So, you're planning an international adventure and wondering about keeping your Verizon phone connected without breaking the bank? Excellent question! Understanding Verizon TravelPass is key to a stress-free travel experience. Let's dive deep into how much Verizon TravelPass costs, what it offers, and how to make the most of it.
How Much is the Verizon TravelPass? Your Guide to Global Connectivity
Verizon TravelPass is a fantastic option for most Verizon customers traveling abroad. It essentially lets you take your existing domestic talk, text, and data plan with you to over 210 countries and destinations for a set daily fee. This means no more hunting for local SIM cards or worrying about exorbitant pay-as-you-go rates.
The beauty of TravelPass is its simplicity: you're only charged on the days you actually use your phone in a TravelPass country. If you don't use your phone, you don't pay!
Step 1: Discovering the Daily TravelPass Fee – Where Are You Going?
The cost of Verizon TravelPass isn't a single, universal price. It depends on your destination!
Sub-heading: The Two Tiers of Daily Fees
$6 per day: This lower rate applies to trips to Mexico and Canada.
$12 per day: This is the standard rate for all other TravelPass countries and destinations. This includes popular spots like the UK, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, India, and hundreds more.
Important Note: If you travel to two countries with different TravelPass daily fees within a single 24-hour session (e.g., Mexico to Italy), a new daily fee will apply, and a new TravelPass session will begin.
Step 2: Understanding What You Get with TravelPass – Your Domestic Plan, Globally
When you activate a TravelPass session, you're essentially mirroring your domestic Verizon plan.
Sub-heading: Talk, Text, and Data Inclusion
Unlimited Talk: You get unlimited calls within the country you're visiting and back to the US. Calling other international numbers will typically be charged at standard international long-distance rates from the US, or you can consider adding an international calling plan.
Unlimited Text: Send and receive as many text messages as you want without additional charges.
High-Speed Data: You receive 5 GB of high-speed data per 24-hour TravelPass session. After you've used 5 GB, your data speeds will be reduced to 3G for the remainder of that 24-hour session.
Pro-Tip: If you need more high-speed data within that 24-hour session, Verizon will send you a text offering an additional 2 GB for a fee (typically $5 in Mexico/Canada or $10 in other TravelPass countries). You can purchase these additional data bundles multiple times.
Step 3: Activating Verizon TravelPass – Easy Peasy!
One of the best things about TravelPass is how straightforward it is to activate.
Sub-heading: Automatic Activation
TravelPass is often automatically added to your line if you have eligible Verizon Unlimited plans like Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Welcome.
Even if it's not automatically added, you can easily enable it. A 24-hour TravelPass session starts automatically when you use your device in a TravelPass country. This includes making or answering a phone call, sending a text, or using data (even background data like app refreshing or email syncing).
Crucial Step: Before you leave, ensure cellular data and data roaming are turned ON in your phone's settings when you arrive at your international destination. Otherwise, your device won't be able to connect to the local network to trigger TravelPass.
Sub-heading: How to Manually Add TravelPass (if needed)
If you want to be certain or if your plan doesn't automatically include it:
Via My Verizon Website:
Sign in to your My Verizon account.
Navigate to "Services & Perks" or "Add-ons."
Look for "TravelPass" and follow the on-screen prompts to add it to your line.
Via My Verizon App:
Open the My Verizon app on your phone.
Go to the "Account" or "More" tab.
Look for "International" or "Add-ons" and then select TravelPass to add it.
By Texting:
You can often activate TravelPass by simply texting the word TRAVEL to 4004.
Remember: You don't need to remove TravelPass when you return home. It stays on your line, and you're only charged on the days you use it internationally.
Step 4: Understanding Billing and Sessions – The 24-Hour Cycle
Knowing how TravelPass charges work will help you manage your usage effectively.
Sub-heading: The 24-Hour Clock
A TravelPass session lasts for 24 hours from the moment you trigger it (first use of talk, text, or data).
Verizon will send you a text message within a couple of hours of your session starting, letting you know when your 24-hour session will end.
Any usage after that 24-hour mark will automatically start a new TravelPass session and incur another daily fee.
Sub-heading: Avoiding Unintended Charges
Turn off Data Roaming when you don't need active data usage if you want to avoid triggering a session for background data. However, remember to turn it back on when you do want to use your phone.
If you're in a border area, your phone might inadvertently connect to a Canadian or Mexican network. If you want to avoid this, consider temporarily disabling TravelPass if you're not planning to use it in those specific countries.
Step 5: Special Considerations and Perks
Verizon offers some additional benefits and things to keep in mind regarding TravelPass.
Sub-heading: TravelPass Days Perks
Certain Unlimited plans, like Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Welcome, allow you to add a "3 TravelPass Days" perk for $10/month. This perk gives you 3 TravelPass days per monthly billing cycle, which can be saved for up to 12 months. This is a great way to save money if you travel occasionally!
Some older plans like 5G Get More and 5G Do More may also include a TravelPass day each month.
If you have a Verizon Visa Card, you might be eligible for 2 TravelPass days per calendar year.
Sub-heading: Unlimited Ultimate Plan
If you have the Unlimited Ultimate plan, you don't need TravelPass. This plan already includes high-speed international data, talk, and text in many countries as a built-in feature.
Sub-heading: Prepaid TravelPass
Verizon also offers Prepaid TravelPass for prepaid customers, with similar daily rates ($6 for Mexico/Canada, $12 for other countries). The data allowance is also 5 GB high-speed, then 3G speeds. You'll need sufficient funds in your prepaid account to cover the daily fee.
Step 6: When TravelPass Might Not Be the Best Option
While TravelPass is convenient, it's not always the most economical choice.
Sub-heading: Longer Trips
For trips of 9 days or longer, Verizon's $100 International Monthly Plan might be more cost-effective. This plan offers unlimited data (with a 20 GB high-speed cap), unlimited text, and 250 minutes of talk for the entire month.
Calculation: If you're traveling for 10 days to a $12/day country, TravelPass would cost $120. The $100 monthly plan would be cheaper and give you more high-speed data.
Sub-heading: Countries Not Covered
While TravelPass covers over 210 countries, there are still some destinations where it's not available. In such cases, you'll be charged Pay As You Go rates, which can be very expensive for talk, text, and especially data. Always check Verizon's international coverage map for your specific destination before you travel.
Sub-heading: Cruise Ships and In-Flight
TravelPass does not work on cruise ships. Verizon offers separate Cruise Daily Pass options (typically $30/day with limited data and minutes) for staying connected at sea.
Similarly, for in-flight connectivity, Verizon has an In-Flight Daily Pass (around $20/day).
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Verizon TravelPass:
How to check if TravelPass is on my line?
You can check if TravelPass is enabled on your line through the My Verizon app (under "Account" or "Add-ons") or by logging into your My Verizon account on their website.
How to turn off TravelPass?
You generally don't need to turn off TravelPass as you're only charged on days you use it internationally. However, if you wish to remove it, you can do so via the My Verizon app or website by going to your plan add-ons and selecting to remove it.
How to monitor TravelPass data usage?
You can monitor your TravelPass data usage within the My Verizon app or on the My Verizon website. Verizon also sends you text notifications when you approach or reach your 5 GB high-speed data limit.
How to use Wi-Fi calling with TravelPass?
When you have TravelPass, Wi-Fi calling back to the US from overseas is typically included at no additional cost. However, Wi-Fi calling to countries other than the US will usually incur standard international long-distance rates.
How to get more high-speed data with TravelPass?
If you exceed your 5 GB daily high-speed data allowance, Verizon will send you a text message offering the option to purchase an additional 2 GB of high-speed data for a fee ($5 for Mexico/Canada, $10 for other countries). You can reply to that text to accept.
How to contact Verizon support while abroad?
You can dial +1-908-559-4899 from your Verizon Wireless device while on a GSM or LTE network. This call may be toll-free from many countries; check Verizon's international support guide for specific toll-free numbers by country. Alternatively, you can use Wi-Fi to contact Verizon customer service through their app or website.
How to know if my destination is a TravelPass country?
Verizon provides a comprehensive list of TravelPass countries on their official website (
How to avoid accidental TravelPass charges near borders?
If you are near the Canadian or Mexican border and do not wish to use TravelPass in those countries, you can temporarily disable TravelPass on your line through My Verizon, or ensure your phone's data roaming is turned off until you are well within the US.
How to check my remaining TravelPass perk days?
If you have the "3 TravelPass Days" perk, you can view your accumulated TravelPass perk days in the My Verizon app by tapping the "Me" tab and looking under the "My savings & benefits" section, then "myAccess" and "TravelPass."
How to decide between TravelPass and a local SIM card?
TravelPass offers convenience by allowing you to use your existing number and plan. A local SIM card can often be more cost-effective for longer trips or heavy data users, but requires you to have an unlocked phone and a new local number. Consider your trip length, data needs, and desire for convenience when making this decision.
