Travel guide
Internet abroad: eSIM, roaming or a local SIM?
Data abroad is no longer a luxury: maps, boarding passes and event tickets all live on your phone. There are three options, and the price gap between them can be tenfold.
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If your phone loses data on a trip today, you do not just lose social media: you lose the map, the boarding pass, the hotel address, the event ticket and the translation app. That is why connectivity has become as basic a piece of preparation as packing.
There are three options: your own carrier's roaming bundle, an eSIM, and a physical SIM bought in the country you visit. All three work; they differ in cost, in how easy they are to set up, and in whether you keep your number.
The three options compared
| Option | Typical cost | Setup | Your number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier roaming bundle | €8-30 | Activated by SMS | Stays the same |
| eSIM (data plan) | $4-15 | QR code, five minutes | New data line, number runs in parallel |
| Local SIM card | €10-25 | In store, passport may be needed | New number |
| Hotel or café wifi | Free | None | Stays the same |
On short trips the gap is clear: an eSIM is almost always the cheapest and saves you hunting for a shop at the airport. Roaming bundles have exactly one advantage — calls to your number and the SMS codes your bank sends keep working.
How to set up an eSIM
- Check that your phone supports eSIM — most models from the last five or six years do.
- Buy the plan by country or region; regional plans are cheaper on multi-country routes.
- Install the QR code at home, before departure. Setup needs internet, and trying to do it at the airport is the most common mistake.
- On arrival, switch the data line to the eSIM and turn off data roaming on your own line.
- Double-check that data roaming really is off on your own line, or the bill will surprise you.
eSIM plans are usually data only, with no calls or SMS. For most travellers that is fine, since calls happen over WhatsApp or similar apps anyway.
Which option suits which trip?
- A 2-4 day city break: the smallest eSIM plan, 1-3 GB, is enough.
- A one to two week multi-country route: a regional eSIM plan, so you do not set up a new line in every country.
- Longer than a month: a local SIM is cheapest, and a local number is required by some apps.
- Business travel, or any trip where people must be able to call you: your carrier's roaming bundle, expensive but the most practical.
- If hotel wifi is genuinely enough: buy nothing, but download offline maps.
How to use less data
- Download the offline map of the city in your maps app — roughly 100-300 MB per city.
- Screenshot your boarding pass, hotel booking and event tickets so they open without a connection.
- Turn off automatic backup and video autoplay; they are the biggest leaks in your luggage.
- Set app updates to wifi only.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming?
On short trips, almost always. Weekly data plans start at a few dollars, while roaming bundles cost considerably more and only buy you the advantage of keeping calls and SMS on your own number.
Does my number stop working if I use an eSIM?
No. The eSIM runs as a data line while your own line stays active for calls and texts. Just remember to turn data roaming off on your own line.
When should I install the eSIM?
Before departure, while you are still at home. Installation needs an internet connection, and trying to do it after landing without data is the most common mistake.
How much data do I need for a week?
3 GB is comfortable for maps, messaging and occasional social media. Choose 5-10 GB if you will stream video or navigate constantly.
