re charged per day, but only when you actually use your phone in Canada or Mexico.

So, there are 3 different options for international mobile data on Verizon, but which is the best for you? Here’s why you might pick 1 plan over another.

Stick With Pay as You Go Data If You

• Don’t plan on using your smartphone or will purchase a local SIM card upon arrival. In our opinion, this option is just too risky to be justified.

Subscribe to TravelPass If You

• Are only traveling for a few days at a time — $10 per day can add up quickly!
• Need access to your full data plan and U.S. phone number when traveling abroad.
• Have a data plan with a high (or unlimited) data limit.

Buy a Monthly Travel Plan If You

• Plan to travel for an extended period of time.
• Don’t need to use your phone constantly — unfortunately, the data, text, and call limits are low.

Bottom Line:  Think about how much you need to use your phone when traveling and pick a plan based on that info. Note that you may be better off buying a local SIM card if you need to use your phone extensively for multiple days — this will save you money in the long-run.

Thankfully, enrolling in both the TravelPass and Monthly Travel Plan is simple.

You can enroll in TravelPass by texting “Travel” to 4004 from the phone whose line you’d like to enroll in TravelPass. Then, a new TravelPass will be added every time you use your phone abroad. We recommend doing this before your trip to avoid possible pay as you go charges. Alternatively, you can enroll using this page on the Verizon website.

Further, you can enroll in a Monthly Data Plan by going here . After you log in, you’ll be prompted to choose between the 0.5 GB or 2 GB plan. You can cancel this plan at any time by navigating to the same web page.

Like many carriers, Verizon has international coverage in most parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. However, it’s always wise to check that the country you’re visiting is covered by your carrier before you depart — otherwise, you could have a hard time finding a ride out of the airport once you land.

Verizon posts its full list of supported countries on its website. The carrier boasts that it supports “185+ countries” and while this is less than T-Mobile’s “210+ countries,” we’re unable to find any notable exclusions on the Verizon website. Every tourist destination we could think of was listed on the Verizon website, so you likely won’t have any issue connecting during your travels.

However, this could cause pose problems for those who partake in adventure travel by visiting off-the-beaten-path locations.

Pros and Cons of Verizon’s International Data Plans

There’s no doubting that Verizon isn’t the best plan for most travelers. For the most part, it offers a very limited set of expensive international plans, and none of its plans offer free international roaming like T-Mobile or Google Fi.

However, it’s still important that we run through the carrier’s international data pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision on if Verizon is right for your travel needs.

• Free international roaming within North America on most plans
• Monthly international plans include calling
• TravelPass is automatically enabled once you enroll
• Expensive monthly international plans with small data allowances
• TravelPass can get expensive on long trips
• Likewise, TravelPass pulls data from your domestic data, call, and text allowance
• Less supported countries than T-Mobile, Google Fi, and others

Being frank, we recommend that people who travel often steer clear of Verizon.

Its international data plans are too expensive to be deemed practical, so if you have the choice, we recommend checking out T-Mobile or Google Fi instead. Both of these plans offer free international roaming and more supported countries, giving you a smaller bill and more places to bring your connection.

However, we do understand why one would pick Verizon when traveling within the U.S. The carrier has industry-leading coverage at home and has been shown to offer some of the best speeds. It’s unfortunate that these perks don’t carry over to the carrier’s international coverage.

But now we want to hear from you. Do you use Verizon when traveling abroad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my smartphone work abroad.

Most modern smartphones are properly equipped to work internationally. However, you should refer to your smartphone’s manual or call Verizon to check if your smartphone is properly configured.

Do any Verizon plans come with free international data roaming?

The Start, Play, Do, and all Unlimited plans come with complimentary international roaming within North America. However, none of Verizon’s international plans come with free data roaming outside of this region.

Where can I see the full list of Verizon's supported countries?

You can view a full list of supported countries on Verizon’s website .

Can I bring my phone if I switch to Verizon?

You may be able to bring your device to Verizon — use this tool on Verizon’s website to check if your phone, tablet, or smartwatch is compatible with the Verizon network.

Where can I find more info on buying a local SIM card?

You can use the Prepaid SIM Card Wiki to find more info on buying a local SIM card in most countries. Buying local SIM cards is often cheaper than roaming on U.S. carriers like Verizon.

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About Andrew Kunesh

Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and now splits his time between Chicago and New York City.

He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 25 countries, 10 business class products, and 2 airline statuses (United and Alaska) under his belt. Andrew formerly worked for The Points Guy and is now Senior Money Editor at CNN Underscored.

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I thought I'd try Verzon's $10 a day International Travel Pass on my recent trip to Greece. I had a bad experience with a SIM card once (ate up all my money in an hour without even using it) and as I have a mom in a nursing home thought it would be good to keep my phone number. I mostly use WhatsApp when abroad but thought Verizon's pass would be perfect if I didn't have access to Wifi and needed to make a call (for a taxi, say).

WELL. After much much discussion with Verizon reps and friends who had used the travel pass, I put $20 into my funds account (Verizon suggests you load some funds BEFORE you leave which makes sense as you don't want to get stuck somewhere with no Wifi and no way to load funds). I also was told to turn off my Cellular Data because a text or call coming through to me could trigger the pass and cost me $10 for the day.

The day came that I needed to make a call and when I tried, an automated voice told me I did not have enough funds for the call. After much, much, much, MUCH back and forth with a rep who kept telling me I'd made a previous call and triggered the pass (I had not), she finally figured out what had happened - despite being on autopay so Verizon bills my credit card automatically every month, when my bill came due VERIZON TOOK THE MONEY FROM MY FUNDS ACCOUNT. That's right, the funds that were there for my travel pass.

Luckily, I was not in the middle of nowhere, but in my hotel room. Luckily, this was not an emergency (I was trying to call a cab).

So I reloaded the funds account with another $20 and when I got to the airport at the end of my trip and wanted to contact my flight monitoring service via email, I could NOT. I was unable to get any kind of Wifi service and had to beg the airline at the small airport for their Wifi password.

Verizon tells you that the travel plan comes with DATA so you'd think this would mean you can use Wifi with it, but apparently not.

Given these two big fails, the Verizon Travel Pass is basically useless.

11 replies to this topic

great write up and sorry it didnt work out as you wanted.

for what its worth, i never liked having the cell providers access to my credit cards since they did alot of crappy stuff when phones came out and people were traveling... or their kids ran up large bills ...

there are always other options.. and if you want, change to some other provider now and with international...

I have to say that the OP's post has left me scratching my head, because this is not how Verizon's Travel Pass works.

Personally I've used the service for years without a single issue or hiccup.

Why call? When you can go into your "My Verizon" app and set up travel pass by going to account, then manage plans and services and toggle on the option for travel pass.

Travel pass will sit dormant until you arrive at your destination and then activates when you connect to the local network.

The other that has left me confused is a cash account? The service normally just bills for days used at the end of the billing cycle.

I'd agree with VAP and am scratching my head as well. When I've used the travel pass it automatically goes on my bill for the month and it's taken out of my account on the regular billing cycle day.

I hope this works better for you next time.

For those reading these comments, I offer this add-on comment. The OP probably had a Verizon Pre-Paid account. This differs from a subscription account where you are billed at the end of the month. A Pre-Paid account requires payment up front for the monthly services (it still can be set up to Auto-Pay from a credit card). A Pre-Paid user would need to put funds "on their account" before they could be used to pay for the daily fee of the Travel Pass usage.

More importantly we were ONLY ABLE TO CALL numbers on our contact list. So when we were in the Prado trying to phone the front desk at our hotel it would not go thru. A nice Belgian man let us use his phone and we got right thru immediately. The contact list explanation was given to us by the Verizon agent we spoke to about the problem. If I had known I would certain;y have added hotels etc to my contact list but it is still not an international calling plan if you cann not call new numbers internationally. If the "contact list" explanation is nonsense I would be interested to know ---we certainly did not have service. Believe me we tried.

from Verizon ==>"Wi-Fi calling isn't included with TravelPass. Wi-Fi calling to a country other than the US is charged international long distance rates regardless of whether or not you have an international travel plan."<==

Also what do you mean that you can only phone numbers on your contact list? You should be able to call within the country you are visiting and call back to the US.

I can say there is absolutely no problem leaving my phone with my Verizon travel pass in Airplane Mode which prevents it from getting charged. I did it this way in April/May 2023. Since it was a long trip I had a combination of the 30 day International Travel plan with the daily charged travel pass on either end of my time frame. On the days not covered by the monthly plan I did leave it in airplane mode and was not charged unless I took it out of airplane mode.

I did NOT make calls, just used data so the rules may be different on this per VAP1611's post.

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• Verizon Internati...

Verizon International plan

I prefer to set something up online, vs. going into a local store. I’m ill at ease with people knowing I will be out of town.

We have a family plan, 4 phones. We will be gone for 10 days. What does it cost to have unlimited calls and texts from Italy?

When we did this 7 years ago, it was $30 a month per phone, and they reimbursed whet we didn’t use for the whole month. What a great deal. I’m sure it’s changed.

Why not check with Verizon?

As per the Verizon website, yes it has changed to $100 a month or $10 a day.

The Verizon international plan is $100 for a month. You can set it up online. They also have a Travel Pass which is $10 a day. Details on both can be found here:

https://www.verizon.com/plans/international/international-travel/

I wonder if they still prorate the monthly feel. I see it’s not unlimited, either.

No, you pay for the whole month whether you use it or not. I used it for a 3-week trip to Switzerland and for me it was money well spent.

Carrie, did you overuse the minutes or texts, or stay within?

Lulu348,I was well within. I just made a call to my parents every few days to check in and texted a bunch of pictures to multiple people. The hotels and some trains had free wifi, so I mostly used that. The person I talk to most on the phone is my sister and she was with me on the trip. So, no need to call her. 😊

I did the Verizon Travel Pass last Sept/Oct in France. I was doing a combo of independent travel and tour travel and knew I would not need the phone on my tour time. In Paris I was with a friend who was having some mobility issues so I thought we might need to have the availability to use the G7 app to arrange a taxi pick up when we were out and about. We did and we did, lol.

I wound up just paying for 5 days of international coverage out of 30 so the Travel Pass worked for me. In my "normal" life I don't talk to anyone on the phone, lol. It's usually a spam call. I could keep up with contacting family using hotel WIFI so that worked fine for me.

BTW, I tried to go into a Verizon store to set this up (I live with my brother and SIL and they were not traveling with me) and was told it could only be done online or on the phone. The person I talked to on the phone was actually very helpful as she was familiar with the plan and advised me to just keep my phone in Airplane Mode until I needed to use the calling plan, then switch. That worked perfectly as you can access WIFI in airplane mode.

BTW, my friend and I downloaded What'sApp which works on WIFI so we could text back and forth on meet up times, etc.

Get the Travel Pass. Turn it on when you sign into your online account. Pay $10 for 24 hours. Once you use your phone for calling, texting, navigation using cellular network (not wifi) you are charged $10. You can continue using cellular data for the next 24 hours at no extra cost. You use your phone just as you would at home, same minutes as your home plan.

As Pam mentioned keep your phone in airplane mode if you don't want to accidentally trigger a charge (incoming text, phone call or app using data in the background).

I forgot one thing. The toughest aspect to the Travel Pass was that the 24 hours is based on NY time not the time where you are located. I could never keep track of what day I was on, lol and was kind of worried that I would wind up with 2 days of charges when I was really only using it one day. I need to sit down before I go this time and figure out timing, lol. Maybe I'll figure out a cheat sheet.

It might be better if I my home was in the Eastern time zone and I was kind of keeping track of that but I got really tangled up thinking about what time it was at "home" - Pacific time and then trying to add in Eastern time was just not working, lol.

Oh wow! Thank you all, your posts were very informative and helpful. I doubt my husband and I will need to call anyone, as our son’s will already be with us. We will probably be texting each other. My son’s are paying their own, and will want to probably talk and text to their GF’s and friends!

That’s good to know about NY time! Thank you all.

My experience has always been that the 24 hours starts when you first use data, it's not based on any time zone. No matter where you are, the period runs for 24 hours. You even get a text from Verizon when it starts each 24 hour cycle.

Three years ago in Italy I used the $10/day plan. Kept my phone in airplane mode most of the time. When we were at the hotel I used their wifi to check email, download maps and call my hubby every night using Google Voice. I think I got charged for 12 days, 1/2 of which because I forgot the NY time thing and got charged for 2 days instead of 1 and the rest because I needed real time maps. I’ll use that plan again. To me it was money well spent.

I like the idea of using “what’s app” to just text among each other while we’re there and using WiFi to search, and then just using the $10 day plan only when absolutely needed.

Celeste, I was getting a text from Verizon that would say something like this:

"Your 24 hr travel pass will end 10/23/21 at 06:45:52 EDT. Another daily session will be triggered by Int'd talk/text/Data."

So...knowing that the time frame ended at 06:45 in New York didn't help my brain for the Paris time. I was too flustered to see when I first switched out of airplane mode into the International Plan but maybe there is a way to see that on my phone.

And yes, Lulu, have the boys and the GFs add What'sApp and use that instead of data.

Oooohhhhh, I get it now! Thanks for the explanation. I guess since I live in the eastern time zone, I never even considered that. 😆 Also, I think I just reference the time the text hits, which is local, rather than doing math! Lol

Well, see, the text was hitting in the middle of the night, lol. Making it more corn-fusing. I don’t know why I let myself get stressed about it but I did. And my phone often doesn’t ding with a text but this one dinged every dang time!! 🤪

Ding dang dong. Dang ding dong. Ding dong dang. Damn dings.

I have a couple of questions about both the Travel Pass or the $100/month Verizon international plan. For the international plan, is it $100 per calendar month, or could you go from (for example) the 10th of one month until the 8th of the next (or whatever a 30 day window would be)? Is the cost per phone or for both phones on a plan? I can't imagine we'll need to use our phones every day, so in a lot of respects the Travel Pass would be great. My concern is about being reachable. This is our first overseas trip without our son, and (in mom mode here) my concern would be that if someone other than him were trying to reach us in any kind of emergency, I'd like to have my regular number available to ensure I get that call. So as far as I can tell from what I'm reading here, the problem would be I probably wouldn't want to keep the phone on airplane mode because I'd want to be able to receive a call/text at any time if someone needed to reach me. There's no way to see incoming calls/texts on airplane mode until you switch airplane mode off, correct? Does the plan switch on if you receive a call or text but let it go to voicemail and/or don't open the text? (I'm guessing not?) In the past, when our entire family traveled together, we just got an international sim card and a different phone number (which worked out great until the last day when the airline cancelled our flight home and texted our US number....my bad for not supplying them with the new number). But this time around, I really want to keep my primary phone number.

Is the Verizon intl plan $100 per month OR per billing cycle (ATT is per billing cycle.)

Laurie, it’s for 30 days and you pick the start date. I used the Verizon international plan for my Sept. trip. I just went back and checked my bill. The international plan was from Sept. 3 – Oct. 2. It showed up on my bill with the billing cycle of Sept. 29- Oct. 28th.

Good point. ATT is per billing cycle, please verify with Verizon hopefully it’s not as per above example. The Verizon international plan is $100 for a month.x get it on one phone and make that phone a hotspot for the others (if u already have hotspot capability)

I have Verizon and I absolutely refuse to pay them $10 a day or $100 a month for international calls and data, especially since I do not make calls while overseas (or if I do, I make them through Whatsapp).

That is why I am getting an eSIM data plan to use for my month long trip. It's easy - you just download a QR code, activate it and then turn it on. The one I am getting is called Airalo and offers a 30 day data plan with 10Gb of data for $37. It's easy to switch back and forth between your regular carrier and the SIM data plan. I can text family and friends from my regular phone while using Wifi in the hotel or train, and then use the Airalo plan while I'm out and about for things like Google maps, taking photos, google searches and so on. And the plan I am getting is for all of Europe, so I don't have to worry about going to another country and not having access.

eSim data plans are still relatively new but I've heard enough about it to make me think that this is the best way to go. I know it's not for everyone, but it is a good option, especially when your home carrier charges (imo) outrageous fees. 😊

Mardee, when texting back to the states won't you need an international plan or will you use Whats App?

My preference has always been Verizon's TravelPass. $10/day, if you use it , and it uses your current plan (so if you have unlimited talk/text, that's what you get; also uses whatever your data allowance is). Easy to set up online in your account, for as many lines as you want to add it to. We were just gone for 17 days in Portugal, I think I turned on cellular maybe 3 times. Hotels had free wifi, as do most museums, cafes etc, so it's easy to check in as needed. I just told everyone to text me rather than call, and that I may not be able to respond right away - I could then chose to turn on cellular if I needed to make a call. Now - my kids are adults, and I had no family situations that might require immediate response (as immediate as you can be, overseas, anyway), so that might change the equation for some. Key is keeping the phone in airplane mode, and/or making sure cellular is off, so you don't inadvertently use a cell connection.

Mardee --- I have used the $10 a day plan for three trips to Scotland before the pandemic. At home I have a plan with unlimited text, talk, data so it was easy for me to just leave my phone on and pay the $10. I needed to be available to those at home, too. Having said that I am a fan of What's App now and use it to text and talk to my friends around the world. You just need to make sure those you need to be in communication with have downloaded it. And, of course, you should all try it before you leave. I also talk regularly with a friend in New Zealand using the phone option on Facebook's Messenger. So in the future I'll probably do a combination. Having said that --- I'm lazy and would probably just pay the $10 a day for the Travel Pass.

It seems that everything is subject to change these days, so you might want to call Verizon directly. They have a dedicated number for assisstance with international plans, rates, and etc. They've always been helpful and always seem to know what they're talking about. The direct number is 1-800-711-8300.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

• Royal Caribbean International

Verizon TravelPass $10/day for cruise?

By jasminesmom1 , April 20, 2022 in Royal Caribbean International

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jasminesmom1

I have the VZW TravelPass plan (a fairly new option) enabled on my mobile and understand that as soon as it connects to the ship board cellular (not wifi) that the $10/day charge to VZW kicks in since I am now "roaming". Two questions:

1. Does Royal Caribbean somehow add any surcharge to that, or is the $10/day all I pay? Anyone tried this and had success,

2. If I connect on say Day 2 of the cruise, and I then i turn cellular off for the remaining days, does VZW charge the $10/day until I connect to a US tower again, or am I just charged for only the days I actually connect to the ships cell network? Does RC have the ability to block my access to cellular svc from my provider?

Thx in advance! We sail in 3 days!

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Are you sure the cruise ship you are on is part of the plan? All I can find is "select cruise ships" but no actual list. Did you find a list somewhere of which ships have this?

I have used the international plan in the past for work as I traveled a bunch and typically once you connect to a tower it texts you about having service there and then starts the timer. If you turn off the cell service then the next day it should not charge you.

Cutigerlady

On our recent cruise, my husband took his phone out of airplane mode while we were in Jamaica to connect to the "free Wifi" where we were and fortunately this new Verizion travel pass kicked in for him automatically.  I got a text message saying that they were using one of our passes for his phone number. He didn't understand that even on a free Wifi he was pinging towers in Jamaica.  

Once I realized what the heck he had done, we put his phone back in airplane mode and I was only billed $10.  So you are only charged while the phone is out of airplane mode.  I would be careful because when you are at sea, you pick up satellite coverage which I don't know if that is covered under the travel pass.  It may be worth it to you to use the travel pass and only use it while you are in port somewhere as a cheaper alternative to RCL's internet service.  

smokeybandit

This would be used in foreign ports, not on board ship.

Okay reading further I think you might be mistaken.

In port in foreign countries you will have access to cell service. On cruiseships you only get a 50mb allowance. Otherwise charged out at a higher rate.

https://www.verizon.com/plans/international/international-travel/cruise-and-inflight/

It also states non-recurring at this link.

https://www.verizon.com/articles/4-ways-to-stay-connected-on-a-cruise-ship/

We have done it - but as stated above, it doesn't work for cruise ship coverage, only for ports.  So, on the ship, connect to the ship wifi and leave in airplane mode.  OFF the ship - you can use the Travelpass and you'll be charged $10/day.  Travelpass will text you when it kicks in at each port, once you come out of airplane mode.

I have ATL&T and used it several times on March cruise to Western Caribbean. Worked great and easy. Made several phone calls and only charged $10 each day that I made the calls. Big difference from individual phone call charges!

Don't use the cellular on the ship, stay on WiFi.

36 minutes ago, Cutigerlady said: So you are only charged while the phone is out of airplane mode

If he was connecting to WiFi, there was no need to turn off airplane mode.  WiFi can be turned on once airplane mode is turned on.

We’ve had this for about 10 years, I don’t think it works on cruise ships, just on land.

My experience is that it doesn't work on board the cruise ship.  I always call Verizon prior to my trips to enable the Travelpass on our iPhones.  I only use it for emergencies ashore.  I mostly use wifi when off the ship, and pay out of pocket for in/outgoing texts, which is cheaper than enabling the Travelpass.

neverlaysup

3 hours ago, jasminesmom1 said: I have the VZW TravelPass plan (a fairly new option) enabled on my mobile and understand that as soon as it connects to the ship board cellular (not wifi) that the $10/day charge to VZW kicks in since I am now "roaming". Two questions: 1. Does Royal Caribbean somehow add any surcharge to that, or is the $10/day all I pay? Anyone tried this and had success,   2. If I connect on say Day 2 of the cruise, and I then i turn cellular off for the remaining days, does VZW charge the $10/day until I connect to a US tower again, or am I just charged for only the days I actually connect to the ships cell network? Does RC have the ability to block my access to cellular svc from my provider?   Thx in advance! We sail in 3 days!

Cruise ship cellular is NOT on Travel Pass, do not use this on sea days. I have Travel Pass as well and I use it on shore only, Cellular at Sea is totally different. Keep in mind, Travel Pass has very limited data amounts so make sure to turn off all updates over cellular and limit your video/photo uploads otherwise you will burn through the 50MB in an hour. On my last cruise with Windstar, I had no internet package and turning my phone on every day was far cheaper than the ships WIFI plan.

Thank you everyone! Great advice. Always appreciated.

KruznKimmie

And the cost is $10/24 hour period based on when you activate the service versus $10/day.  So if you activate at 10AM the service continues until 10AM the next day until you are charged another $10.

You people need to switch to T-Mobile. 😄

Unlimited 2G data and texting in over 210 countries (and ones that are not covered are not normally cruise destinationss) and 25 cents per minute calling, unless you do wifi calling which is free.

I travel internationally for work and switched from AT&T, and pay less per month with better service.

5 minutes ago, SRF said: Unlimited 2G data

It better be unlimited for as long as it'd take to download data on 2G

It is $5 if in Canada and Mexico.  Also the pass has fixed amount of "fast" data and then goes down significantly. You are allowed to call to your home country and the country of your pass for free. I think it is a great deal but doesn't help on the ship unless at port.  Never seen a charge from any cruise ship while using Travel Pass.

7 hours ago, smokeybandit said: It better be unlimited for as long as it'd take to download data on 2G

I have traveled a lot using it.  And it works fine for Google Maps for directions, looking up restaurants in Trip Advisor and such.

No, it will not stream movies.

And if I need faster data, buying high speed data is cheaper than your Verizon $10 per day setup.

20 hours ago, KruznKimmie said: And the cost is $10/24 hour period based on when you activate the service versus $10/day.  So if you activate at 10AM the service continues until 10AM the next day until you are charged another $10.

Also you can use it across multiple islands. So if you activate it at 10 AM on one island and the next day you use it until 10 AM on another island it is still one $10 charge. 

On 4/21/2022 at 12:24 PM, pghflyer said: It is $5 if in Canada and Mexico.  Also the pass has fixed amount of "fast" data and then goes down significantly. You are allowed to call to your home country and the country of your pass for free. I think it is a great deal but doesn't help on the ship unless at port.  Never seen a charge from any cruise ship while using Travel Pass.

My Verizon plan includes Mexico & Canada free with no additional charges.

• 1 year later...

On 4/20/2022 at 1:26 PM, neverlaysup said: Cruise ship cellular is NOT on Travel Pass, do not use this on sea days. I have Travel Pass as well and I use it on shore only, Cellular at Sea is totally different. Keep in mind, Travel Pass has very limited data amounts so make sure to turn off all updates over cellular and limit your video/photo uploads otherwise you will burn through the 50MB in an hour. On my last cruise with Windstar, I had no internet package and turning my phone on every day was far cheaper than the ships WIFI plan.  

Travel pass enables you to use what you would use on your plan at home. My data is unlimited.

1 hour ago, dancewithe said: Travel pass enables you to use what you would use on your plan at home. My data is unlimited.

TravelPass from Verizon is 2GB a day, it doesn’t matter what plan you have at home. After 2GB, you revert to 3G service only. 

Crazy4Cruisin225

I have TravelPass through Verizon and an unlimited data plan. My plan (an older unlimited plan) adds one freeTravelPass day each month to my “bank” that are each good for a year. I don’t ever use them on the ship but do in port. Also when I go on land based vacations. I’ve never been charged the $10 daily fee because I know how many free days I have in that bank…currently 11. Like others have said it slows down after you use the 2GB, but still fast enough to use Maps, stream music, check email, etc. Just don’t expect to be able to watch movies on Netflix or Hulu with it. 

Morecruisesplz

On 4/20/2022 at 8:40 AM, J0Y0US said: I have used the international plan in the past for work as I traveled a bunch and typically once you connect to a tower it texts you about having service there and then starts the timer. If you turn off the cell service then the next day it should not charge you.

Mine is 24 hours at a time

On 4/21/2022 at 7:00 PM, SRF said:   I have traveled a lot using it.  And it works fine for Google Maps for directions, looking up restaurants in Trip Advisor and such.   No, it will not stream movies.   And if I need faster data, buying high speed data is cheaper than your Verizon $10 per day setup.

Will it work in Barcelona? Doing a transatlantic but will be in Barcelona 4 days pre cruise.

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Verizon upgrades Home Device Protect to cover almost all devices, 2nd residences, more

Verizon is out with an update for its Home Device Protect plan that repairs or replaces an unlimited number of devices from computers, game consoles, smart home devices, TVs, and now robot vacuums, healthcare devices, and more. The service also now covers a 2nd residence, 24/7 tech support, in-home expert visits, and more.

Verizon launched the latest Home Device Protect plan today that runs $25/month. The plan covers pretty much every device you have in your home outside of your smartphone (for which Verizon offers Mobile Protect ).

The new list of protected devices includes:

• Desktops and laptops
• Smartwatches and fitness trackers
• Game systems
• Audio headsets
• Smart security cameras
• Smart speakers
• Smart thermostats
• Streaming devices
• Healthcare devices
• Pet devices
• Smart floor care devices

Verizon says more benefits of the service are hassle-free repairs, 24/7 tech support, in-home expert visits, and the upgrade for 2nd residence coverage.

Verizon is using Asurion as the underwriter and depending on the device, a $49 or $99 deductible/service fee may be applied to claims.

The new Verizon Home Device Protect is available for any Verizon customer with a broadband Fios or high-speed internet plan, or with most of its mobile plans.

You can check out more and sign up on Verizon’s Home Protect landing page .

9to5Mac’s take

At $300/year to cover your entire home (or two homes for those with a 2nd residence) the updated Home Device Protect can offer a lot of value.

It’s an interesting alternative to getting AppleCare on iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePods, etc., especially if you have a host of those devices across your family.

Verizon has a device calculator to estimate the value of your home devices you can play with. For me with one home, it guesses the $25/month plan protects $8,307 worth of tech.

Images via Verizon

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Michael is an editor for 9to5Mac. Since joining in 2016 he has written more than 3,000 articles including breaking news, reviews, and detailed comparisons and tutorials.

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