Unlocking Seamless Connectivity: A Guide to SIM Cards and eSIMs for Travelers

Why getting a SIM card can enhance your travel experience

During my first trips around Europe, smartphones and affordable roaming options weren’t widely available. I vividly recall wandering the streets of Lisbon and spending the night out there with my friends at the age of 16, unable to find our way back to our host’s accommodation during our exchange program. While those experiences were undeniably adventurous, having a SIM card and access to the internet would have made our trip infinitely easier.

Local SIM Card vs. eSIM: Which is better for travel?

When we embarked on our world trip in 2019, eSIM’s were still relatively unknown. As a result, we relied on two options: a costly global SIM that proved ineffective, and local SIM cards. However, this often meant enduring periods without internet during the crucial initial days of exploring a new country or continent.

With the resumption of travel post-COVID, eSIM’s and their providers became more prevalent. This allowed us to use eSIMs during our trips in India, Kenya, Australia, USA, and Singapore since 2022. Moving forward, we plan to continue leveraging eSIMs in our future travels.

Our recommendation would be the following:

• as a safety net, get an e-SIM with at least 1GB of internet (please note that not all phones are supporting e-SIM’s, check your device first – https://esim.holafly.com/how-to/esim-phones/)
• if possible, get a local SIM afterwards, as it tends to be cheaper (or a portable wifi, if it’s more convenient, e.g. in Japan or Korea). Also, travelling in some countries require to have phone number, for instance to call a taxi (e.g. Korea, and also Indian taxi drivers tend to call you when you try to grab an Uber)

Unfortunately, obtaining a local SIM card isn’t always straightforward. In some countries like India, acquiring a local SIM card outside of the airport can be challenging. For instance, we could only obtain one at the New Delhi airport, and activation took a cumbersome 8 hours. Similarly, acquiring a local SIM in the city center of Trivandrum required a sponsor, which in our case was the kind hotel receptionist, and consumed an entire day. While in other countries such as Japan, purchasing a SIM card outside of the airport required finding one mall in Osaka where we could actually get a SIM, and in the USA, it appeared online ordering was necessary back in 2017. However, when possible, we recommend purchasing local SIM cards in the city, as they are often more affordable.

How to choose the perfect local SIM card for your travels

When it comes to selecting the best local SIM card for your travels, we found the prepaid SIM card wiki page to be an invaluable resource. This comprehensive guide, available at https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/wiki/Prepaid_SIM_with_data, offers insights and recommendations tailored to various destinations.

In certain countries like Vietnam and Singapore, obtaining SIM cards was remarkably convenient. For instance, in Vietnam, we purchased SIM cards effortlessly from the reception of our hostel, offering one month of unlimited internet access for approximately 8 euros. Similarly, in Singapore, we found SIM cards readily available at a street market.

By utilizing resources like the prepaid SIM card wiki page and taking advantage of convenient purchasing options, you can ensure seamless connectivity during your travels without breaking the bank.

Exploring eSIM providers: our tested options

During our travels, we’ve personally tested two eSIM providers that seamlessly integrated with iPhones: Airalo and RedteaGO.

For those interested, signing up through the following links will grant you a credit of $3 which you can apply towards your next eSIM purchase:

https://ref.airalo.com/Np4X
http://app.redteago.com/invite/index.html?id=RAVE0015

These providers offer reliable connectivity and user-friendly experiences, ensuring you stay connected wherever your travels take you.

Check out also other providers if they fit your travel plans better:

https://esim.holafly.com/
https://getnomad.page.link/app, enter code RAVENCWU to redeem $3

What is your experience with SIM cards during your travels and which ones are you preferred options?