E SIM cards

M

Mwelolo

Well-known member
Anybody have much experience of using these when travelling?

Ideally I would like to use local E SIMS for data and occasional phone calls whilst still being able make and receive Whatsap calls and messages via my UK sim.

Not sure if this is possible?
 
I’m away currently, in Turkey. I’ve used airalo and it was really simple and has worked really well. First time I’ve used it as charges in Turkey were quite high compared to EU with my provider.

They offered quite a few different countries you could use the SIMS in I think!
 
If I'm going somewhere that's not in my data allowance I take a mobile wifi thing on holiday with me, and buy a local data sim from a phone shop to put in the mobile wifi. Usually works better than most hotel wifi, especially around the pool or beach and handy when off the complex.

Never considered just using an e-sim for my current phone, but I expect you're either on one or the other, so could miss out on work calls or emergencies etc, and I wouldn't want to risk that. Not certain how that work mind, maybe it's different now and you don't need to do it the way I do. Be interested to find out.
 
skid104 said:
I’m away currently, in Turkey. I’ve used airalo and it was really simple and has worked really well. First time I’ve used it as charges in Turkey were quite high compared to EU with my provider.

They offered quite a few different countries you could use the SIMS in I think!
Click to expand...
Does the E SIM give you calls in addition to data and can you also access your UK SIM at the same time?
 
Google say walking directions are not available offline, main application will be walking for us.

I also just like to have access to data in general.
 
It depends on your travel.
I travel extensively with work. I use MobiMatter. There are many Esims as some countries are more difficult eg Brazil, Colombia, Argentina etc ti I buy a Latam one fir there. But generally I top up one they have which gives me 13gb for 365 days across 75 countries.
But have esim telco plans for main countries for me eg UAE, Australia, Singapore & Malaysia as the performance is better. On iPhone you can only keep 2 SIms active ce.
 
SydneyBoro said:
It depends on your travel.
I travel extensively with work. I use MobiMatter. There are many Esims as some countries are more difficult eg Brazil, Colombia, Argentina etc ti I buy a Latam one fir there. But generally I top up one they have which gives me 13gb for 365 days across 75 countries.
But have esim telco plans for main countries for me eg UAE, Australia, Singapore & Malaysia as the performance is better. On iPhone you can only keep 2 SIms active ce.
Click to expand...
Thanks

We’ll be travelling around South East Asia.
 
Andy_W said:
If I'm going somewhere that's not in my data allowance I take a mobile wifi thing on holiday with me, and buy a local data sim from a phone shop to put in the mobile wifi. Usually works better than most hotel wifi, especially around the pool or beach and handy when off the complex.

Never considered just using an e-sim for my current phone, but I expect you're either on one or the other, so could miss out on work calls or emergencies etc, and I wouldn't want to risk that. Not certain how that work mind, maybe it's different now and you don't need to do it the way I do. Be interested to find out.
Click to expand...
On iPhones that support dual SIM both lines are connected at the same time so you don't miss calls - although I think if you're actively in a call whichever line you're using takes control and you won't be notified is someone is ringing you from the other line for the duration of the call - then you'll get the missed call notification/txt when you hang up.

I think this works the same way on Android - certainly does with my mate's phone but I don't use Android so someone else might be able to confirm.
 
For the small cost of a local sim or a roaming data add on id much rather have data access than be stuck with hotel WiFi in the morning and night. I'm not glued to my phone but it certainly makes the holiday better being able to see what is around you.

Example in Malaga I quickly took charge of checking out food places to go to after my brothers tried to take us to some tourist trap cafe we were passing. Out of 2064 restaurants in Malaga they managed to pick the one ranked 2064th.

You also have live access to public transport routing, translation, taxi apps and whatever else you need.

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I will certainly be obtaining local SIMS, primarily for data but also to be able to make local calls and texts.

We will be travelling for 5 months.

My aim was to establish if I can obtain an E SIM which offers the above but also enables me to use some functionality of my UK SIM at the same time, without having to swap physical SIM cards for my enabled IPhone.
 
Mwelolo said:
It’s very useful to have data for navigating around, Google maps etc.
Click to expand...
I posted a thread in July regarding not being able to use my EE mini in France. We come over for eight weeks and need the WiFi for banking, etc. EE wanted £10 per week roaming charge on top of the £44 I had paid for 90 days coverage. I finally got round this by buying an Orange Pret a surfer which costs me 40€ for 35GB.

The WiFi is a lot better through it was using EE.IMG_5901.jpeg
 
Mwelolo said:
I will certainly be obtaining local SIMS, primarily for data but also to be able to make local calls and texts.

We will be travelling for 5 months.

My aim was to establish if I can obtain an E SIM which offers the above but also enables me to use some functionality of my UK SIM at the same time, without having to swap physical SIM cards for my enabled IPhone.
Click to expand...
Just read the above properly- the Pret et Surfer will only work in Europe.
 
Norman_Conquest said:
I posted a thread in July regarding not being able to use my EE mini in France. We come over for eight weeks and need the WiFi for banking, etc. EE wanted £10 per week roaming charge on top of the £44 I had paid for 90 days coverage. I finally got round this by buying an Orange Pret a surfer which costs me 40€ for 35GB.

The WiFi is a lot better through it was using EE.View attachment 61789
Click to expand...
The Pret a Surfer had an initial outlay of 60€ with 10GB of data.

You didn’t say if you are touring Europe or elsewhere in the world. It might not b any good for you.
 
Andy_W said:
If I'm going somewhere that's not in my data allowance I take a mobile wifi thing on holiday with me, and buy a local data sim from a phone shop to put in the mobile wifi. Usually works better than most hotel wifi, especially around the pool or beach and handy when off the complex.

Never considered just using an e-sim for my current phone, but I expect you're either on one or the other, so could miss out on work calls or emergencies etc, and I wouldn't want to risk that. Not certain how that work mind, maybe it's different now and you don't need to do it the way I do. Be interested to find out.
Click to expand...
No it doesn't work like that. Bith sims are active at the same time. I have dual sim running right now, ok both physical sims but I could also have an esim set up too. You choose which is your primary sim for texts, for calls and for data but both can receive calls and texts at the same time. It's really quite clever. The only thing I would say though is you need to consider battery life. Especially if you're travelling in a patchy signal zone. Constantly searching for two different signals does hammer the battery
 
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