Staying Connected with an e-SIM

eSIMs - Navigating Overseas Cellular and Data Plans: A Savvy Traveler’s Guide

Traveling abroad is exhilarating, but dealing with local mobile connectivity can be expensive.  Here’s how to stay connected without breaking the bank or compromising security:

  1. The Costly Pitfalls of Using Your Home Carrier Plans & Public WIFIs

    • Using out of country cellular and data plans from your local carrier can be shockingly expensive.  Doing a few Google searches or making a phone call can easily put you over your limit.

    • Relying solely on free Wi-Fi is tempting, but it’s risky. Public Wi-Fi spots can be unpredictable in service quality and security. Imagine a fraudster lurking behind that “Free Airport Wi-Fi” sign, recording your internet activity—including sensitive info like bank details and passwords.  Also, you can’t use Wi-Fi while walking around a city or driving from place to place.

  2. Enter the Local eSIM :

    • The hero of cost savings and peace of mind: the local eSIM card. When traveling internationally, consider getting a local eSIM for your destination country.

    • eSIMs: These digital SIM cards are a game-changer.  An easy way to find out what eSIMs are available for your travel destination is websites like www.SimOptions.com that simplify the hunt. Just select your destination country, and—the available eSIMs appear.  You can also pick an eSim that can be used across an entire region, such as Europe.  eSims are easy to purchase and install before you leave home and are automatically activated when you land at your destination.

  1. Smart Considerations for Your Plan:

    • Validity Period: Choose a plan that aligns with your travel duration—whether it’s 2 weeks, 4 weeks, or more.

    • How Much Data?: The more, the better. You’ll use data for video calls (Facetime, Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp!), GPS navigation, and random internet searches.

    • Cellular Calling and Texting: Do you need to make local phone calls while traveling.  If you don’t, a data only plan may suffice.  Does the plan offer international calling? Consider this: Once, in Sicily, I urgently needed to call my electrician back home. Having a plan with international calling saved the day. But this was a one off and I use Facetime, iMessage, Whatsapp when I travel.  In fact many AirBnBs and hotels bookings you have will reach out via Whatsapp a day or so before your arrival

    • Multi-Country Travel: If you’re travelling in multiple countries, ensure your eSIM covers them all.

  2. A Few Caveats When Switching to a New eSIM:

    • New Phone Number: If your plan gives you a cell phone calls, you’ll get a new phone number for the country you’re visiting. Your existing cell phone number won’t work until you switch back to your home SIM/eSIM.

    • Second Factor Authentication: If you rely on SMS text messages as a second factor for authentication with websites and apps for secure logins (like your bank), rethink it. Set up alternative authentication methods (email, authenticator apps) before you switch.

    • Ensure you turn off Data Roaming and Data Switching for your home cellular line Don’t want to somehow accidentally connect to your home carrier while away.

    • Turn off Cellular Data for the Photos app (iPhone).  This will save a lot of data

  3. Wi-Fi Calling

o   Check if your home carrier supports Wi-Fi calling.  This option lets you make calls and send/receive SMS text messages while using WiFi.  With this option there is no need for a new eSIM card, but you are limited to use this only while connected to Wi-Fi.

Stay connected!

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