Travel guides

Mobile data abroad, explained without the sales pitch: roaming rules, local SIMs and eSIMs.

68 city guides

Questions about data, roaming and your phone: read the blog

How it works

How to install a travel eSIM, step by step Step-by-step guide to installing a data eSIM before a trip: iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel, which settings to switch on, and what to do if you have no internet after landing.
One eSIM for all of Europe, or one per country? Travelling through several European countries? When a single Europe eSIM beats buying one per country, what is and is not covered, and how much data you need. From 6,90 €.
Your eSIM is installed and you still have no internet Your eSIM is installed, the phone says no service and you have just landed. The cause is nearly always one switch. Four checks, in the order that solves it.
Two lines in one phone: which one uses data and which one calls Keep your number and bank codes on your usual SIM, put the data on the travel eSIM, and switch off the settings that quietly send you back to the pricey line.
No, a data eSIM does not take away your number or your WhatsApp A data eSIM never touches your number. Why WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage keep working, what the eSIM does not do, and how to still get your bank code.
Sharing your eSIM data with a laptop or a tablet Yes, you can tether an eSIM. Why a laptop burns data far faster than a phone, what to switch off first, and how to pick a pack size when the laptop travels too.
Before you fly: the eSIM checklist, in the order you do it The checklist in the order you do it: check the phone, buy, install at home on wifi, get the settings ready, and what to do when you land. From 6,90 €.
How much data do I need for my trip? Work out the GB a trip needs: days times daily use, video on top, laptop on top. With examples by trip type and what to do if you fall short. From 6,90 €.
An eSIM on a Europe cruise: what works in port and what does not at sea Does an eSIM work on a cruise? In port, yes; at sea the ship runs its own network that no travel eSIM covers. Which ports the 33-country Europe pack covers, and how to avoid a roaming bill on board.
An eSIM for Interrail: data that crosses the border with the train Travelling Europe by train? One eSIM for 33 countries keeps working across every border, Switzerland and the UK included. Which rail countries are not covered, and how much data a month on the rails takes.
A road trip through Europe: keeping navigation online across borders Driving through Europe with a rental car? What a data eSIM covers when you cross a border, the coastal road in Croatia that passes through Bosnia, and how little data navigation really needs.
Staying in Europe for months: when an eSIM is right and when a local SIM wins Moving to Europe for a semester or a few months? When a travel eSIM is the right call, when a local SIM is cheaper, and how to land with data before you have a local number.
Christmas Markets in Europe: Eight Stops, Train Routes and Mobile Data Eight real Christmas markets, their opening periods, practical rail routes and mobile data advice for travelling between European cities.
New Year's Eve in Europe: Six Celebrations and How to Get In London, Madrid, Edinburgh, Berlin, Vienna and Paris: real New Year's Eve events, ticket rules, access restrictions and mobile data planning.
Skiing in the Alps: eSIMs, Borders and Mountain Safety Zermatt-Cervinia, Portes du Soleil and Sellaronda: cross-border skiing, Swiss roaming risks, official mountain information and emergency numbers.
Thanksgiving in the USA: Parade Routes, Travel and Mobile Data Plan Thanksgiving travel in the USA with official parade routes, airport and road traffic data, Black Friday tips and mobile data advice.
Easter in Europe: Five Destinations and What to Plan Plan Easter in Seville, Málaga, Rome, Kraków and Corfu with procession information, Orthodox Easter dates, holiday closures and mobile data tips.
Summer Festivals in Europe: Tickets, Wristbands and Mobile Data Glastonbury, Primavera, Mad Cool, Tomorrowland, Sziget and Roskilde: wristband rules, offline tickets, crowded networks and mobile data.
An eSIM for the Balkans: staying online on a route that leaves the EU and comes back Road trip or backpacking through Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia? The 33-country Europe pack covers Croatia, Slovenia and Greece but not the rest. How to combine it with a pack for each stretch outside it.
An eSIM for backpacking Southeast Asia: one country at a time, all on one phone Backpacking Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and beyond? How to plan data with one eSIM per country on the same phone, what to do at each land border, and how much data each stretch needs.
eSIM or pocket WiFi: choosing how to get online on your trip eSIM or a rented pocket WiFi for your trip? An honest look at pick-up and return, battery, group sharing, loss risk and phones without eSIM, and when each fits.
Data on a layover or stopover: when you need an eSIM for the transit country Long layover or a stopover of a few days? When an eSIM for the transit country is worth it, when airport Wi-Fi is enough, and why your destination eSIM waits.
An eSIM for work trips: data, expenses and your usual number Travelling for work? An eSIM with an invoice showing VAT for expenses, up to 10 per purchase for a team, laptop hotspot and your work number on your usual line.
eSIMs for a family trip: one per phone or one for everyone Travelling as a family or group? One eSIM per phone or one shared by hotspot, buying several in one purchase, children's phones and installing at home on Wi-Fi.

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