We have a two-week trip planned to the Azores and mainland Portugal for this September. As repeatedly grandfathered Simple Choice customers of 20-years standing, that is, before T-Mobile was T-Mobile, I understand that, if we do nothing, we’ll have unlimited texting, telephone calls at $0.25 / minute, and unlimited 2G data. I also understand that for $50 we can buy a 30-day International Pass providing 15GB at 5G, together with unlimited calling and texting.
My question concerns the impact on our existing T-Mobile service of buying a local, physical SIM card on arrival in Portugal. Our Pixel 5s use eSIMs. Vodaphone, for example, has a 30-day Travelers SIM card for 20 Euros (c. $22.20). It comes with 30GB of 5G data, 500 minutes / SMS within Portugal, and 30 minutes / SMS to the U.S.
Can our T-Mobile eSIMs and, say, Vodaphone physical SIMs operate at the same time? For example, can we use Vodaphone for the internet and to make and receive calls within Portugal, while using T-Mobile for texting? In this connection, does it matter that, to avoid being charged for voicemail messages to our T-Mobile numbers, we need, I believe, to turn off local roaming?
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
