Traveling to New Zealand for 2 weeks - Verizon Phone and what to do?

I have an iPhone 5S with Verizon and want to know the best way to have a mobile phone while there without incurring a massive Verizon bill. I would like to have data and voice, but I can settle for voice only and use wifi when it's free. Can I buy a SIM card and change it out or should I buy a prepaid phone for the 2 weeks or "rent" one from Verizon (again expensive probably)?

cellphones new-zealand

Best Answer

You have many options to get a travel SIM in NZ, make sure your phone is unlocked. Apple allows this so check with Verizon before you go.
To check if your phone can work on NZ networks, this page says the A1530 version of the iPhone 5s works with the carriers listed. You can find that info on the back of the phone

Vodafone NZ: 3GB / 200min / 200txt (49$) (it doesn't say anywhere on their page but I assume they sell nano SIM as they already sell iPhones)

2degrees has a prepaid option for data only (20$ for 1GB, 10$ for 300) but you need to unsubscribe before leaving otherwise it auto renews at the end of the month. They have nano SIMs for iPhones

Spark NZ (formerly NZ Telecom) also has prepaid monthly options (data only, or voice and text), but their terms are less clear than the others, you'll probably need to unsubscribe before leaving as with 2degrees.

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Can I use my Verizon phone in New Zealand?

You can get a local SIM in New Zealand or use Verizon's roaming plan for $40. Get UNLIMITED access to select Global Wi-Fi hot-spots with Verizon Wi-Fi Connect when you add a Global data bundle to a line on your account.

Will my Verizon phone work out of the country?

Our international plans let you use your phone in more than 185 countries outside the US and can help you stay on top of your travel budget: TravelPass: For $5/day in Canada and Mexico and $10/day in other countries, you can use your domestic plan's talk, text and data allowances just like you do at home.

How do I activate my Verizon international plan?

To sign up for TravelPass, simply visit MyVerizon.com and select \u201cmanage international services\u201d or use the MyVerizon app on your phone to activate it before embarking on a trip.

Can I use an international SIM card in my Verizon phone?

All cell providers apart from Verizon and Sprint use GSM, and GSM is the technology that allows you to unlock your phone and use it abroad. If you have a Verizon iPhone, you'll have two SIM card slots in your phone\u2014one for CDMA use and one for GSM use, so you'll also be able to unlock your phone and use it overseas.

HOW TO USE YOUR PHONE WHILE TRAVELING! (International Phone Plans) - MUST WATCH!!!

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Marek Piwnicki, Ketut Subiyanto, Thorn Yang, Ketut Subiyanto