Google Fi Review for the Traveler - Revealing the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
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- Опубликовано: 2 сен 2022
- If you love to travel like we do, finding a phone plan with international data roaming can be a challenge. That's why we were so excited to try Google Fi, a phone plan which works in over 200 destinations worldwide. But does Google Fi work as seamlessly as advertised? Is Google Fi really worth the extra money? In this video, we'll give our honest opinions of our 2.5 years using Google Fi, including the good, the bad, and the ugly side of their phone plans.
💰 Get $20 off your Google Fi plan here! g.co/fi/r/D3YJXA
eSims are also a great option for international phone coverage. Check our eSim experience here!
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We are David & Kendra Lucas, an American couple who sold everything to travel the world. Our goal is to visit 100 countries and permanently relocate to our favorite country. Subscribe to find out where we end up and to get our tips for long-term travel and living abroad.
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Hey world travelers! What do you use for international data? Share your tips with your fellow travelers in the comments below.
We just got our notification from google that they will be cutting off our international data. Such a bummer! Thank you for the video on how you handled it!
Yep it can be a bummer. Glad the video was helpful!
VERY helpful family. Thanks for taking the time to do this.👍🏿
Very informative. Thank you
Hey you two! We have been using Google Fi all along and had no issues, except lately they don't want you to stay outside of the US for too long. We received the same email from Google Fi but thankfully we were coming back to the US within 30 days so they couldn't cancel our plans but it was a bummer to hear that of course!
Good that the timing worked out for you. For us not so much but we are finding plenty of eSim and local sim options to work for us!
Hey guys, this episode was so informative! We have considered Google Fi but haven't actually tried it. You discussed some topics that I didn't think of but would be good to consider. I can't believe they cut your data off 😵💫😬 what a stressful travel experience!
Yes it was a bit confusing, but it wound up being an easy and even more cost effective solution.
Great video! I love how you guy’s were/are honest about the cell phone plan/service. I am now a subscriber of your guy’s channel. I’m currently on the Fi Unlimited Plus plan. Initially Google Fi was really an overpriced bare bones phone plan. I remember when they’d only give you 25GB of unlimited data per month. Now I get 50GB’s of unlimited data as well as a VPN & a mobile hotspot, that isn’t capped for the most part. Google Fi has actually announced that Wi-Fi calling will be available for Fi users when abroad. As well as mobile hotspot being able to work abroad. I guess it is kinda true, Fi is greatly improving it’s features for its users. Especially the ones who have an IOS device. I’m currently using Fi on the IPhone 13 Pro Max, needless to say I really can’t complain. Now I’m really excited to use these new features that Fi just launched. As I currently have a relative who is going to Iceland & I’ve got a trip planned to Spain.
Nice! Enjoy your travels! Google Fi worked well for us in Spain so you shouldn’t have any trouble. Happy travels!
Warning: I have(had) an iPhone and signed up with Google Fi, but 2 days ago decided to switch carriers. I canceled Google Fi and tried to activate my new carrier. I couldn't because Google Fi said they couldn't give me a sim pin unlock code because I'd canceled. My iPhone is now a paperweight.
Very thorough. I am in awe at how you are able to travel so much. Would love to know how you can afford that much travel.
Thanks! We can afford to travel due to the sell of our home. Real estate really is a great investment. We also have some online income from online courses so we are able to stretch our savings. You can check out this video to learn even more. Why We Quit to Travel the World! How We Are Paying for Our Travels
ruclips.net/video/pbNK5kBFVw4/видео.html
Thank you for sharing your experience! I also had good luck with Google Fi in Europe. My other phone with Spectrum Mobile SIM was connecting at 3G speeds (good for 2FA but not for streaming video), while Google Fi was LTE or 5G - very useable. I would say if you are traveling to a place for a short time - Google Fi is a good solution but if you are staying longer - switching data to a local SIM is a way to go. Happy travels!
Yes indeed! Thanks for sharing!
Gran Trabajo, enhorabuena Saludos y hasta pronto
Really nice and interesting video, thanks for sharing, new supporter here 🥰
Thank you
I've never actually heard of Google Fi before this video. I like that you can easily switch between plans. But I wouldn't want my international data cut off mid travels! Good idea for 2 factor authentication too. I always forget about that.
Yes Google Fi hasn’t branched out into Canada yet which is why you probably haven’t heard of it! And yes that 2 factor gets us every time.
What an informative presentation of Google Fi, which is a new thing to me. But this is something I'll consider when I visit the US in the near future. Cheers to your wonderful video!
Many thanks! Glad it was informative for you! Happy travels!
@@LucasWorldTravel You're most welcome! Warmest regards!
Thanks for the honest review, I used google fi for an year, in metro city it works well, in rural area I faced coverage issues, now i am looking to get one for travel...
Awesome to hear! Enjoy your travels!
@@LucasWorldTravel Thank you
Nice informative video
Great video! thank you for all the details. I am actually interested in switching to Google Fi for my coming China trip. I have a question that does Google allow you to change from the $65 plan to the $20 plan after Google stops your international data service? I heard that many people will need to be in the US to switch the plan.
We did not have trouble switching while abroad. We've switched both from Thailand and from Costa Rica.
THANKS!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Another informative video. I'm looking for reasonable, reliable family plans.
Google Fi does offer a discount the more lines you have but we don’t know how they compare to other mobile providers.
This was really interesting to hear how Google Fi changed the goalposts a bit with regards to cutting you off after 3 months, that takes away the main reason for having it. We have been getting a new local sim in every country but only for Craig’s phone that way we only pay once and use it for everything and set up 2 factor authentication on my UK phone so that we don’t have to keep switching SIM cards.
Interesting strategy and very cost effective. I’m not sure we’re disciplined enough to only have data on one phone. That’s a clever way to do it though.
Interesting strategy and very cost effective. I’m not sure we’re disciplined enough to only have data on one phone. That’s a clever way to do it though.
Interesting strategy and very cost effective. I’m not sure we’re disciplined enough to only have data on one phone. That’s a clever way to do it though.
I went over with the flexible plan. They don't charge you after 6GB. Bills were limited to around $84.
Must be a new feature because that was not the case for us.
Sounds like an amazing service, but probably better for short term travel. Unfortunately we always have to get a local sim 🙈
Can’t believe that they restricted their service like that though 😠
I know! We thought we had the perfect solution and then we didn’t.
Your information was informative. Will you estimate GB per month used ?
We use a lot of data! When we had the unlimited plan we were using 25-35 GB a month.
Hello World Travel, when google disables your data plan after 3 months oversea, can you still receive SMS text for 2FA on the google flexible plan? Thank you
Yes, you can still use text and phone calls normally for as long as you are abroad, just no more international data until you return to the US then your data allowance resets.
Did you use GoogleFi exclusively in Thailand? Which local SIM can you recommend for Thailand (trip planned for Nov.)? We live in the Philippines and use Google voice, but that only works over WiFi but does work for 2-factor authentication. Thanks guys! Safe travels always!!
We stayed in Thailand for 18 months so we used the Flexible plan with a local Thai SIM card which costs an additional 10 dollars a month. We used the unlimited plan when we first arrived though and it worked very well.
@@LucasWorldTravel loved your Thailand series! I was just curious of the local Thai SIM provider you found that worked best for travels North to South. Thanks 🙏
@@lumpialife We used DTAC and had good coverage all over the country.
What an education
The iPhones are NOT listed on the Google Fi website.
You can’t buy an iPhone from Google but you can bring an unlocked iPhone onto the network.
I used Fi when it was called Project Fi during its first year. It was good for a while with the cheap plans but I never used it internationally. I eventually switched over to a different phone service and avoided google like a plague for ethical/moral reasons. They're too big for their own good.
I've heard they're becoming more restrictive in terms of how much time you need to spend in the US vs internationally.
Yes exactly! No more than 3 months abroad currently which can be quite restrictive depending on your lifestyle.
I'm traveling for 9 days and use straight talk. Can I use Google Fi with the same phone number or should I get a different one? The google fi I want to use is just for the 9 days for unlimited data which will help with navigation.
For 9 days it might be best to get an eSim. Check out bit.ly/holaflyesim to see if that will be a better option for you. You can use code lucasworldtravel to save 5%.
So how does the esim work... thanks for this video
Just found the video, thanks
We explain eSims here! The Easiest Way to Get International Phone Coverage - International eSim Holafly
ruclips.net/video/nYJmfJYvHOw/видео.html
only if you can get it to work, spent a whole going around in circles with customer service, with it still not working at the end
Sorry to hear that! That sounds frustrating!
So if I get GoogleFi, can I still keep my American phone number to make unlimited calls and texts internationally? Also do I cancel my Verizon plan? Or do I pay for both Verizon & Google Fi each month?
You would switch completely from Verizon to Google Fi canceling Verizon. Usually you can still keep your current phone number too. If you are going to switch, you can save $20 here. g.co/fi/r/D3YJXA
Do you use esim? Why would you switch SIM cards if you have esim?
No, we have physical SIM cards so have to switch them if we get a local Sim. We have tried eSims as well which do have their benefits as well.
Thank you for this video. It was really helpful. Every thing you both stated was true. I wish I saw this video before traveling. So, I activated a Google Fi plan before I left New York where I live to travel to Africa for missions for 86 days, a few weeks ago. When I got to Nairobi, Kenya for 7hr airport layover before my destination to Lagos Nigeria, it was so problematic to get my Galaxy S10 plus to work with the plan. It seemed to work great before I left NYC, but one I got to Africa, I was so stuck. I bought the top unlimited plan and there are things I found out that is not apparent when activating the plan.
My suggestion is that before traveling overseas please find out all that you need to know thru customer service before you travel, because it will help. Its very true that customer service is very pleasant and nice people, but that doesn't always translate to fixing your issue, although they did try. The plan is good if you understand how it works and have all the information from asking many questions. Please don't make the same mistake I did in activating a plan days before traveling abroad. Call up customer service and work out all the bugs first before you travel, because from the advertising, it seems plug and play, but that's not always the case. Blessings!!!
Great suggestion! Thanks for sharing with your fellow travelers! Hope you enjoyed Africa!
السلام عليكم منورين حبيباتي 🌹🌹
And to you as well!
I would say always have 2 phones if you're traveling abroad. First Phone: US Number with a carrier with flexible international roaming, talk and text. Second Phone: International travel phone that you use with foreign sim cards or Google Fi
Interesting perspective! Thanks for sharing!
Is google Fi good traveling to Africa?
We personally have never used Google Fi in Africa, but they cover many African countries. You can see if the country you’re visiting is covered here. fi.google.com/about/international-rates?pli=1#G
@@LucasWorldTravel my homeland Madagascar
Could you give yourself a personal hotspot?
It depends. When I had an android phone, I could. For whatever reason when I switched to an iPhone, I could no longer do that. I have no idea why either.
Its a rip off
Honestly we can understand why you feel that way.
Google Fi is terrible