Why I Always Use An eSIM For Travel

Here is my complete guide to using an eSIM for travel. This is such a convenient and affordable way to stay connected abroad!

This year I decided to jump on the eSIM bandwagon. And I’m hooked.

As a relatively new piece of travel technology, I’ve been hearing about eSIMs for a year or two but I had never tried one until recently.

I always preferred to stick with the old-school, nightmarish method of swapping physical SIM cards and battling with phone providers to try and get connected.

But I can confidently say that those days are behind me.

I’m going to break down the concept of an eSIM for those who don’t understand, and explain how and why I’ve started using them for my trips abroad.

Be sure to check out my other 50 budget travel tips for handy ways to save while traveling!

Why I love using an eSIM for travel

I am honestly in awe of how easy and stress-free eSIMs are. Sometimes I can be resistant to new trends and technologies, but an eSIM is something I can get behind.

With the amount that I’ve moved around the globe, I’ve had countless stressful encounters with SIM cards, data plans, and phone plans.

I’ve had a particularly tough time with coming home to the USA from abroad. Most of my friends have about 10 different phone numbers for me in their contacts because of all the times I’ve changed numbers.

With an eSIM, I will never again bother with getting different phone plans set up. I’ll just purchase a cheap eSIM for the USA online and have a suitable amount of data loaded on my phone for my stay at home. No physical SIM card needed!

saily esim for travel and passport — You can find eSIM data plans for most travel destinations around the globe.

What is an eSIM for travel?

An eSIM functions basically the same as a physical SIM card, but it’s all electronic.

Instead of purchasing a plastic SIM card and inserting it into your phone, you just do everything online. Buy the eSIM and corresponding data or phone plan electronically, then follow the sign-up instructions and add the eSIM to your phone settings.

I’ll go into more detail about this process shortly. But just to cover the basics, an eSIM is just a virtual version of a standard SIM card.

How do I use an eSIM when traveling?

Here is your step-by-step guide to using an eSIM for travel. It’s super easy, and I’ve done it twice now with absolutely no problems at all.

Keep in mind, my instructions here are just a general overview. If you actually buy an eSIM, the provider will give you a detailed list of instructions for that particular eSIM. So definitely follow those as they will be tailored to that company and your type of phone.

But here is a quick summary of how you can choose an eSIM, purchase one, set it up on your phone, and travel seamlessly!

Step 1 – Choose your eSIM

Picking your eSIM for travel is just like online shopping for anything else. There are tons of eSIM providers with many different plans, so you’ll have to shop around.

You can compare prices, destinations, and the data or phone plans offered. Just think about what you actually need from your eSIM and choose one accordingly.

The eSIM provider I’ve personally used and had success with is Saily. They have simple, affordable eSIM plans and an APP that is super straightforward, which I love. I’ll go into more details about my experience with Saily later on!

Check out the Saily website to browse eSIM options.

Step 2 – Purchase your eSIM

Once you’ve picked an eSIM that suits your data needs and your destination, purchase the plan online.

It’s also important to check that your chosen eSIM works with your phone model, so be sure to confirm that with the eSIM provider before you buy.

Shortly after purchasing your eSIM, you’ll get a confirmation email with the next steps.

saily esim for travel handheld phone — Saily, and other eSIMs, have their own APP which makes it really easy to add a data plan electronically.

Step 3 – Follow the instructions in your confirmation email

Because each eSIM is different, you’ll want to follow the directions that are emailed to you after purchase.

Some eSIMS have an APP you can download, others just have a QR code that you can scan onto your phone.

But you can get the eSIM onto your phone all electronically, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card.

This is great because you don’t have to remove your current SIM card! You can have more than one SIM loaded into your phone at once, allowing you to just switch over to the eSIM when you arrive in your travel destination.

Don’t forget travel insurance for your trip! I always use Squaremouth Insurance to compare the best plans.

Step 4 – Update phone settings to support the eSIM

This will also be outlined in your eSIM setup instructions. But for most eSIMS, you’ll have to adjust a few settings in the mobile data section of your phone.

For example, on an iPhone, you can go into the Mobile Settings section and add an eSIM there. You can see both your primary SIM and your new eSIM stored in the same place.

Don’t activate your eSIM until you arrive at your travel destination. But it’s handy to make sure the eSIM is loaded on your phone before you leave for your trip.

Step 5 – Activate eSIM for travel once you arrive

Once you arrive at your destination, it’s super easy to start using your eSIM for travel! Just turn off your primary SIM and turn on your eSIM in your phone settings.

Then enable mobile data and you’ll have internet access abroad. It’s seriously such an easy process and I can’t believe I didn’t try it sooner.

man talking in a london phone booth — Phone technology has come a long way!

Is an eSIM a good idea for travel?

I personally think an eSIM is the easiest way to get data and internet connection abroad. I’ve tried setting up new phone numbers and buying in-store data plans and there are always hoops to jump through. I’ve even bought a burner phone to use for a few months home in the USA.

But an eSIM is hands down the easiest option. I just go online, pick the country I’m visiting, pick the amount of data I want, enter my card details, and follow the simple instructions. Then I arrive, update my mobile data settings, and I have internet abroad. It’s amazing!

And even if that step-by-step process I mentioned sounds confusing now, I promise it’s not. I am not very tech-savvy, so if I was able to set up an eSIM, I’m sure you can too.

Which eSIM provider should I choose?

I personally recommend Saily for your eSIMs, but there are lots of great options out there. I used Saily eSIMs for my recent trips to Indonesia and the USA, and had great experiences both times.

My favorite thing about Saily is the simplicity of the APP and the eSIM options. I have very low data needs and I hate when technology is confusing. Saily has a very simple APP that has all their eSIM options laid out logically.

The entire process of selecting, purchasing, and setting up my eSIM went off without a hitch. I had no issues and no connectivity problems at all. Plus, their plans are cheap and reliable.

Other popular eSIM providers include Airalo, Holafly, Flexiroam, Gigsky, Nomad, and more.

Save 5% on your Saily eSIM purchase with my code GABBY

Can I get an international phone number with an eSIM?

Most eSIM providers offer phone and data plans, as well as just data plans. So you can get an international phone number in your destination if you want.

I personally haven’t tried getting a phone number because I haven’t needed it.

I’m so used to calling people on Whats App, Facebook Messenger, or Instagram Messenger these days so I don’t feel like I need a phone number when I arrive somewhere new. It’s easy and cheap to just buy some data, so that’s what I use.

nusa penida cliffs indonesia — I loved having an eSIM in Indonesia because I was able to get data and use my drone!

How much does an eSIM cost?

An eSIM can be pretty cheap if your data needs are low. But prices vary depending on your plan and destination. Consider how many places have free Wifi these days and how often you’ll actually need data offline.

I’ve used a Saily eSIM for travel to the United States, and here is what their eSIMs cost:

1 GB for 7 days – $3.99 USD
3 GB for 30 days – $8.99 USD
5 GB for 30 days – $13.99 USD
10 GB for 30 days – $22.99 USD
20 GB for 30 days – $36.99 USD
Unlimited Data for 7 days – $19.99 USD

The best way to save money on data is to buy a smaller amount of data and then top up if you need to.

I went home to the USA for 5 weeks and bought 10 GB of data, but I only used 1.2 GB. My remaining data expired because the 30 days was up, so then I just bought an extra 1 GB for the rest of the trip and that was plenty.

What are the downsides of eSIMs?

Personally, I haven’t figured this one yet.

Probably the main reason why you wouldn’t get an eSIM is if you have an old phone model that doesn’t support it. For iPhones, an iPhone XR or later supports eSIMs. If you have an older phone, you might not be able to use one.

But if you have a relatively new phone model, you should have no problem installing an eSIM.

Other people have said they don’t like eSIMs because they are confusing to set up. Or they think their phones can be tracked or hacked easier.

I thought an eSIM was really easy to set up, but that’s because Saily provided simple instructions on the APP. Other providers may be more confusing. As for the hacking and such, I have no idea if that’s true or not. But so far I’ve had no negative experiences with eSIMs, so I’m happy to keep using them.

I hope this guide to eSIMs has been helpful!

I’m so excited to write about eSIMs because they have been a game changer for me.

Using an eSIM really suits my travel style because they are simple and minimalist. I like having data abroad to use maps for navigation, fly my drone with accurate signal, and contact accommodation hosts or drivers if needed. And they are handy for contacting friends and family while I’m visiting home.

My data needs aren’t very high, so I find electronically buying and connecting an eSIM to be the easiest and cheapest way to get internet while traveling. This is something that I think I’ll continue to use for a long time.

For more budget travel tips, check out these posts!

Budget Traveler’s Guide To Travel Insurance

50 Budget Travel Tips: How To Travel The World Cheaply

How To Save Money For Travel

15 Travel Essentials To Always Add To Your Packing List