As summer travel ramps up, many Americans are preparing for international trips. While traveling abroad can be an enriching experience, from navigating new languages to managing different time zones, it also requires careful planning.
Along with securing visas, looking for ways to save on flights, learning customs and in some cases, obtaining immunizations before leaving, you don't want to forget about how you'll remain connected during your trip. After all, you'll want to touch base with loved ones or have a reliable connection in case an emergency arises.
Thankfully, many cellular providers have your back with international plans. Chief among them is T-Mobile. We'll detail the international travel perks T-Mobile offers and compare them to other carriers offering similar services.
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Eliminate roaming charges with these plans
If you're 55 or older, T-Mobile has three senior phone plans available. All three offer the same perks as regular plans at a discounted rate. How much can you save? It depends on the plan you want.
Travelers should pay close attention to international calling and data allowances, since those benefits vary significantly by plan.
Plan | Monthly Cost (1 line) | International Calling | High-Speed International Data |
|---|---|---|---|
Essential Choice 55+ | $45 | Not included ($0.25/minute in 215+ countries) | Not included |
Experience More w/ 55+ | $70 | Included | 5GB |
Experience Beyond w/ 55+ | $85 | Included | 15GB |
The Essential Choice 55+ plan is the most affordable option, but it does not include international calling or high-speed international data.
Travelers who frequently visit other countries may find the Experience More w/ 55+ or Experience Beyond w/ 55+ plans a better fit, since both include international calling and texting as well as high-speed data for use abroad.
Explore each plan to determine which option might work best for your needs:
What to know about traveling abroad with your phone
As part of your travel prep, check to see coverage options for your destination. If you have T-Mobile, you can visit its travel website, enter the country you're visiting and the device you have.
From there, it shows you a coverage map of the country you're visiting. It will also say if it's one of the more than 215 countries offered under coverage.
Want to use your cell phone on a cruise? T-Mobile customers can check their international cruise coverage and device compatibility with a few clicks. The cruise coverage tool works similarly to the travel tool, in that you enter your cruise line, destination and your device. You'll be able to see what your plan includes before you set sail.
As a best practice, before leaving a US port, you should disable roaming on your phone until you're out to sea. If you leave it on, it could connect to your ship's satellite-based mobile networks and you might incur roaming charges.
Are T-Mobile's travel perks a good deal?
It depends on your needs and budget. For most customers, this is a smart deal to consider because of all the other perks you receive with it. T-Mobile's Experience Beyond 55+ plans feature streaming benefits, free AAA, a five-year price lock guarantee on plans and full flight texting and streaming through Wi-Fi, where available.
Plus, you can receive a free iPhone when you transfer your service to them:
To give you a cost comparison, here's a look at how T-Mobile compares to other providers:
Carrier | Price for 55+ plans | International data | Countries covered | Flight texting and streaming included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
T-Mobile | Starting from $45 | Up to 15GB | 215+ | Where available |
Verizon | Only available in FL | Up to 15GB | 210+ | No |
AT&T | Starting from $40 | Need a day pass | 210+ | No |
Google Fi | No 55+ plans, one line is $65 for international perks | Up to 50GB | 200+ | No |
Mint Mobile | Starting from $15 per month | Up to 1GB a day with the Minternational Plan for $5 per | 180+ | No |
While other providers do offer lower price points, T-Mobile offers exceptional value for the price. For most travelers, you'll receive coverage on your trips overseas without any hoops to jump through.
Of course, there are alternatives to consider, too. You could buy a SIM card from a provider in the country you visit. These work best for travelers on extended stays that want to text, call and have high-speed data.
You can also buy an international eSIM card before your trip from providers like Saily. How they work is they allow you to switch carriers, so you have access to high-speed data while away from home.
They're also affordable. Say you're traveling to Japan and need some data while over there. Saily has plans as low as $3.99 for 1GB of high-speed data allowance for seven days. You can also buy a 15-day unlimited pass for $48.99. Keep in mind that this is for data only.
Ultimately, there are many ways to remain connected when you travel overseas. And when comparing options, T-Mobile offers excellent value and ease of use in that you don't have to purchase separate packages when using Experience 55+ plans.
However, if you don't plan to travel overseas often and just want a no-frills option, either the lower-tier T-Mobile plan or Mint Mobile's plans are also wise alternatives to consider.
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