One question that worldly travellers always ask is how to use your mobile abroad without getting stung for megabucks per day for using a limited amount of data.
eSIM’s or electronic SIM cards are a relatively old concept. An inbuilt SIM card within your device. I say old, because my 1990’s pager didn’t have a SIM card. It was effectively a mobile gadget with a phone number pre-attached to it.
Most ‘new’ mobile / cellular devices have dual SIM compatibility and some have the ability to run an eSIM alongside your existing network provider.
A non exhaustive list of mobiles includes iPhone XS onwards, Samsung Galaxy S20 onwards, Google Pixel and Huawei Mate 40 but if in doubt, just ask Google if your phone is compatible with an eSIM.
Let’s just clarify something. Your current provider (monthly or pay as you go) probably gives you an amount of money or minutes to use as texts or cellular (normal) calls, PLUS an amount of data per billing period. So there’s two elements your paying for, cellular use and data use, which are charged as one monthly or pay as you go plan.
Remember that WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger use data, not your cellular network.
Most plans don’t include foreign use. You maybe lucky to get European use included within your package if your home country is in the Europe, but anywhere further and you’ll be paying a lot for foreign use.
I live in the UK and have an IPhone 13 on the EE network. They will currently charge me £2.05 per minute to make and receive cellular calls whilst my phone is in Sri Lanka. PER MINUTE!!! On top of this, it’s £5.24 for 150MB of data PER DAY. No rollover, so if you use data to sent a WhatsApp message to your Nan or google to search for a coffee shop open on Monday, that’s the price of an airport Starbucks Chocolate Frappuccino already.
Now I’ve got two choices to save my Frappuccino budget. Either, grab a local SIM card at the airport, faff around trying to find that magic pin to get my old sim out and get a new one in and wait for the new SIM to be activated. All this after I’ve landed and once activated find 3 WhatsApp messages from my prebooked airport pickup saying that he’ll pick me up from the other entrance!
Or, I could set up an eSIM before I depart and have my phone ready for foreign use as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off.
So before I left, I downloaded the Airalo app onto my phone, made an account and stuck my payment details in. Boom, I got a $3 discount on my first eSIM data pack from Airalo. Use code DARAIU1420 when you sign up or apply it at checkout.
What is Airalo?
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store with a marketplace of data packages for travellers who visit other countries. Airalo now has eSIM cards for over 200 countries and regions around the world.
With Airalo, you can have the peace of mind that you’ll stay connected with your loved one wherever you might be and be saving for that Frappuccino at the end of the day (feel free to select the beverage or snack of your choice).
Can I still use my cellular network for emergency calls?
Yes, once set up you’ll see two signal strength icons (cool huh?) showing that you’ve got two networks running. If I go into my Mobile Data settings, I then turn off my EE (home) network for data but leave it on for cellular use (so I can be contacted in emergency).
The setup is easy. On iPhone it’s easier to have another phone nearby as you need to photograph the QR code that is shown onto the phone you want the service on. Once downloaded, they have a funky step by step guide dependent on your phone.
Plus side is with most packages, you can set this up months in advance. Whilst the plans are valid for 7, 14 or 30 days, they don’t start until you connect to the foreign service. So you can set this up now, for your trip later this year.
Remember, get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo. Use code DARAIU1420 when you sign up or apply it at checkout.
Detailed instructions on how to use Airalo?
To recap, you can either set up your eSIM profile before you arrive at your destination, in the airport connected to Wi-Fi, or at your convenience.
Most eSIMs don’t activate until you arrive at your destination; however, you can get connected as soon as you land if you set it up earlier.
On Airalo’s website you can find over 200 countries and regions where their service is available by either scrolling through the site or on their search bar. You’ll be shown countries and regional and global packages that suit your needs.
First, to install Airalo, you have to ensure that your phone supports eSIMs.
1. Old phone models don’t have eSIM activation enabled.
Wondering if your phone supports eSim? Follow the eSIM compatibility guide they’ve written before you buy!
https://www.airalo.com/help/about-airalo/what-devices-support-esim
2. Then, activate your eSIM: you can do so manually or through a QR code.
3. After activation: you can relabel your mobile.
Sold yet? Remember, get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo. Use code DARAIU1420 when you sign up or apply it at checkout.
Positives of using Airalo.
When you go abroad, one of the first things you’ll do when you land at the airport is purchase and connect a travel sim. With Airalo, this step is more effortless.
Connect as soon as you land. Airalo takes the stress away of buying a SIM in the country you’re going to. There is no more hassle of setting up a new SIM; you can easily connect to your local network as soon as your plane lands —you don’t even have to use the airport’s free Wi-Fi.
Have access to multiple eSIMs. Another benefit to using Airalo, is the ability to store multiple eSIMs in your account. You can change them through the Airalo App.
Language Support, It is often difficult to ask for assistance while visiting a country with a different native language than your own. With Airalo, you can contact a customer support team that speaks your language.
Save up to 10x on roaming mobile data. Avoid high roaming charges. Airalo offers cheap mobile data fees! There are different packages, with the lowest starting at $4.50!
Airmoney. Airalo rewards customers with a currency they call ‘Airmoney.’ Every time a customer purchases a new eSIM, they can earn credits that can be used for discounts when purchasing their products.
eSIMs are hard to lose. eSIMs are stored on your device like an app. Once you’ve downloaded it, it’ll be on your phone until you activate it. Compared to regular sims, eSIMS are much more reliable and safe.
Negatives to using Airalo.
Are there any downsides to using Airalo?
No local number. Airalo’s prepaid travel eSIM is just like other eSIMs that don’t usually come with a local number.
They’re data-only sims. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t make phone calls. With messaging apps such as Whatsapp and Facebook messenger, you can still make calls and contact your friends and family!
Limited emergency service. If you’re traveling somewhere where Wi-Fi and internet connections are unreliable, Airalo might not work for you. A solution to this is to enable call/SMS on your home SIM, making your phone contactable if it’s necessary.
Airalo also offers data and voice packages in some countries on their list but make sure to check the packages for details on data only or data and voice.
Incompatible devices. This isn’t so much an Airalo issue as it is a device compatibility issue.
Many devices currently do not support eSIM capabilities, including older version iPhones. Make sure you read up on Airalo’s eSIM phone comparability guide they’ve written before you buy!
With that being said, a lot of smartphones are moving in the direction of eSIMs. As shown in iPhone 14’s removal of the SIM slot for their US users, it’s clear that eSIMs will continue to be the popular option amongst mobility users across the world.
My verdict. I use Airalo when I go abroad and my home network provider wants to charge a fortune for connectivity. The ability to order ahead and have connectivity as soon as you land, is well worth it.
Remember, get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo. Use code DARAIU1420 when you sign up or apply it at checkout.
Travel Dude 