Why Staying Connected Abroad Is So Complicated

Living in Sicily, with its rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and Mediterranean charm, offers an experience like no other. From pristine beaches and rolling vineyards to rugged mountains and ancient ruins, the island’s natural beauty and cultural heritage are truly unmatched.

Yet, as many expats and long-term travelers will attest, adjusting to life in a foreign country comes with its own set of challenges, including how to stay connected without incurring hefty roaming charges. This is especially relevant for U.S. citizens traveling to or living in Europe.

Thankfully, there are now affordable options that let you keep your U.S. phone number while enjoying low local rates abroad.

In this blog, we’ll explain how we’ve stayed connected in Sicily without spending a fortune. We’ll walk through practical, real-life solutions that let us use both our U.S. and Italian numbers without roaming charges.

The Challenge of Keeping U.S. Numbers Abroad

When we moved to Sicily, one big hurdle was keeping our U.S. phone numbers. We needed access for things like two-factor authentication on bank accounts and staying in touch with people back home.

We didn’t want to juggle multiple phones or pay for costly roaming. The solution turned out to be eSIM technology.

Understanding eSIM Technology

eSIMs are digital SIM cards. You don’t need to insert anything. They let you add mobile plans to your phone without physically changing SIM cards.

That makes them perfect for frequent travelers or expats who need to switch between countries. We were able to keep our U.S. numbers active while using local data plans in Italy.

Switching to Mint Mobile for U.S. Service

Before the move, we were paying $100 a month for two lines with T-Mobile’s Plus 55 plan. But once we left the U.S., that didn’t make sense anymore.

Then we learned that T-Mobile had acquired Mint Mobile, which runs on the same network. Mint Mobile costs just $15 per line. That dropped our monthly bill from $100 to $30 for two phones.

Important note: your phone must be fully paid off to switch to Mint Mobile. Also, make sure your device is unlocked so it can work on different carriers.

Getting an Italian Number with eSIMs

Mint Mobile covered the U.S. side of things, but we still needed an Italian number. Croce’s phone supports only eSIM, while mine handles both physical SIMs and eSIMs, which gave us flexibility.

We considered Airalo, which sells regional eSIM plans. It’s easy and all digital. But we ended up using Ho Mobile, a local Italian provider that offers eSIMs at great rates. Switching between our U.S. and Italian numbers is now seamless.

How We Manage Both U.S. and Italian Numbers

Here’s how we’ve set it up:

• Mint Mobile for U.S. Service: We started with a roaming pass for the arrival day. That lets us make calls right after landing in Italy.
• Ho Mobile for Local Use: Once settled, we switched to our Ho Mobile eSIMs. It’s cheap, easy to manage, and works great in Sicily.
• Switching Between Numbers: Modern phones let you toggle between active SIMs. So we use Mint for U.S. logins and Ho for everyday stuff here.
• Wi-Fi Calling: We also use Wi-Fi calling to make free U.S. calls through Mint when connected to Wi-Fi.

Cost Breakdown

The savings are significant. Here’s our monthly total:

• Mint Mobile (U.S.): $30 for two lines
• Ho Mobile (Italy): €16 for two lines
• Total Monthly Cost: about $47.66 USD

For under $50 a month, we stay connected in both countries. No roaming, no overage charges, no stress.

If you’re planning to move or travel abroad, eSIMs are the way to go. With a little setup, you can keep your U.S. number and get local service without breaking the bank.

We’ve shared more advice like this in our post on moving to Sicily. If you’re getting ready to move, check it out.