Getting Online Abroad: SIMs, eSIMs and Roaming

Being offline in an unfamiliar city is a solvable problem, and the solution takes about ten minutes if you set it up before you fly.

Four options

Roaming with your home plan. Zero setup. Within some regions it is included at no extra cost; outside them it can be brutally expensive, occasionally per megabyte. Check the specific rate for your destination, not the marketing summary.

Travel eSIM. A data plan you buy online and install as a digital SIM. Works on most phones from the last few years, activates on landing, keeps your home number reachable on the primary line. For most travellers this is now the easiest option.

Local physical SIM. Usually the cheapest per gigabyte and often the best coverage. Requires a shop, sometimes registration with a passport, and a phone that is not carrier-locked.

Wi-Fi only. Free, and fine if your trip is mostly hotel-based. Painful the moment you need a map or a ride-hailing app in the street.

Before you leave home

1. Confirm your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM if you plan to use one
2. Install the eSIM while you still have reliable internet - installation needs a connection, activation does not
3. Download offline maps for the city
4. Download your boarding passes, tickets and accommodation details
5. Note your accommodation address and phone number somewhere offline

That third and fourth item solve most first-hour problems even if the connectivity plan fails entirely.

Airport Wi-Fi

Nearly universal now, occasionally time-limited, and frequently requiring a code sent by SMS - which is a problem if you have no signal. Some airports accept an email address instead.

Treat public Wi-Fi as untrusted. Avoid banking on it, and if you use a VPN, connect before doing anything sensitive.

Buying a SIM at the airport

Airport kiosks charge a premium, sometimes double the city price. They are convenient and the staff usually speak English.

If you buy one:

• Check coverage for the regions you will visit, not just the capital
• Confirm the validity period, since tourist SIMs often expire in 15 or 30 days
• Ask whether tethering is allowed if you need a laptop online
• Keep your home SIM in a safe place, not loose in a pocket

Some countries require passport registration for prepaid SIMs. Have it to hand.

eSIM in practice

Install at home, then on landing switch the eSIM line on and set it as your data line while leaving your home line active for calls and messages. Turn data roaming off on the home line to avoid accidental charges - this catches people out constantly.

Coverage is resold from local networks, so quality varies. Read which network the plan uses in your destination if coverage matters for your trip.

How much data you actually need

Maps, messaging and light browsing consume less than people fear - often under 500MB a week. Video, navigation with live traffic all day and photo backups consume far more.

For a one week city trip, 3 to 5GB is comfortable for most travellers. Turn off automatic cloud photo backup unless you are on Wi-Fi.

If nothing works

Offline maps and a written address get you to your accommodation. Once there, use the Wi-Fi to sort out a proper plan without a queue behind you and a taxi meter running.

Then deal with money, which is the other first-hour task. Our guide to currency and payments on arrival covers it.