Phone in Canada

[FlyMeToTheMoonandMars]

Hello,
I'm going to Canada for a holiday in a few weeks but need to be able to use my phone (I'm taking the kids on my own and driving a bit). I'm with Vodaphone. Is it better to buy a Canadian SIM card (iPhone) or get Vodaphone to do something? Which will be cheaper?
My two teens also want to use their phones and they use them a lot so I don't want to rack up ridiculous bills!
What's the best way to do this?
Thanks!

[Zazdar]

Depending on what package you have and when you signed up, it could be expensive to use Vodafone. Especially X3.

www.vodafone.co.uk/help-and-information/costs-and-charges/travelling-abroad

[EileenGC]

Call Vodafone and ask. Then compare those prices with Canadian companies that offer SIM only at the airport/in town.

Usually it’s very expensive to use data just like you would at home, if travelling with your UK SIM.

I use Giffgaff for N America trips and they’re fairly cheap (same post-goodybag fares I’d get in UK), but I still limit data usage to messages, google maps and emails. Don’t let the teens spend hours on Instagram using roaming - that’s how you get an extortionate bill.

[FlyMeToTheMoonandMars]

I've just checked out eSIM cards and they look like the best option. I'm thinking of getting one for my phone just in case I need to use Google maps (I probably will).

The accommodation (x3) has free Wifi so I'm presuming if I ask Vodaphone to allow internet in Canada on the kids' phones then it'll be free if they use it in the evenings (in the accommodation) and not when out and about?

[EileenGC]

Why would Vodafone monitor how and where you use WiFi? If there's WiFi, use that for free. WiFi and data are two different things and not having access to data roaming doesn't stop anybody's phone from connecting to a router.

[APMom6]

I was in the US recently and used Airalo esim on my iPhone. I’ll be going to Canada in July and will do the same. I wasn’t able to make phone calls but could use WhatsApp, messenger, FaceTime, basically anything based on data. Make sure your phone can use an esim, iPhones after XR can but my husband has a Motorola which can’t use an esim. Afaik your phone can’t be tied to a phone provider.