I am a ‘silent’ viewer but wanted to chime in to thank you for your informative videos. You make the info digestible and you demystify so many pieces of the long-term international travel process. I appreciate you & what you offer here.
Great video, you guys are awesome! I was wondering if you can make a video covering in detail how you handle 2FA/MFA SMS codes that get sent to your phone. Do you have to keep your US cell phone plan while you're still traveling bc of this? How do you handle managing both eSIMs while traveling. Is there a US carrier phone plan that can just do text only? I like your idea of using whatapp or skype for phone calls which makes sense but I'm still a bit fuzzy on how to handle the 2FA codes while traveling internally.
Great Content as always. I hope you guys hit 1 million subs soon. Can you use that on cruise ships? Or what do you do on Cruise ships? Do you use the Airalo app at the port visits?
I've been in Spain for almost a month and my phone ain't working for sh*t. We are just now trying out traveling vs. being expats vs. some other plan. So we will see how things go. So far these beds are not doing our backs any favors so we are rethinking long term travel.
I would like to see a video concerning what U.S. service the two of you use for 2FA and the financial implications of that service. Thank you for all of the good info.!
Great video. Thank you and Happy Holidays. I have Airalo for travel as well as Skype, Whatsapp, etc. but none of them work for calling a landline. I have an elderly relative that I need to keep track of who does (will) not use a cell phone, tablet, or desktop. Any ideas?
Always enjoy your videos. So since you did not Port your cell number with Google Voice, which US carrier & package you are using that keeps the monthly cost down? I retire in 2 years and plan on doing the Slow Travel between SE Asia, Central/South America & Europe/Asia in 5 - 6 month blocks w/a few weeks back in the US between switching locations. What's the best option for keeping your stateside cell phone number without high monthly charges from a stateside carrier? Thanks & Safe Travels.
Yes, Google voice and Google Fi are not for international use and will stop working eventually. So, you can just use whatever carrier you had or you can find the cheapest. You really only need 1 phone with a US sim card tied to your bank.
HEY GUYS great info as usual will look into the E-SIM IDEA. Was in KL last July and will be back in Jan. Can you tell me if the visa requirements have changed I am an American...a Visa agency told me that there is a 30 day visa and I need to show them a bank statement as well as my plane tickets to get a digital visa...before I just had my passport stamped at the airport and was allowed up to 90 days....thx.
We take a lot of cruises and always have to buy their expensive internet plans - do you know of any other way that our cell phone could work on the ship other than buying the cruise ship internet plan?
In SE Asia , like using in Malaysia/Thailand etc ….. I didn’t have a problem with Airalo. For France , Airalo was a nightmare to use !!! When I needed it most during rental car emergency in countryside, Airalo didn’t work , it works great in Paris but outskirts was terrible ! It made me so mad and wished I had regular SIM card . I think Airalo still have many quirks to smooth out
I don't think it is Airalo, but the actual French esim you are getting. Some companies don't have great coverage, like if you bought TMobile in the US you'd get spotty coverage in parts.
In your situation id think Google Voice would make a lot of sense and then just change the esim. You could even buy the US esim when back in the states. That would give you a US number that works over wifi or the esim network
I really enjoy your videos. I have read some very good questions concerning this video, but I do not see your response. I know you guys are busy, but could you post your response to the questions in the comments section please?
So my biggest issue is going to be two factor authorization from my home country bank, which is in New Zealand. You seem to be saying that I'll need to keep a New Zealand sim in my phone to have this two factor verification work. So I'll need a phone that will take two sims. Is that correct? I'll be moving to Canada, but will maintain bank accounts in both countries. Thanks!
if you're buying from a cell provider you can usually just pay off the biill or buying it out right and have them unlock it for you or if you're buying your phone from the manufactur you can typically buy it unlocked that being said an easy way to tell would just be to call whatever cell service you have and ask them because they would be able to tell if a cell on their network is locked or unlocked
It's not easy to tell, but if you didn't have it unlocked or buy it unlocked it probably isn't. Easy enough to do though just by visiting a local store and having them help you.
You guys always have the best info! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for watching!
I am a ‘silent’ viewer but wanted to chime in to thank you for your informative videos. You make the info digestible and you demystify so many pieces of the long-term international travel process. I appreciate you & what you offer here.
We appreciate that!
Thanks for talking about this app ! It’s good information
Any time
Great video, you guys are awesome! I was wondering if you can make a video covering in detail how you handle 2FA/MFA SMS codes that get sent to your phone. Do you have to keep your US cell phone plan while you're still traveling bc of this? How do you handle managing both eSIMs while traveling. Is there a US carrier phone plan that can just do text only? I like your idea of using whatapp or skype for phone calls which makes sense but I'm still a bit fuzzy on how to handle the 2FA codes while traveling internally.
Great information! Thank you guys so much!
Our pleasure!
Great information! Always nice to have these as guides for our future travels.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the info on airalo.
Great Content as always. I hope you guys hit 1 million subs soon. Can you use that on cruise ships? Or what do you do on Cruise ships? Do you use the Airalo app at the port visits?
Thanks! Only in the ports
Just so I am clear: your suggestion is to keep your USA plan and phone number (probably cheapest available) and supplement it with the Airalo E-Sim?
This is the same question that I have. Otherwise, how'd you keep your USA number? Please confirm. Thanks
Also, doesn't Skype give you a different phone number? Is this problematic when calling financial institutions? Thanks again.
I've been in Spain for almost a month and my phone ain't working for sh*t. We are just now trying out traveling vs. being expats vs. some other plan. So we will see how things go. So far these beds are not doing our backs any favors so we are rethinking long term travel.
Come to Asia!
We will definitely be coming over there at some point.
I would like to see a video concerning what U.S. service the two of you use for 2FA and the financial implications of that service. Thank you for all of the good info.!
This was great! So when you used Grab in Malaysia, Airalo was used to request transportation?
Yes, exactly. No calling was needed, but the grab drivers could call us through the Grab app while we were on the Airalo sim
Great video. Thank you and Happy Holidays. I have Airalo for travel as well as Skype, Whatsapp, etc. but none of them work for calling a landline. I have an elderly relative that I need to keep track of who does (will) not use a cell phone, tablet, or desktop. Any ideas?
Thanks, Skype should work, we use it for calling landlines.
FYI you can configure in the settings to have your main sim/number for calls and SMS only, and your esim for data. No need for toggling!
We would get charged though every time someone texts us, so we just keep our US sim off until we need a text from the US.
@@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel check with your carrier, but incoming SMS may be free when roaming
@@RetroDiver they are not for us.
@@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel What if you turn the US sim on and you have 30 texts that go through. You get charged for them all?
Always enjoy your videos. So since you did not Port your cell number with Google Voice, which US carrier & package you are using that keeps the monthly cost down? I retire in 2 years and plan on doing the Slow Travel between SE Asia, Central/South America & Europe/Asia in 5 - 6 month blocks w/a few weeks back in the US between switching locations. What's the best option for keeping your stateside cell phone number without high monthly charges from a stateside carrier? Thanks & Safe Travels.
Yes, Google voice and Google Fi are not for international use and will stop working eventually. So, you can just use whatever carrier you had or you can find the cheapest. You really only need 1 phone with a US sim card tied to your bank.
Thanks for sharing
HEY GUYS great info as usual will look into the E-SIM IDEA. Was in KL last July and will be back in Jan. Can you tell me if the visa requirements have changed I am an American...a Visa agency told me that there is a 30 day visa and I need to show them a bank statement as well as my plane tickets to get a digital visa...before I just had my passport stamped at the airport and was allowed up to 90 days....thx.
Thanks! We got the 90 day stamp as you did, we entered at the end of October. We read about some changes though, so it might be different in 2024.
My worry is setting up my phone correctly to not turn on my US phone and gather charges but turn on the esim only! Lol
It's not too hard on the setting to see if it is off, easier than we thought.
We take a lot of cruises and always have to buy their expensive internet plans - do you know of any other way that our cell phone could work on the ship other than buying the cruise ship internet plan?
We buy one plan and use our Android phone as a hotspot for all the other devices.
In SE Asia , like using in Malaysia/Thailand etc ….. I didn’t have a problem with Airalo. For France , Airalo was a nightmare to use !!! When I needed it most during rental car emergency in countryside, Airalo didn’t work , it works great in Paris but outskirts was terrible ! It made me so mad and wished I had regular SIM card . I think Airalo still have many quirks to smooth out
I don't think it is Airalo, but the actual French esim you are getting. Some companies don't have great coverage, like if you bought TMobile in the US you'd get spotty coverage in parts.
In your situation id think Google Voice would make a lot of sense and then just change the esim. You could even buy the US esim when back in the states. That would give you a US number that works over wifi or the esim network
GV and Fi are problematic to have outside the US for long periods of time.
Hi. Great video. How do I ensure that while using the Esim, I do not accidentally use my home Canada sim card?
Cheers. Merry Christmas.
Roger
I really enjoy your videos.
I have read some very good questions concerning this video, but I do not see your response. I know you guys are busy, but could you post your response to the questions in the comments section please?
We are in Thailand, so we are asleep when the videos are shown in the US.
So my biggest issue is going to be two factor authorization from my home country bank, which is in New Zealand. You seem to be saying that I'll need to keep a New Zealand sim in my phone to have this two factor verification work. So I'll need a phone that will take two sims. Is that correct? I'll be moving to Canada, but will maintain bank accounts in both countries. Thanks!
Can I purchase a 30 day multiple country sim before boarding a transatlantic cruise to Europe and not activate it immediately?
Do you know if you can have a VPN running while using Airalo?
Yes you can
I KNOW this is basic, but how do you know if your cell phone is unlocked?
if you're buying from a cell provider you can usually just pay off the biill or buying it out right and have them unlock it for you or if you're buying your phone from the manufactur you can typically buy it unlocked that being said an easy way to tell would just be to call whatever cell service you have and ask them because they would be able to tell if a cell on their network is locked or unlocked
It's not easy to tell, but if you didn't have it unlocked or buy it unlocked it probably isn't. Easy enough to do though just by visiting a local store and having them help you.
Do you need to maintain us cell service?
Satellite phones?
not reliable and it's only useful (maybe) if your somewhere with no service at all
Do you need to have a US address?
Most people do for banking etc...
Thanks Elon Musk for your new services. This is what I have.
I was wondering if that app was legit.
Yes, we've been using it without any problems for half the year, it's been awesome.