Author Topic: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel  (Read 1178 times)

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« on: July 27, 2022, 11:52:09 PM »
For a week long trip.

I have an AT&T business plan with international roaming for $10/day with regular plan features, including hotspot. In addition to looking things up constantly, I’ll need to work about 30-60 minutes daily from my laptop.
My wife has a T-Mobile Magenta plan which gives free text, 128kbps data (no idea how slow that is), and 25˘ minute talk. She won’t need to do much other than take and send pictures.

In the past I’ve used and been very happy with TalkNSave (particularly because they mail you the SIM card before your trip), but they stopped offering unlimited plans, and I don’t know if 30GB will be enough if we don’t have wifi at our place.

Has anyone else had a similar experience, and what would you recommend?
Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. –J. Paul Getty

Offline gmd

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2022, 12:04:05 AM »
I have the same question. I am looking to keep my american number for talk and text, but then I am stuck paying ten dollars a day for two weeks, and cant make local calls to Israeli numbers.

Looking for any insight what the best option would be

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2022, 12:13:38 AM »
I have the same question. I am looking to keep my american number for talk and text, but then I am stuck paying ten dollars a day for two weeks, and cant make local calls to Israeli numbers.

Looking for any insight what the best option would be

I believe AT&T plan now includes free international calling in countries covered by the international roaming option. I used to use Google Voice or WhatsApp calling.
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Offline ninjaleh

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2022, 12:59:45 AM »
I believe AT&T plan now includes free international calling in countries covered by the international roaming option. I used to use Google Voice or WhatsApp calling.

We use Globusim when we go. They have various plans I think. The SIM cards just swap
into our phones and then we have the Israeli numbers.

Offline gmd

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2022, 01:05:12 AM »
I believe AT&T plan now includes free international calling in countries covered by the international roaming option. I used to use Google Voice or WhatsApp calling.
But as far as i know there is no other options for text

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2022, 01:56:54 AM »
eSim
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline yelped

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2022, 11:52:24 AM »
eSim
Apparently even some new higher end phones don't support eSims (mind boggling, I know).

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2022, 01:41:35 PM »
My phone supports eSIM. How would that help me?
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Offline ExGingi

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2022, 02:27:43 PM »
But as far as i know there is no other options for text

If you can enable Wi-Fi calling on your phone/plan, that will include text AFAIK.
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Offline ari3

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #9 on: July 29, 2022, 12:08:22 AM »
A related question. what are the best options for dumb phones for a trip to ey. Not excited about paying close to $200 for 2 phones for 12 days.

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2022, 01:32:33 AM »
https://tripletel.com/

~$14 for SIM card (one time charge)
~$35/mo. for 50 GB LTE
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Offline Live N Learn

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #11 on: July 29, 2022, 01:33:06 AM »
A related question. what are the best options for dumb phones for a trip to ey. Not excited about paying close to $200 for 2 phones for 12 days.
A lot of the American 4G flip/dumb phones work in Israel.
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Offline ari3

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Re: American plan with roaming vs. local SIM card in Israel
« Reply #12 on: July 30, 2022, 11:09:49 PM »
A lot of the American 4G flip/dumb phones work in Israel.
With which service? Also how do I figure out which phones?