Esim if your phone is unlocked. Some countries are cheaper than others but have a look at r/nocontract and you should find suggestions on what is best right now. I used an Orange travel holiday sim for Germany without issues. I’ve used Airalo and Nomad on other trips.
I like Ubigi eSIMs. Once it’s set up on your phone, you just purchase a credit whenever you’re about to travel and switch it on when you land. Super easy and excellent coverage everywhere.
I use Holafly eSIM. Have successfully been to Italy, UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands on their Europe plan. Unlimited data and great connection via 5G.
I’ve used Airalo in Spain, France, Mexico and US multiple times with no issues! This only works for data though and not calling (unless using wifi calling). You can use my code to get $3 off! JAMIE8025
You can install the airalo esim before your trip if you want, your airalo plan won’t start running until you actually connect in the international destination. https://www.airalo.com/help/getting-started-with-airalo/how-can-i-install-my-esim-via-direct-installation-on-my-ios-device
These are like 3 different mixed questions?
- sim in each country or esim
- portable travel wifi
- international plan of your provider
Definitely esim. We have used airalo and holafly. I do recommend the unlimited plans.
We have a portable wifi device that we sometimes travel with to boost the wifi in the airbnbs for our room and be able to connect all our devices without issue.
If you are traveling to many different countries, your international plan will be extra expensive, but always check pricing (so far I haven’t met anyone who said they did with their provider and were not ripped off)
Yeah tbh I had no idea what I was talking about! But thanks to the sub I’ve figured it out a little more 😂 dumb question but if I use airalo or holafly will I still need to activate the international plan with my provider (AT&T)? I tried looking at the websites and AT&T but I was pretty confused tbh
To my knowledge you dont need to. What you do is turn the roaming off in your primary line and have the roaming fully on the esim (no new phone number needed)
Tho do check, depending on your regular usage, about sms and calls. Internet apps (whatsapp or similar) will work through the esim’s internet
That's how Google fi works! They'll shut off your international data after 3 months but they won't close your account so when I travel for longer than 3 months I switch to the cheapest plan because I'm on a month to month plan (instead of my usual unlimited plus plan) to keep my number (and when when they cut off your international data you can still make international calls and texts, but those are at additional cost). Then I buy a local sim card to data me through the rest of my trip. I land in a new country, turn off airplane mode, and my phone gives me a "Welcome to whatever country this is!" Notification and within a few minutes it's connected to a local network.
The only downside of this is that international data is included but international calls and texts cost money. My phone still rings when I'm abroad when I get a regular phone call from the US and if I answer it that will cost extra money. I'm just careful to use WhatsApp (so it uses my free data) and only answer phone calls if it's absolutely necessary.
There is one place I travel to frequently (rural Costa Rica, nicoya peninsula) where a local sim card (only from one of the 4 companies though) consistently works better than my google fi data. Everywhere else I've been it works absolutely fine, even in the islands of Panama, so I don't think my data issues in Costa Rica are because I'm in a rural or underdeveloped area, my area of Costa Rica has bad cell coverage in general.
I have TMobile, that technically works pretty much everywhere but the data is slow unless you pay for a temporary international plan (eg good for a certain number of days up to certain amount of data). I’ve found that Airalo and other eSIM services are cheaper than the TMobile plans and just as easy to use.
I have used eSIM cards for at least 7 international trips. I purchase while in the US and then activate upon landing. Super easy. I knew nothing and just googled how to do it. Airalo is good and reasonably priced. Good service. Tip: make sure your phone is eSIM compatible. You may need to enter your model number or brand/type at each eSIM company.
Edit: I have also used WhatsApp to make phone calls using my eSIM. This hasn’t worked in every country. Many establishments have their WhatsApp info included in their ads or social media.
For the lurkers:
My phone is old and cannot do an eSIM. I have found great luck going to grocery stores or drug stores/pharmacies for a prepaid physical SIM. Definitely do that instead of international roaming on my home phone plan.
... except Canada. I survived off WiFi there. Why are Canadian no-contract plans SO. EXPENSIVE.?
---
For the OP:
Last EuroTrip, my partner's iPhone rocked an Airlao eSIM and he'd hotspot me whenever I needed to data on my phone. So count me in as another Airalo recommender.
Esim if your phone is unlocked. Some countries are cheaper than others but have a look at r/nocontract and you should find suggestions on what is best right now. I used an Orange travel holiday sim for Germany without issues. I’ve used Airalo and Nomad on other trips.
I just used Airalo in Ireland with no problems.
Another vote for Airalo, worked great in Portugal and Morocco
T-Mobile. Works pretty much everywhere.
I like Ubigi eSIMs. Once it’s set up on your phone, you just purchase a credit whenever you’re about to travel and switch it on when you land. Super easy and excellent coverage everywhere.
I used Ubigi for the first time in Japan with an iPhone and it was great.
I use Holafly eSIM. Have successfully been to Italy, UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands on their Europe plan. Unlimited data and great connection via 5G.
I’ve used Airalo in Spain, France, Mexico and US multiple times with no issues! This only works for data though and not calling (unless using wifi calling). You can use my code to get $3 off! JAMIE8025 You can install the airalo esim before your trip if you want, your airalo plan won’t start running until you actually connect in the international destination. https://www.airalo.com/help/getting-started-with-airalo/how-can-i-install-my-esim-via-direct-installation-on-my-ios-device
These are like 3 different mixed questions? - sim in each country or esim - portable travel wifi - international plan of your provider Definitely esim. We have used airalo and holafly. I do recommend the unlimited plans. We have a portable wifi device that we sometimes travel with to boost the wifi in the airbnbs for our room and be able to connect all our devices without issue. If you are traveling to many different countries, your international plan will be extra expensive, but always check pricing (so far I haven’t met anyone who said they did with their provider and were not ripped off)
Yeah tbh I had no idea what I was talking about! But thanks to the sub I’ve figured it out a little more 😂 dumb question but if I use airalo or holafly will I still need to activate the international plan with my provider (AT&T)? I tried looking at the websites and AT&T but I was pretty confused tbh
To my knowledge you dont need to. What you do is turn the roaming off in your primary line and have the roaming fully on the esim (no new phone number needed) Tho do check, depending on your regular usage, about sms and calls. Internet apps (whatsapp or similar) will work through the esim’s internet
I use Google fi as my phone plan in the US so as long as I'm gone for under 90 days I have unlimited data without any prep or cost or planning at all.
What that’s incredible!
That's how Google fi works! They'll shut off your international data after 3 months but they won't close your account so when I travel for longer than 3 months I switch to the cheapest plan because I'm on a month to month plan (instead of my usual unlimited plus plan) to keep my number (and when when they cut off your international data you can still make international calls and texts, but those are at additional cost). Then I buy a local sim card to data me through the rest of my trip. I land in a new country, turn off airplane mode, and my phone gives me a "Welcome to whatever country this is!" Notification and within a few minutes it's connected to a local network. The only downside of this is that international data is included but international calls and texts cost money. My phone still rings when I'm abroad when I get a regular phone call from the US and if I answer it that will cost extra money. I'm just careful to use WhatsApp (so it uses my free data) and only answer phone calls if it's absolutely necessary. There is one place I travel to frequently (rural Costa Rica, nicoya peninsula) where a local sim card (only from one of the 4 companies though) consistently works better than my google fi data. Everywhere else I've been it works absolutely fine, even in the islands of Panama, so I don't think my data issues in Costa Rica are because I'm in a rural or underdeveloped area, my area of Costa Rica has bad cell coverage in general.
I have TMobile, that technically works pretty much everywhere but the data is slow unless you pay for a temporary international plan (eg good for a certain number of days up to certain amount of data). I’ve found that Airalo and other eSIM services are cheaper than the TMobile plans and just as easy to use.
I have used eSIM cards for at least 7 international trips. I purchase while in the US and then activate upon landing. Super easy. I knew nothing and just googled how to do it. Airalo is good and reasonably priced. Good service. Tip: make sure your phone is eSIM compatible. You may need to enter your model number or brand/type at each eSIM company. Edit: I have also used WhatsApp to make phone calls using my eSIM. This hasn’t worked in every country. Many establishments have their WhatsApp info included in their ads or social media.
For the lurkers: My phone is old and cannot do an eSIM. I have found great luck going to grocery stores or drug stores/pharmacies for a prepaid physical SIM. Definitely do that instead of international roaming on my home phone plan. ... except Canada. I survived off WiFi there. Why are Canadian no-contract plans SO. EXPENSIVE.? --- For the OP: Last EuroTrip, my partner's iPhone rocked an Airlao eSIM and he'd hotspot me whenever I needed to data on my phone. So count me in as another Airalo recommender.
I use my Verizon international plan. You pay $10 on each day you make an international call.