- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Anyone ever use eSim for international travel
Posted on 7/5/26 at 5:29 pm
Posted on 7/5/26 at 5:29 pm
For potential upcoming cruise, and land travel in Europe.
Instead of paying expensive international roaming charges, you can buy a low-cost data plan that works in multiple countries.
The biggest advantages:
* Much cheaper than your carrier's international plan
* Works across multiple countries without changing SIM cards
* Fast 4G/5G data in port for Google Maps, restaurant searches, train schedules, Uber/taxis, and uploading photos
* Easy to install before you leave home
It won't work while you're at sea (nothing connects to land-based cell towers then), but once you're in port, your phone automatically connects to local networks. At sea, I just switch to the ship's Wi-Fi.
For anyone doing a European cruise with several port stops, it's supposedly one of the easiest ways to stay connected and avoid a surprise phone bill.
eSim Comparisons
Instead of paying expensive international roaming charges, you can buy a low-cost data plan that works in multiple countries.
The biggest advantages:
* Much cheaper than your carrier's international plan
* Works across multiple countries without changing SIM cards
* Fast 4G/5G data in port for Google Maps, restaurant searches, train schedules, Uber/taxis, and uploading photos
* Easy to install before you leave home
It won't work while you're at sea (nothing connects to land-based cell towers then), but once you're in port, your phone automatically connects to local networks. At sea, I just switch to the ship's Wi-Fi.
For anyone doing a European cruise with several port stops, it's supposedly one of the easiest ways to stay connected and avoid a surprise phone bill.
eSim Comparisons
This post was edited on 7/5/26 at 5:45 pm
9
Posted on 7/5/26 at 5:46 pm to Nole Man
Just her Google Fi , I use their basic plan at home but upgrade to their premium plan when I go to Europe. It's like $70 and when I get home I go back to the basic plan.
Posted on 7/5/26 at 7:29 pm to Nole Man
I just call t-mobile up and buy the one month plan for about $30.
Rodo
Rodo
Posted on 7/5/26 at 7:40 pm to Nole Man
The issue that nobody ever talks about is that your phone needs to be paid off, or you can't install a different carrier's eSIM.
Cheaper than Verizon, etc., because it's data usage based and not charging you by the day. It's easy to turn off uploading photos and videos until you're on wifi.
Cheaper than Verizon, etc., because it's data usage based and not charging you by the day. It's easy to turn off uploading photos and videos until you're on wifi.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 2:04 am to LemmyLives
ATT is like $12 for first phone and $6 for second phone per day. Not bad for a week.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 2:25 am to Nole Man
Airalo, works perfectly but your phone has to be unlocked
Posted on 7/6/26 at 7:38 am to Nole Man
I looked into this for my Japan trip last year. It was just more convenient to buy the one month travel pass instead through Verizon.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 7:49 am to ColdDuck
quote:
ATT is like $12 for first phone and $6 for second phone per day. Not bad for a week.
That's the issue for us. On our latest trip to Europe, covering 18 days, 2 phones, the total cost with ATT was something like close to $400 for both of us. Trying to figure out cheaper options for our next trip.
Posted on 7/6/26 at 8:12 am to Nole Man
Yes, when I go to China. Anywhere else, I have a Verizon plan that has international service. They also have a plan that is like $12 a day for most countries.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 3:15 pm to Nole Man
quote:
quote:
ATT is like $12 for first phone and $6 for second phone per day. Not bad for a week.
That's the issue for us. On our latest trip to Europe, covering 18 days, 2 phones, the total cost with ATT was something like close to $400 for both of us. Trying to figure out cheaper options for our next trip.
I haven't done that long of a trip to Europe yet, at least not in the smartphone era, but I just depend on WiFi and pay AT&T if, for some reason, I NEED a cell tower connection. WiFi, WiFi calling/texting and WhatsApp usually get me by for more days than not. I just keep my phone in airplane mode with wifi and bluetooth enabled.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 6:26 pm to Nole Man
Check with your carrier and plan because I switched to Verizon 2 years ago and called them for my first trip out of the country and they said my plan had it all covered and I have traveled international several times since including Europe and never had an extra charge or issue
Posted on 7/10/26 at 6:40 pm to Nole Man
I've used both Holafly and Airalo. I have an iPhone with Verizon plan. Was vastly cheaper than the Verizon plan (I think Verizon was $10/day). Airalo was easier to manage with larger data blocks at the time, but service was fine on both.
Posted on 7/12/26 at 8:21 am to Uroblast
I've used Airalo multiple times. Works great and cheap.
Posted on 7/12/26 at 1:20 pm to Nole Man
I use esim4travel. They have different plans depending on your needs/usage. For example, they have a 30-day Europe sim that provides a total of 5 gb of data for $5.
Posted on 7/12/26 at 2:30 pm to AeroFan
quote:
30-day Europe sim that provides a total of 5 gb of data for $5.
But, but, but, Verizon is only $8 a day! 3/4 of this board can't even finish reading OP's post, they just see "international travel" and respond.
Posted on 7/12/26 at 3:07 pm to LemmyLives
quote:
but, Verizon is only $8 a day!
So that would cost me $224. Google Fi is $70.
Posted on 7/12/26 at 3:59 pm to Zappas Stache
quote:
So that would cost me $224. Google Fi is $70.
Exactamundo. I have a strong feeling these are the people that travel internationally to Mexico exclusively, because they can't "afford" Europe.
Posted on 7/12/26 at 5:48 pm to Nole Man
A lot of great responses! Thanks so much.
Our use would be pretty basic: checking email, using Google Maps, texting family, doing some web searches, and setting fantasy football lineups each week. We would not be streaming games or watching much video.
For that type of use, I don’t think we need an unlimited plan. A 10GB, 30-day regional Europe eSIM for each phone should be more than enough for our upcoming trip in November to Poland, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland.
From the above, seems like the current ranking would be:
1. eSIM4Travel — best value for the amount of data we need.
2. Airalo — probably the safest choice if ease of setup, reputation, and app support matter more than getting the absolute lowest price.
3. Holafly — good for heavy users, but unlimited data seems unnecessary and too expensive for our needs.
I’m leaning toward eSIM4Travel or Airalo. We would install the eSIMs before leaving, use them for data, keep our regular phone lines available for important texts, and use hotel or ship Wi-Fi for photo backups, updates, and anything involving video.
As I understand it, the main thing is making sure both phones are unlocked before buying the eSIMs.
Our use would be pretty basic: checking email, using Google Maps, texting family, doing some web searches, and setting fantasy football lineups each week. We would not be streaming games or watching much video.
For that type of use, I don’t think we need an unlimited plan. A 10GB, 30-day regional Europe eSIM for each phone should be more than enough for our upcoming trip in November to Poland, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland.
From the above, seems like the current ranking would be:
1. eSIM4Travel — best value for the amount of data we need.
2. Airalo — probably the safest choice if ease of setup, reputation, and app support matter more than getting the absolute lowest price.
3. Holafly — good for heavy users, but unlimited data seems unnecessary and too expensive for our needs.
I’m leaning toward eSIM4Travel or Airalo. We would install the eSIMs before leaving, use them for data, keep our regular phone lines available for important texts, and use hotel or ship Wi-Fi for photo backups, updates, and anything involving video.
As I understand it, the main thing is making sure both phones are unlocked before buying the eSIMs.
Posted on 7/12/26 at 6:06 pm to Nole Man
quote:
checking email, using Google Maps, texting family, doing some web searches, and setting fantasy football lineups each week
Download offline maps with apps like Maps.me while in the hotel. You will use a shocking amount of data less than you think you will. Set photos to only upload on Wifi, don't download podcasts when not on Wifi, you'll be fine.
I've used 3GB of data this month in the US because of basic settings like this. Even when I had to watch LFC matches on my phone at the office, I barely approached 12GB a month, with live video.
Posted on 7/12/26 at 7:38 pm to LemmyLives
Good points thank you!
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News