Going to Japan this weekend for 7 days. Last time I went Verizon just let use my phone on an international plan and everything worked cool. This time they want me to switch over to a new plan in order to get my phone/text/data service in Japan. I think this is because I am grand fathered in on an unlimited data plan from 2010 and they are trying to get me off off the 150GB of data I use each month.
So what are my options? I’m think a Sim card would be best but I see that most of them only cover data, no phone/text service. The other option is to get a mobile WiFi hotspot at the airport, but I’d rather not carry around another object that needs recharged.
Are some Sim cards better than others? I have a unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 8. I’ve heard that some Sim cards do not play well with Samsung, is this true?
Do you need access to phone/data services 100% of the time you’re there? If you can get by with occasional access, you might be OK just using the WiFi in your hotel room and at the occasional coffee shop/restaurant. This is what I’ve done for my last couple of trips to Japan. You should be able to change settings on your phone to enable WiFi-based phone service, so you’ll be able to make phone calls as well; this is like Skype, except it’s not Skype, it uses your actual cell phone number. This wouldn’t require any changes to your current service plan (or at least it didn’t for me, on AT&T).
Mostly I want the data on when I’m away from the hotel or work. I’d like to be able to use google maps and check out local points of interest that I see on the web. Not doing anything data heavy outside of work. Would be nice to be able to text, could do without phone for the most part.
