Overseas Travel with Boost Mobile + Wi-Fi Call/SMS

Coatesy on 14/01/2023 - 16:30

Hi everyone,

I have a big trip planned leaving Australia at the end of January. We will be travelling to NZ, USA and then through South and Central America (visiting most countries in the continent). I think the total trip time will be between 6-9 months.

I have been researching options on how to receive texts whilst overseas. I have a dual sim S21 ultra. I wanted to know whether there's any foreseeable problem in continuing with the Boost Mobile 12 month prepaid plan and buying data sims in each country. The plan would be to use wifi calling and wifi sms via the data sims mobile network to send and receive calls to and from Australia.

If there's better options I'm all ears!

Thanks for your help :)

Travel Boost Mobile

Comments

  • michnev on 14/01/2023 - 16:41
    +1

    Signal Messenger.

  • FrugalBugger on 14/01/2023 - 17:06

    Signal is good for messaging other Signal users. As for SMS That would be a great option but Signal is going to be removing SMS support for Android unfortunately https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007321171-Ca…

    • Coatesy on 14/01/2023 - 17:44

      Thanks for the advice. Ill look into it. Might be good for the girlfriend because she is IOS.

  • Sylke on 14/01/2023 - 17:19
    +1

    Using iphone 12 -to date i have been receiving SMS on Boost overseas ( 2FA, etc) and in many places making and receiving calls on my Aus boost number when connected to local wifi i read somewhere that they were trialing it until Jan or Feb 23 - so I dont know what the go is after that.
    Anyway (not sure if that phone will accept esim) esim is the best, https://www.airalo.com/
    For insurance I take an old xiaomi dual sim and use simsdirect
    hope thats some help and have a great trip

    • Coatesy on 14/01/2023 - 17:43

      Wow, thanks for tips. So, with airalo do you just buy the esim in each country when you get there? Can you hold multiple esims via the app at once and quickly swap between them?

      My phone is esim capable but I havnt used them before.

  • Sylke on 14/01/2023 - 17:55

    check out the site - i buy before i go and set up just before i leave - you can buy country specific or regional - do the numbers and factor in the convenience of not having to set up for each country

    • Coatesy on 14/01/2023 - 17:58

      Yeah thats awesome - thanks so much for this one!

  • Sylke on 14/01/2023 - 17:57

    yes - multiple sims - not sure how it works an android

  • Pikaloo on 14/01/2023 - 19:50

    You can get an esim that can do multiple countries.

  • movieman on 14/01/2023 - 21:27
    +2

    Whilst overseas recently, I had good results with Optus Prepaid Sim.

    Basically I bought the $2 prepaid Sim card, paid $1 to use it for one day, then turned OFF the plan (cancel it). And it works perfectly for receiving SMS's overseas for 6 months.

    Then set a calendar reminder, and in 180 days time, login to the Optus app, activate (pay $1) for one day, and immediately cancel the plan, and you're good to go for another 6 months.

    PS. Which itinerary are you planning for Central and South America?

    I've spent quite a bit of time across some of those countries, but to see them all in your time frame seems rushed…

    • Coatesy on 15/01/2023 - 12:01
      +1

      Thanks for the tips! We only have a brief plan atm as were travelling through NZ and NYC prior to heading down to south America.

      Were fly into Santiago then down to the bottom to trek through patagonia and then slowly going up through Argentina. Then we plan to travel slowly North from there but mostly likely skipping brazil and going through uruguay, Paraguay then into bolivia and Peru. Once we get to Columbia, we'll assess whether we want to stay in latin america, come home or fly over to Europe for the summer there.

      Im all ears if you have time frame recommendations. We were intending to play by ear and if we like somewhere we'll just stay longer.

      • movieman on 15/01/2023 - 14:31
        +1

        I got the tips right here on Ozbargain, so just passing it on…

        NZ is good - quite pricy, but so beautiful and scenic.

        NYC is very fast paced, but an amazing city to visit - so much to see and do.

        I've spent time in the northern half of Chile - Atacama Desert and the Salt Flats from/to Bolivia are truly remarkable.

        Uruguay is nice and fun, though quite pricey. Paraguay seems like it's off from distance history.

        Bolivia and Peru were my favourites - spent 5 weeks in each. And still didn't see or do everything I wanted.

        Assuming you're travelling by buses it might be worth buying a flight here or there, to cut some of the extended bus trips down significantly in SA. Flights can be a rip off, so worth booking at least 2-3 months in advance.

        • Coatesy on 16/01/2023 - 19:17

          Awesome! I didnt think i'd need to budget so long got peru and bolivia. Do you have a few favourite experiences for each of them that you could recommend.

          Yeah we'll just book flights when we need to! The one benefit of no longer being a student on a shoe string!

          • movieman on 16/01/2023 - 19:51

            @Coatesy: Chile.
            - Day trip to Val Paraiso (did the city walk, and the trolley ride… Plus a quick boat trip helps take the scenery in).
            - San Pedro de Atacama (arrived via 4x4 tour from Bolivia, but can go either way). Make sure you do a night time star gazing tour. Plus I rented a bike, and rode to Valley of the Moon - phenomenal.

            Bolivia.
            - Salar De Uyuni - so worth it.
            - Potosi. Do a silver mine tour (you can buy a a dynamite stick and donate it to a miner).
            - Death Road. Did the bike riding tour - scary, but fun.
            -La Paz. Climb Huyana Potosi (easiest 6000m mountain to scale, yet hardest thing I've ever done).
            - Lago Titicaca. Worth taking a boat over… And sleeping with locals on the island.

            Peru.
            - Cajamarca - nice hot springs. And walking around old history.
            - Trujillo. Amazing Inca ruins currently being dug out
            - Huaraz. Phenomenal day trips and multi day hiking. Look up Laguna 69, etc.
            - Obviously Macchu Picchu, but check political issues now. Went via Salkantey Trek.
            - Arequipa. Great mountain bike riding from up the mountain, ending in the town.
            - Puno. Take off point for Lake Titicaca
            Etc.

            Hope it helps!

          • jolee3 on 17/01/2023 - 16:35

            @Coatesy: Nazca (Nazca Lines) and Huacachina Oasis in Peru are also worth a visit if you're in that area.

    • CC123 on 15/01/2023 - 16:56

      I had good results with Optus

      Does Optus Wifi Calling work overseas now?

  • djkelly69 on 14/01/2023 - 21:38

    It should work, but I believe you will need a data sim for each country (ie. one that is not roaming) as otherwise the VoWifi for Boost doesn't work. This rules out Airalo, etc, as they roam basically everywhere.

    My experience being in the US for a month last month was that you are most likely going to want a local phone number anyway if you are staying in a country for more than say a week for restaurants, shops, Uber, etc

    • Coatesy on 15/01/2023 - 12:02

      Do you think a VPN would get around this roaming issue?

      I agree we'll probably be picking up local sims in countries we stay in for more than just a short period.

      • djkelly69 on 15/01/2023 - 12:28

        Do you think a VPN would get around this roaming issue?

        I don't think so, but didn't try it.

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