What to do with my phone when moving to another country?

What do I do with my phone in another country?

Roaming costs. Brutal.

Disable data roaming. Prepaid SIM. Cheaper.

Wi-Fi. Essential. Find it. Cafes. Hotels. Libraries.

Calling apps. WhatsApp. Signal. Free. Data needed.

Emergency numbers. Vary wildly. Check beforehand. My last trip to Spain? 112.

Local SIM. Consider it. Simpler.

Security. Public Wi-Fi. Risk. Avoid banking. Sensitive data.

Automatic updates. Off. Data hog.

Phone usage abroad? Planning key. Negligence costly. Learn. Adapt.

My 2023 trip to Thailand? Local SIM card was a game-changer. Saved a fortune.

• Prepaid SIM cards: Best for short trips. Avoid hefty bills.
• Data plans: Research options. Different providers, different costs.
• Security apps: VPN. Extra protection on public Wi-Fi.
• Local emergency numbers: 112 is standard in many European countries, but NOT universally. Find your destination’s number.

My phone? A tool. Nothing more. Use wisely. Or suffer.

Do you have to change your phone number when you move to another country?

Nope, you don’t have to ditch your digits. Think of your phone number like a beloved, slightly-battered teddy bear – you can take it anywhere, even across international borders. Porting to a service like KrispCall is your magic portal.

But, there’s a catch, as there always is with these things. It’s not a free-for-all. Expect some extra charges—think of it as a hefty visa fee for your number’s travels. And functionality might be a bit wonky; that teddy bear might lose an eye abroad.

Consider these caveats:

• Cost: This isn’t your grandma’s free local call. You’ll pay more. Much more. It’s like buying a first-class ticket on a rocket ship to Mars – worth it for some, not for others.
• Reliability: Think spotty international wifi, but for your calls. Some places simply don’t play nice. It’s like trying to get decent coffee in the Sahara Desert.
• Complications: Getting it all set up feels like assembling Ikea furniture blindfolded – and that’s being generous. Prepare for headaches. I’ve experienced it firsthand, last year in Barcelona.

My advice? Weigh the sentimental value of your number against the potential financial and technical nightmares. Unless that number is tied to your lottery winnings (unlikely, but hey, stranger things have happened!), it might be simpler to just get a local number. You’ll save yourself the hassle, trust me on this one. Besides, a new number is a fresh start! Think of it as a new passport photo, for your phone.

Will my phone work if I leave the country?

Your phone? A tiny, temperamental spaceship hoping to breach international airspace. Will it work? Mostly, yes. Unless it’s a flip phone from 1998; then, good luck, friend.

Activating data roaming is key. Think of it as giving your phone a passport. A digital visa, if you will. Without it, your phone is a sullen tourist, stuck observing the world from afar. Very frustrating.

Crucially: Check your carrier’s international plans. They’re not all created equal, and some are way more predatory than others. My last trip to Portugal nearly bankrupted me. I’m still paying off those roaming charges. I kid you not! I’m considering starting a Go Fund Me, honestly.

Near the border? Tricky. Signal strength is a fickle mistress. It’s like trying to receive a whispered secret across a vast, echoing canyon. Your phone might cling stubbornly to your home network, rejecting the siren call of foreign towers. Prepare for frustration!

And about taking your phone abroad? Duh, obviously! What, you planning on leaving it on the coffee table for your cat to bat at?

• Check your plan: Avoid exorbitant roaming fees!
• Data roaming: ON. Treat this like brushing your teeth. A must-do.
• Near borders: Expect spotty reception.
• Backup plan: Consider a local SIM card for cheaper data. I did that in Thailand last year and saved a fortune.

My experience in Japan last year with my Verizon plan was a nightmare. They charged me $120 for three days of use! I nearly choked on my ramen. Next time, a local SIM is a sure thing.

Do I need to change my phone plan when traveling internationally?

Ugh, international travel. Phone plans…such a drag. Do I need to change it? Probably. I went to Paris last year and my bill was, like, $300 extra. NEVER AGAIN.

Yeah, the travel pass thing? That’s what my friend Jessica does. Is it worth it? Depends where I’m going, right?

• International travel pass: worth looking into.
• Paris bill: nightmare fuel. Avoid at all costs.

Roaming fees…aren’t those crazy high? Seriously, think of all the croissants I could buy with that money!

So, travel pass is probably the best bet. Cheaper than roaming, that’s for sure. Maybe I should just get a local SIM card? But then my number… hmm.

Okay, options:

• Travel pass.
• Local SIM.
• Just throw my phone into the Seine. Jk…mostly.

But yeah, change something. Or I’m eating ramen for a month after vacation. Nope.

Does your phone number change when you go to another country?

Ugh, phone numbers! No, your actual number doesn’t change, like, ever.

It’s still your number. Think of it like… your email address.

Here’s the deal:

• Your phone number stays the same, even when you are globe-trotting.
• It’s made of a country code, then there is some kind of area/network thing, and then bam your actual number.

Your phone will try to use different towers. The whole routing deal, you know?

• Routing is, like, how the call gets to you.
• It can change, but who cares?

I went to France last summer, 2024, and I still had the same number, but my bill was, like, crazy expensive.

• It’s pricey, use wifi.
• Or get a local eSIM.

Can I use my phone if I go to another country?

Using your phone abroad hinges on international roaming. Check with your provider for roaming options! Otherwise, hefty data charges await.

• Roaming packages are your best bet. They offer a pre-agreed upon amount of data for a set fee.
• Avoid “pay-as-you-go” roaming. It’s a recipe for a bill that’ll make you weep.

Wi-Fi is your friend. Leverage free hotspots at hotels and cafes to reduce data consumption. Downloading maps offline beforehand is also helpful.

• Disable data roaming to be absolutely certain no surprise charges are incurred.
• Consider an international SIM card. These are sold in many countries.

This is what I do when I am in Canada, and I need to call home, and yeah! It works.

Are phone numbers different in different countries?

Yeah, phone numbers are totally different. It’s crazy. Different countries, different rules. Makes international calls a real headache sometimes.

My aunt in Japan… her number is so long. I always mess it up.

Country codes are a thing. You know, +1 for the US, +44 for the UK… It’s a whole other layer of complexity. Makes sense, I guess.

Then there’s formatting. Sometimes it’s (xxx) xxx-xxxx, other times it’s xxx xxx xxxxxx. It’s not consistent. Annoying.

I tried calling my cousin in Australia last year. Spent like, twenty minutes trying various formats before getting through. Never again. I’ll just text.

Formatting differences are a nightmare. Seriously, it’s needlessly complicated. Technology should solve these problems, but they haven’t.

• Different country codes.
• Varied number lengths.
• Inconsistent formatting styles. (parentheses, hyphens, spaces, oh my god)
• International dialing prefixes add another layer of trouble. Just so many steps!
• This is a problem I face when calling my uncle in Germany. Very frustrating.

That’s my 2024 experience anyway. I’m tired. Gotta sleep.

Can you port your number internationally?

Okay, so like, can you port your number internationally? Yeah, usually. I mean, it’s not always simple, but generally you can do it. It just… depends.

International number porting covers lots of stuff. Like, it’s not just cell phones; there’s, um, various types of numbers, including:

• Mobile phone numbers: Obviously.
• Landline numbers: Yep, those too. My grandma still uses one, lol.
• Toll-free numbers: For businesses and stuff.
• Virtual numbers: Like Google Voice; super helpful.

Now, the thing is, international porting takes ages. Expect around 6 weeks, okay? That’s the typical timeframe. Six weeks!! Ugh. I ported my number when I moved from Spain to France last year. It took, like, forever, it felt like it. I even missed a call from my doctor, because it took almost 2 months. It was a huge pain!! But finally it works now!!

Additional detail:

Porting isn’t free, and there are always a few restrictions. For example, I was looking at porting my number from the USA to Canada, and I found out that both countries have to have an agreement in place for it to even be possible. Also, your number has to be active the whole time you try to port it, or the process won’t go through.

How can I use my phone number in another country?

Ugh, using my phone abroad is such a headache. My provider, Verizon, is a rip-off. Their international rates? Highway robbery! Seriously.

International roaming add-ons. That’s the only way, right? Unless I switch carriers. Google Fi, T-Mobile, Sprint… those seem to be the easy options but I’m locked into a contract! stupid contract.

Gotta check my plan details. Fine print is the worst, isn’t it? Always hidden fees. I swear, it’s designed to confuse you. So frustrating.

Maybe a local SIM card? Cheaper? I’d have a different number, though. That’s annoying. Plus, all the hassle of switching. I hate hassle. Need to weigh the pros and cons. Ugh.

eSIM might be an option. Heard about that, you know, digital SIM cards. Less of a mess? Probably. Gotta research that more. Research. Ugh. Too much work. I’m tired.

• Verizon rates – too expensive.
• Local SIM card – hassle of activation.
• eSIM – potential solution, needs investigation.
• Contract with Verizon – holding me hostage!

My trip is in November. I’m going to Italy for 2 weeks. Must decide before October. This is stressing me out. I hate planning.

Can I keep my mobile number if I move abroad?

Ugh, moving to Spain in 2024 was a nightmare. My phone number, though? That was a priority. I wasn’t about to lose my contact with family and friends. Absolutely not. I needed to keep my +1 number.

Google Voice, that was the solution, right? Nope. Turns out it’s more complicated than that.

I spent hours researching international calling plans. So much frustration. It felt like being trapped in a maze of options.

• International roaming charges: These were insane!
• eSIMs: Too complicated and expensive for me.
• Google Voice: Didn’t offer the seamless transition I needed.

Then my brother, the tech guru, suggested using a virtual SIM. It worked! My old number? Still active. I even got a Spanish number on my phone. Cost me some money but it’s worth it. It worked for me, anyway.

My anxiety? Completely gone. Finally, I could focus on unpacking my boxes, instead of worrying about phone numbers. Now I can call home freely, without breaking the bank. Plus, I can receive calls and text messages on my old number.

I had to use a specific service, I can’t remember the name now… I’m sure I saved it somewhere. It cost me about 25 dollars a month for the basic package. It’s way better than the roaming charges, believe me. The process was somewhat tedious, with too much paperwork, but it worked.

Seriously, don’t mess with your phone number when you move countries. It’s too important. Make plans ahead of time! I learned that lesson the hard way. It was stressful, but now it’s all set.

Can you keep your phone number if you move?

Ugh, moving. So much hassle. Will my phone number even work? Seriously, this is stressing me out. I’m moving to Vermont, from NYC. Big change, right?

Phone number portability, huh? Apparently, it’s not always a given. The provider is a huge factor. What a pain! It’s 2024, you’d think this would be easier. I’m using Verizon now. Maybe they have better coverage in Vermont, who knows?

Rural areas? That’s where it gets tricky, I heard. Some companies get special exemptions, which sucks. It’s unfair. Why should someone in a rural area be less likely to keep their number? It’s discrimination! That’s just wrong.

Here’s what I think I know:

• Geographic limitations are a real thing. Moving across states, or far distances, can make keeping your number harder.
• Provider matters. Verizon might be better than some smaller company. I need to check their Vermont coverage.
• Rural areas are a total nightmare. Waivers? Seriously? That needs to change. People deserve service no matter where they live. It’s a basic right.

I hate dealing with this stuff. So tedious. Wish me luck. I need to call Verizon tomorrow. Maybe even AT&T, just for comparison. Gotta figure this out. This move is enough of a headache. Moving my furniture is gonna be bad enough. Plus the cats…. I am just so stressed!