E-Sims ?

[LuluWearsATutu]

My current mobile provider doesn’t have roaming for where we need it to roam when we are abroad later this year. Could use resort wifi however not helpful if out and about and need to make a call etc.

Keep seeing e-sim adverts. Are they worthwhile? Or is there an alternative?

Thank you.

Previously I have had absolutely no issues with esims especially Airalo but when I went to Seville in April for some reason no esim would install and things were coming about ICC codes but it was over my head and I've you are there it's awkward to deal with it. I ended up getting a refund from Airalo and using a package through Vodafone - I don't know if potentially the issue was because the esims seemed to be orange and maybe that won't work on a Vodafone phone.

I used them too in Canada, Alaska and the Caribbean. All done through the app - really easy and cheap.

edited to add - DH and I swapped to Lebara (from Sky and Vodafone) and you can use your data in various countries for no cost. They are so cheap too - DH was £14 for 1GB data with Vodafone and he’s now £5 for 5GB with Lebara plus free European roaming - you can also do add ins for other counties eg in Asia, USA etc.

I use airalo. Is great.

Tesco is my current provider if that has any relevance?

Yes deffo get an eSIM no big issue

@LuluWearsATutu It shouldn’t matter who your current provider is.

Be aware that with most e-sims, you don’t get texts. If you need to authorise a payment or any other two factors authentication, you won’t get that text. Also, all texts sent to your UK number whilst you have the esim active will not be visible when you come back.

Agree with this. Do this at the airport while on wifi, and follow it to the letter - esp if you are about to use Uber etc. as once you go out of the airport to the ride-hailing area, the wifi can become patchy. I use Roamic, ridiculously cheap with 1GB for a week costing around £1 for most places, I tend to buy a bit more but only use for google maps, ubers/bolts etc. But most of the eSIM companies are very competitive and reliable, and similar in nature, so you can choose any that are recommended above. Have a look at youtube guidance if you don't feel confident. @oberuber er is also very insightful on this, most e-SIMS do not give you a physical number to get calls and texts - you can get this, but it costs more. Although you may think this is fine, if you are trying to set up a ride-hailing app for the first time (particularly yandex, or yandex go), they are likely to text you to verify - given you don't get texts on wifi, nor eSIM, and you end up in a difficult position. Similar for banking SO before you go make sure you have downloaded the apps you are likely to use where you can verify "in app" rather than texted verification codes or two factor authentication. The only other thing I would add, is check your phone can do e-SIMs. Esim providers will have a list on their website, Nearly all phones can, but if you are using a really really old phone, it won't.

If you have a relatively modern phone you should still get texts etc. Modern phones should allow dual SIM. My UK sim stays active (with data roaming switched off) so texts still come through and the eSIM does my data roaming.

I’ve also never never needed to connect to airport WiFi or anything to get my eSIM working. I set the eSIM up the week before I leave using the app and then when I land it automatically activates. It sounds like some providers might work differently, but with Saily it kicks in and works immediately on landing.

Airalo worked fine for my daughter’s recent trip to New York. We are going to Canada next month and plan to use it then, too.

Thank you.

With an e-Sim, I can’t receive calls and texts as normal to my phone if my mobile number is used?

Unless you have a dual SIM phone, my experience is you have to deactivate your usual SIM to use the eSim instead, so no you can't receive calls and texts but you would be paying roaming charges to receive them anyway. You can still be contacted on your usual number on WhatsApp that doesn't change at all. If you are at the hotel you can generally use WiFi, if we are abroad we only use the eSIM for navigating and Uber.

@LuluWearsATutu what phone do you have. Most modern smartphones now allow dual SIM, so your home sim would still be active just without data roaming and able to receive texts and calls as normal (although your carrier may charge you roaming fees to receive calls).

You don’t pay roaming charges to receive texts btw, just calls.

I’ve checked and my phone can run a dual sim.

I just need to be able to receive WhatsApp calls/messages in an emergency.

Thank you for the help and advice. For something that is probably very simple I’m feeling like I’m down a rabbit hole.