Traveler’s Friend Canada

I am a Canadian (Calgary AB) and have a Business Rogers Communications cell phone plan. I took my cell phone to Amsterdam as well as Nairobi / Kenya. Rogers does work in these countries and connects well but the roaming fee is $15 per day as I received a text message from Rogers Communications. So as a budget traveler, I put together steps I took to reduce these costs for anyone looking to travel with their original cell phone number and save money by switching to a local carrier and still receiving their phone calls. At this time (Jan 2023) I have not been able to find a way to call fwd text messages to another number. If you know how please comment below.

1. Purchase Get a VOIP number. This is the number you will fwd your phone to. I use the “text me app” in the Apple or Android store.m Cost is about $20 for 1 month.
2. Forward your Rogers or Canadian number to this new number before you leave Canada to avoid roaming charges. Rogers worked for me in the Netherlands & Kenya but I had to keep using my Rogers SIM card to set up call forwarding while abroad which roaming charges can be avoided before you leave Canada.
   Important Note: You must deactivate your voicemail before the next step through your voicemail settings or ask your carrier to do it or call forwarding may not work.
3. For Rogers carriers dial
   21{your new 10 digit phone number}#
   Or 004 your new 10 digit phone number}#
   If you are with another carrier you may need to call or chat with them on how to set up call forwarding.
4. When you arrive at your destination country purchase a local SIM card. It is up to you if you want a local number as well as data plan but I always get a local number as well. In Kenya the cost was $35 for 24G of data for 1 month. Safari com has the best coverage.
5. Test your text me app number and try to make / receive a call as well as a text.
6. To deactivate call forwarding replace with your original or Rogers SIM card (turn off phone first) and dial #21#
7. To check status dial *#21#

The issue I had straight away was that nowadays to log into my Amazon, my bank, credit card account, etc they authenticate you and text you a 6-digit number. Since changing my cell phone to a local SIM card I was unable to receive my text messages and calls. This was my workaround but I also added my spouse’s number (Her phone is still in Canada) to my accounts at these places.

But if you just want to make calls you may not need to do all the above steps. Just use Facebook Messager or What’s App to make a call or text your contact list. But these apps limit you and I preferred to keep using my Canadian number while traveling abroad.

Hope this helps.

Total cost $55 CND for 1 month.
Includes Local data plan/ SIM card + text me (VOIP) number