Using phone out of Europe

[Jennywren8]

So we are going to North America, and there are 6 of us going, all with apple phones. EE advise that it will cost each of us 128 quid per person to use data for the duration of our hols. My friend has mentioned us getting an E-sim - does anyone who how that works and what I need to sort it? Thanks

I use Airola, it's really easy have a look at the website

We are going away to North America soon and are also planning to use esims.

@Doggymummar can I ask - I have purchased my eSIM though the Airalo app, but am yet to install it. Do you normally install in advance and then only switch the data on once you arrive at your destination? Just thinking how it works in terms of making sure you don’t start using your usual data upon arrival. Keep phone in airplane mode and then switch to the eSIM before taking out of airplane mode? Hope you don’t mind me asking!

I'm with EE and the roaming charge is £25 a month to use in the US. I can't understand why it would be so much for you. It's just an add on that you can turn on and off using the EE app.

We were in the US in April and we used the Nomad app for data.

I have bought e-sims on the get your guide travel website and used them in the USA and Canada.

You can buy different amounts of data and different durations.

It cost me £13 for Canada for 5G for seven days and £16 for the USA for 1G for 7 days. 1G was enough for a holiday to the US. I picked 5Gs for Canada as I was travelling for work and knew I would use more data.

Both really easy to use. I was emailed clear instructions but basically it is just scanning a QR code to use.

I installed before I left home and then switched to that sim when I landed. I wanted to be sure it was installed as I knew I would need to use it at the destination airport.

Same. I'm also with EE and used my phone in the US with this add on.

That’s great, thank you!

Add an e sim - it's the cheapest way. We have easysim. You just toggle the switch on your phone when you get there . Airports have free wi fi.

I actually bought it in resort originally and leave it installed and top up as required. Mine expires tomorrow the credit lasts a month so don't buy too much or it is a waste.

It's £25 a month with our EE package which seems to be cheaper than eSIMs? Am I missing something? We will be in Canada x

Look on Airolo for pricing for your destination. We used it recently in USA. I had data/phone/text in case we needed a phone number, and everyone else has data only.
Purchase and set up at home took a few minutes.
We used WhatsApp to communicate with each other, and the data was great for Lyft and Uber.