bcavnaugh
Get a SIM Card for your Location. Link

ty_ger07
T-Mobile is a big player internationally. I know you are trying to avoid buying temporary phones or plans, but if you do, make sure that you consider T-Mobile. Having a T-Mobile number also gives you free wifi and messaging (1 hour of free wifi general data for any use [except video streaming] and then after that free hour, general web usage is disabled but messaging such as facebook messenger, whatsapp, etc. continue to work for the remainder of the flight for free) on long international Gogo-enabled flights (Delta for example).

I worked overseas for a year, traveled through Europe many times, and had a company-purchased AT&T phone. I was continually jealous of coworkers' T-mobile service. So much so, that I would use their T-Mobile phone number to get the free 1-hour inflight WiFi and whatsapp messaging for the duration of my long international flights.

If you find yourself traveling increasingly internationally, there is more and more benefit to switching from AT&T to T-Mobile. If I was paying my own bill, I would have.

Just my opinion. Buying spare phones, plans, SIM cards, or hotspots may not be the best thing for you, but make sure that you consider T-Mobile.

Another thing to consider, if you start finding yourself doing a lot of international traveling, is buying a dual-SIM phone. But, that isn't very important if you get cell service from a company with good international coverage. Like I said, T-Mobile man. It works everywhere. US, on the flight using Gogo, Paris, Amsterdam, anywhere Europe, Dubai, Kabul, flying around from base to base in Afghanistan, in any city from the top to the bottom of India, Thailand, ...., my coworkers used it everywhere. .... and I just watched in jealousy.

flyinion

ty_ger07
T-Mobile is a big player internationally. I know you are trying to avoid buying temporary phones or plans, but if you do, make sure that you consider T-Mobile. Having a T-Mobile number also gives you free wifi and messaging (1 hour of free wifi general data for any use [except video streaming] and then after that free hour, general web usage is disabled but messaging such as facebook messenger, whatsapp, etc. continue to work for the remainder of the flight for free) on long international Gogo-enabled flights (Delta for example).

I worked overseas for a year, traveled through Europe many times, and had a company-purchased AT&T phone. I was continually jealous of coworkers' T-mobile service. So much so, that I would use their T-Mobile phone number to get the free 1-hour inflight WiFi and whatsapp messaging for the duration of my long international flights.

If you find yourself traveling increasingly internationally, there is more and more benefit to switching from AT&T to T-Mobile. If I was paying my own bill, I would have.

Just my opinion. Buying spare phones, plans, SIM cards, or hotspots may not be the best thing for you, but make sure that you consider T-Mobile.

Another thing to consider, if you start finding yourself doing a lot of international traveling, is buying a dual-SIM phone. But, that isn't very important if you get cell service from a company with good international coverage. Like I said, T-Mobile man. It works everywhere. US, on the flight using Gogo, Paris, Amsterdam, anywhere Europe, Dubai, Kabul, flying around from base to base in Afghanistan, in any city from the top to the bottom of India, Thailand, ...., my coworkers used it everywhere. .... and I just watched in jealousy.

Hmmm I'm not worried about the flight itself, but you're saying T-Mobile works over in country as well?  I know AT&T has plans also that do that, they're like $60 a line though when my wife looked (I may have misunderstood her).  We probably won't travel that much though, maybe once a year or more like every few overseas.  She's from Ireland but hasn't been back since we went just after we starting dating back in 2009.  Although, that was kind of an unplanned length of time.

transdogmifier
I have used Tmobile in Japan...as I recall it wasn't bad if it was an emergency (voice calling...20 cents a minute??) ...and I get like...1 GB free data..

if I recall correctly..but I still got a WiFi Hotspot...since I was uploading pictures and stuff...I didn't see the need for a SIM card but I could have done that there too.